Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Charlotte

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots in Charlotte? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Havana Carolina Restaurant and Bar

4.6

4.6 (158)

$30 and under

Cuban

Concord

About the restaurant

Havana Carolina Restaurant offers a little taste of Cuba presented in a lively-classic setting with Happy Hours and live music. The Cuban Paradise focus on customer satisfaction.

Our distinctive Cuban cuisine is a fusion of many varied elements of Native American Taino, Spanish, African, French, Arabic, Chinese and Portuguese spices and food techniques. Our blend of Caribbean ingredients is added to elevate each unique dish to a different level. The most important ingredient in each recipe is “love”.
Havana Carolina Restaurant & Bar is Cuban family-owned and operated. It flaunts the endeavor, the courage and the strength of those who look for success in new places. At Havana Carolina, we focus on creating a unique dining experience which allows each one of our customers to travel in time and spend a day in our old and glamorous Cuba. This “Cuban Paradise” is not just a restaurant or a business, it’s an experience and a feeling. It’s Cuba in its essence.

Top review

Christy

Dined on May 10, 2025

Always an amazing experience! Feels like we are on vacation !

El Puro Cuban Restaurant

4.6

4.6 (1313)

$50 and over

Cuban

South Charlotte

About the restaurant

Inspired by the elegance and the history of pre-revolutionary Cuba in the 1950s

Heated Patio Coming Soon!!

Top review

Kitzia

Dined 6 days ago

Food was delish. Serving size somewhat small for price but it taste good. Went on a Fridaywity the cubanband playing. We were sat close and we had a blast dancing and singing along. Def look forward to returning.

Cabo's Mexican Cuisine & Cantina

4.6

4.6 (3)

$30 and under

Mexican / Southwestern

South Charlotte

About the restaurant

WELCOME TO CABOS
BIENVENIDOS A SU CASA AMIGOS

As children growing up in Mexico, my father Ramon always taught us to dream and to believe in our family and our ability to make our dreams come true, working hard with passion and determination.

Top review

TracyVIP

Dined on Mar 21, 2025

This has been our Friday night go to for 25 years. It never fails to make us laugh and smile every time. The food and drinks and now live music on Friday nights..fantastic

BAR ONE Lounge

4.6

4.6 (49)

$31 to $50

American

Charlotte

About the restaurant

Discover the vibrant atmosphere of Uptown Charlotte at BAR ONE Lounge, where delicious food, expertly crafted classic cocktails and live entertainment create an unforgettable experience. BAR ONE Lounge in Uptown brings an elevated dining experience to a dynamic new space inside Packard Place. Indulge in a menu full of bold flavors, innovative small plates and signature cocktails all thoughtfully curated to complement the weekend entertainment - IVAN KANE'S FORTY DEUCE LIVE BURLESQUE show: Friday and Saturday 8PM & 10PM.

After work, a special occasion or simply looking for a Night Less Ordinary, BAR ONE Lounge is the ultimate destination for unparalleled dining and nightlife in Uptown.

VALIDATED PARKING & UBER SAFE DRIVING REIMBURSEMENT Available.

Top review

Theresa

Dined on Jun 21, 2025

This was so amazing to the food from the entertainment!

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Experience

Dinner & Burlesque (Friday & Saturday)

One Sixty Cocktails & Kitchen

4.4

4.4 (79)

$31 to $50

American

Steele Creek

About the restaurant

OneSixty offers an elevated restaurant and lounge experience perfect for celebrations, date nights, or simply a night out. Our distinctive ambiance sets the stage for enjoying small plates, signature cocktails, and bottle service. Nightly DJs to highlight your experience.

Please contact 980-416-0262 for reservations larger than 6 people.

Top review

Natasha

Dined on Jun 14, 2025

A wonderful place to celebrate any occasion or to gather with friends. They made my Birthday Celebration very special and exciting! Love the food and drinks! DJ made sure everyone enjoyed the music. Staff was on point with any need we needed!!! Definitely will be back!!!!

Évasion CLT

4.4

4.4 (23)

$30 and under

American

Cotswold

About the restaurant

Escape the ordinary with Évasion! Enjoy delights and drinks that will make your taste buds dance as we EAT DRINK VIBE the night away.

Top review

Halana

Dined 6 days ago

Great experience Desire was great. Will definitely be back again

Emmy Squared Pizza - South End

4.2

4.2 (109)

$30 and under

Pizzeria

Southend

About the restaurant

Serving Detroit-style pizzas and an award-winning burger. Full service bar, local drafts & wine selection.

Top review

Amanda

Dined on Jun 15, 2025

Pizza was amazing! The service was excellent and we had 7 plus a high chair. I will definitely go back!

LulaBelle's Restaurant & Lounge

4.1

4.1 (417)

$31 to $50

Soul food

Charlotte

About the restaurant

Coming Soon!

Top review

Dined 4 days ago

We visited this lounge for the second time, hoping for a better experience than our first visit. The first time, the music was extremely loud, more like a nightclub than a lounge. It was impossible to have a conversation, and to make matters worse, it took 20–30 minutes for a server to even greet us. When she finally did, she informed us there would be an hour to hour-and-a-half wait for food after ordering, so we ended up leaving. This time, we came back hoping for the same lively crowd but with a more balanced atmosphere—lower music, better service, and a chance to enjoy both the food and conversation. The music was definitely more manageable, which we appreciated, but the place was nearly empty with only three other tables occupied. I guess we picked the wrong night. That said, we decided to stay and eat, and the food was mostly great. The lamb chops were flavorful and tender, though unfortunately they weren’t served hot. I ate one and brought the rest home to reheat, but the flavor made up for it. The rice and green beans were well-seasoned and tasty. We also tried the fried corn appetizer. It was just okay—not much flavor. It would benefit from some added seasoning or a creative sauce, maybe a BBQ drizzle, spicy honey sriracha glaze, or a creamy dip like chipotle crema or garlic lime aioli instead of just the grana cheese topping. Overall, the food definitely has potential, and we’d consider returning—just hoping for a better crowd and more consistent experience across the board.

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Experience

Tequila Tuesday's

Emmy Squared Pizza - Plaza Midwood

3.9

3.9 (182)

$30 and under

Pizzeria

Plaza Midwood

About the restaurant

Serving Detroit-style pizzas and an award-winning burger. Full service bar, local drafts & wine selection.

Top review