Charlotte's Best Porches, Patios and Decks
Where to dine and drink al fresco in the Queen City.
by Leah Hughes Mar 12, 2023
Whether you’re looking for a romantic night under the stars, a lively place to sample a flight of craft beers or a table for two with some delectable dishes, there are a bevy of fabulous eateries in Charlotte with prime outdoor real estate. And, if you want to elevate your dining and drinking experience, check out Charlotte’s popular rooftop bars and restaurants.
Pick Your Patio
While summertime cookouts in the backyard are a must, head to these promising patios around Charlotte when you don’t feel like firing up the grill at home.
Camp North End
Neighborhood: Camp North End
At Camp North End, a 76-acre district filled with shops, restaurants, bars, galleries and more, there’s no shortage of outdoor patio space. Reserve a patio table at Leah & Louise, helmed by Greg and Subrina Collier, and enjoy Southern cuisine with an emphasis on Mississippi River Valley foodways. Or grab a mixture of different bites from Saru by Bow Ramen, Bleu Barn Bistro, Plant Joy and La Caseta then post up at one of the many picnic tables throughout the space.
Canopy Cocktails & Garden
Neighborhood: South End
Situated along the Rail Trail, Canopy Cocktails & Garden features three bars, each with its own distinct vibe. Order from one of the inside bars or grab a drink from the fully stocked bar outside. Unwind with your craft cocktail on a chic and comfortable couch on Canopy’s massive patio.
Dilworth Tasting Room
Neighborhood: Dilworth, SouthPark
The speakeasy-esque interior is stunning on its own, but there’s a reason Dilworth Tasting Room’s original location is frequently named one of the most charming garden patios in the city. Graze on a delectable cheese board as you savor a glass of chardonnay under twinkling lights at both locations.
Flower Child
Neighborhood: South End
For some healthier eats al fresco, head to Flower Child in South End. This fast-casual chain serves bowls, salads and wraps using fresh ingredients. Enjoy options like a spicy tofu wrap with Thai basil or the Mother Earth ancient grains bowl on the sunny patio, overlooking the light rail.
The Goodyear House
Neighborhood: NoDa
Perch up at The Goodyear House and indulge in chef Chris Coleman’s elevated comfort food. The 1900s mill home was transformed into a 5,000-square-foot restaurant with several different seating areas, including a gorgeous outdoor patio and bar space.
The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery
Neighborhood: Lower South End
The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, Charlotte’s first craft brewery, adheres to German standards in brewing beer. The brewery’s patio extends onto an expansive beer garden, one of the largest in the Southeast. The picnic tables are an ideal place to enjoy a flagship Copper amber ale and warm Bavarian-style pretzel as the kids play on the fenced-in lawn.
Optimist Hall
Neighborhood: Optimist Park
Located in Optimist Park, this food hall has tons of sip-and-savor options like Bao and Broth, Boxcar Betty’s, The Spindle Bar and El Thrifty. The outdoor courtyard offers seating with views of Uptown and shade by way of colorful yellow umbrellas.
Pasta & Provisions
Neighborhoods: Montford Park, Myers Park, South End
Pasta & Provisions, an Italian grocer and deli, has been serving made-to-order sandwiches, pizzas and pastas for more than 20 years. The Charlotte institution's Park Road location has an intimate patio where guests can enjoy their dishes paired with a glass of beer or wine. The newest location in South End also has outdoor seating on a street-side patio.
Pinhouse
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
Enjoy some friendly competition with a game of duckpin bowling at Pinhouse. When you aren’t throwing strikes, grab a cold drink from the 72-tap self-pour wall and hangout on the large grassy patio. Or order from the on-site food truck and eat at one of the high-top tables on the second-floor patio.
The Suffolk Punch
Neighborhood: South End
Suffolk Punch is part restaurant, brewery and coffee shop, complete with an expansive outdoor patio. Take the LYNX Blue Line to New Bern station then find a seat at one of the picnic tables. You can soak up the sunshine while sipping a brewed beverage and indulging in seasonal fare for brunch, lunch or dinner.
Sycamore Brewing
Neighborhood: South End
Sycamore Brewing is the place to be when the weather is nice. With a spacious patio filled with picnic tables, a second outdoor bar slinging cold beverages and a platform for live music, it’s as hopping as the tap room. While you enjoy a beer, your furry friend can drink from a water bowl and lounge in the beer garden with you.
Skiptown
Neighborhood: South End
A canine oasis, Skiptown offers 15,000 square feet of outdoor space with a splash pad, agility obstacles and plenty of room to get the “zoomies” out. While Skiptown is a dog park, humans can order a drink from the bar and take a seat at one of the picnic tables on the spacious grassy area.
VBGB Beer Hall and Garden
Neighborhood: Uptown
This German-inspired pub and outdoor beer hall, VBGB Beer Hall and Garden, has one of the largest patios in Charlotte offering more than 30 craft beers on tap. After relaxing on the patio, head over to The Sandbox and watch a sand volleyball game.
Village Tavern
Neighborhood: SouthPark
Fall in love with dining outdoors at Village Tavern, overlooking Symphony Park. Voted Best Outdoor Dining by The Charlotte Observer year after year, Village Tavern serves thoughtfully prepared dishes, craft cocktails award-winning wines and local beers. Sip discounted beer, wine or cocktails on the patio during one of the restaurant’s daily drink specials.
Zio Casual Italian
Neighborhood: Myers Park
Tucked in the heart of Myers Park, Zio Casual Italian is the go-to spot for locals to enjoy authentic Italian fare. Perhaps its best kept secret is the intimate patio and courtyard, decorated with flora and glittering lights. While Zio is a casual restaurant, the dreamy, al fresco setting is a great locale for date night.
Southern Porches
In the South, we spend nearly as much time on the front porch as we do in the living room. In fact, Charlotte Douglas International Airport greets you with its own front-porch style — white rocking chairs in its tree-lined atrium.
300 East
Neighborhood: Dilworth
When a large, stately house is remodeled into a restaurant, it’s easy to feel at home. 300 East, on Dilworth’s East Boulevard, has been serving upscale American fare for 30 years. Linger over dessert on the white-columned porch that wraps around the restaurant. Pastry chef Ashley Bivens Boyd is known for her confections that resemble works of art.
Brakeman’s Coffee
Area: Matthews
A Matthews gem, Brakeman’s Coffee invites guests to “hit the brakes” and settle in at this revitalized 1925-era house. An enclosed front porch allows you to take in the picturesque views of downtown. Sip on signature favorites, like the lavender latte or the “Locomocha,” from a table on the porch or one of the outdoor patios.
Cajun Queen
Neighborhood: Elizabeth
A1918 brick structure, that was once a single-family home, became a Charlotte favorite for New Orleans-style fare. The Cajun Queen’s second-floor terrace beckons hungry passersby with whiffs of garlic and the sounds of smooth jazz. The restaurant has live music nightly with indoor seating upstairs and downstairs.
The Duke Mansion
Neighborhood: Myers Park
Once owned by James Buchanan Duke, of Duke Energy and Duke University fame, The Duke Mansion bed and breakfast is a treasure of the Myers Park community. The guest rooms’ screened-in sleeping porches, overlooking immaculately landscaped gardens, are considered among its finest amenities. If you can’t stay overnight, take a tour of the mansion during the weekly Cocktails in the Garden event.
The Fig Tree Restaurant
Neighborhood: Elizabeth
The Fig Tree is a fine-dining icon in the Elizabeth neighborhood. It’s located in the Lucas House, a historic 1913 Craftsman-style bungalow. The signature elk chop is especially good when enjoyed on the veranda, overlooking the blooming fig trees, with a glass of perfectly paired wine.
NoDa Company Store
Neighborhood: NoDa
The NoDa Company Store has fast become a local gathering spot, featuring vibrant murals, live music, craft beer and signature house-made sangria. This casual spot has porch swings, oversized cabanas and a back patio with umbrella-covered picnic tables, perfect for grabbing a drink with friends.
Delightful Decks
From fire pits to outdoor games, make plans to hang out at some of Charlotte’s delightful decks. These are the perfect setting to do everything from watching a baseball game to sipping a beer beneath the sunshine.
Brazwells Premium Pub
Neighborhood: Montford
At Brazwells Premium Pub, warm weather means draft beers, tasty bites hot off the kitchen’s grill, and tables filled with chatter and laughter on the sprawling deck. Located on Montford Drive’s 1/3-mile entertainment strip, Brazwells offers a dockside feel — it’s surprising not to find a shoreline just beyond the deck’s railing.
Caswell Station
Neighborhood: Elizabeth
The sprawling deck and patio spaces at Caswell Station are perfect for watching the game, catching up with coworkers or enjoying a night out with friends. Shade sails over the deck, and a seasonal mule in your hand will offer some reprieve on those Southern summer days.
Hello, Sailor
Area: Cornelius
Just outside of Charlotte, Hello, Sailor, a Southern-seafood restaurant created by Joe and Katy Kindred, has an incredible view of Lake Norman on its outdoor deck. Enjoy everything from lobster rolls to tiki cocktails while hanging lakeside.
Moosehead Grill
Neighborhood: Montford
Just up the block from Brazwells, Moosehead Grill is a casual, no-frills neighborhood joint. Have a seat on the multi-tiered deck and choose from a dozen different wing flavors. Uncle Donnie’s famous blackened wings are a go-to choice for many Moosehead regulars.
Thomas Street Tavern
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
Thomas Street Tavern in Plaza Midwood contains an adult’s playground out back. The large deck has built-in fire pits and a second outdoor bar. Cornhole and ping pong are popular diversions when you aren’t eating.
Truist Field
Neighborhood: Uptown
The Home Run Porch at Truist Field is one of the most energetic sections in the park. The standing-room-only porch gives Charlotte Knights fans an up-close view as balls soar over the right-field wall. Paper Mill Pub, a two-story pub with an outdoor patio, is slated to open at Truist Field this summer.
Article originally written by Leah Hughes. Updates by Arielle Patterson in March 2023.
