A Neighborhood Guide to the Best Patios in Charlotte
Everything tastes better when it's outside
By the time we hit June, brunch just ain’t brunch if you’re not outside. The same goes for dinner, night caps, whatever…
While there are so many worthy patios to highlight across Charlotte, below we’ve selected just 10 of our favorites to help you decide if you’re looking for someplace where you can take in some rays while you’re sipping your cocktails or enjoying a meal.
NoDa: McHale’s Pub
Recognized as Best New Nightlife Spot in the 2025 Best in the Nest, McHale’s Pub has all the elements that a good patio needs: two outdoor bars (one of which is covered so you can enjoy your rugby match in the rain), dart boards, TVs in the covered area and outside, a mix of seating and all the string lights needed to set the vibe.
Park Road: Ed’s Tavern
There are levels to this patio game and Ed’s has them down pat. First, the “upstairs” patio is mostly enclosed, with a row of TVs and garage doors ready to spring open for the right weather. Then, head a few steps downstairs for the fully opened porch, with more TVs and no shortage of seating options.
Uptown: Nuvole Rooftop Twenty-Two
Following two months of renovations, Nuvole Rooftop TwentyTwo reopened and reclaimed its spot as Charlotte’s highest indoor-outdoor rooftop lounge in 2025, adding gas fire pits outside to help curate the atmosphere. This sleek rooftop bar and restaurant blends upscale elegance with a laid-back atmosphere, all while providing an unmatched view of the Queen City skyline.
South End: The Waterman Fish Bar
Yes, recent construction to the north has obscured one of our favorite patio skyline views in the city, but that’s no reason to drop The Waterman’s rooftop bar and seating area from our list. The deck provides the perfect platform to rise above the madness of South Boulevard traffic and pretend you’re on a lake or at the beach somewhere rather than in the heart of South End — not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Dilworth: Dilworth Tasting Room
DTR’s OG location in Dilworth has been a fan favorite since opening in 2017. The back patio is draped in vines, tables tuck into corners and the sweet, trickling koi pond creates a soothing soundscape. Decked out in lively hues of orange and white, the curious koi fish with puckered lips gently splash in the pond creating a tranquil backdrop for boozy conversation and munchies.
Plaza Midwood: Thomas Street Tavern
There is perhaps no more competitive street than Thomas Avenue for this category, with rooftop bars at Burial Beer Co. and Whiskey Warehouse, ground-level fun at Painted Rooster and The Improper Pig, and even the garage patio at Workman’s Friend all vying for our pleasure-seeking attention. This column isn’t even meant to be a competition, so we recommend you hop around to all of them, but it’s just hard to beat all the fun to be had out back at Thomas Street.
North End: Canteen
Originally opened by NoDa Company Store founders Joey Hewell and Scott Lindsley, new owners Melissa LaVoy and David Dubiel relaunched Canteen at Camp North End last summer, and it’s hard to beat that location. When Camp North End’s Boileryard serves as your extended patio, even on the rare occasion that nothing is going on when you visit, you’ll just be excited to get a tire swing to yourself.
University City: The Wine Vault
There is perhaps no better spot to set up shop and people-watch in University City than The Wine Vault, located right at the entrance to The Boardwalk at University City. Bring a friend, select a bottle of your favorite vino (or beer and snack selections) and watch the world go by. And when things get restless, you’ve got some of the best walking grounds around right down the sidewalk.
Eastover: Not Just Coffee
It’s quaint enough to simply set up on the homestyle porch outside of Not Just Coffee’s Providence Road location, but if you’re looking to lock in and escape the hum of the constant traffic, a patio out back is enclosed with tall concrete walls and ivy, giving Secret Garden vibes and leaving you to work or catch up with an old friend in peace.
Ballantyne: Hestia Rooftop
Not quite the newest but definitely the most bougie addition to our list, Hestia opened in 2023, leading the way for a Ballantyne that is evolving into something exciting through the development of The Bowl. Opened by Jane Wu of Panorama Holdings, the rooftop bar is aptly named Panorama Tower, providing views not only of Uptown but Carowinds and the distant foothills.
Outside 485: Hello, Sailor
With memories of Rusty Rudder still dancing in the heads of some of us longtime lakegoers, it’s safe to say that the Kindreds have done more than enough to fully claim this Cornelius location on LKN and make it their own. With multiple levels of patios leading down to the docks, plus an outdoor bar that’s out of the way of the dining public enough to feel like its own waterfront dive bar, Hello, Sailor is worth a trip outside of the Charlotte bubble even if you’ve got no business on the water. The food, views and booze are enough.
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