The weather in Charlotte is finally starting to feel brisk — which makes us want a seasonal cocktail. From pumpkin martinis to apple fizzes and autumnal old fashioneds, these Charlotte restaurants have truly delivered on their speciality cocktail menus for the season. Grab your girls — these spots are calling for you to have the perfect fall night out.
Dilworth & South End
Salted Melon Market & Eatery
100 W Worthington Ave Suite 107
Salted Melon’s South End location is pouring all your favorite sips this fall. The menu includes an apple pie on the rocks cocktail with vodka and St. Germaine elderflower, espresso martinis with your choice of pumpkin, cinnamon, or caramel flavoring, a caramel apple sangria, a pomegranate spritz and a cider based cocktail with triple sec, apple cider, maple syrup and Prosecco. We’ll meet you at the bar!
Lebowski’s
1524 East Blvd
Indulge in some scary good fall cocktails at Lebowski’s this season. The bar and grille is offering a pumpkin martini, vanilla pear ginger fizz, autumn aperol spritz, prickly pear mezcal margarita and a maple cinnamon old fashioned.
Backstage Lounge
2433 South Blvd
This speakeasy inside of SouthBound restaurant is hosting a Halloween pop-up that’s not to be missed. Haunted by Black Lagoon runs through November 3rd and includes spooky cocktails such as the tequila based Nightmare Fuel, the whiskey based Siren’s Song and the gin based Psychosis shot. If you’re hungry, there are themed snacks and small plates available to order, too.
Elsewhere
101 W Worthington Ave, Suite 140
Elsewhere is a cozy South End cocktail bar with a rotating menu. For the fall 2024 season the menu features cocktails such as the Autumn in New York with Wild Turkey 101, St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram, lemon, simple syrup and a Cabernet Sauvignon float, as well as the Don’t Call Me Basic with Reyka Vodka, Caffe Lolita Coffee Liqueur, heavy cream, egg white, pumpkin cajeta and Topo Chico. If those don’t sound good to you, the bar offers a few other seasonal options, too.
SouthPark & Myers Park
Reid’s SouthPark
4331 Barclay Downs Dr
The speciality cocktail list at Reid’s this fall is extensive and delicious. If you’re craving something sweet try the Caramel Apple Martini with kissed caramel vodka, caramel syrup and apple cider, or the Autumn Tempest with Black Seal Rum, maple syrup, apple cider, and ginger beer. If sweet cocktails aren’t your thing, you’ll love the Panther’s Tail with Woodford Bourbon, Allspice Dram, freshly squeezed lime juice, house-made simple syrup and Angostura Bitters. This fall cocktail list truly has something for everyone.
Napa on Providence & Napa at Kingsley
110 Perrin Pl & 1310 Broadcloth St, Fort Mill, SC
The Napa restaurants have two delicious fall cocktails to sip on while you dine. The Old Faithful is a take on an old fashioned with Maker’s Mark 46, Southern Star Double Rye, demerara syrup, angostura, orange and old fashioned bitters. For a sweeter drink, try the Luxardo Pearl with Bacardi White Rum, Myers Dark Rum, Luxardo maraschino liqueur and Jasper’s mix. Plus, there are two fall mocktails available as well if you’re not in the drinking mood.
Uptown & NODA
Monarch Market
101 N Tryon St
The fall cocktails at Monarch Market include homemade ingredients such as spiced pumpkin spread and rich vanilla syrup, so you know you’re getting a fresh cocktail each time. From the Into the Woods to the Calico to the Espresso Martini and more, there’s guaranteed to be a fall cocktail to pair with your meal at this Uptown food hall.
Aria Tuscan Grill
100 N Tryon St
For a drink that truly captures the essence of fall, try the Hazelnut Manhattan at Aria. The spirit-forward drink blends Bulleit Bourbon, Frangelico, Averna (a Sicilian amaro), and black walnut bitters for a fall sip you’ll be thinking about long after the cocktail is gone.
Ever Andalo
3116 N Davidson St
The Chai Spiced Sangria at Ever Andalo tastes like fall in a glass. With Montepulciano, spiced apple syrup, Diplomatico Mantuano Rum and Montenegro this deep red cocktail looks and tastes festive for the fall season. Not to mention, it’s delicious!
Haberdish
3106 N Davidson St
An array of new cocktails have hit the Haberdish menu for fall 2024. Whether you want something spirit-forward such as the Too Hot to Handle mezcal cocktail, or something more refreshing, such as the Pineapple Spiced Rum Punch, the Haberdish fall cocktail menu is sure to satisfy.
The Artisan’s Palate
1218 E 36th St A
The Artisan’s Palate has a full lineup of fall cocktails made with ingredients sourced from local farms. Next time you visit, try the Vivian Leigh, named after a friend of the restaurant from Georgia. In the drink, you’ll find George Dickel Bourbon, house-made spiced pecan simple syrup, maple syrup, orange and lemon juice, pecan bitters and dehydrated orange with cinnamon. Talk about fall in a glass!
Plaza Midwood & Elizabeth
Sneak CLT
2001 E 7th St F
Sneak has released a handful of new cocktails for the season. Stop in and try the Clear Ambiguity with Tito’s Vodka, Licor 43, chocolate bitters, chickory bitters and orange, or indulge in the Green Ghost with Wilderness Trail Bourbon, absinthe, orange rosemary syrup and bubbles.
The Royal Tot
933 Louise Ave Suite 350
This Plaza Midwood cocktail bar is hosting a themed pop-up called Haunted Hideaway. When you visit, you’ll find themed cocktails such as the Spooky Sangria with Cabernet Sauvignon, cranberry, apple schnapps, and triple sec, the Vampire Kiss with Tito’s Vodka, cranberry, lemon, grenadine and cherry syrup, and more. Plus, most cocktails come in themed glassware too, making drinking them even more fun.
Supperland
1212 The Plaza
The appropriately named Leaf Pepping cocktail is on draft this fall at Supperland. Inside the drink you’ll find Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon, apple cider, ginger beer, maple and bitters. And the best part about this cocktail? You can find it at Supperland’s sister concepts too, including Ever Andalo, Haberdish and Growlers.
South Charlotte
Epic Chophouse
104 South Main Street & 1365 Broadcloth St #101, Fort Mill, SC
If you’re ready for fall, Epic Chophouse has the perfect cocktails. From the Apple Fizz to the Cozy Pear to the delectable Seasons Change, these cocktails taste as good as they sound. Plus, if you’re a martini drinker, there’s a new lineup of seasonal martinis, too. And, if you’re still dreaming of warmer weather, the brand-new Island Hopper will have you reminiscing about those summer days.
Author’s Note: This article was written by Alex Maloney. You can find more of her Charlotte-related content on Instagram, @slicesandsushi.
