Best Nightlife in Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte, North Carolina is a modern and exciting city, with some wild nightlife. Whether you’re looking for something tame or something crazy and sexy, Charlotte’s the place to be.

If you’re looking for something out of a Girls Gone Wild video, check out Bar Charlotte. Bar Charlotte is a wild, no-frills bar and dance club, complete with swings and a mechanical bull. Shots and suds, a good beat spun by a career DJ, and inebriated youths dirty dancing, are the hallmarks of this frenzied club whose mantra is “No theme, no attitude, just BAR.” If women in halter tops dancing provocatively with their thongs hanging out offend you, save the $10 cover charge and skip Bar Charlotte. If not, then join the party. Be sure to tap the sign above your head that reads, “Drink like a champion” on your way in the door.

If you like That 70s Show, you’ll love the Have a Nice Day Cafe. Charlotte’s ode to 70s nightlife is complete with tacky 70s memorabilia and retro tunes from the Village People, ABBA, and KC and the Sunshine Band. Try a Happy Bowl, a fishbowl full of strong punch with long straws. No, you don’t need to wear bell-bottoms and shirts with giant collars (especially if you’re going to stop at Bar Charlotte later that night). In fact, it gets pretty warm at the Have a Nice Day Cafe (probably to get women to wear less), so dress light.

Not into the 70s? Okay, how about the 80s? If the 80s are your thing, check out the Breakfast Club. No, not the Emilio Estevez and Molly Ringwald flick, the Charlotte bar, home to 80s themed nightlife. With cocktails like Top Gun and Superfreak in your hands, you can bop to Rick Springfield, head bang to Def Leopard, sway to Prince, and vogue to Madonna. The Breakfast Club is Charlotte’s only 80s dance club, and it features three levels with great bartenders.

Okay, okay, so you’re looking for something more swanky. Then head over to Bar 10. Bar 10 is located in the Westin Hotel, and it boasts floor-to-ceiling windows with a spectacular view. This bar is perfect if you’ve just left the theater or are entertaining a corporate client you just have to impress. Just don’t leave home without your American Express – martinis run double digits.

Another swanky joint known for their martinis is Tutto Mondo Lounge. For the over 25 professional, Tutto Mondo is a great place to put your feet up and get your drink on. Dress to impress – no athletic wear, logo team shirts or hats are permitted, even if your a big Carolina Panthers fan. You may wonder about the techno music. But if people are dancing and the girl-to-guy ratio is fair, you’ll definitely enjoy this lounge.

Have a great time! And beware, especially at Bar Charlotte: some Charlotte nightlife websites take photographs throughout the night. If it’s a girls’ or guys’ night out and you left your significant other at home watching American Idol reruns, you don’t want them surfing the web the next day and finding you….well, you know.

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