The Ultimate Queen City Gift Guide
Looking for the perfect gift for that special someone on your list? Charlotte shops make it easy to curate gifts and experiences no matter who's on the receiving end.
by Liz Logan Nov 22, 2022
For the Cocktail & Craft Beer Aficionados
Got a craft beverage-lover in your life? Drink up the options at these local shops and experiences.
- Give the gift of Charlotte’s Brew Badge, a one- or three-day pass to over a dozen area breweries, complete with special deals at each. Pair it with a seasonal 4-pack from Free Range Brewing, NoDa Brewing Company or Pilot Brewing and you’ve got yourself a gift worther of a GABF award.
- Know someone who likes to mix it up at home? Pick up a cocktail mixer, a few bar cart accessories, an illustrative recipe book or even a pass to a craft cocktail class from The Cocktailery to shake things up for your budding mixologist.
- Send your beer-lover on a guided behind-the-scenes tour of some of the city’s best breweries with a day of drinking led by City Brew Tours or Brew Ha-Ha Tours.
For the Sports Fanatics
Any avid sports fan will fawn over these thoughtful gifts, giving them something to cheer about whether their team wins or loses.
Pick from three ticket combo packs to the NASCAR Hall of Fame for a day meandering through the memorabilia and interacting with hands-on exhibits. Wrap it all up with a gift card to the Hall of Fame Gear Shop to really get their engines revved up.
Make it easy for your sports fan to wear their team pride on their sleeve with merch designed by 704 Shop or Glory Days Apparel or, for the vintage sports gear fan, pick up a piece of sports nostalgia at Old News Vintage.
Treat your sports fan to gameday tickets and team merch from Charlotte FC, Charlotte Hornets, Carolina Panthers or Charlotte Checkers and send them on their way to root, root, root for the home team.
For the Homebodies
Know someone looking to stay cozy and enjoy the great indoors? Give a gift to help them elevate their space from these fun gift shops.
Browse the displays of notebooks, candles and greeting cards at Archer Paper Goods, Paper Skyscraper and Good Postage to find the perfect print or pattern that’s sure to please.
Pick up artwork or home accessories from Wendy O’Connor Art & Home, Pura Vida Worldly Art or Society Social to add that extra detail to your loved one’s well-adorned interiors.
Pick up locally sourced Charlotte-centric goodies, locally sourced homegoods and gifts from the Charlotte Visitor Info Center or CLT Find. Grab a plant at Grow: A Plant Shop and head across the common area at Camp North End to Lokal by Hygge for more curated goods for the native or newcomer Charlottean.
For the Fashion-Focused
Got a fashionista on your hand? Good thing Charlotte’s got plenty of boutiques and shops to fit nearly every style.
Clothing, jewelry and accessories are easy to come by at Girl Tribe Co., Vestique, Johnny Fly, The Sporting Gent and Ivy & Leo. Put together a selection that’s sure to please with the help of these fashion-forward shops.
Looking to adorn with luxury jewelry? Pick up pieces from Tiny Gods or The Golden Carrot for high-end finds that are sure to become heirloom pieces.
Got a hard-to-please sneaker head in your life? Hit up the latest shoe releases from Social Status, Black Sheep or Request Boutique to give kicks they’re sure to get a kick out of.
For the Thrill-Seekers
Don’t know what to get the adrenaline junkie in your life? Send them on an adventure that fits their thrill-of-choice.
For a thrilling-yet-lowkey experience, pick up an Explore CLT Pass for a curated one- or two-day Charlotte-centric adventure with area museums and gardens on the agenda.
For something a bit more adrenaline boosting, send your adventurer for a day of whitewater rafting and ziplining at the U.S. National Whitewater Center, complete with drinks from the Pump House Biergarten to wind down after a day of excitement.
Games and rides abound at Carowinds, Frankie’s Fun Park or District 57 – passes to any of which would be sure to please those looking for a good time.
For the Vintage & Antique Lovers
Looking for a timeless treasure? Browse these area antique favorites for gifts from fashion to ephemera.
Take a day browsing more than 60,000 square feet of vendors at Sleepy Poet Antique Mall for unique homegoods, art or collectibles to find something that is as one-of-a-kind as the vintage-lover on your list.
Vintage clothes are always in fashion. Get some goodies from The Rat’s Nest, East 8th Vintage or Stash Pad, complete with hard-to-find homegoods.
Choose from the old and the new with Interior design accessories from Circa Interiors & Antiques, The Depot at Gibson Mill or Ladonna Antiques for the perfect home accessory for your high-end friend.
For the Foodies
Fine food lovers will love the flavors from tastemakers around the city with curated gift baskets or cooking classes from these area food faves.
Curate a collection of hand-selected charcuterie from Babe & Butcher; wine, cheese and more from The Culture Shop; or local gifts from wine and beer to cocktail mixers and coffee from area Rhino Markets.
Got an aspiring home chef on your hands? Choose from a variety of cooking classes from Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen and treat your foodie to a hands-on learning experience with options for all ages.
Put together a sweet gift with baked goods from area confectioners like Wentworth & Fenn, Manolo’s Bakery and Suárez Bakery for a balance of classic treats and world-class flavores.
For the Fam
Looking for something for the whole family? Charlotte’s full of must-experience destinations for kids and grown-ups of all ages.
For the science-loving kiddos among you, give a day of fun at Discovery Place Science (or up the ante with an annual membership) or send them beneath the surface at SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord aquarium.
For a family-friendly show, get tickets to traveling acts from Broadway to kid-centric sing-alongs at the BOplex.
Give tickets to a wild ride through Lazy 5 Ranch for miles of animals roaming car-side or for a walk through the Carolina Raptor Center for up-close encounters with birds of prey, complete with gifts from local art to bird-centric clothing in the trail’s gift shop.
For the Music Maestros
You’ll really hit the high note with tickets to these area entertainment venues, from large scale to lowkey, complete with a side of dinner and drinks.
You can’t go wrong with a show at Middle C Jazz, featuring live performances multiple times each week. Grab a gift card for drinks and dessert at Fahrenheit.
Get tickets for traveling musical acts or dance parties at the Fillmore and set your recipient up for dinner at Bocao at AvidXChange for a full night of Music Factory magic.
Let your music lover stroll the streets of NoDa, starting with soulful Southern dinner at Haberdish and a show that’s sure to please at Neighborhood Theatre.
