Are you looking for late-night bites in Queen City? Charlotte has several fantastic eateries that stay open till late for those who enjoy late-night leisure. They play slow music, serve fine foods that will satisfy your late-night cravings and offer an inviting environment to burn the midnight lamp (quite literally!).
So, let’s start our late night restaurants Charlotte NC guide with picks to direct you to late night eats.
Pinky’s Westside Grill
Pinky’s Westside Grill is a local American chain along West Morehead Street serving fresh and delicious grub, sandwiches, hot dogs, tacos and other everyday foods in a casual setting. It started as a drive-in serving fried food and beer. By 2010 the restaurant officially opened its doors in a new setting (a former Volkswagen garage). Since then, Pinky’s Westside Grill has creatively held on to its drive-bar feel, providing guests with a warm, casual environment to dine in, even when they are running late.
The menu offers a mix of creative appetizers, fresh salads, popcorn chicken, shrimp, tacos, juicy burgers, hotdogs, sesame seed bun sandwiches and even a fine selection of desserts, cocktails and beer. Pinky’s Westside Grill stays open till 10 PM late at night (11 PM every Thursday through Saturday), so you can pop in for a quick meal.
JackBeagle’s
JackBeagle’s is a lovely neighborhood hangout in the NoDa district serving classic American grub alongside a full-service bar. The eatery is open till midnight throughout the week, making it a good spot to have on your list.
JackBeagle’s has several accolades, including the 2020 Elevate LifeStyle award for “The Favorite Restaurant in NoDa,” so you can expect a decent meal. Their menu lists a mix of snacks and bites, mac-n-cheese, steaks, burgers, hot dogs, waffle fries, salads and some nice vegetarian varieties. As for drinks, you can enjoy a selection of margaritas, martinis and creative cocktails. They also have live music every Friday and Saturday till midnight, making it perfect for a midnight dinner in Charlotte NC.
Alexander Michael’s
Alexander Michael’s is a down-to-earth pub-style restaurant (more of a tavern) in Uptown Charlotte, serving simple, fresh and well-prepared American fare with craft beer. The place is open every Tuesday to Saturday from 11 AM to 10 PM, making it one of the go-to spots for a late-night meal.
Besides offering a diverse menu, their portions are hefty, giving you great value for your buck. They serve a mix of classic small bites, green salads, sandwiches, burgers, seafood, pasta and more. They also have cold beer on tap alongside a rich assortment of IPAs, ales and a fine wine selection.
Rhino Market & Deli
Rhino Market & Deli is a casual neighborhood market and deli open in 5 locations throughout Charlotte. The place has been voted the Best Market + Deli in Charlotte for four years in a row by Charlotte Magazine, so you can expect quality food.
The eatery serves over 40 items on its menu, including vegetarian and vegan varieties, meaning there is something for everyone to enjoy. It is simply a great spot to grab a sandwich or settle in for a beer with your friends. Apart from their food, they also have an in-house market providing fresh, locally sourced goods, including craft beer, wine, coffee, cheese, chocolate, baked goods and more.
While the deli closes by 5 PM, their market remains open till 11 PM, so you can find a nice bottle of wine, fresh bread or other snacks for a quick meal when it’s late.
Amelie’s French Bakery & Café
Amelie’s French Bakery, Patisserie & Café is one of the most popular cafes around the city, serving made-from-scratch macarons, pastries, soups, savories and more. The bakery is open till 10 PM every Sunday through Thursday and till Midnight every Friday and Saturday. If you want something sweet to fulfill your late-night cravings, this is the spot to go!
The interior space is beautiful and vibrant and exudes a vintage-chic vibe, which is true for all 4 locations they have around the city. Alongside the baked delights, they have a breezy outdoor patio and offer free Wi-Fi.
Eddie’s Place Restaurant
Eddie’s Place is an award-winning restaurant and bar in the Cotswold neighborhood of Charlotte, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. This eatery has served the local population since 1997 and is best known for its warm atmosphere and community vibe. Enter and you will be served with a smile, guaranteed.
The restaurant is open every day from 8 AM till 9 PM and also a full-service bar that is open till 10 AM daily. You can drop in for a quick meal or have a late-night drink. As for the menu, you will find a mix of sandwiches, soups, salads, hot dogs, pasta, seafood and drinks to pair with.
Seoul Food Meat Company
“Come Feed Your Seoul” at the Seoul Food Meat Company is what this Korean Fusion BBQ restaurant has to say. Located in the South End and Mill District, their establishments serve heart-filling BBQ delights and skewered meats alongside Asian craft beers and creative cocktails. They are open throughout the week till midnight and occasionally till 2 AM.
Apart from serving great food, the late night meal restaurant also offers Karaoke facilities. Lounge in their Karaoke rooms with your friends to enjoy a mouthwatering meal, vibe to good music and simply have an enjoyable time!
Fuel Pizza
If you are looking for a pizza place around Charlotte that is open till late at night, Fuel Pizza is your best shot. Fuel Pizza is one of Charlotte’s most popular pizzeria chains, serving authentic New York style pizzas, wings, sandwiches, fresh salads and other delights to the residents.
The venue remains open till 2-3 AM on alternate days, so you will always find a nice hot meal even during late hours. While their South End location, unfortunately, shut down recently, they are still open over at Plaza Midwood.
Diamond Restaurant
The Diamond Restaurant, originally the Diamond Soda Grill, is a family-owned and family-run restaurant that has been operating since 1945. Over the years, this eatery has positioned itself as a community favorite, serving “good ‘ole home cooking” in a family-friendly environment.
The restaurant is open daily from noon to nine, serving an assortment of fried foods, wings, onion rings, salads, sandwiches, burgers, hotdogs and their house specials, including the MC Pulled Pork Platter and the must-have Hamburger Steak. They also have a kid’s menu, so bring yours along when you are not in the mood to cook dinner.
The Gin Mill
Located in Charlotte’s South End, The Gin Mill is a restaurant and sports bar serving you tasteful pub fare every day till late midnight. If you want good food, lively music and lovely rooftop views, have your next meal here.
Every Friday and Saturday, they invite local cover bands for live music. Grab a drink with your friends and enjoy the late-night show. As for the menu, expect a mix of snacks, wings and tenders, flatbreads, salads, burgers and even a selection of desserts. You can pair your meals with a drink from their alcoholic and nonalcoholic list of beverages. It is simply one of the top restaurants open till midnight.
Lebowski’s Neighborhood Grill
Lebowski’s Neighborhood Grill can be found along East Boulevard in Charlotte, where you will be served fresh food and frosty drinks in a casual, laid-back atmosphere. This is more of a sports bar where you can come in, watch a game with your friends or simply enjoy good conversation over a nice meal.
This restaurant and bar also stay open till late, usually till 10 PM, so you can enjoy a drink or order something off their menu for the night. The eatery serves snacks, sliders, wraps, tacos, and sandwiches alongside fan-favorite wings. They also house a full-service bar stocking a wide variety of cocktails, vodka, wines and bottled and on-tap beer.
Benny Pennello’s Pizza
Benny Pennello’s Pizza is another wonderful pizza place serving the residents till midnight. You can head to their venue at the NoDa district or the South End to enjoy a slice of their cheesy pizzas, best paired with a cool beer.
The best part about their service is their uniquely large 14” pizza slices and 28” whole pizzas, more than enough for a fulfilling meal (and quite reasonably priced at that). As for the menu, you have the classic cheese, pepperoni and Italian sausage, alongside newer varieties, including garlic mushroom, pesto chicken and vegetarian spinach + artichoke topped with ricotta. Besides pizza, the place also serves ice cream sandwiches, cookies, chips and a good variety of beers. It is one of the top restaurants open at midnight.
Sabor Latin Street Grill
Sabor Latin Street Grill is one of the most authentic Mexican restaurants in Charlotte, serving a fiesta of rich flavors taken from cuisines across Latin America. They have several locations around the city, including Elizabeth, Ballantyne and NoDa, each closing at 10 PM-11 PM, depending on where you head to.
The menu offers a rich assortment of classic Latin street food served just as you will find on the streets of the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Colombia, alongside your favorite tacos, burritos, nachos, quesadillas and more. For drinks, they offer a small selection of craft beer, Mexican beer, margaritas and mojitos.
Duckworth’s Grill & Taphouse
Duckworth’s Grill & Taphouse is a popular, locally-owned restaurant running in several locations across Charlotte, serving award-winning craft beer and comfort foods in a casual taphouse setting. This eatery started as a venture to bring quality cheesesteaks to Charlotte back in 2004. Since then, it has brought several new items to its menu, including an expansive draft beer selection.
You will find them open till 11 PM or midnight on alternate days in nearly all their locations. Pop in and have a taste of their specialty cheesesteaks! They also serve pizzas, flatbreads, wings, burgers, sandwiches, wraps and more. It is one of the top restaurants open after 10.
The Cellar At Duckworth’s
One of Duckworth’s venues at Uptown has received significant praise for its underground gastropub, officially called “The Cellar At Duckworth’s.” Head downstairs to be served gastro pub face in a cozy, sophisticated, prohibition-era setting.
This venue is open till 11 PM (12 AM every Thursday to Saturday), serving a mix of large and small plates, charcuterie boards and cheeses alongside a tap list of specialty and rare beers. You can also request your choice of cocktails, expertly crafted by their onsite mixologists. One of the top-recommended fancy restaurants in Charlotte NC, the Cellar is considered one of the prime locations for after-office drinks or a simple hangout with your friends.
Pio Pio Latin Cuisine
If you want to try something new beyond your standard fare, we recommend visiting Pio Pio Latin Cuisine to enjoy authentic Peruvian cuisine. The eatery specializes primarily in Peruvian, Colombian and Spanish-inspired dishes prepared using the freshest local ingredients. You will find them open at Dilworth daily till 9 PM and they also have a sister location in Blakeney Plaza. Head to your closest outlet when you are running late and be served a hot meal, fresh out of the kitchen in a relaxed cafe setting.
While they are best known for their specialty Rotisserie Chicken, they also serve a mix of Steaks, Seafood, Pork, Fresh Avocado Salads, Plantains, Homemade Soups and classic Peruvian rice and beans.
Midnight Diner
Midnight Diner is one of Charlotte’s top go-to places for comfort foods. The best part about their services is that they are open 24 hours a day throughout the week. You can come in at just about any time of the night and get a fresh, hot meal in a bright, lively environment. While they originally served in South End, they have relocated to Uptown Charlotte since May 2023.
On the menu, you will find all sorts of comfort foods, ranging from Angus Beef Burgers to Fresh Onions Rings, Shrimp and Grits and Chicken and waffles served alongside your choice of alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages. One of the top 24 hour restaurants in Charlotte NC, it is perfect for late night dining.
The Common Market
Located in the heart of Plaza Midwood, the Common Market is a popular community hotspot where you can get your fix of draft brews, fresh deli sandwiches and other convenience items. While they have several locations around Charlotte, the Plaza Midwood location is their flagship store. The market remains open till 10 PM daily, although their Deli shuts down operations by 4 PM.
The market itself serves plenty of grab-and-go meats, cheeses, salads and other items alongside a diverse selection of bottled beer and wine. This way, you can have a quick and convenient meal even when running late.
The Crunkleton Charlotte
The Crunkleton Charlotte is one of the hottest private clubs in Charlotte, located at 7th Street and Pecan Avenue in historic Elizabeth. The restaurant serves a fine selection of spirits, curated wines, craft beers and classic cocktails in a sophisticated setting. The venue remains open till 11 PM every Monday to Thursday and 12 AM on Fridays.
Apart from their drinks, you will also admire their live-fire cooking culinary approach; each item is prepared and executed with complete expertise. The menu includes a mix of shared plates, appetizers and creative entrees, best shared among friends. Club membership is $10 annually and can be purchased at the door or online.
Bang Bang Burgers
Bang Bang Burgers is a specialty burger house in two prime locations across the city: South End and Elizabeth. The restaurant is open every Sunday through Thursday till 9 PM (10 PM Friday-Saturday). If you crave a high-quality, gourmet burger when it’s running late, this is the spot to head to.
You will be offered a wide variety of burgers made using USDA Prime Chuck Angus Beef, along with a selection of sandwiches, bowls, eggrolls, freshly prepared sides and a mix of local craft beer.
Whiskey Warehouse
Whiskey Warehouse is a lovely rooftop bar located in Plaza Midwood known for its beautiful views of the Charlotte skyline and expansive list of whiskies. One of the top late night restaurants, this two-story bar has a charming rustic ground floor serving classic bar foods, pretzels, burgers, wings and creative cocktails. You can head to the bar and have a sip of their classic whiskey collection.
The bar is open till 12 AM every Monday through Thursday and till 1 AM every Friday and Saturday, making it the perfect choice for a late-night drink!
Smokey Joe’s Café
Smokey Joe’s Café is a family-owned live-action bar in East Charlotte known for its on-tap craft beer, bar foods, live music and pool tables. This is a wonderful place to hang out, meet with friends or simply enjoy live music in a laid-back setting. The place is open till 1 AM throughout the week, so you can come in for a drink, place an order for their bar bites to snack on and catch up with your pals.
Late Night Food Charlotte NC: Final Thoughts
Charlotte has a thriving food scene, offering something for everyone to enjoy, which means you don’t have to worry about delicious late food in the city. With several venues staying open till late hours, the nightlife in Charlotte is no exception. So, if you are running late, rest assured that these eateries will have their doors open for you!
