Idlewild

“If you’re building a Charlotte itinerary, Idlewild deserves a mandatory spot—explore NoDa during the day, then settle in here at night for one of the best cocktail experiences in the city. The vibe is reminiscent of Attaboy…but honestly, the cocktails here might be even better. There’s no menu—just insanely talented bartenders who take your preferences and turn them into something unforgettable. Mason is the da Vinci of cocktails. You give him an abstract idea, and he turns it into a masterpiece. His elevated take on a Manhattan, the “Creole,” completely blew me away—rooted in that classic Man” — John Allie