Charlotte Coffee Shop Named North Carolina's Best

Coffee shop concept: Two cups of coffee on a wooden table, the girl holds in her hand one cup of coffee in the background.

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National Coffee Day is on September 29, and coffee lovers have much to look forward to in North Carolina. The state is home to various coffee shops that pride themselves on roasting their own beans, creating unique coffee drinks, and offering environments that reflect the local vibe.

This trend isn't unique to North Carolina. It's happening all across the United States. Tasting Table, a digital media company focusing on food and drink, set out to find the best coffee shop in each state by enlisting the help of locals, internet experts, and their own experiences. Their discovery? No matter where you are in America, there's a local coffee spot that can provide a more memorable and genuine experience than the big national chains, they said on their website.

Where is the best coffee shop in North Carolina?

Tasting Table crowned Smelly Cat Coffeehouse & Roastery in Charlotte as North Carolina's top coffee shop. They praised how this coffee shop roasts their own coffee and suggested that visitors take a bag of their Organic Mexican or Colombian blend home with them. Additionally, they spotlighted their welcoming atmosphere, full menu, and variety of cocktails available. "It's the odd coffee shop that's just as ideal for a blow-out brunch as it is for a day of burying your face in a laptop," Tasting Table wrote.

The Charlotte coffee shop has a 4.5 out of 5-star rating on TripAdvisor, and many reviews support its reputation as a great place. One person shared their positive experience: "Great quality coffee beans, nice atmosphere. Kind staff, delicious drinks." Another customer appreciated the coffee and the establishment's name, emphasizing "NoDa has the cutest and best-named coffee shop. "

Smelly Cat Coffee House & Roastery officially opened in 2000, establishing its presence with a café and roastery in the NoDa (North Davidson) neighborhood. Customers can enjoy a variety of foods, including homemade buttermilk biscuits, pastries, breakfast burritos, lattes, and a unique nitrogenated cold brew sourced locally and ethically. Smelly Cat Coffee House & Roastery is located at 514 East 36th Street in Charlotte. It’s open from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday through Friday and from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Check out the list of the best coffee spots in each state here.

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Kayla MorganWriter

Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it. She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel. A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community. She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.