Backstage Country

LISTEN LIVE

Stunning Charlotte Rooftop Bar Getting Massive Upgrade

I’ve written in this space many times about one of the truly great joys in my life: Sunday Fundays. Seriously, just typing the words right now made me smile. The…

Merchant & Trade getting massive upgrade
DN

I've written in this space many times about one of the truly great joys in my life: Sunday Fundays. Seriously, just typing the words right now made me smile. The exploration of wineries, breweries, and craft cocktails bars with my wife and our best friends has rendered some of the most fun I've ever had. Speaking of craft cocktail bars, one of the most stunningly beautiful-no question-is Merchant & Trade.

The 411 On Merchant & Trade

The first time our crew went to Merchant & Trade I was kinda wondering where we were heading. After all, we appeared to be going into a fancy hotel, and I didn't see any bar in the lobby. However, once we got off on the 19th floor of the Kimpton Park Tryon Hotel in Uptown Charlotte, all became apparent. The views of downtown Charlotte are stunning.

downtown view from Merchant & TradeDN

Wait, there's more. if you wanted to snuggle next to someone warm (it was a crisp fall night), there were plenty of outdoor tables build around these.

firepit at Merchant & TradeDN

Oh, and I did mention this was a craft cocktail bar, right? The drinks? If there was a way for you to see the chef's kiss as these arrived, I'd make it so.

craft cocktails at Merchant & TradeDN

If you can't tell, I'm a HUGE fan of Merchant & Trade. This amazing rooftop bar just opened in 2017 and now, already, change is coming.

Merchant & Trade Getting Million Dollar Revamp

The Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel is in the midst of a million dollar plus renovation and revamp for the bar and restaurant (oh yeah, they serve tremendous nibbles and charcuterie too!). The hope is that the new look at vibe will be on display by Labor Day. This makes a lot of sense as with football season beginning, the bar business gets a huge kick. Again though, Merchant & Trade is less than ten years old. And it totally hits all the important things on my list. However, I guess I'm not the expert that Chris Bailles is. He's the director of restaurants, bars, and events for the hotel and he tells WSOC-TV, “We’ve been so successful and had so many wins. We’re just in a unique position where we can improve upon some of those areas that maybe we didn’t nail completely.”

Count me in for an elevator ride at the Kimpton after Labor Day then. I've GOT to see how near perfection is improved upon.

The Ultimate List Of Charlotte North Carolina Rooftop Bars & Restaurants

As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer it's the perfect time to enjoy all of what Charlotte has to offer. Whether you want to enjoy a good meal, day drink, watch the sunset or have a romantic nighttime skyline view a rooftop is a perfect place. And Charlotte has no shortage of places to do just that. Take a moment to enjoy the views, get that perfect Instagram picture, and enjoy delicious food and drinks. But to help you pick your next destination I've compiled a list of all the Charlotte Rooftop Bars.

Whether you want to be only a couple of stories up in your neighborhood or 20+ stories up in the heart of uptown there is something on this list for you. Family-friendly restaurants, 21 and up bars, breweries, tropical cocktails, gourmet food, or wings we've got you covered. Several are on the rooftops of Charlotte's best hotels, but you don't have to be a guest to visit. Uptown, South Park, Plaza Midwood, No-Da, Southend, and even Ballantyne are the neighborhoods these spots call home. Know of a rooftop bar I missed? Please let me know I'd love to check it out as well.

Just want to be outside and don't care as much about the view? Check out our list of 15 Outdoor Patios to visit.

The Ultimate List Of Charlotte North Carolina Rooftop Bars

Aura

Address: 124 E. Stonewall Street

Follow the glow five stories high to the JW Marriott rooftop bar, a place inspired by the regal aura of Queen Charlotte herself. The views reflecting off of our mirror-like facade are even more alluring with a drink in hand – whether it’s one of Aura’s signature botanical cocktails or your favorite pour.

Buho

Address:201 W. Trade Street

Much like the rooftop bars and lounges across South America, Búho Bar truly is a destination itself, with sultry music, stirring conversation and artfully crafted concoctions that capture the essence of a vibrant culture and modern city, and inspire new levels of urban elegance. Stay, sip a cocktail and abandon plans, if only for a little while.

The Chamber At Wooden Robot

Address: 416 E 36th St STE 100

Our new wood-aging facility in the heart of the NoDa neighborhood. Enjoy the views of our oak foeders and barrels while exploring our taproom, patio and rooftop biergarten. The Chamber features a rotating selection of draft and packaged beer, with a focus on farmhouse ales and sours.

Charlotte Beer Garden

Address: 1300 S Tryon St

Located in heart of Southend right on the edge of Uptown enjoy the largest selection of beers at any restaurant on their rooftop patio overlooking uptown.

Cloud Bar

Address: 555 South McDowell St

Surrounded by the lights of Charlotte’s skyline, Cloud Bar by David Burke is located on the rooftop of Le Méridien. Sip on a signature cocktail while enjoying uptown Charlotte’s best sunset view and light bites from world-renowned celebrity chef David Burke.

Coaltranes

Address: 1518 Central Ave

Coaltranes is a South American-inspired rotisserie and char grill, with a focus on healthy. Enjoy local chicken, stuffed avocados, char grilled wings, freshly-made bowls, and many vegetarian options on their rooftop patio.

Coin Bar

Address: 132 E Trade Street

The Coin Bar provides guests a contemporary urban oasis with a stylish bar and grill. Double-sided LED television screens, each 22 feet wide by 12 feet high, some of the largest in the city, make the pool bar the destination of choice for any and all sports and entertainment happenings in the city. Come enjoy a cocktail poolside and take in stunning views of the Charlotte skyline.

Cordial

Address: 1824 Roxborough Rd

Cordial is a destination, but it's also an everyday spot. It's a bar where everyone belongs, and the bar belongs to everyone. We offer inventive cocktails for sipping, small plates for sharing, and plenty of good conversation—plus a stunning view of the Charlotte skyline from our spacious outdoor veranda.
www.instagram.com/p/CSkDpJsjiag/

Devil's Logic

Address: 1426 E 4th Street

On the edge of Cherry and Elizabeth and a mile from Trade & Tryon, we’re ‘next door’ to the best of Charlotte. Drinks and food can be enjoyed from two outdoor patios, one elevated and with a clear view of uptown Charlotte!

Fairwood 226

Address: 226 Fairwood Ave,

TF226 has a bar-centric open air vibe with plenty of indoor/outdoor seating. Oh, & did we mention we have rooftop seating with amazing Uptown views?

Fahrenheit

Address: 222 South Caldwell St

Fahrenheit features amazing, unparalleled views of Uptown Charlotte and inventive new American cuisine.

Gin Mill

Address: 1423 S Tryon St

The Gin Mill is a Southend restaurant and sports bar with a rooftop patio. They have daily features and live music on the weekends!

Graham Street Pub

Address: 400 S Graham St

Graham Street Pub & Patio offers skyline views and an eclectic menu of handcrafted cocktails and bites. Graham St. Pub and Patio, just blocks from Bank of America Stadium is a neighborhood bar with inside seating, a street-level patio, and a rooftop that overlooks Knights Stadium and the picturesque Queen City skyline.

Lincoln Street Kitchen & Cocktails

Address: 1320 S Church St Suite 400

The restaurant is also known for innovative cocktails featuring house made shrubs, sodas, barrel-aged cocktails and curated wine list. The restaurants midcentury nostalgic rustic yet refined design finds the balance between nature and modern, featuring a moss wall, lime washed brick, a walnut live edge bar, 48 seat dining room and a 30 seat roof top deck.

Merchant & Trade

Address: 303 S Church St

On the 19th floor, with panoramic views of Uptown Charlotte, Merchant + Trade is broken into four distinct zones – indoor bar, outdoor terrace, private terrace and the law.

Mizu

Address: 3100 Apex Drive

Inspired by the wood-fired Robata grills of Japan, Mizu offers a refreshed take on live-fire cooking atop the Hyatt Centric in the heart of Charlotte’s SouthPark neighborhood.

Novelty House

Address: 123 E 5th St Suite 500

Taking the energy of the 5th Street District vertical! Spend your evenings after work with us and enjoy craft cocktails, assorted champagnes, local beers and seltzers and more! That's not all! Enjoy views on all four sides of Binaco Tower, including Uptown's largest mural by local artist Alex Duncan.

Nuvole Rooftop 22

Address:220 E Trade Street

Twenty-two stories into the Charlotte skyline, Nuvolé is a rooftop bar and lounge that rises above expectations in every way. Here, just beneath the clouds, modern urban elegance meets natural beauty and fresh flavors intermingle with handcrafted cocktails. Pull up a seat at our sleek bar, share a variety of savory bites with friends, or just soak up the city views while enjoying your craft beer or wine — the perfect way to spend an evening in uptown Charlotte.

RH

Address:

The RH Rooftop Restaurant features an ingredient-driven menu accompanied by a curated selection of artisanal wines and craft beers. Guests dine in a year-round skylit garden escape amidst trickling fountains, trellised London plane trees, and glimmering chandeliers.

Royal Tot

Address: 933 Louise Ave Suite 350

The Bird's nest is the upper deck at The Royal Tot! Here you'll enjoy a tropical experience but in a more relaxed, flippy floppies welcome kind of vibe. This area is walk-in only and complete with shade sails, individual fire pit tables, space heaters, and an unparalleled view of Uptown Charlotte.

The Waterman

Address: 2729 South Blvd Ste D

Ahoy! Welcome to The Waterman, where it’s easy to satisfy a craving for delicious, fresh seafood. Guests can belly on up after work at Happy Hour for a hearty fill of oysters (House Oysters are $1.5 Mon-Fri from 2-7PM), craft cocktails (we call them ‘boat drinks’ around here), or a cold beer (only the best here). For dinner, locals can enjoy fish camp-inspired dishes like The Waterman’s Platter or classic Fried Fish Sandwich. Don’t forget to check out the Uptown views from the rooftop bar ‘Topside’

Whiskey Warehouse

Address:1221 The Plaza

With a rooftop bar, a whiskey-forward cocktail program, and an endless roster of quality local beers, Whiskey Warehouse leaves little to be desired. The skyline view from the expansive string-light-clad rooftop earns this two-story bar/restaurant some serious street cred in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood.

Woody's Seafood Saloon

Address:

This is the second location of Woody's which is in the Ballantyne area. The first location? The Virgin Islands. The Shark Bites are said to be a must try and the cocktails will almost have you thinking you're in a tropical oasis instead of NC.

Charlie Nance is the Afternoon Drive co-host (along with his wife) of "The Charlie and Debbie Show" at WSOC, Country 1037 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The couple have been with the radio station since 2006. Charlie has won the prestigious CMA (Country Music Association) Award for Radio Personality of the Year and has been a finalist for the Country Radio Hall of Fame four times. Prior to his time in Charlotte, Charlie (along with Debbie) spent more than a decade hosting successful morning radio shows in Greenville, SC; Augusta, Ga; and Birmingham, Al. As a content creator for Country 1037, Charlie writes about dream lottery windfalls, sports, restaurants and bars, and travel experiences in North and South Carolina.