Things To Do In Charlotte NC For Couples | 100+ Date Night Ideas
Charlotte is the #1 destination in North Carolina to visit and there’s a good reason for it! There are so many things to do in Charlotte NC for couples that it’s hard to count. I’ve put together a guide to all the great places and best things to do in the city to bring couples together while experiencing the best that Queen City has to offer. Enjoy!
- Explore Charlotte’s neighborhoods
- Breweries
- Live music and entertainment
- Art scene
- Cocktail & rooftop bars
- Brunch, lunch & boutique coffee shops
- Fun & games
- Dessert spots
- Outdoor activities
- Dinner restaurants
- Wellness & couples massages
Things To Do In Charlotte NC For Couples : Explore the city one neighborhood at a time (#1-4)
Charlotte has distinct neighborhoods that make navigating the city easy and fun. One of the best things for couples to do in Charlotte NC is to explore each of the neighborhoods, perhaps visiting one in an afternoon and seeing what you find. Or, explore all four by using Charlotte’s light rail!
There a lot of neighborhoods in Queen City but you’ll find a lot of the different things to do in the city grouped into these four: Uptown, NoDa, Plaza Midwood and South End. If you’re visiting NoDa Charlotte NC, make sure to check out my guide to the best things to do in NoDa Charlotte.
Discover Charlotte’s many impressive craft breweries (#5-15)
Charlotte is known to have a huge collection of award-winning breweries, so naturally brewery hopping in Charlotte is at the top of the best things to do in Charlotte NC for couples! Most Charlotte breweries reside in either NoDa or South End, which you can see on my charlotte brewery map.
In NoDa, brewery hop to find NoDa Brewing Company, Divine Barrel Brewing and Free Range Brewing, ending with food at Heist Brewery. The Chamber by Wooden Robot and Birdsong Brewing Company are two other top places to try. In South End you’ll find local favorites Hi Wire Brewing Charlotte, Sycamore Brewing, and Triple C Brewing Company along with many others.
If you’re hoping to find a tour where you don’t have to worry about getting around, City Brew Tours offers public brewery tours that couples can grab two spots on.
Enjoy taking in Charlotte’s dynamic entertainment scene (#16-29)
From live music, to excellent museums, shows an sports, there is no shortage of entertainment to check out in Charlotte. As the home of Nascar, Charlotte Motor Speedway hosts exciting races and events which you can check out, or you can take a VIP tour to get a behind-the-scenes look. At the Nascar Hall of Fame you can learn all about the history of the legends of the thrilling sport.
Live music is one of my absolute favorite things to do with my husband and we went to a few of the venues around the city! There are places to catch live music in Charlotte that couples can check out ranging from pretty large venues like the Fillmore Charlotte run by Live Nation, to the smaller (and better) local venues like Evening Muse and The Neighborhood Theatre in NoDa Charlotte NC. There’s also Amo’s Southend in South End, the new Camp North outdoor art venue and bars like Goldie’s have an impressive live music schedules too.
For sports fans, Bank of America Stadium is home to the Carolina Panthers where you can attend a football game or a variety of other events, and there’s also Charlotte Knights baseball games to check out. Couples can catch comedy shows at Comedy Zone or a broadway-style show at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.
One of the most unique thing to do in Charlotte NC for couples on my list is to visit Coyote Joe’s for their weekly line dancing lessons on Wednesdays with live music. I was shocked that both my husband and I had so much fun doing this together doing this! A lot of the lesson was done with a partner, versus the more solo focused line dancing, which made it a perfect date night.
Lastly, Levine Museum of the New South explores issues that are relevant to the history of Charlotte to spark interesting and productive conversations.
Explore Charlotte’s vibrant art scene (#30-41)
I couldn’t make a blog about the best things to do in Charlotte NC for couples without mentioning the city’s vibrant art scene! There are many ways you can discover all the great art here but here are a few of my favorites. If seeing art is your things, the best thing to do is to get out and about for South End’s First Fridays together, which is a celebration and showcase for artists in the area. Alternatively you can do a self-guided Art Walk in NoDa Charlotte to see the murals and street art, and get some one-on-one time while walking Charlotte’s art district.
For couples that like museums, make sure to visit the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art and the Mint Museum Uptown, which are both located conveniently next to each other in Uptown Charlotte.
Camp North is home to over 60 murals by local and renowned artists and a destination in itself for artists and art lovers. Lastly, the Charlotte Art League and The Independent Picture House in NoDa both have regular shows.
For more of an interactive artistic date idea for couples in Charlotte, Pottery Central and Clayworks Charlotte offer clay workshops and classes, while at Hot Glass Alley you can create a handblown glass piece to take home together. The very unique Paddywax Candle Bar is a place where you can make a DIY candle, and Wine and Design is a sip and paint.
Discover Charlotte’s fantastic cocktail bars & rooftops (#42-51)
The rooftops in this city are some of the most romantic spots in Charlotte, with the stunning skyline as a backdrop. Plus a lot of these rooftop bars have fire pits or dim lighting to make them even more intimate. The Nuvole Rooftop TwentyTwo bar sits on the 22nd floor boasting stunning views and an upscale vibe, while Aura Rooftop is only on the 5th floor but still gives you that rooftop skyline feel since it’s surrounded by the tall buildings of the city. Merchant and Trade and Charlotte Beer Garden are two other great rooftops to check out.
Aside from rooftops Charlotte boasts an impressive collection of cocktail bars and speakeasies. In terms of speakeasies, make sure to check out the no-menu bar Idlewild. The Cellar at Duckworth, Dot Dot Dot and Backstage Lounge are also excellent hidden bars / speakeasies in Charlotte where couples can settle in for a craft cocktail in an intimate setting. Lastly, The Crunkleton is at the top of the list of cocktail bars in Charlotte along with The Royal Tot for tiki lovers.
Start the day off right at one of Charlotte’s delicious brunch & lunch spots or coffee shops (#52-59)
Starting off the day with a great meal and coffee (if you’re a coffee drinker) is always the right choice! There’s nothing more romantic than feeling good! The Hobbyist is another one of Charlotte’s best coffee shops, offering pastries, local beer and wine and even cocktails. Smelly Cat Cafe, Community Matters Cafe and Julia’s Cafe or Books are three other excellent local coffee shops, each with their own style and vibe. Try them all?
You’ll have no trouble finding great breakfast, brunch and lunch spots in Charlotte, and what makes for a better morning as a couple than to start it with a great meal and good coffee. Haberdish in NoDa is one of the all around best restaurants in Charlotte which showcases the city’s style, and their highlight is brunch. Another romantic brunch choice and another amazing Charlotte rooftop is the RH Rooftop Restaurant.
Local Loaf and littleSpoon Eatery are two smaller breakfast spots that locals love.
The most fun things to do in Charlotte NC for couples (#60-67) 🙋🏼♀️
Charlotte has no shortage of places where you and your person can have fun, play games and have a good time. Puttery Charlotte is a perfect date night spot, combining adult-only themed indoor mini golf, cocktails, lounge areas and food. You can read my full Puttery Charlotte review to get a better idea of what’s so great about this place! 📸 Tip: Make sure to take a few pictures at the photo booths on each hole to capture the fun memories. High Seas is another great spot for mini golf in Charlotte NC, offering an outdoor course and a beer garden under the stars.
Pins Mechanical Co is another one of my favorite Charlotte spots, where you can get competitive as a couple and play countless free and paid games, plus go down a slide and use their surprisingly fun swings. So much fun!! Every city needs one of these. The Blind Pig in NoD is another arcade bar, and at the new Seoul Food Brewing, couples can try Korean-infused barbecue while playing unique games with a backdrop of K-pop videos.
For something new and different, take a cooking class as a couple at Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen, or try out the indoor/outdoor Rally Pickleball. If you happen to be in Charlotte in the winter time, a romantic date night idea is to ice skate at Camp North. A little farther out, feel like a kid again and ride the rollers coasters and water slides at the Carowinds amusement park and Carolina Harbor waterpark.
Indulge at the many delicious local dessert spots in Charlotte (#61-79)
Time for dessert? Yes please!! Amelie’s is definitely Charlotte’s most unique pastry and coffee shop, with eclectic decor and five locations across the city
Jeni’s Ice Creams has four locations across Charlotte, where you can get creamy ice cream made from fresh ingredients to cap off your date night. Make sure to check out the Confetti Hearts and Stripes murals while you’re there.
Try Reigning Donuts and Pepperbox Donuts for gourmet local donuts to go or Popbar for custom popsicles. For anyone that loves a great bakery, don’t miss Villani’s Bakery which has some of the best cheesecake in town – perfect for special occasions. For a late night dessert spot, try the dessert cocktails at Crave dessert bar or Sprinkle in NoDa Charlotte NC.
The most romantic dessert spot on our list is probably going to be the Social Cork, which is a local spot offering wine pairings and dessert including chocolate fondue. For cookie lovers, Crumbl had some of the best cookies I’ve ever had, and they deliver if you’re looking for a late night snack to watch a movie with. Lastly, Sip Co is a unique mom and pop shop that sells custom sodas and sweet drinks, with homemade cookies on the side OR even better, dropped into your drink.
Best things to do in Charlotte NC for couples who love the outdoors 🌿 (#80-90)
Charlotte has some of the best year-round weather in the country, and it’s a great place to visit for anyone who loves the outdoors. Perfect for adventurous couples, the most popular outdoor attraction in Charlotte is the U.S. National Whitewater Center, where you can do many different activities including rafting and deep water solo – look it up if you’ve never heard of it! More active things to do in Charlotte NC for couples are to ride e-bikes down the Little Sugar Creek Greenway, find your new favorite sport as a couple at Charlotte Padel Club, or visit Freedom Park for some tennis.
For something a little more romantic and relaxing, there are tons of beautiful parks in the city where you can have a picnic or take a leisurely stroll. First Ward Park, Romare Bearden Park in Uptown and Cordelia Park in NoDa are both great parks, and Cordelia boasts romantic views of the Charlotte skyline. Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is perfect for a longer walk, exploring the gardens and wildlife.
A little farther out you’ll find Lake Norman, which makes for a perfect day on the lake for couples, or the many waterfall hikes at the Dupont State Forest or Pisgah National Forest for a fairytale worthy day.
Explore the Charlotte food scene with a delicious dinner (#84-94)
Charlotte is great for foodies, with locally owned restaurants around every corner. Farenheit is the most romantic rooftop dining spot where you can take in the views of the Charlotte skyline while you eat. For a romantic fine dining experience, Dresslers has the best steak in town with excellent service. It’s the type of place where the servers want to know your name.
The Fig Tree and Stagioni are two other amazing fine dining options. Figo36 is the best italian in the NoDa area, and maybe all of Charlotte. The Goodyear House gets the award for best and most romantic patio seating which is characteristic of Charlotte’s natural beauty. Here you’ll sit underneath big trees with string lights illuminating your meal.
For a more casual dinner night out, try the variety of gourmet mac n cheese’s at Jack Beagles, mouthwatering tacos at Cabo Fish Taco or the biggest pizza slice you’ve ever had at Benny Pennello’s, all in NoDa Charlotte on North Davidson. Or check out Optimist Hall with a big appetite, where you can sample foods from a wide selection of North Carolina eateries, shops and drink vendors.
Deluxe Fun Dining is for couples looking for a new and fun experience, which serves novelty food and drinks that look more like pieces of art, in a loud, showy and fun environment where there’s sometimes entertainment.
Have a wellness experience together in Charlotte (#95-101)
These are the best things to do in Charlotte NC for couples that will have you feeling really good afterwards. Inner Peaks is Charlotte’s indoor rock climbing facility, and this can ba a great bonding experience for couples – especially if you’ve never been before and like doing active things! For a more relaxing workout, visit Khali Yoga Center in NoDa which is one of the best yoga studios I’ve ever been to in the U.S. Expect an authentic and technology-free studio with a beautiful indoor/outdoor patio with plants as your backdrop.
After you’re done with your workout, relax with a couples massage at one of the many Charlotte spas including the Ballantyne, which has its own indoor pool and whirlpool, the Woodhouse Spa, Mood House, Palestra Boutique Spa or Nature’s Spa.
If you’re looking for more ideas for romantic things to do in Charlotte NC, read my blog.
Lauren Kessel
Lauren Kessel is the author of this blog post and the creator of the Inspired Backpacker travel blog. She is a passionate digital nomad, with the mission to make slow travel a more accessible way of life for everyone. Lauren believes travel is an important means of education and more importantly, a way for people of different cultures to come together and understand each other better. She has a BS in Tourism and has planned countless domestic and international trips for herself, her family and friends, having visited over 12 countries and 30 states so far.
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