Love Idlewild. The staff are cool and laidback. The ambiance is calming and the cocktails are…read moregreat. Sometimes there is a wait but even then I've only waited for less than an hour.

AMAZING spot! One of the best lounges in Charlotte. Very intimate and romantic…read more You need to make reservations for the bar walk-in are welcome and they will sit you in the tables. Enjoy cocktails made specifically to your liking. If there is a drink you like they can make it for you based off what you like. Drinks we had was an Old Fashioned and a twist on a french 75 (made with tequila and passion fruit) need to try it. GREAT service mixologist here are amazing. Its a show! Thank you guys!

Came here for drinks after dinner. It's a small, intimate space so I would suggest making a…read morereservation to claim your spot. We were a walk in but were able to score a table outside which was perfect. The drinks are good and the staff members work as a team so there's not one primary waitress. I ordered a custom drink where I told the server what I liked and the bartender created something based on my likes. It was a "fruity" tequila based drink and I enjoyed it. We were given a bowl of complementary kettle corn to enjoy with our drinks. The music was a mix of r&b and hip hop and was loud enough to vibe but didn't overpower the conversations. Random Notes: Parking is validated and the hidden bathroom was so cute. The inside is perfect for selfies lol.

Wow what an experience! I'm in Charlotte for the weekend, and my good friend's colleague…read morerecommended we come here after dinner for drinks. There's outdoor seating, and initially we wanted to sit outside but we didn't have reservations. Luckily, they seated us at a small corner section near the back of the bar. It's very cozy and intimate inside. Just my type of vibe. The service was top tier. They were unable to validate our parking because of some sort of discrepancy with the signage outside and lack of having the proper equipment for validation. To make up for it, they offered us complimentary champagne to start. We were not expecting that, and pleasantly surprised! Their menu has an eclectic selection of cocktails, both full and mini. We opted to order from the mini cocktail menu, and we each ordered two drinks. I had the Creepy cucumber cocktail and it was refreshingly sweet and probably my favorite drink of the night. I also ordered the Don't Shy Away which was a sour and spicy rum concoction with carrot in it. It was definitely spicy and had a puréed texture. I really enjoyed it. And, then don't get me started on the music!!! The dj was masterful. He played all the types of music I love and he mixed them in such a refreshing way. I ended up asking him for his contact information before leaving, and whether he does weddings because my fiancé and I are currently looking for a DJ. He was just that good. This would definitely be my spot if I lived here in Charlotte. It was the perfect way for us to end the night.

This place is so cool. It is down an alley with a bunch of other bars! It's upstairs. It's small…read moreand the drinks and service were amazing! Shay was our bartender and she recommended a drink that she created and it was amazing. It was sort of raspberry and citrusy! We loved the vibe and the quaintness!

The ambiance is trendy, southern-rustic mixed with wood and night lounge vibes. The aroma of the…read moreroom smells like roasted marshmallows. The service is great and the bartenders are more-so artists.

I came here by coincidence and it became one of my Charlotte favorites…read more The staff was incredibly attentive, they gave us an appetitive drink or however you wanna call them and free popcorn. The cocktail menu changes every 6 months and this time it was famous pirates of history themed. Cocktails themselves were incredible. During the week sometimes they have live music and I'm planning to go back for that!!!! Loved it!

3.5/5 stars. Went back to Blue Door to give it another chance with the new menu... it's still my…read moreleast favorite cocktail bar in all of charlotte. The menu this time is theme park theme... again, a fun concept but not well executed. Pretty overwhelming, especially with the bartenders explaining the menu to us twice with the same spiel there is too much to look at it makes it difficult to pay attention to the drinks. I really did not love my drink (starbreaker?) you could only taste the lychee The bartenders not a vibe, it was not that comfortable to sit at the bar. They now serve food, hotdogs... which do NOT match the vibe at all, so that was interesting that their only food (other than the free popcorn) is not hot dogs..

I had an enjoyable experience. I ordered the NYC falafel which, although it could be a bit larger,…read morewas very good. The default side was fries and I asked if there were any substitutions. One was a small side Caesar salad which I got. I was disappointed in the continuing practice for restaurants to charge for small changes like this within informing the customer. Waitress was very nice, however and attentive. What is also quite unique about the restaurant was that you could order small 4 oz beers, just for tasting at $2-3 each. The place is quite large and must get incredibly noisy at times with the hard surfaces and multiple TVs. There is an option to sit directly at the bar or at tables.

The Degenerate is a cool, industrially designed space featuring great bites and drinks. What I love…read moremost is that the menu puts a unique spin on a lot of traditional, classic items. If you are looking for recommendations, I highly suggest trying: The Meatballs: A fantastic twist on a classic, served in a delicious lemon dill sauce instead of a typical marinara. The Sliders: Perfect pulled pork paired with fried green tomatoes and a tangy horseradish sauce. They also feature a highly creative and unique cocktail menu. Two of my personal standouts are the Beetle Juice, which incorporates fresh beet juice, and The Fishbone, which brilliantly highlights their house-made aquavit. Overall, it's a wonderful spot for a great atmosphere and an inventive menu!

It honestly hurts to leave this review, but Chief's today is a shadow of what it was when it first…read moreopened. My latest visit will unfortunately be my last. When we entered, the staff didn't even acknowledge us, so we grabbed a few menus and went to find a seat. The guests sitting next to us had to let us know that there was no longer table service and that you now have to order everything at the bar. When we looked over the menu, we noticed it had been significantly pared down to very basic cocktails--a massive disappointment compared to the creative drink menus, milk punches, and rotating selections they used to feature. Hoping to still support a local neighborhood business, I went up to the bar to order, but I was completely ignored by the staff, so we left and headed to Humbug which never disappoints. It is a genuine shame to see how much this place has declined.

My espresso martini with reposado tequila is the best espresso martini that I've ever had. There…read morewas enough froth on top of the martini which lasted until the last drop. I'll be back. There's enough space for small & large groups in the inside and outside seating areas. The service may be a little slow on Friday nights due to NODA being a popular area on Friday nights.

We got on the walk-in list 30 minutes before arriving, but when we got there, the host told us it…read morewould still be about an hour wait. There were several "reserved" tables that remained empty until after we had finished eating, so I think the restaurant could benefit from a better reservation system with more accurate buffer times to accommodate walk-in guests. To avoid the wait, we decided to sit at the bar, and I'm glad we did because the food was amazing. The fried chicken and waffles were perfectly seasoned, and the waffle had a unique texture and flavor that reminded me of a combination of a traditional waffle and a soft pretzel. The cheesy potato cake was absolutely delicious. The fruit bowl was also good, but I wish they had been a little more generous with the blueberry pudding. The shrimp and grits came with large tomatoes, which may not be for everyone, and my friend felt the dish was lacking grits overall. She didn't feel like she got her money's worth. Would I go back? Absolutely. My meal was delicious, and I can't wait to return and try more of their homemade, fresh dishes. I also think it's great that they partner with local farmers to help curate their menu.

Elevated southern cuisine at its finest! I felt like at was back at memorial weekend family reunion…read moredays but with a twist. Everything we ate was delicious . The only reason I knocked a star was the service. The server we had was on top of it but it did take a bit to get seated (there were many empty tables) and it felt a little dry.

Great little neighborhood bar in plaza midwood, with an amazing playlist, 59 hrs long !! Also great…read moredrinks ! We came to grab a drink after a concert, found a spot at the bar. Interesting menu for cocktails. Very unusual and unique recipes. With down ingredients I've never heard of. Definitely crafting their cocktails. Service was great, the owner sits at the bar with customers which was cool. We scanned the menu but stuck to the classic Negroni which was made perfectly and their version of an espresso martini made with salted coconut foam. A very strong drink and I loved that foam! Good take on it. We had a great time enjoying our cocktails and listening to the music amongst our own conversations. Nice and chill place to hang out . Inside was cool with great artwork. They also had a patio too. I was glad to see they stayed busy til they closed at 1am. Really enjoyed finally checking this place out.

Lots to choose from on the menu. Came for the espresso martini, but it wasn't it for us. The fernet…read morebranca was off-putting. Definitely a unique take, but I didn't like the menthol/minty flavor. The peach beach drink was fun, but would've loved to see it just on the rocks & not frozen (perhaps an option?) - fun little beach ball stress ball on it, though! The staff was friendly and informative, as well as attentive. Also, the cheez-its were delicious as a snack. Cool spot for a cocktail with friends or a date. Room at the bar and tables, plus outdoor seating. Not sure the status on the pool table if you have to pay per game, but they do have one.

Eighty Eights Coffee & Cocktails was one of the highlights of my Charlotte trip. It was my second…read morestop of the evening, and from the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was on point. The live music was incredible and kept the energy going all night. I ordered the Espresso Martini and the Spicy Margarita, and both were perfectly crafted. You can tell they put just as much care into the drinks as they do the entertainment. If you're visiting Charlotte or you're local and haven't been yet, add this place to your list. Great music, great cocktails, and an overall experience that's hard to beat. There's truly something musical for everyone.

I came here on a date night and I was blown away with the experience. The environment is lit dimly…read moreand there is seating at the bar or in the floor area. I came in January and I believe this was their first weekend accepting reservations, so it was a little hectic, but everything soon calmed down. During the time I was having dry January, but the cocktail that I had was super flavorful and plentiful. A lot of times when you order a drink it is so tiny and not worth the money. I don't recall the name of the band, but they were phenomenal. All of the guests in the crowd were really nice. The lounge was not really packed because it was freezing outside and we were getting snow the next day. I had the opportunity to meet with the manager. She was very informative and sweet. I definitely look forward to coming back here again.

I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that Dot Dot Dot sets the standard when it comes to…read morespeakeasies in the Queen City. They are located in the back of the Park Road Shopping center which isn't where you would expect to find one of the classiest cocktail joints in the city, but like any good speakeasy, they keep a low profile and looks can be deceiving. Membership is $10.00 annually, and they are very keen on making sure the place isn't overcrowded, so if you arrive without a reservation, there is a chance you may not be given a seat. It isn't to be snooty, they simply want to make sure that experience for all guests meets a certain standard, and to do that they make sure that there aren't people standing around the bar and crowding it. We took our chances recently before grabbing dinner nearby, and by a stroke of luck they had two open bar seats. Their cocktail menu is second to none. They have creative options cooked up by their mixologists, or they can serve up the classics. It's honestly hard to go wrong, I haven't had a bad drink here. The service is top notch. You can tell the people behind the bar enjoy what they do. Even if you aren't a big cocktail person and this may not seem like your scene, I still highly recommend trying it out sometime. It's a great experience!

What a fun spot to visit while in town! My girlfriend had been wanting to try it, so we took the…read moreopportunity while I was staying with her this week. We did make reservations for a Monday night, though it wasn't busy at all, so you could probably swing by on a whim should you want to during the week. The place was a bit elusive to find, as you have to look for the '3 dot sign' with a staff member guarding the door, which I'm sure is the intent! Once you enter, you walk down a long, candlelit hall, which sets the speakeasy mood right away. Upon entering, the classic speakeasy vibe hits you! Dim lighting, leather chairs, a beautiful bar stocked to the brim with whiskey, bourbon, scotch, and all the other good things you would expect to find in a place that prides itself on great cocktails. It certainly set the mood and got us ready to have an experience. The mixologists were welcoming and informative. I enjoyed my first drink, which was suggested based on my personal preferences in taste. It was a spin off a classic, and I really enjoyed it. Sort of like a cross of a penicillin and a whiskey sour. [The Never Ending Story]. My friend had the clarified punch since we had similar things we've loved in the past. It was slightly sweet, smooth, and easy to sip. We decided to just get some classics since the cocktail menu felt more like just off shots of other classics we love. They were both excluded well! But the thing that really blew us away was the food! I was really pleased with this portion of our evening! We had the crispy Brussels sprouts, and they were the best BSs I've ever had! I thought we'd take some home, but that did not happen! My friend got the Mushroom Casarecce. It was creamy and delicious! The beef carpaccio was also really nice. Overall, we had a nice night, and it was a fun experience to be had!