The 17 best rooftop bars in Charlotte for drinks with a view

Editor's note: These establishments are listed in no particular order; this is not a ranking.

Merchant & Trade

The vibe: Uptown's Merchant & Trade underwent a massive revamp in 2024 to become a chic "urban oasis" with new floors, furniture and a playlist of tropical house music.

Stop by: 303 S Church St., on the 19th floor of the Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel.

• Open Tuesday-Friday 5pm-midnight, Saturday 2pm-midnight and Sunday 2-10pm.

Go deeper: 11 best Uptown Charlotte hotels

Fahrenheit

The vibe: Another one of Uptown's popular rooftop bars, you can't go wrong taking out-of-towners here, whether you're day drinking or looking for an upscale dinner out.

Stop by: 222 S. Caldwell St, on the 21st floor of the Skye building in Uptown.

• Open Monday-Thursday 5-10pm, Friday 5pm-1am, Saturday 4pm-1am and Sunday 5-10pm.

Graham St. Pub & Patio

The vibe: A casual sports bar between Bank of America Stadium and Truist Field.

Stop by: 400 South Graham St.

• Open Sunday-Wednesday 11am-midnight and Thursday-Saturday 11am-2am.

Nuvolé Rooftop TwentyTwo

The vibe: Pronounced “new-va-lay.” Expect a sophisticated, airy, indoor-outdoor bar in Uptown, with a large menu of specialty cocktails and snacks like ahi tuna tacos and sliders.

Stop by: 220 East Trade St., on the 22nd floor of the AC Hotel in Uptown.

• Open Monday-Thursday 5-11pm and Friday-Saturday 5pm-1am.
• Reservations are accepted for groups of 15 or more.

Whiskey Warehouse

The vibe: A treehouse-style escape in the heart of Plaza Midwood, with daily specials like half-priced bottles of wine on Thursday and $3 mimosas on the weekend.

Stop by: 1221 The Plaza.

• Open Monday-Thursday 11am-midnight, Friday 11am-1am, Saturday 10am-1am, and Sunday 10am-10pm.

Búho Bar

The vibe: An elegant rooftop bar inspired by the bars and lounges found in South America on top of Uptown's Grand Bohemian Hotel.

Stop by: 201 West Trade St, on the 16th floor of the Grand Bohemian.

• Open Tuesday-Thursday 4pm-midnight, Friday 4pm-1am and Saturday 3pm-1am. Closed Sunday.

Of note: Búho Bar encourages a "smart casual" dress code.

Cordial SouthPark

The vibe: An everyday spot atop the AC Marriott Hotel in SouthPark, offering cocktails and a Spanish-inspired menu of small plates.

Stop by: 1824 Roxborough Road.

• Open Sunday-Thursday 5pm-11pm and Friday-Saturday 5pm-midnight.

Charlotte Beer Garden

The vibe: A massive three-story bar with a greenhouse-style rooftop in South End. It's open until 2am nightly, with hundreds of taps and a large food menu.

If you go: The first floor menu is all local beer. You'll find all international beer on the second floor.

Stop by: 1300 South Tryon St.

• Open Monday-Friday 11am-2am and Saturday-Sunday 10am-2am.

Aura Rooftop

The vibe: A trendy, botanical-inspired rooftop bar with a pool and cabanas on the fifth floor of the JW Marriott in Uptown.

Stop by: 600 South College St.

• Open Monday-Friday 3-11pm, Saturday 11am-11pm and Sunday 11am-9pm.
• Make a reservation here.
• Cabana rentals start at $200.

Novelty House

The vibe: A photo-worthy rooftop decked out with flowers in the same building as Saku Yakitori and Sushi Bar in Uptown's 5th Street District.

Stop by: 123 East 5th St., in the Binaco Tower.

• Open Monday-Friday 4pm-2am, Saturday noon-2am and Sunday noon-10pm.

Of note: The dress code is smart casual.

Hestia Rooftop

The vibe: An upscale, modern Asian restaurant in Ballantyne with a rooftop patio that delivers a 180-degree view of the Charlotte area and a range of elevated Asian cuisine, from omakase to a $400 flaming tomahawk.

Stop by: 14819 Ballantyne Village Way, on the 16th floor of the AC Hotel in Ballantyne Village.

• Open Sunday-Monday 5-9pm, Tuesday-Thursday 5-10pm and Friday-Saturday 5pm-midnight.

State of Confusion

The vibe: A two-story, family-friendly restaurant with a fusion menu of Latin American, New Orleanian and low-country fare, and a rooftop that delivers partial skyline views.

If you go: Try one of their draft cocktails, like the margarita or hurricane and grab ceviche for a starter.

Stop by: 3500 Dewitt Lane.

• Open Monday-Thursday 11am-midnight, Friday 11am-1am and Sunday 10am-1am. 

Wooden Robot — The Chamber (NoDa)

The vibe: Wooden Robot Brewery's NoDa location, dubbed The Chamber, offers a spacious rooftop deck with picnic tables, lounge furniture and its own bar. Plus, it's right off 36th Street Station.

Stop by: 416 E. 36th St.

• Open Tuesday-Wednesday 4-10pm, Thursday 3-10pm, Friday 3-11pm, Saturday noon-11pm and Sunday noon-8pm.

Burial Beer Co.

The vibe: This popular Asheville brewery opened its Plaza Midwood taproom and bottle shop called "House of Relics" in 2022.

• It's inspired by a vintage clothing store that previously occupied the space and features a full bar, kitchen and rooftop deck.

Stop by: 1214 Thomas Ave., across from Calle Sol.

• Open Monday-Thursday 1-10pm, Friday-Saturday noon-midnight and Sunday noon-9pm.

The Royal Tot

The vibe: A two-story tiki bar in the Belmont neighborhood with a rooftop deck.

Stop by: 933 Louise Ave.

• Open Monday-Thursday 4pm-midnight, Friday 4pm-2am, Saturday 2pm-2am and Sunday 2pm-midnight.

Topside 2.0 at The Waterman Fish Bar

The vibe: A recently-revamped rooftop space atop The Waterman in South End, with $1.50 oyster happy hour and ceviche, plus cocktails, boat drinks and weekend brunch.

Stop by: 2729 South Blvd.

• Open Wednesday-Friday: 2pm-close and Saturday-Sunday 11am-close. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

City Lights Rooftop

The vibe: Sip a craft cocktail and take in skyline views at this nighttime hangout atop the Le Méridien Charlotte hotel, where Cloud Bar used to be.

Stop by: 555 S McDowell St.

• Open Tuesday-Thursday 5pm-midnight and Friday-Saturday 5pm-1am.

Honorable mentions

The Imperial, Gin Mill, Nellie's Southern Kitchen (Belmont), Urban District Market's rooftop deck and Lincoln Street Kitchen and Cocktails.

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Editor's note: This guide was last updated in April 2025.