Charlotte, North Carolina

The best coffee in Charlotte

Seven Charlotte roasters and cafés across NoDa, South End and Camp North End.

7 places

Charlotte rewards picking a district and staying in it. NoDa and Plaza Midwood give the densest coffee coverage on foot. Camp North End and South End are the better call if you want specialty coffee alongside food and work-friendly seating.

The city's roasting bench is genuinely local — Smelly Cat, HEX, Giddy Goat, Enderly and Night Swim all roast here.

  1. 1.Smelly Cat Coffee

    NoDa

    A NoDa coffeehouse and roastery running since 2000, which makes it the closest thing Charlotte has to an institution. House-roasted, with the baked goods to match.

  2. 2.HEX Coffee

    Camp North End

    Roastery and coffee shop with the most consistent quality in the city, in the most interesting redeveloped space.

  3. 3.The Hobbyist

    NoDa

    Among the top-rated rooms in NoDa and the more contemporary counterpoint to Smelly Cat.

  4. 4.Summit Coffee

    NoDa

    Locally owned with an approachable menu — specialty coffee without requiring you to have an opinion about it.

  5. 5.The Giddy Goat Coffee Roasters

    South End

    The South End shop sits near Suffolk Punch, which makes it easy to build a morning around.

  6. 6.Enderly Coffee Co.

    A small local roaster with a real following, and one of the Charlotte names that ranks on its own merits.

  7. 7.Night Swim Coffee Roasters

    The newer end of Charlotte's local roasting bench.