Charlotte, known as the Queen City, is a must-visit travel destination if you enjoy beautiful scenery, culture, and golf. I was lucky to have an opportunity to experience Charlotte, given its culture, history, and perfect timing for the PGA Championship. The stars truly aligned for me this week (despite the thunderstorms), as I had the greatest experience out on the East Coast.
Charlotte’s Lounges
Charlotte has many lounges where you can gather with your friends and other guests. The vibe I got during the trip was that Charlotte is a chill city—totally different from New Orleans, Las Vegas, and even Los Angeles.
Smooth Bar & Lounge
Smooth Bar & Lounge features indoor and patio seating, cigars, hookah, bites, and bar service. The lemon pepper wings were phenomenal—a plate comes with five pieces, so order accordingly. The lounge’s layout was outstanding, so you’re always comfortable. They have DJs come out to play vibing music—hip hop, jazz, and anything else to keep the energy up. I had a great time here and enjoyed the ambience.
324 Church Street N
Concord, NC
Sprinkle CLT
Sprinkle is a dessert and cocktail lounge located in the NoDa district, short for North Davidson. It’s pretty cool that Charlotte has its own arts district, too (just like DTLA). Sprinkle is great if you’re hanging out with friends or girlfriends or looking for a fun nightcap. Kimberly, the owner, is the sweetest, and she pays careful attention to her craft. The dry ice and floral presentation is the CUTEST. The taste does go up to par with how everything looks. If you’re hungry, the individual pizzas are great as well.
3100 N Davidson St #101
Charlotte, NC 28205
Members Only Tasting Room & Social
Members Only is another great lounge where you can hang out, watch some games, enjoy some drinks/hookah, and play some tabletop games. This is another beautifully laid-out speakeasy, also owned by Kimberly. There’s a fun swing at the end of the main lounge. The drinks were great, and I loved the service here.
2413 Central Ave
Charlotte, NC 28205
Eateries
Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar
Think of gourmet burgers in a diner setting. I’m not a fan of big burgers because too many things happen at once. We need something simple, with the patty being the most important factor. Bad Daddy’s has the smash burger option, and I was delighted, especially after a long flight from a 6 a.m. takeoff. They were also the sweetest because the waitress gave me a banana pudding as their Mother’s Day gift. I’ll be a mami any day for this – it was delicious (and my first time having a banana pudding in my life).
Hestia Rooftop
I really wanted an omakase experience in Charlotte, but Hestia Rooftop was the only open restaurant near Quail Hollow. Given the rooftop experience, the vibes seemed great, so I had to give it a try. I was NOT disappointed at all, considering the gorgeous skyline view of Charlotte. On top of it all, the quality of the sushi met expectations. The presentation, ambience, and taste were on point.
Bojangles
Bojangles is a Charlotte staple for fried chicken. I had to try it, not just once but a few times, since we don’t have Bojangles in Southern California. I still prefer Popeyes, but like Bojangles more than KFC. The skin is crispy, but the meat itself can either be overcooked (dried out) or too oily. It does make a great meal for 10pm!
Golf
Charlotte has a deep history with golf, especially with paving the road to desegregate the sport. Up until the 1960s, golf was very restricted against people of color. They were barred from country club memberships and general admissions and had limited hours (when allowed to play). I had the opportunity to learn so much during this trip.
I played at the Dr. Charles Sifford Golf Course at Revolution Park, named after the first African American PGA Player. This course is absolutely stunning, with tall trees, wide fairways, and gorgeous scenery. It was giving the front 9 of the Ocean Course at Hokuala.
My original intent was to play at the James Black Memorial Classic, but the tournament was postponed due to thunderstorm warnings. I’m glad I still got to make a trip regardless. James Black was another icon in the PGA who paved the way for Tiger Woods decades later. During this trip, I met the sons of both golf icons, Charles Jr. and Norman, both continuing the legacy of being deep in the golf game.
PGA Championship at Quail Hollow
The PGA Championship took place at Quail Hollow, southeast of Charlotte. I was so happy to secure a ticket because I got to see Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and other pros on the course.
Quail Hollow is such a gorgeous golf course. The trees are SO TALL, making you feel like you’re in a whole different world. The fairways are long. The vibes were so high. I can’t believe I was AT QUAIL HOLLOW. The rain did come out for a bit, but the sun followed. I had a great time out there and got some goodies to take home.
It was so fun to experience all of this. It is so different from seeing golf on TV. You’re there—you feel the energy.
Thank you so much for the warm hospitality, Charlotte.
