Smelly Cat Coffee House & Roastery
Smelly Cat Coffeehouse & Roastery, established in 2000, is Charlotte's longest standing craft coffee venue. Smelly Cat is unashamedly people centered, NoDa community minded, and supports peoples choice for how they like to personalize their coffee experience. Whether you're searching for a single origin pour over, a refreshing cold brew on nitrogen, or a specialty espresso drink, we've got what you're looking for. And that's just the tip of the iceberg!
Dacia Zimmer
They have a 5 star rating for a reason, this roaster/restaurant is top notch. Between the excellent service and amazing coffee, this is a place to go to. I was privileged enough to meet the owner who is extremely kind and knowledgeable about her products. If you're looking for a cute spot to work or grab a quick bite to eat, this is your spot.
Marielys Marrero
I was in town for a couple of days and wanted coffee before starting our adventure for the day. We got 2 breakfast items and 2 coffees. (25$ btw) Got the coffees right away and it was BAD. It was very bitter and we didnt even get half way through before throwing them away. They made us step aside for the food so that they can serve the customers behind us in line. Well we waited and waited and there was no indication our food was done other than the fact that people that stood behind us in line were getting their complete order and no one ever said anything to us. We went back to barista at the window that had our food sitting behind her the entire time!! Halfway back to the car we realized we were missing half of the order so we had to walk all the way back (parking was full so we were 2 blocks away.) luckily the quiche was actually pretty tasty so they mildly redeemed themselves. Over all, not a great experience. This is a place where if you judge it by its cover it should be good but in reality the looks surpass the quality. Go to Amelies instead.
Karla Fischbach
Finally got a chance to try Smelly Cat and it did not disappoint!! I got the Ethiopian cold brew which was fantastic. My parents got herbal teas. I didnt get to try any of the food as we had just come back from Amelies so I cant speak to that. Service was very friendly, helpful with suggestions, and patient with decisions even though they were busy. They had ample outdoor seating which was really nice but I couldnt tell what was going on with the indoor seating. The door to the inside looked to be locked and there was a sign saying that anyone who wanted in could get assistance from the barista. Maybe still a covid thing? Anyway, cant speak to the inside aesthetic either but I will definitely be back for more Ethiopian cold brew!
Kristin Tanner
I had high hopes for this place. I just couldnt understand it. We had reservations to eat inside. We had no idea where to go. The doors were locked. We saw a woman carrying a tablet who took another table of people inside, so we thought we just had to wait for her to come back out to seat us. She never did. We went up to a window to ask what we needed to do. That guy told us to go up to the other window, skip the line, and tell them we had a reservation. I did that. The person at that window said we needed to wait in line, order our food, and then wed be let inside. What was the point of having a reservation if we had to be in the same line as everyone else? When we finally got inside, my friend received her food and coffee, and I didnt receive mine. My friend sat there not eating until an employee walked by and asked why she wasnt enjoying her food. That was the only reason I ever even got my food. The breakfast burrito was tiny, but the coffee was good. We walked down the street and got Reigning Doughnuts immediately afterward because we were still hungry. All in all, it was a disappointing stop. Love the coffee mural on the side of the building though!
Kristina Pelletier
Second time here over my weekend trip to Charlotte. If you are in/around/near NODA you have to at least get a coffee. Almost everything on the menu is made in house, from the coffee roasting to the baked goods. Everything I had was delicious and the staff was inviting and welcoming. They even asked how our latte was when we went to order seconds. Also if you are visiting with a dog there is a side window to order and plenty of outdoor seating. Thank you so much for the amazing food and vibe! Definitely a highlight of our stay in Charlotte.
