Just Opened in Charlotte – April 2024
Buckle up, Charlotte! There’s a slew of new businesses for you to enjoy this spring.
by Allie Papajohn Apr 26, 2024
Eat & Drink
The Accidental Baker
Neighborhood: Midtown
No gluten? No fear! This new bakery at The Metropolitan shopping center specializes in gluten-free baked foods. Owner and baker Matt Cabana started out baking for friends and family just months ago, and now you can purchase his products. Inside, you’ll find a rotating selection of bagels, loaves, croissants, cookies and more.
Bruno
Neighborhood: Optimist Park
The Seoul Food Meat Co. location in the Mill District is now home to a speakeasy offering classic cocktails and an impressive selection of bourbons. You won’t need a password to enter, but you will need to press a call button for access. For now, the speakeasy is for walk-ins only, and a food menu is coming soon.
Cakeable Café
Neighborhood: Uptown
For several years, Cakeable Charlotte has provided individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities job training and employment opportunities. Now, the organization will run a café and give its participants a chance to learn job skills while selling the baked goods they make. Haerfest Coffee will be available at the shop, too.
Catalú
Neighborhood: South End
No strangers to the restaurant scene, the folks of Qué Hospitality Group have opened Spanish concept. The cuisine is influenced by the Catalonia region of Spain, featuring dishes such as patatas bravas, paella, pinchitos and bone-in oxtail. The cocktail menu includes bright libations with several “gintonic” options and sangrias.
Cookie Plug
Neighborhood: Lower South End
If thick cookies are your thing, this California-based bakery is for you. At Cookie Plug, you’ll find a variety of huge cookies in flavors such as s’mores, strawberry cheesecake and fruity pebbles. The bakery also serves mini cookies, keto cookies and cookie ice cream sandwiches.
The Everyday Market
Neighborhood: Lower South End
If you’ve ever traveled down outside of Charlotte to the Belmont location, you’re in luck! There’s a new Everyday Market now open at LoSo Village. Stop by for house-made pastries, cakes, and breakfast or lunch sandwiches, plus coffee and retail items.
The Exchange Market
Neighborhood: Uptown
If you’re familiar with The Exchange at 36th in NoDa, then you’ll feel right at home inside this new spot located next to Monarch Market. While it mostly serves as a grab-and-go market with sandwiches, snacks and drinks, guests are still welcome to sit at the available tables.
K-Loco
Neighborhood: South End
Self-serve taproom Hoppin’ now has a new permanent food truck. At K-Loco, you’ll indulge in Korean corn dogs, birria tacos and ramen, street tacos or loaded fries. Everything will pair just perfectly with your drink of choice.
Lost Worlds Brewing
Neighborhood: Midtown
Fans of this Cornelius-based brewery can now enjoy these beers at The Metropolitan shopping center. The taproom, which is decorated with archaeological artifacts, offers beer, wine, cocktails and more plus a full lineup of weekly specials with fun events to come.
Maíz, Agua, Sal
Neighborhood: Wesley Heights
From the owners of Craft Tasting Room and Lincoln Street Kitchen and Cocktails, MAS offers breakfast, lunch, weekend brunch and dinner featuring house-made tortillas and Mexican dishes by chef Jonathan Olvera. Amanda Britton leads the cocktail program, which has a focus on mezcal and tequila.
Orosoko Sound Bar
Neighborhood: South End
An intimate cocktail lounge, with specific focus on fantastic acoustics, is now open in South End. Guests can sip on unique craft cocktails and enjoy shareable dishes from the kitchen. Reservations are now available online.
Pizza Baby East
Neighborhood: Elizabeth
This new restaurant, from the same owners as Pizza Baby West, offers Roman pizza that is baked on focaccia bread. Stop by in the morning for house-made pastries such as muffins, scones and morning buns. At dinner, expect 12-inch round pizzas and an array of small plates and wine options.
Sneak
Neighborhood: Elizabeth
This new cocktail bar calls itself a “sneak-easy,” combining aspects of a speakeasy and lounge without any secrecy. Sip on carefully crafted drinks and enjoy bar snacks in an intimate, unexpected setting in the corner of the Pecan Point shopping center.
Substrate
Neighborhood: Optimist Park
Explore natural wine, vermouth and amaro at this new bar that seats about 50 people inside and the same outdoors. While the bar doesn’t have a kitchen, you are allowed to bring in outside food. Guests are also welcome to browse the vinyl collection and add their favorites to the queue for the evening.
Sun’s Kitchen
Neighborhood: Lower South End
Once operated out of The City Kitch, this Chinese street food concept is now open in a brick-and-mortar location. Fans love the scratch-made dumplings in various colors alongside Dan Dan Noodles, skewers and the braised beef noodle soup.
Two Buck Saloon
Area: Pineville
Forget all that fancy stuff. This popular neighborhood bar just opened its third location – this time in Pineville. Patrons know and love the $2 beer specials and “Buck Shots,” also known as a pint of PBR paired with a shot of Jim Beam.
Veggeez Plant Based Eatery
Area: Waxhaw
There’s no meat or dairy in sight at this plant-based restaurant, but that doesn’t mean you can’t order your fair share of tacos, burgers, chili or mac and “cheez.” The husband-wife team offering this decadent lineup of vegan food previously owned Provisions Waxhaw, which they sold in 2022.
What the Fries
Neighborhood: Wesley Heights
Feel the loss of What The Fries no more. The concept reopened just inside The City Kitch with a full dining room and options for pick up, too. The menu still consists of irresistible loaded fries plus smash burgers, chicken sandwiches and desserts.
Yama
Neighborhood: Lower South End
This Japanese restaurant has opened its third location with a similar menu to the SouthPark and Waverly eateries. You’ll browse through a strong selection of sushi rolls plus small hot and cold dishes, nigiri, sashimi and larger entrées.
Things to Do
Physoulcal Fitness and Wellness
Area: Northwest Charlotte
A new boutique fitness studio is open in the Mountain Island Lake area. The locally owned business offers a mix of yoga and barre classes with a different emphasis each class, like strength or a slower flow. See the schedule here.
Whitewater Off Leash
Area: West Charlotte
Let your pup have a big time at this new 70-acre dog park at the U.S. National Whitewater Center. All dog breeds and sizes are welcome off-leash, and the area includes a pebble beach, dock and dog wash station.
