Sometimes you just need something frosty and cool in your life. Even though the days have settled down from July’s record-breakers, one of our favorite ways to chill is to sip on a frozen drink or summer cocktail at one of the many spots offering them around Charlotte. We’ve rounded up our favorites, organized by neighborhood for your sipping convenience.
SouthPark & Myer’s Park
Rose Garden Romance at Dot Dot Dot
4237 Park Rd, Unit B
Sip on a refreshing summer cocktail in this swanky and secluded Charlotte speakeasy. The Rose Garden Romance at Dot Dot Dot is made with Hendricks gin, orange curacao, cucumber rose cordial, egg white and lemon. It’s a floral summer drink that’s sure to help you beat the heat.
All About the Benjamins at BAR ONE Lounge
6815 Phillips Pl Ct
Escape from the heat at BAR ONE Lounge, a bar located inside 800° SouthPark. There are lots of refreshing summer cocktails to sip on in this air-conditioned oasis, but we love the All About the Benjamins, made with Courvoisier Cognac VS, Cointreau, and lemon juice. It’s served in an ice cold glass and garnished with an orange peel to finish.
Strawberry Fields at Suffolk Punch
4400 Sharon Rd, Unit G23D (SouthPark)
2911 Griffith St (South End)
After a day of shopping at the SouthPark mall, continue staying out of the heat by treating yourself to a Strawberry Fields cocktail from Suffolk Punch. This light, bright and fruity cocktail features Deep Eddy vodka, lime, strawberry jam and ginger beer. Plus, you can also get it at the South End location if you’re in that area.
Kawaii at Mizu
3100 Apex Dr 9th Floor
If you’re looking for an elevated fruity cocktail that’s perfect for summer, check out the Kawaii at Mizu. Made with Pierre Ferrand dry Curacao, cedar barrel aged sake, lemon and fresh berries, this is a drink that’s both elegant and delicious.
South End & Wesley Heights
Piña Colada at El Puro
5033 South Blvd
If you want to feel like you’re on vacation without leaving South Boulevard, head to El Puro for a Piña Colada. This frozen drink is made with white rum, apricot brandy, coconut cream and pineapple juice. Plus, it’s topped with an umbrella and pineapple slice to really make you feel like you’re sitting on a beach.
Hemingway Daiquiri at STIR
1422 S Tryon St, Suite 130
This frozen daiquiri, served over shaved ice, is just as delicious and fun as eating a snow cone (only more boozy!) The drink, which is a nod to the writer and is based on the original Cuban recipe from 1921, includes Havana Club rum, Luxardo, grapefruit and lime juice, and rich syrup.
Sangria at Catalú
135 New Bern St
Catalú, a Spanish tapas restaurant that recently took over the Eight + Sand space in South End, has a classic summertime drink on the menu — sangria. Choose frozen, pink, bubbly or red sangria to sip on a delicious combination of wine and fruit this summer.
Confusion Hurricane at State of Confusion
3500 Dewitt Ln
Sit outside on State of Confusion’s patio or head up to the rooftop to enjoy this summer cocktail with Charlotte views. The Confusion Hurricane, the restaurant’s most popular drink, includes Brugal Anejo rum, Havana Club rum, house-made grenadine, passion fruit, and fresh citrus juices. It’s finished with a fresh fruit garnish.
La Fresa Fria at Que Fresa
1500 W Morehead St A
Ice cream and alcohol come together in a perfect union at Que Fresa with the La Fresa Fria drink. It’s your choice of soft serve frozen margarita made with Cazadores Blanco tequila, triple sec and ginger-citrus. And pro tip, if you go on Saturday these delicious drinks are only $7 each!
Eternal Sunshine at Streetcar Bar + Bites
2135 Thrift Rd #104
This summer brunch cocktail from Streetcar Bar + Bites is fitting for the seemingly eternal sunshine in Charlotte. Enjoy the drink, made with Limoncello, citrus vodka, and Prosecco on the sun-filled patio of the restaurant or in the cool air-conditioning inside.
Uptown
Jalapeño Margarita at Dos Caminos
601 S. Tryon St, #135
If you like your summer drinks spicy, stop by Uptown’s newest Mexican restaurant, Dos Caminos. Sit on the patio while you enjoy the Jalapeño Margarita, made with Milagro Blanco tequila, jalapeño, cucumber, triple sec and fresh lime juice.
Don Julio Frozen Margarita at Kitchen + Kocktails Charlotte
210 E. Trade St
Another new Uptown spot, Kitchen + Kocktails offers a variety of delicious frozen drinks. When you stop in, try the Don Julio margarita, which is served in your choice of lime, watermelon or strawberry flavors.
Dirty Myrtle at Haymaker
225 S Poplar St
The Dirty Myrtle cocktail at Haymaker will have you catching a wave of flavors this summer. Made with plantation dark rum, pineapple, fresh lime, and Prosecco this summertime specialty at Haymaker brings all the flavor and summer vibes.
NoDa
Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri at Spindle Bar
1115 N Brevard St
Optimist Hall is a great place to get out of the Charlotte summer heat. Next time you’re there for a bite to eat, stop at the Spindle Bar for a frozen drink. We love the strawberry daiquiri with rum, strawberry, fresh lime and sugar, and they also have frozen piña coladas and Miami vices, too!
Froze at The Goodyear House
3032 N Davidson St
The Goodyear House does froze right! A delicious wine and two fun flavors — peach or strawberry. Enjoy this refreshing frozen cocktail on their beautiful outdoor patio, or inside where the air conditioning is pumping.
Frozen Slushy at Bargarita
3221 N Davidson St
Bargarita, NoDa’s neighborhood party bar, is a great place to get your fix of frozen cocktails. The frozen slushy flavor lineup for this season includes strawberry margarita, piña colada, strawberry daiquiri and Miami vice.
Plaza Midwood & Elizabeth
Frozen Flight at Que Onda
1518 Central Ave (Plaza Midwood)
333 W Trade St, #101(Uptown)
9601 N Tryon St, K (University)
13016 Eastfield Rd, B300, Huntersville, NC (Highland Creek)
The frozen margarita flight at Que Onda is almost too pretty to drink — but it’s far too delicious to go to waste! The four flavors featured are lemon sorbet with a salt rim, pomegranate sorbet with a grapefruit salt rim, mango sorbet with a tajin rim, and a lemon and pomegranate swirl sorbet. The flight is available at all locations except for Matthews.
Garden Party at Customshop
1601 Elizabeth Ave
What’s more fitting for summer than a drink called Garden Party? This refreshing cocktail from Customshop features a split base of gin and mezcal and a touch of Genepy, Vegetal and bright. The flavor profile is equally smoky as it is refreshing, making this a unique summer cocktail in Charlotte.
Sneak Tea at Sneak CLT
2001 E 7th St, F
Nothing says summer in the South quite like sweet tea, and at Sneak CLT, you can get your fix with a boozy addition. Order the Sneak Tea at this new Elizabeth cocktail bar, which features Peach & Orange Blossom Ketel One Botanical, Cointreau, sweet tea concentrate and mint.
Flambouyancy Punch at Calle Sol Latin Café and Cevicheria
1205 Thomas Ave (Plaza Midwood)
3100 Apex Dr (SouthPark)
Calle Sol, Plaza Midwood’s staple Latin restaurant, has a new frozen cocktail that is sure to help you beat the heat. The Flambouyancy Punch is named after a group of flamingos and gets its vibrant color and distinctive taste from prickly pears. Plus, you can now get the cocktail at the newly opened SouthPark location, too!
& Beyond…
First in Flight at Epic Chophouse
104 South Main St, Mooresville, NC
1365 Broadcloth St, #101, Fort Mill, SC
Take a sip of summer with Epic Chophouse’s First in Flight cocktail, which you can get at either the Moorseville or Fort Mill locations. This elegant drink contains créme de violette, Empress gin, Luxardo, a dash of basil syrup and a squeeze of lemon juice for a nutty and floral taste.
Wine Slushy at Veronét Vineyards & Winery
1549 Ike Brooks Dr, Kings Mountain, NC
Drive about an hour from Charlotte to visit Veronét Vineyards & Winery and make a day out of sipping frozen drinks and refreshing cocktails. Not only does the winery have wine slushys available in regular and mega sizes, but it also has summertime views that simply can’t be beat.
Wine Slushy at Rocky River Vineyard
11685 Reed Mine Rd, Midland, NC
Rocky River Vineyards is a frozen wine lover’s dream. Their wine slushys vary daily, with flavors ranging from orange dreamsicle to watermelon to key lime and more. These delicious frozen beverages are well worth the drive!
Author’s Note: This article was written by Alexandra Maloney, a local Charlotte foodie and professional content strategist. You can find her chatting more about Charlotte food, drinks, and events on Instagram, @slicesandsushi.
