The 28 most highly anticipated restaurants and bars opening soon in Charlotte

28 highly anticipated restaurants, bars and breweries are opening in Charlotte in the next year or so.

Here's our list of the most anticipated openings, in chronological order.

State of play: Restaurant opening dates are notorious for being pushed back, especially because of permit approval delays and supply chain issues slowing down build-outs and renovations. Many of the timelines listed are approximated based on the owners' understanding.

• This list only includes new restaurants, bars and other establishments in Charlotte. It doesn't feature big expansions like Suffolk Punch's expansion to Birkdale Village or Dilworth Tasting Room's expansion to Plaza Midwood .

Editor’s note: This guide is updated monthly, with the last update on Aug 1, 2024.

The Side Room

A new house music nightclub opening inside Blackbox Theater near NoDa.

Opening: Aug. 2

The vibe: The 2,500-square foot club will feature primarily local DJs and occasionally host national and international talent.

Flight

A restaurant with an extensive selection of global wines in Elizabeth.

Opening: Aug. 2

The vibe: The 2,700-square-foot space has indoor seating for about 60 people and 25 people on the outdoor patio. In addition to wine and cocktails, the family-owned spot has European-inspired small plates and pizzas cooked in a custom Italian oven.

Go deeper: Local medical professionals to open a restaurant and bar in Elizabeth

The Scorpio

One of the oldest LGBTQ+ bars in Charlotte has a new home inside the former nightclub-turned-event space RSVP South End at 225 Fairwood Ave.

Opening: Aug. 2

The vibe: Scorpio will be open seven nights a week and will preserve RSVP's theme of creating a different vibe and sound in each space, including a dance floor, climate-controlled garden bar, private rooftop and parlor.

Go deeper: Longtime Charlotte LGBTQ+ bar to reopen in former South End nightclub

MaBí

A new Dominican restaurant replacing Figo36 in NoDa.

Opening: Aug. 13.

The vibe: Expect Family-friendly vibes, approachable food that's fairly priced and a cocktail program designed by local mixologist Larry Suggs . The menu will feature Caribbean dishes like pastelitos, empanadas, chicharrones, Dominican spiced chicken, coconut rice and beans.

Go deeper: Dominican restaurant MaBí opening in NoDa

Maneki

A traditional Robatayaki food stand at The Alley in Uptown, formerly Latta Arcade .

Opening: End of August

The vibe: This new restaurant by James Beard-nominated chef Sam Hart (of Counter- and Biblio ) will "serve up local meat and seafood grilled in traditional Hokkaido Japanese methods," per its website .

Tyber Creek

This Charlotte institution is moving into the former 1501 S. Mint space.

Opening: Summer 2024

The vibe: Expect the iconic features from the original Tyber Creek, from the old upstairs chandelier to the black and white photos.

Go deeper: Scoop: Tyber Creek is moving to Mint Street

Zepeddie's

Zepeddie's Pizzeria is opening in LoSo this spring after being closed for nearly three decades.

Opening: Summer

The vibe: The 2,000-square-foot restaurant will have NY-style pizza, calzones, stromboli and subs.

Copperhead Social Club

A new neighborhood bar opening in the former Pepperbox Doughnuts spot on North Davidson.

Opening : End of s ummer

The vibe: Copperhead Social Club will be casual and offer affordable food and drinks. Its menu will be simple, with burgers, beer and mixed drinks.

Go deeper: Copperhead Social Club will open in the former Pepperbox Doughnuts spot in NoDa

The Writer's Room

A bar that highlights and celebrates local artists of all genres

Opening: Late August/early Sept.

The vibe: Expect a chill atmosphere that caters to good conversation, whether it's for a date or a meeting. It'll offer light bites like charcuterie. Its drink menu will have a selection of wines, local beers, and classic cocktails with local spirits.

Go deeper: The Writer's Room bar will open in the former Protagonist spot in NoDa

Albertine

A fine dining restaurant backed by Joe and Katy Kindred, the husband and wife duo behind the beloved Kindred restaurant in Davidson, will open in Uptown.

Opening: September

The vibe: It'll serve contemporary Mediterranean cuisine in the new, 40-story Duke Energy Plaza on South Tryon.

Go deeper: Kindred team to open two restaurants in Uptown Charlotte

Folia

An upscale cocktail bar with a tropical flair opening in South End.

Opening: Early September

The vibe: Expect a bar with an indoor tropical garden and a full food menu by chef-owner Chris Coleman, of The Goodyear House .

Go deeper: Upscale cocktail bar with a menu from Bob Peters to open in South End

Sweetgreen

The fast-casual salad chain with a devout following will open its first North Carolina location in Uptown.

Opening: September

The vibe: The 2,900-square-foot Sweetgreen will be at 101 North Tryon St. in the same building at Trade and Tryon where Monarch Market is.

Go deeper: Sweetgreen will open its first N.C. location in Uptown Charlotte

Spaghett

The pasta and cocktail house by owner Sam Hart will open in the former Poplar Tapas & Wine spot in Fourth Ward.

Opening: October/November

The vibe: The two-story restaurant will specialize in traditional Italian dishes and handmade pastas.

Go deeper: Scoop: Chef Sam Hart of Counter- opening Italian restaurant and speakeasy in Uptown

Soul Gastrolounge

Popular Charlotte restaurant will open inside The Pass , a mixed-use development near the Independent Picture House, Charlotte Art League and Blackbox Theater.

Opening: Early Fall 2024

The vibe Soul Gastrolounge closed its popular Plaza Midwood location due to rising rent. The beloved restaurant is known for its pork belly tacos, which come topped with watermelon.

Go deeper: Beloved Soul Gastrolounge will open in new location near NoDa

Chief's

A cocktail bar in NoDa by the famous Charlotte mixologist Bob Peters .

Opening: Early fall

The vibe: The small cocktail bar in a former 123-year-old mill home will serve a range of cocktails plus simple and creative snacks.

Go deeper: NoDa mill house to be reimagined as a cocktail bar with a nostalgic story

Gravity Pizza

A pizza diner specializing in sourdough pizzas opening in Camp North End next to Canteen.

Opening : Fall

The vibe: Expect traditional wood-fired pizza with specialty flavors like lemon ricotta, honey-glazed peach and pepperoni ricotta hot honey. They'll also serve sandwiches, salads and dessert

Go deeper : Sourdough pizza diner "Gravity Pizza" opening in Camp North End

Marina's Tapas

A food stall by the owner of Customshop will be located where Velvet Taco used to be at Optimist Hall .

Opening: Fall

The vibe: Expect a menu with classic yet modern Spanish tapas, a variety of bocadillos, croquetas, tortilla española, and patatas bravas and desserts like flan.

Go deeper: Customshop team opening a Spanish tapas food stall at Optimist Hall

Tipsy Pickle

A new pickleball spot from the co-owner of Protagonist and Hopp will open in Camp North End.

Opening: Fall

The vibe: The 35,000-square-foot facility will include six pickleball courts (four indoor and two outdoor), three bars and a Tex-Mex menu. It will also have golf simulators, ping pong, pool tables, shuffleboard, corn hole and darts.

Go deeper: Tipsy Pickle to open at Camp North End in 2024

Mariah's Taco Spot

A popular taco truck is opening its first brick-and-mortar spot near Noda.

Opening: Fall

The vibe: Expect the same menu, including crowd-favorite tacos and wings, plus new items like strawberry crunch churros and cookies.

Go deeper: Mariah's Taco Spot food truck to open a brick-and-mortar near NoDa

Borderline Bar & Billiards

A new bar from one of the owners of The Degenerate will open inside The Pass in NoDa.

Opening: 2024

The vibe: It will have regulation-size pool tables, darts, cornhole and a fire pit.

Go deeper: New renderings: NoDa-area development adds a billiards bar and event venue to its lineup

Saucy Brew Works

The Cleveland-based brewery and pizza restaurant will open at 501 E. Morehead St. , across from the Dowd YMCA in Dilworth.

Opening: 2024

The vibe: The two-story brewpub will have an enclosed penthouse space, plus a nearly 10,000-square-foot rooftop deck. There will be at least 20 beers on tap, plus coffee and a full food menu centered on Saucy’s New Haven-style pizzas (thin-crust, coal-fired).

Go deeper: Ohio’s Saucy Brew Works to expand in Charlotte with a huge brewpub and Airbnb

Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar

A blend of retail and dining in one SouthPark venue.

Opening: Late 2024

The vibe: It'll have a restaurant bar, outdoor patio and a store selling men's and women's sportswear, swimwear, accessories and home decor, per a press release from the brand.

Go deeper: Tommy Bahama's retail restaurant Marlin Bar is expanding to SouthPark

ESO Artisanal Pasta

A new Italian food stall is coming to Optimist Hall.

Opening: Late 2024

The vibe: Expect pasta dishes and sides like fried risotto balls, Italian meatballs and Sicilian fried chicken.

Go deeper: From "Chopped" to Optimist Hall

Panko

A Peruvian Nikkei restaurant opening in NoDa.

Opening: First week of December

The vibe: The nearly 1,800-square-foot restaurant will be located on the ground floor of the Inkwell Apartments. It's menu will have ceviche and other seafood dishes including shrimp, calamari and grilled octopus. It'll also offer sushi and nigiri rolls.

Go deeper: Panko will bring Peruvian Nikkei cuisine to NoDa

Dogwood

A restaurant owned by Kim and Jon Dressler to reopen in a new space inside The Westin in Uptown.

Opening: December 2024

The vibe: Expect the return of Dogwood favorites like the Duck and Dumplings and Bacon Jam, plus new dishes.

Go deeper: Dressler-owned restaurant to reopen in Uptown

Slutty Vegan

Plant-based burgers from Atlanta’s popular Slutty Vegan restaurant are making their way to Charlotte.

Opening: TBD

The vibe: The new location will feature most of the burger and dessert options as the Atlanta restaurant. The dish names are as creative as the recipes, like “The One Night Stand,” a plant-based patty with vegan bacon that is covered in “slut sauce” atop a Hawaiian bun.

Go deeper: Atlanta’s popular “Slutty Vegan” burger joint to open in Charlotte

Leluia Hall

Restaurateurs Jeff Tonidandel and Jamie Brown will turn the former Bonterra spot in Dilworth into a surf-and-turf restaurant.

Opening: TBD

What they're saying: "Our goal is to open Leluia Hall have had to shift in order to save the Leeper Wyatt building. That building is slated to be transported to Cleveland Avenue in early August. Once that building is in place, we will be able to shift gears toward opening Leluia Hall. We are so pleased with how the new menu is progressing, and how the space is coming together. It is just requiring an extra dose of patience to see it all come to fruition," Jamie Brown said in a statement to Axios.

Go deeper: Charlotte restaurateurs to save historic Dilworth landmark from land slated for development

The vibe: Expect family-style, shareable dishes, a raw bar program and prime cuts of steak at Leluia Hall. Dishes will be prepared by Tonidandel and Supperland executive chef Chris Rogienski. The new restaurant will feature a 200-plus bottle wine list and a new cocktail program from mixologist Colleen Hughes.

Go deeper: Leluia Hall replaces Bonterra in Dilworth

Whataburger

Whataburger is to Texas what In-N-Out is to California : a longstanding burger chain known for its fresh, juicy patties and die-hard following.

Opening: Whataburger expects to be in North Carolina by 2025, the company confirmed, declining to provide additional details.

• Whataburger has submitted plans for three locations throughout Charlotte: in a Publix-anchored development on Albemarle Road, in a former bank at 5301 South Blvd. and on 5018 Sunset Road.

Go deeper: List of restaurants and businesses that opened in 2024 so far

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