Where to eat and drink at Charlotte Douglas International Airport

Why it matters: Passenger traffic didn't just rebound after the pandemic, it's booming and people looking for places to eat and drink from Concourse A all the way down to Concourse E.

Zoom in: The airport offers a mix of dining options, from local sports like Midwood Smokehouse, serving classic barbecue, to several of Charlotte's breweries. HMSHost operates many of the airport's dining options.

What's next: Upcoming local additions include The Waterman and Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, giving you seafood and local beer options. Both are expected to open in the second half of 2024, an HMSHost spokesperson tells Axios.

See a few of your current options: 

Concourse A

NoDa Brewing Company is a Charlotte institution, and you can’t go wrong with a beer and bite to eat here. You’ll find it near gate A29. You can also buy to-go cans here too.

• It has flat breads and tacos to accompany the beer and spirits menu. NoDa has favorite beers on tap like Hop, Drop ‘N Roll (7.2% ABV IPA) and Jam Session (5.1% ABV pale ale).

Great Wagon Road, previously called The Broken Spoke, is a Charlotte original that you'll find near gate A21. The cocktail bar on wheels can be moved into Concourse A North once construction is complete in 2024.

• The name reflects the names used at its sibling locations in NoDa and Waxhaw: Great Wagon Road Distilling Co. 
• Try the grapefruit mule and watch the bartender slap the rosemary garnish to awaken the herb’s oils.

Go deeper: Great Wagon Road Distilling Co. expands to Waxhaw

Concourse B

Midwood Smokehouse opened it's airport location in fall 2023. Grab a taste of Charlotte barbecue near gate B10.

Summer House was the first new space HMSHost opened in Charlotte after the pandemic started. It includes a sit-down restaurant and bar, as well as a grab-and-go market near gates B5-6.

• It has a California feel and inspired menu, from fish tacos to a California-inspired wine list.

Concourse C

Chicago-based Beatrix Market opened in 2023 near gate C8. The grab-and-go spot boasts plenty of healthy options, but definitely try one of their giant chocolate chip cookies.

Concourse D

CommonSpace, which sits near The Plaza, doubles as a coffee shop by day and a bar at night, allowing you to get your morning coffee or an espresso martini, depending on the time of your flight.

Bonus: They serve Counter Culture Coffee, a Durham-based coffee roaster.

Wicked Weed, an Asheville-based brewing company that opened its spot at the airport in 2019, can be found in The Plaza in Concourse D.

Bonus: You can order neighboring Shake Shack from Wicked Weed’s bar.

Concourse E

Sycamore Brewing opened in Concourse E in November 2022. You’ll find it near gates E36-45.

• The vibrant, well-lit space makes you feel like you’re anywhere but in an airport. Order their Mountain Candy beer, a 7.5% ABV IPA with fruit flavors. It’s Sycamore’s No. 1 selling beer, according to their sales director Nicole Kern.
• They also serve everything from breakfast dishes like a farmhouse skillet to entrees like chicken and grits and pork ribs with polenta.

Whisky River, NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s sit-down restaurant, can be found in the rotunda before you head to gates E20-50 or E10-19.

• It has live music and dishes like dirty tots, pork nachos, quesadillas, tequila BBQ wings and a low country burger.

Atrium

The 1897 Market is an HMSHost’s exclusive offering grab-and-go and sit-down options. It offers an array of dishes including pizza, shrimp and grits, a BLT omelet, a falafel salad and an impossible burger.

Before security

Queen Charlotte's Kitchen near baggage claim opened in October 2023, meaning you can get food before going through security. Find it near the Queen Charlotte statue. Expect breakfast, lunch and dinner, wine, beer and cocktails and Charlotte-based Pure Intentions Coffee.

Go deeper: Prepare for your next flight with our airport guide, check out these five airport projects to watch and look at more than 100 direct flights from Charlotte.

Editor's note: This story was originally published on Jan. 20, 2023 and was last updated on May 23, 2024.