Where to eat, drink, play and stay in Charlotte for the best bachelorette party

Other popular destinations include Scottsdale, Arizona; Las Vegas; Miami; and Austin.

Yes, but: We think Charlotte is well on its way to competing with those other sunny cities. Our airport is easy to fly into, our weather is (mostly) nice year-round and we’re in close proximity to lakes and the mountains. 

Driving the news: Charlotte could become an open-container city soon, with neighborhoods like Uptown and South End applying for social district status, Axios’ Alex Sands recently reported.

The bottom line: We’re doing the work so you don’t have to with this three-day, three-night bachelorette party itinerary in Charlotte.

For the purpose of this guide, let’s assume your bachelorette party is made up of about 10 people, you’re arriving in Charlotte on Friday and you’re leaving Monday morning.

Here’s where we would eat, drink, stay, and what we would do on a weekend in Charlotte with our “I do crew.”

Friday: Keep it low-key

Depending on where you’re coming from, your bridal party may be arriving at different times. The only set thing you should have on the Friday schedule is dinner. Everything else should be flexible. Remember: It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

(1) Check into your hotel or rental.

We recommend staying in South End. It’s walkable, and it’s arguably the most popular neighborhood for nightlife shenanigans. There’s a little bit of something for everyone.

• Plus, you’ll be near the light rail, a north-south train that runs through the city and will take you into other neighborhoods like NoDa and Uptown.

Go deeper: 32 things to do, eat, and drink in South End

I did a quick search of Airbnb’s that fit 10 people in South End and found a handful of solid options, like this 4-bedroom, 2.5- bathroom Wilmore bungalow with a pool, spa, fire pit and arcade.

Go deeper: 22 cool Airbnbs less than 2 hours from Charlotte — starting around $100 a night

(2) Dinner in South End

After you’ve set up your party decorations and bought groceries for the weekend, you’ve likely worked up an appetite. You won’t have to travel too far for dinner, though.

We recommend checking out these restaurants from our best restaurants list:

• Yunta is a Peruvian and Japanese restaurant with small plates that are great for sharing and a live DJ that’ll get the party vibes going.
• Futo Buta is a modern, cozy space with some of the best ramen in town.
• Trolley Barn is a more casual option with three different dinner menu options, plus beer and cocktails.

Pro tip: Dinner reservations in Charlotte are hard to come by, so book in advance.

(3) Grab a nightcap

Whether your drink of choice is a cocktail, mocktail or beer, there’s a watering hole for you. You could stay in South End or venture into a different neighborhood. Ubers and Lyfts are relatively cheap in Charlotte, and everything is about a 10-15 minute drive away.

• Canopy Cocktails & Garden is right off the light rail at the Dilworth Artisan Station. It has three bars (two inside, one outside) and capacity for 300 people. Go here if you have a large group and want to chill on a big outdoor patio.
• Vinyl is a music-themed cocktail bar with a vibe that falls somewhere between a dive bar and club, Axios’ Emma Way notes. It’s located right next to Wooden Robot, so you can grab a beer before or after you go here.
• RSVP is the place to be if you’re looking for more of a club-y vibe on your first night. It has four different sections with four different vibes, which is great because if you’re not feeling it in one space, you don’t have to pay for a new cover to experience something totally different, Axios’ Alexis Clinton says. Pro tip: Pay $40 to skip the line.

Go deeper: 50 best bars in Charlotte, ranked

Saturday: Let’s rage

Bachelorette parties are not for the weak. We’re going to wear matching outfits, we’re going to “woo” all day and night, and we’re going to have fun, dangit. Saturday is your first full day in Charlotte. Let’s make it a good one.

(1) Step one: Brunch.

We recently surveyed our newsletter subscribers and Instagram followers, asking them “What’s your favorite brunch spot in Charlotte?” Nearly 300 people responded. These were the most popular answers:

• El Puro Cuban Restaurant
• Cafe Monte
• Snooze A.M. Eatery
• Easy Like Sunday
• Ruby Sunshine

Go deeper: The 30 best brunch spots in Charlotte

(2) Group activity

• For the foodie bride, consider taking a cooking or mixology class together at a local culinary school like Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen or The Cocktailery.
• For the adventurous bride, consider taking a trip to the U.S. National Whitewater Center for some outdoor activities like hiking, whitewater rafting, zip-lining or paddleboarding.
• Get the boozy bride a ride on a pedal pub. The guided two-hour tours include 2-3 stops at local establishments in Uptown or South End. Or, if you’re not in the mood to pedal, but still want to tour the city, BYOB on the Funny Bus.
• Beat the southern heat by the pool under a private cabana at Coin Bar at the top of the Omni (day passes starting at $25) or the Aura Rooftop and Pool at the top of the JW Marriott (day passes starting at $100 and cabanas starting at $375).
• Enjoy a sunset cruise on Lake Norman or Lake Wylie, complete with drinks and music.

(3) Dinner and drinks in Uptown

One of Charlotte’s best qualities is its skyline. Get a view from above at one of these rooftop restaurants:

• Merchant & Trade
• Fahrenheit
• Nuvolé Rooftop TwentyTwo

Go deeper: 17 best rooftop bars in Charlotte

Sunday: Sunday Funday

If Saturdays are for the boys then Sunday Funday are for the girls. Get dressed in your best coastal cowgirl, disco cowgirl, or any rendition of “___ cowgirl” outfit, ’cause it’s your last full day in Charlotte to celebrate the bride.

(1) Brewery brunch

You can’t come to Charlotte without checking out one of its 40+ breweries. Some of them have really good brunch, including:

• Heist Brewery in NoDa has a $20 brunch buffet special on Sundays. They also have $5 beer pitchers and $10 carafes. 
• Legion Brewing in SouthPark has a brunch menu that solidified its spot on our best brunch guide.
• Resident Culture South End is not only a brewery by day and club by night, it also houses El Toro Bruto and a full-service coffee bar.

(2) Do something special for the bride

Get the sentimental bride something that’ll last forever — a “forever bracelet” that’s welded onto your wrist from The Golden Carrot or Quad Espresso Jewelry.

• Or, opt-in for something even more permanent — a curated ear piercing from Rowan Piercing in South End.

(3) Dinner at home

Entertain your group at home without worrying about the shopping, planning and cleaning. Personal chefs will come to your home to make dinner or lead a cooking class for your crew.

A few local options:

• Heart & Soul: Offers served, gourmet dinner parties (including cleanup) starting at $125/person.
• Chef Jill Aker Ray: Offers tons of themed cooking classes taught in your home starting at $55/person.
• Your Farms Your Table by Chef Sam Diminich: Offers in-home dining experiences for groups of “2 to 200.”
• Edwin’s Organix by Chef Edwin Cruz: Offers a pop-up chef at-home cooking class starting at $500.