The city of Charlotte, North Carolina rooftop view — Photo by Easterday Creative

[Updated 9/19/2023]

I’ve had a lot of requests to share more about Charlotte, the “Queen City” and some of my favourite spots to hang out, eat, grab a coffee (or if you’re me, a matcha latte), shop, and even work at…and I’m finally presenting a list of my faves to you!

I’ve been living in Charlotte since November 2013, so almost 10 years! It’s ever-evolving and changing and I’m SO here for it. I know there will be more amazing spots that will be opening soon, and I’ll definitely be able to add to the list as time goes by…but for now, here it is! Just a heads-up, I am specifically wheat intolerant and sensitive to dairy (unless it’s raw lol), so everywhere I list has gluten-free options, or can modify them (to be vegetarian/vegan – I will mark if a restaurant is 100% vegan), etc.

A DAY IN THE QUEEN CITY (AND BEYOND!)

COFFEE SHOPS + JUICERY’S

Berrybrook Farm Juice Bar
Cafe Moka
Clean Juice
Enderly Coffee
Good Cup
Good Life Organic Kitchen
Green Brothers Juice + Smoothie Co.
Groundwork Common
Hex Coffee
The Hobbyist
Juice Bar
The Lights Juicery (one of my favourite spots!)
Nightswim Coffee
Not Just Coffee
Queen City Grounds
Stable Hand
Undercurrent Coffee
Village Juice Co.

EATS

ORGANIC EATS

Clean Juice
Good Life Organic Kitchen (Fort Mill)
The Lights Juicery (vegan/veg options)
Living Kitchen (vegan)

CLEAN(ER) EATS

CASUAL DINING

7th Street Market
Burtons Grill & Bar (Tons of GF options)
The Dunavant
Fern, Flavors From The Garden (100% vegetarian)
Haymaker
Hello, Sailor (Cornelius, NC)
Lang Van (the best pho + vermicelli noodle dishes)
Oh My Soul (Vegan)
The Pickled Peach (Davidson, NC)
Puerta (almost all gluten-free menu!)
Pure Pizza (with lots of local, organic ingredients)
Roots Cafe
Sanctuary Bistro
YAFO Kitchen

RAMEN

Bao and Broth
Futo Buta
YUME Ramen (offers sushi too)

SUSHI

UPSCALE DINING

SWEETS/BAKERIES

Artisen Gelato (vegan + gf cones!)
Cold Hearted Gelato (the most fresh, locally sourced ingredient gelato shop!)
Eleven Eleven Wellness Bakery (100% GF baked goods!)
Honeysuckle Gelato (in Optimist Hall)
Jeni’s Ice Cream
Move That Dough Baking Co. (sells at various cafe/market locations)
Suarez Bakery

SHOPPING

Girl Tribe Co.
The Golden Carrot (gorgeous fine jewelry, and some other fun trinkets and home accessories!)
Jade Sky
Optimist Hall (mostly food + bev, but some shops)
Park Road Shopping Center
Revolution Clothiers + Co
Rowan (cutest little jewelry/ear piercing shop)
Sleepy Poet (Antique mall)
South Park Mall
Tabor
Two Fold Clothing

Girl photographing the sunset in Charlotte, North Carolina — Photo by Easterday Collective

BEAUTY + PAMPERING

Abode Wellness Lounge
Aillea Beauty
Freecoat Cornelius
Nature’s Spa
Organic Nails by Adriana
Selenite Beauty
Spa at Ritz Carlton
Tru Esthetics
Woo Skincare & Cosmetics (go see Leah! she is THE BEST!)

HEALTH + WELLNESS

Abode Wellness Lounge
Acupuncture Jo (my acupuncturist, the best of the best!)
Charlotte CBD
Foundations for Health
The Hive Chiropractic

MUSEUMS + GALLERIES

HOTELS

The Ivey’s Hotel (read my review HERE)
Marriott Charlotte City Center (read my review HERE)
The Ritz-Carleton Charlotte

PARKS

MUSIC

& MORE

FARMS

A Way of Life Farm
Bluebird Farm
Bush-n-Vine (farm stand – they carry raw milk from Milky Way Farm)
Carolina Grassfed Beef
Colfax Creek Farm
Dabhar Farm
Greene Family Farm
Growing Joy Farms
Gypsy Wind Farm
Hazelwood Farm
Proffitt Family Cattle Co.
Sharon Hill Farms
Thames Farm
Underwood Family Farm
Watson Farms Pastured Meats
Wild Hope Farm

and Freshlist CLT is an amazing food delivery service that delivers fresh food from local farmers to restaurants and homes throughout Charlotte!

If you’re looking to find local farms here are some good resources:

Girl standing on rooftop overlooking uptown Charlotte North Carolina

Hope you enjoy what Charlotte has to offer! It’s a great city that continuously is growing and evolving! Can’t wait to continue to explore and add more to this post as time goes by!