Spend a day in Concord: More than 20 things to eat, drink, see and do

Driving the news: Concord is about 25 miles north of Charlotte and is North Carolina’s 10th largest city, with a population of 109,896 (July 2022). The population of Cabarrus County, which Concord is part of, grew at a faster rate in the 2020 census than that of Mecklenburg County.

Why it matters: The majority of the Charlotte region’s population lives outside of the city limits. Charlotte’s development is fueling demand for new homes and businesses in the region as a whole.

Here are some ways to eat, drink and play through Concord:

Caffeinate:

First things first, coffee. Concord has plenty of cozy coffee shops. A few worthy of a stop include:

Allegiance Coffee: A locally owned coffee shop with a drive-thru option. The shop partners with Charlotte-based Haervest Coffee for its custom blends.

• 1115 Old Charlotte Road SW

Press & Porter Coffee: A downtown craft coffee shop that also serves beer, wine, kombucha and grab-and-go eats.

• 8 Union St S.

Verb Coffee: A trendy cafe located off Concord Parkway a few miles from downtown. Open until 9pm most nights, it’s a good option for an evening caffeine boost.

• 1592 Concord Pkwy N.

Provided Coffee Concord: A hand-crafted espresso bar located inside a renovated mill building that also houses Nothing New Quality Threads and Southern Strain Brewing.

• 165 Brumley Ave NE
• Of note: Provided has another location in Uptown that's just under 200 square feet.

Eat and drink:

From barbecue platters to authentic Cuban cuisine, these restaurants earned a place in our hearts (and stomach) for some of Concord's best eats and drinks.

The Smoke Pit: In a state where barbecue causes vigorous debate, The Smoke Pit is arguably one of the most famous joints in the area.

• Order a platter and choose from several different meat and side options.
• 796 Concord Pkwy N

Havana Carolina: This restaurant serves up a taste of Cuba and is located inside an old Belk store downtown. It’s the brainchild of the family who also owns El Puro in south Charlotte and Muraya, a Colombian tapas restaurant in South End.

• Pro tip: Whatever you order, tack on a Cuban coffee to go.
• 11 Union St S Suite, 108

BIRRITaco: A popular taco restaurant that specializes in all things birria — yes, even birria pizza. You can’t miss the hot pink exterior.

• 226 Cabarrus Ave W

Sabaidee: A sushi and Thai restaurant that Axios’ Alexis Clinton says is a personal favorite.

• 1048 Copperfield Blvd NE

Now, let’s talk about adult beverages. Concord has plenty, including breweries, cocktail bars and bottle shops.

Cabarrus Brewing Company and High Branch Brewing: Two separate craft breweries and taprooms, both located inside Gibson Mill.

• Cabarrus: 329 McGill Ave NW
• High Branch: 305 McGill Ave NW

Southern Strain Brewing: A popular taproom and brewery with an in-house kitchen called The Eatery. Southern Strain shares a roof with aforementioned businesses, Provided Coffee and Nothing New Quality Threads.

• 165 Brumley Ave NE Suite 3001

Buzzed Viking Brewery Co.: A brewery and meadery (honey wine) with a stacked food menu inside Copperfield Market (also close to Sabaidee Thai).

• 1048 Copperfield Blvd NE

Kodiak: A cocktail lounge in downtown with live music.

• Order The Concordian, their best-seller, with vodka, pineapple, ginger, lemon and grenadine.
• 42 Union St S.

Bottle and Can: A woman-owned bottle shop in downtown selling craft beer by the can, bottle and on draft.

• 9 Union St N Suite 110

Things to do:

Between a bustling shopping mall, a charming downtown and the bustling Charlotte Motor Speedway, you’ll find many, many ways to keep busy in Concord. Here are a handful of ideas:

Stroll around downtown: Downtown Concord features historic buildings, street art (including a mural of the homegrown band the Avett Brothers), galleries and plenty of window shopping. One of the most notable landmarks is a historic courthouse that has been converted into the home of the Cabarrus Arts Council, featuring four galleries on the first floor.

• Shops include independent bookstore Goldberry Books, Mac Tabby Cat Café, chocolate shop Chocolatier Barrucand (take our word and order the Oreo cheesecake) and flower shop, Cut at an Angle.

Spend a day at Gibson Mill: The former textile mill has been converted into a food hall with shops, breweries and other entertainment. You could easily spend a whole day shopping, drinking beer, throwing axes, playing board games and more.

• Entertainment: Play over 1,000 board games at Luck Factory Games, go axe throwing at Iron Axe Society or find your way out of The Valcarol Missions Escape Room.
• Shopping: Hunt for antique treasures at The Depot at Gibson Mill, which claims to be the largest antique mall in the South.
• Food Hall: Called The Market, Gibson Mill’s food hall has a range of options, including Cara’s Cookie Co., Livy’s Neapolitan Pizza and Johnny Rogers BBQ and Burgers.

Browse for vintage clothing at Nothing New: The locally-owned business claims to be the largest vintage clothing in the Southeast.

• 165 Brumley Ave NE.

Go indoor skydiving at iFly: Ticket prices start at $89.99 for two flights.

• 7840 Lyles Lane NW

Shop ’til you drop at Concord Mills Mall: A few recent additions to the indoor outlet mall include Cotton On, The North Face, Gilly Hicks and popular UK-based retailer, Primark, which opened in November 2023.

Visit the Charlotte Motor Speedway: The motorsports complex is a destination for events year-round, including the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 (Memorial Day weekend 2024), Breakaway Music Festival (May 3-4, 2024) and Speedway Christmas, a four-mile holiday lights display that runs November through January.

• 5555 Concord Pkwy S.