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    Smelly Cat Coffee

    4.3 (671 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Smelly Cat Coffee Photos

    Business Info

    SMELLY CAT COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Trendy
    Casual

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    Recommended Reviews - Smelly Cat Coffee

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    Indoor
    Sabrina I.

    Stopped by Smelly Cat Coffee while in NC and lucked out with finding parking, which was a nice start. I was just popping in to grab a coffee to go. The name immediately made me think of Friends, so I was expecting a bit more of that quirky, cozy vibe. Still really cute inside. The space itself is pretty small and felt a bit packed when I went in. I wasn't totally sure where to order at first and had to walk further in to find the register, which was slightly confusing. The staff interaction was fine, not bad, just neutral. I tried making a little conversation while deciding what to order, and while nothing stood out, the barista was helpful when I asked for recommendations. They do have some cool drink options, and when I asked what people usually order that isn't too sweet and similar to one I was thinking of, I was pointed toward the special espresso cortadito with almond milk. It came in a small cup, but was perfect for being on the go. The flavor was good, smooth, and gave me a nice little pick-me-up. Overall, it was a solid coffee stop but didn't quite blow me away. If you're nearby and need a quick caffeine fix, it does the job.

    Deedrah B.

    Came here a while back for a quick cup to catch up with a couple friends. It's a small but cute space, not really enough seating though and a little slow on the service side. Lucked out with one of the last parking spots though. I had a black coffee an breakfast sandwich. All in all, decent shop with a little room for improvement. @azfitfoodfun

    Eric D.

    Smelly Cat was one of my favorite coffee shops I've tried. The Americano I had was tasty--smooth, strong, and well-balanced. Definitely one of the better ones I've had in a while. The vibe here is great too--relaxed, welcoming, and the kind of spot you want to hang out for a bit. Ordering was super easy with the kiosk system, which made things quick and hassle-free. Parking is available, but the lot can be a little tight. Cheers

    Rosa O.

    Had a bit of a mixed experience. First, the good: I ordered a toasted coconut latte, and it was delicious. The syrup is made in-house, and it absolutely came through. rich, smooth, and coconutty in all the right ways. Now, the not-so-great: the bathrooms were out of order, and I had no idea until it was almost too late. I had to literally dash out of there to find a restroom nearby, which is not the experience you want when you're trying to enjoy a cozy coffee moment. I really wish there had been signage at the outdoor ordering station, or literally ANYTHING to give me a heads up before placing an order. All in all, the coffee was a win, but a little better communication would've gone a long way in making the visit more comfortable.

    Sarah B.

    My husband and I love coming here for our Sunday morning coffee! My favorite part? The 16 Oz mugs! What can I say, I like big coffee mugs. Super simple to order at the screen or QR code at the tables. It does get busy and seating is limited so we like being early. Cozy 90s vibes inside, it does remind me of Friends. The zucchini bread is a delicious treat!

    Jennifer N.

    Coffee Shop No. 481 Smelly Cat Coffeehouse Charolette, NC March 13, 2025 We were driving through Charolette, NC and Smelly Cat Coffee House popped up on my Google search. With a name like this I couldn't resist stopping. The cafe has plenty of outdoor seating with a counter out on their patio to order your food if you don't want to step inside the cafe. The inside of the cafe has more seating. One of the first things to catch my attention was the use of old paint chipped doors to create individual spaces for customers. The baristas were very friendly and helpful. I caught one of them napping in front of the mural on the side of the building. Don't worry she knows I took a picture of her. My cortado was delicious. Enjoying life one cortado at a time!

    Jessie K.

    Such a quaint cafe! I like how you can stop by their pickup window, which is outside, to grab and go. Inside, there are a few tables but not many. However, the decor is cute: vintage doors repurposed as dividers between tables for some privacy that can serve as a little work space.

    Random cans and corn in the planters
    Stephanie R.

    We took a detour out of our way to try this place out after seeing such high ratings. Driving there took us through rough roads loaded with construction and closed roads. The parking lot for the coffee shop is very small with tight spaces. We walked up to a window where you have to hit a doorbell to alert people inside you are ready to order. Food and drinks come out of another window further down. We ordered a couple lattes (one regular, one lavender), the lavender one wasn't bad but the regular latte was pretty terrible, definitely a disappointment. We also ordered a bagel with cream cheese and a sausage egg & cheese biscuit, the breakfast sandwich was okay, but the bagel was pretty flavorless and had very little cream cheese, very disappointing compared to other shops we tried in the area. The front door has a sign which indicates you need to ask at the window if you want to dine inside, then they will come and let you in. I did go inside and check it out. They had some cool decor but was pretty small inside, dark, with limited seating. I was also a little confused by the small liquor bar inside which seemed very out of place. I was interested in grabbing a tshirt for a friend of mine until they informed me they were $27 each, just seems a bit over priced. Overall, we weren't impressed with our visit unfortunately, but others obviously enjoy it so maybe we just didn't get the best experience.

    a menu for a cafe
    Jeanne-Marie D.

    Located on a side street in the NoDa neighborhood, this spot has got to have some of the best coffee I've ever had. I've tried my fair share of local roasters/coffee brewers, and what's offered here is so incredibly fresh. I got an iced latte with skim milk and vanilla flavoring and it was just fantastic--not bitter at all, simply perfect. I didn't have the opportunity to try any food but I would definitely go back for that. You order from a window outside (not sure if you can go inside) and there's a few tables provided to park at. It's clearly a popular spot because there was a short line to order. Would definitely recommend this spot to any coffee fanatics out there!

    Update: I tried again to see that they did indeed remedy the situation! They now have a 20-30 minute wait sign where you pickup your coffee. You find out the wait after you order. It's a nice touch.

    Will R.

    Overall, ok and a good location set up for coffee when walking through Noda. A plus was their own parking lot so it was very easy to get in. I ordered an Americano, while the flavor was decent and not overly bitter/sour, it was too scorching hot for me. It took a long while to cool down enough to enjoy. Outside of that, service and staff seemed very friendly and nice. Indoors is locked and you order from the outside window. You can go in but have to ask them and they unlock for you.

    Inside looking at the window you order at.

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    24 days ago

    Great matcha at $8. Cool owner. There are outlets and free wifi. Decent place to do some light work

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    1 year ago

    Business owner information

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    1 year ago

    Good WiFi crappy ordering system great dirty chai. No gluten free tortilla options so only GF food is a $16 breakfast bowl

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    7 months ago

    Really good coffee shop if you're looking for a nice up of coffee and a snack. Perfect place for a catchup with a friend.

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    Page 1 of 17

    Ask the Community - Smelly Cat Coffee

    Do you still have the toasted coconut syrup?

    they do but they changed the recipe and it tastes like soap now!

    Are all the ingredients used to make the food organic?

    No.

    Can I buy your in-house roasted beans at the store? Or do I have to order it on your website for pickup?

    Yes you can buy our in-house roasted beans in our cafe. Orders are taken on our wood patio through our window. While you order, let the barista know you would like to go inside the cafe (front door stays locked). We will let you in so you can… 

    Do they have oat milk?

    Yes we do, as well as almond.

    Is the patio covered in case of rain?

    There is a side patio that is under a roof but it might be just a trellis and not a full roof. So maybe

    I hate to ask...but are there cats there? I'm allergic...

    The name is a reference to the tv show FRIENDS; no cats but people do bring their dogs outside on the patio!

    View All 7 Questions

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    The Hobbyist - Mimosa

    The Hobbyist

    4.5(227 reviews)
    0.9 miVilla Heights, NoDa
    $$

    The Hobbyist is such a cute cafe! My boyfriend and I wanted to enjoy some coffee while getting some…read morework done, and we stumbled upon this spot. It has such a calm vibe with plenty of seating inside and some outdoors as well. I loved that they offer seasonal drinks alongside their classics and food options. We opted for a cortado, a vanilla lavender matcha, and a chicken chorizo breakfast burrito. Everything tasted delicious and was served fast. We sat for around an hour working on our laptops and weren't interrupted. There were people chatting as well, so it's a great space to do both. I absolutely loved the fact that you can get other drinks too, since they have a large selection of wines and seltzers. Everyone we talked with was super sweet--I can't wait to visit again!

    I have been really wanting to try this space as they have wine as well! Parking was very limited as…read morethe coffee shop shares a building with multiple other tenants making it hard to find a parking spot with all the action in the area. Prior to going here I looked up their menu on their website and IG trying to decide what I wanted to order. I decided on the ube vanilla latte but they did not have that on their menu as it's on the fall menu that drops in a week or so from now. I felt like there was quite a bit of false advertising going on. However, I did order a vanilla latte and it was really good! It tasted like a vanilla ice cream cone!

    Photos
    The Hobbyist - Mimosa and donut

    Mimosa and donut

    The Hobbyist - Sparkling water and blueberry almond pop tart

    Sparkling water and blueberry almond pop tart

    The Hobbyist - Berry oat bar and mimosa

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    Berry oat bar and mimosa

    Salud Cerveceria

    Salud Cerveceria

    4.6(166 reviews)
    0.0 miNoDa
    $$

    I first came here during a night out with friends and had the best time dancing the night away,…read morethen came with a friend for lunch a couple of times. Each time I ordered something different and am always blown away at how amazing their food and drinks are. Everyone that works there is always so nice and welcoming! The vibes are emmaulate! There's also a beer shop downstairs as well, which is really cool to see how the business expands. Will definitely continue to comeback and is perfect for every occasion. Love support minority-owned businesses wherever I go! The owners are a Dominican/Charlotte-Native duo sharing their love for the community and culture with every visitor that enters. 10/10 would recommend the early gray tea matcha and the Mexican corn wings!!!

    As a foodie transplant from the Bay Area, I'm always on the hunt for dishes that remind me of…read morememorable meals from past travels. One that has stuck with me for years was a rosemary roasted potato pizza I discovered in a little hole-in-the-wall spot in Winnemucca, Nevada. When I saw a similar option on the menu here, I had to give it a try. I ordered the Liberation pizza and added Italian sausage, along with a side of wings and blue cheese. I was also curious about the Mexican street corn but requested it on the side so it wouldn't get soggy during the ride home. The timing was accurate--they quoted about 20 minutes--but parking in this area of North Davidson can be a bit challenging, especially during busy hours. It's a lively, high-traffic intersection, so plan accordingly if you're picking up. Here's where things got a little bumpy. When I got home, I realized the pizzas in the box were not mine. I called the restaurant, and to their credit, they immediately apologized and offered to remake the order right away. That kind of responsiveness goes a long way, and I appreciated their willingness to make it right without hesitation. I drove back to pick up the corrected order, and the staff again apologized and had everything ready. Unfortunately, when I got home the second time, the wings were there--but the blue cheese was missing. At that point, it was late, and I decided to just call it a night. Lesson learned on my end: always take a moment to check the order before leaving. Rookie mistake. Now for the food itself: * Pizza: Delicious overall, with great flavor and quality ingredients. I personally prefer a thinner crust, but the taste was solid. The truffle oil was a bit heavy for my palate and slightly overpowered the other flavors. I also would have preferred the sausage to be crumbled rather than in larger chunks for more even distribution. * Wings: Very good--crispy, well-seasoned, and satisfying. They just really needed that blue cheese to complete the experience. Despite the hiccups, the team handled the situation professionally, and the food quality is clearly there. This is a popular neighborhood spot with creative menu options, and I'd absolutely give them another try. Helpful tip for future customers: Parking can be tight, and takeout orders can get busy--so double-check your order before you leave. It'll save you a second trip. Overall, a lively local place with strong flavors, good recovery on service, and a menu that's worth exploring.

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    Salud Cerveceria
    Salud Cerveceria - Lemon Pepper wings & local beer

    Lemon Pepper wings & local beer

    Salud Cerveceria - Crunchwrap is my favorite

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    Crunchwrap is my favorite

    Waterbean Coffee - Interior

    Waterbean Coffee

    2.7(3 reviews)
    0.1 miNoDa

    Came here to catch up with a friend on Sunday at 11:30am. It was totally empty. Parked across the…read morestreet and was able to keep my eye on car the entire time which was nice. I asked to try a couple ice cream flavors- salted caramel and banana. The barista must have been waking up still because I watched him spoon coffee instead of banana and asked him as he handed it to me "That's banana". He confirmed and when I tasted it I said "that tastes like coffee, not banana" then he just kind of apologized and gave me the actual banana sample. I noticed the ice cream did not look fresh and was freezer burned so I passed altogether anyway and just got some macarons which was another ordeal because this first 3 flavors I picked from the list they said they were out of, so the sign was outdated. Overall it's not a bad spot and has nice decor and ambience but the service and menu could use some fine tuning... @azfitfoodfub

    Grabbed an iced vanilla latte from here midday on a Friday and it wasn't busy at all, just a few…read morepeople working in the coffee shop or meeting up with people. I was in desperate need of some caffeine and the latte was super tasty and definitely did the job. It was maybe a couple bucks more than I'd normally like to pay but beyond that it was very decent. They even had some food items available which would be nice to try in the future. The place itself was very modern and sleek with plenty of seats available to park at. And it's located in a great part of NoDa too which is helpful. Definitely a new favorite spot when I'm in Charlotte.

    Photos
    Waterbean Coffee
    Waterbean Coffee
    Waterbean Coffee - Apparently avocado toast

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    Apparently avocado toast

    Smelly Cat Coffee - coffee - Updated September 2026

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