18 things to eat, see and do in Belmont including a rum distillery and farm-to-table brunch

From dive bars where you’ll feel like a local to a 380-acre botanical garden, here are 18 ways to spend the day in Belmont, NC.

Grab coffee at The Wandering Cup.

Located minutes outside of downtown Belmont in South Fork Village, the locally-owned coffee shop has an expansive drink menu and light bites like baked goods and quiche. With plenty of seating, it’s a peaceful remote working spot, too.

Location: 900 S Fork Village Dr.

Hours: Monday-Tuesday 7am-2pm, Wednesday-Friday 7am-5pm, Saturday 8am-5pm, closed Sunday.

Get brunchin’ at Honeycomb Cafe.

The locally-sourced brunch and lunch spot can fill up fast, so we’d recommend snagging a reservation in advance. And if you’re a mimosa fan, Honeycomb offers pitchers for $30.

Context: Honeycomb is owned by chef Patrick Murphy, who also owns nearby Heirloom. Heirloom closed as a restaurant in September 2023 and has since rebranded into a catering service and event space.

• Murphy also opened a new gelato shop called Bumblebee Creamery earlier this summer right beside Heirloom.

Go deeper:

Location: 31 N Main St.

Hours: Wednesday-Friday 9am-2pm, Saturday-Sunday 8am-2pm, closed Monday and Tuesday.

Hunt down unique finds at Piccolo Antique Mall.

You could easily spend half the day in Piccolo alone. The mall is over 22,000 square feet and filled with everything from collectibles to vintage finds to home decor and clothing. And as their website states, they get new arrivals daily.

Location: 134 N Main St.

Hours: Monday-Friday 10am-6pm; Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday 1-5pm.

Level up your wardrobe at Gigi’s Consignment Boutique.

Gigi’s calls themselves a blended consignment shop — on one of the store, you’ll find new boutique clothing and accessories, while the other half is upscale consignment. You’ll also find furniture and home decor located in the back.

Location: 24 N Main St.

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-6pm. Closed on Sunday and Monday.

Take a stroll through Stowe Park.

Running along Main Street in downtown, Stowe Park boasts popular amenities like a walking path, playground and picnic shelters, making it a go-to for soaking up some sun on a summer day.

Pro tip: Go across the street and pick up some coffee and snacks from The Everyday Market for a park picnic.

Location: 24 S Main St.

Hours: The park is open everyday from 7:30am-10pm.

Get lunch at The String Bean.

The southern bistro and butcher shop is known for its CowPig burger — an 8oz bacon-infused Certified Angus Beef blend patty topped with pepper jack, lettuce, tomato and chipotle mayo, all on a brioche bun.

Location: 106 N Main St.

Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday 11am-10pm and Saturday 10am-9pm. Closed Sunday and Monday.

Sit on the rooftop at Nellie’s Southern Kitchen.

The southern comfort food spot is owned by The Jonas Family (yes, as in The Jonas Brothers) — who has family ties to Belmont. Grab some apps and a cocktail on the rooftop, or dine inside alongside live music.

Location: 36 N Main St.

Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 11am-2pm and 4-9pm; Friday 11am-2pm and 4-10pm; Saturday 11am-10pm; Sunday 10am-3pm. Closed on Monday.

Drink award-winning local rum at Muddy River Distillery.

You may have seen Muddy River’s rums on cocktail menus around Charlotte, but the distillery lives in Belmont —  and it’s the oldest legal rum distillery in the Carolinas, by the way. Tours are available on Saturdays at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm.

Location: 1500 River Dr.

Hours: Tuesday-Friday 11am-5pm; Saturday-Sunday 12:30-4pm. Closed on Monday.

Take a tour of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden.

You can make a full trip out of exploring the 380-acre garden alone, but be sure to check out additional events, like tea parties and intro to beekeeping classes, here.

Location: 6500 S New Hope Road

Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 10am-4pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Get made-to-order cinnamon rolls at Cinnaholic.

The gourmet cinnamon roll chain has a cult-like following, and it’s pretty easy to see why. You can create a customizable cinnamon roll (they’re all 100% vegan, by the way) or pick one of their signatures.

Location: 915 S Point Rd Suite F (in Belmont Town Center).

Hours: They’re open everyday 10am-7pm.

Keep the sweet tooth vibes going at Twisted Sugar or The Cotton Candy Factory.

If you’re in search of a dessert downtown, opt for a trip to one (or both) of these sweet treat hotspots.

Twisted Sugar

Find various flavors of gourmet cookies and custom sodas. It’s like if a soda shop and Crumbl Cookies had a baby.

Location: 7 N Main St.

Hours: Monday-Saturday 7:30am-9pm; Sunday 11am-6pm.

The Cotton Candy Factory

Find over 25 flavors of cotton candy to spin, plus buckets of candies lining the walls.

Context: Owned and operated by non-profit Holy Angels, the Cotton Candy factory provides employment opportunities to those with intellectual developmental disabilities.

Location: 21 N Main St.

Hours: Monday-Saturday 10am-3pm; closed on Sunday.

Stock up on local produce at the Belmont Farmers Market. 

The Belmont Farmers Market happens every first and third Thursday during April through October. Find over 25 vendors from artisan desserts to pottery.

Location: Lower Glenway St. (downtown Belmont)

Hours: 3:30-7pm

Get outdoorsy at Catawba River Outfitters.

The outdoor gear and clothing store carries popular adventure-wear brands like Patagonia, The North Face and HydroFlask. You’ll also find an extensive selection of footwear from Birkenstocks to the sought-after On Cloud running shoes.

Location: 6 N Main St.

Hours: Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm.

Sip craft cocktails at The Bottle Tree.

Or opt for a full dining experience and stay for dinner. The Bottle Tree sits on a midcentury ranch and calls itself “unpretentious fine dining.” With a menu of craft cocktails and globally-inspired dishes, this local hotspot tends to fill up fast, making it another place we’d recommend securing a reservation.

Of note: You’ll find Smoke Queen, a BBQ food truck, on the back patio (no reservation needed to eat there).

Location: 102 Davis St.

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 5-9pm, Sunday 10am-2pm, closed Monday.

Crack open a cold one at Station.

Station serves craft beer and food inside Belmont’s original Piedmont and Northern railway depot. It also shares an address with South Main Cycles, a bicycle shop.

Location: 4 N Main St. 

Hours: Wednesday-Saturday 5-10pm; closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

Eat farm-to-table at Heirloom. 

Expect locally-sourced, fine dining in the heart of downtown Belmont. Heirloom is the sister restaurant to the earlier-mentioned Honeycomb Cafe. You can check out their recently launched spring dinner menu here.

Of note: Heirloom closed as a restaurant in September 2023. It’s now a catering service and event space for private events, special events and potentially cooking classes in the future. 

Go deeper: The rise, fall and rebrand of Heirloom, once one of Charlotte’s best restaurants

Location: 33 Glenway St.

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 4-9:30pm; closed Sunday and Monday.

Secure a nightcap at The Lodge.

Steps away from The Bottle Tree, you’ll find The Lodge Tavern and Tap. It’s a relaxing spot for a laid-back hang and food and drink that won’t break the bank. If you’re lucky, there’ll be live music, too.

Location: 101 Kenwood St.

Hours: Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-12am, Sunday 11am-9pm.