A rooftop bar in new AC Hotel opens this Friday in SouthPark

With skyline views, it’s only the SouthPark neighborhood’s second rooftop bar; Restoration Hardware was the first, opening just last week.

Details: Cordial’s 5,500-square-foot space will be open to hotel guests and the public. You’ll ride the elevator from the lobby to the eighth floor where there will be seating for up to 100 guests.

Menu: Expect fancy craft cocktails, a European-focused wine collection, craft beer, and Spanish-influenced small plates to munch on. Dishes include empanadas, albondigas, flan, a charcuterie board, yuca fries, and an avocado roll.

Hotel: AC Hotel SouthPark (a Marriott brand) just opened near Paco’s Tacos. The new hotel has 162 rooms and rates start at $132/night. “Cordial is the SouthPark area’s answer to a modern, social gathering place,” says Amanda Gibbons, food and beverage director of AC Hotel Charlotte SouthPark.

The hotel isn’t currently open for guests but it’ll reopen in August.

Why it matters: Although often overshadowed by South End, don’t forget that SouthPark is booming. And unlike Uptown, South End, and Plaza Midwood — SouthPark didn’t have a single rooftop bar before last week. The biggest question is whether Cordial can pull off a cool vibe or whether it feels super hotel-y. We’ll find out.

Restoration Hardware just opened it’s much-anticipated 41,000-square-foot design gallery with a rooftop restaurant and bar just down the street at Phillips Place.

Coronavirus delay: Cordial was originally scheduled to open in spring, but the opening was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Safety upon opening: Like other establishments, Cordial will operate at one-third its capacity. Cordial will also have contactless menus, hand sanitizer, and plenty of outdoor seating for guests. Employees will wear masks. Guests can enter through a door manned by a host on the first floor (to right of the lobby entrance).