With a walkable downtown (known as Uptown), Charlotte offers exciting restaurants, vibrant nightlife and top-notch hotels as well as a wide range of arts and cultural attractions and professional sports teams. Just a short drive – or ride on public transportation – from Uptown, you’ll find an abundance of shopping centers, craft breweries and adventure parks. Plus, walking trails, lakes, parks and nature preserves line this city, truly offering something for everyone.
Things to Do
Find more fun things to do in Charlotte at charlottesgotalot.com.
150+Restaurants
More than 150 restaurants are located in Center City, which encompasses Uptown and the nearby South End and Midtown neighborhoods. Dine on renowned barbecue or fried chicken, savor the local flavors of farm-to-table fare, taste the world through international cuisine or discover creative twists on American favorites.
50+Bars, Lounges and Nightclubs
During your visit to the Queen City, experience nightlife fit for a king. You'll find celebrity-owned bars, rustic pubs, chic lounges and stylish nightclubs. Plus, two entertainment complexes in Uptown – the EpiCentre and AvidXchange Music Factory – are home to dozens of venues, including live music and comedy.
20+Craft Breweries
Enjoy some of the best beer in the country, brewed at one of Charlotte's many craft breweries. From The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery – the city's oldest – to Blue Blaze Brewing Co. – one of the newest – there are nearly 20 breweries in Charlotte, and several more in surrounding areas. And most have on-site taprooms where you can sip the freshest pints, or buy growlers to take to your tailgate.
Arts & Culture
Spend a day soaking in the rich culture of the city through museums, art galleries, performing arts venues, historic attractions and more. Uptown is home to many acclaimed cultural institutions, including the Mint Museum, Levine Museum of the New South, Blumenthal Performing Arts Center and the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture.
Family-Friendly Attractions
Plan an outing that excites the kids and intrigues the adults. Explore a world of wonder and science at Discovery Place, challenge young minds at ImaginOn, be inspired during a tour of Billy Graham Library and feel the thrills of race car simulations at NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Shopping
As the hometown of Belk, Charlotte is indeed a shopping mecca. Find just about every retailer imaginable at area shopping malls and outlets, all located 15 to 30 minutes from Uptown: Northlake Mall, SouthPark Mall, Carolina Place, Concord Mills and Charlotte Premium Outlets. And you'll find plenty of local shops and boutiques in various shopping centers sprinkled throughout Charlotte's vibrant neighborhoods.