Best coffee shops in Charlotte, NC

I love coffee, and I love hanging out in a cool coffee shop. Lucky for me (and you), there are about a gazillion little cafes dotting this Queen’s city, and I am not even counting the Starbucks locations. 😀 So, to prove the point, I have collected here five of my favorite spots in and around Charlotte for your perusal.

Smelly Cat

The Smelly Cat is located on 36th in NoDa, and is an award-winning local coffee house that roasts their own ethically sourced beans. They are open seven days a week, but do close early on Mon and Tues at 3 pm. I usually get an iced coffee when I visit, but the non-coffee drinkers in your group will love the vanilla shake (which is amazingly delicious). The atmosphere is pretty laid back and cool. They don’t have a ton of indoor seating, but there are a few outdoor tables and benches (which is where I like to sit anyway). The entire Noda neighborhood is an awesome place to hang out. If you haven’t visited before, you should move it to the top of your list.

Sunflour Bakery

Sunflour Bakery is a family-owned artisan bakery that serves a variety of coffees and teas. The beans come from Counter Culture Coffee and are organic and fairly traded. The flavored syrups for the espresso drinks are made in-house. Sunflour has two locations, one at 220 East Blvd and another at 2001 E 7th Street. They offer a full menu and a fantastic selection of baked goods. I really love that you can order your coffee in a French press. Parking was easy to come by on 7th, and the bakery is right next to Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find, a comic book shop (even if you aren’t really into the whole comic book thing, you should at least pop in to take a look at the life-size Spider-Man on the ceiling).

Coco and the Director

In Uptown, I prefer Coco and the Director. You’ll find this spot in the Charlotte Marriott City Center, and it has fun stadium-style seating, so even on crowded days, you can snag a seat. Again, I go for an iced latte, and if I’m feeling peckish, one of the delicious cronuts. Parking can be a bit expensive in Uptown, though. So, if you can walk, that’d be your best bet.

Hex Coffee

Venture to Camp North End for the draft vanilla lattes at HEX Coffee! They are open from 8-5 daily, and the location has plenty of space if you want to stay and work awhile. The eats are pretty tasty too. It is sort of a Japanese-Hawaiian-Southern fusion style. They also have wine, if you are ready to make the transition from morning brew to libations.

Qamaria Coffee

Up in the University area, I recommend hitting up Qamaria, a Yemeni coffee shop. They have your typical coffee shop offerings as well as traditional brews. I’m a big fan of the Mufawaar (coffee with cardamom and cream) and the Adeni Tea. The baked goods are a must-try as well! Especially the pistachio tres leches cake.

Amelie’s

No list would be complete without mentioning Amelie’s! This French bakery and cafe now has several locations in Charlotte and beyond. I currently live next door to the NoDa location, so I may be a bit biased. The coffee is alright, although I tend to order a chai latte. But did I mention the desserts? You probably won’t want to waste your calories on a latte anyway. Grab a black cup of drip coffee and one of the exquisite desserts in the case, from macarons to napoleons to creme brulee, you can’t go wrong here.

The Best Coffee in Charlotte

These shops are just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many more places for a cup of Joe in the Queen City, and I’m pretty sure a new spot opens every day. So, even if you don’t like my choices (crazy town), you can surely find your perfect brew somewhere in Charlotte!

“Coffee is the lifeblood that fuels the dreams of champions.” -Mike Ditka