Secret speakeasy Syn opens in South End — good luck finding it
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Syn is a true speakeasy—it took me several tries (and the help of a friend) to finally crack the code and get inside. Photo: McKenzie Rankin/Axios
The team behind Canopy Cocktails & Garden, one of South End's most popular nightlife spots, has quietly opened a nearby speakeasy called Syn.
Why it matters: Charlotte has plenty of bars with speakeasy vibes, but few fit the definition of a traditional speakeasy — hidden and password protected. With its lack of signage and "if you know, you know" undertone, Syn fits the bill.
What to expect: Although the speakeasy is just steps away from its sister bar, Canopy, you won't find any exterior signage guiding you to it.
- But before you worry about finding it, you'll need to secure a reservation, says David Schmidt, Canopy's general manager and part of the team behind Syn.
How it works: If you're already at Canopy, you can ask a bartender for a card, which will have a link to book a reservation. Someone will guide you to the first entrance, but the rest is up to you.
- Or, you can snag a reservation on OpenTable and try to find the entrance on your own.
- We were asked by its owners not to say too much — it would defeat the purpose of the speakeasy. But, you know you're getting warmer when you see the industrial walk-in cooler. The dimly-lit, swanky cocktail den isn't far from there.
The vibe: Once you make it past the multiple entrances, you'll walk into Syn, with its low lighting, draped walls, vibrant furniture and paintings inspired by Picasso Cubism.
- Unlike Canopy, which is usually packed to the brim with South End-ers on any given weekend, Syn offers a more exclusive experience, Schmidt tells Axios.
- The layout is spacious, with seating at the bar for around 10 and plenty of tables and couches throughout.
Sip on this: The signature cocktails are named after world-famous artists and inspired by their home country. The "Da Vinci Code," named for Italian artist Leonardo Da Vinci, for example, features the Italian apertif Cocchi Americano.
- They also serve wine and beer.
If you go: Syn is open Thursday through Saturday from 6pm to 2am.
- The address is 118 East Kingston Ave., the same as Canopy.