Nightlife The Best in Charlotte - Best in the Nest

Nightlife Readers’ Pick Winners: Best in the Nest 2022

Best of Charlotte's nightlife chosen by Queen City Nerve readers

Q.C. Nerve Staff December 2, 2022

3 minutes read

Best in the Nest Readers’ Picks were chosen exclusively by readers through a one-month nomination process followed by a one-month voting process. The nominations were not tampered with by Queen City Nerve staff at all — save for removing ourselves from a few categories to proactively dispel any notions of favoritism. In other words, if you disagree with these ones, that’s on your fellow reader, not us.

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TO KICK IT

BEST COCKTAIL BAR

Winner: Idlewild
Runner Up: Dot Dot Dot

BEST DIVE BAR

Winner: Thirsty Beaver Saloon
Runner Up: Hattie’s Tap & Tavern

Brian and Mark Wilson in Thirsty Beaver Saloon — Owners Brian and Mark Wilson at Thirsty Beaver Saloon. (Photo by Chris Edwards)

BEST DOG BAR

Winner: Hattie’s Tap & Tavern
Runner Up: Lucky Dog Bark & Brew

BEST HOOKAH BAR

Winner: The Peace Pipe
Runner Up: Crave Dessert Bar

BEST MUSIC BINGO NIGHT

Winner: Mindless Minutia Trivia Events
Runner Up: Ed’s Tavern

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR

Winner: Tommy’s Pub
Runner Up: Hattie’s Tap & Tavern

BEST POOL HALL

Winner: Midwood Country Club
Runner Up: Montford Billiards

BEST SPORTS BAR

Winner: Ed’s Tavern
Runner Up: Tavern on the Tracks

BEST STRIP CLUB

Winner: Uptown Cabaret
Runner Up: The Men’s Club

BEST TRIVIA NIGHT

Winner: Mindless Minutia Trivia Events
Runner Up: Wooden Robot

BEST WINE BAR

Winner: Rosie’s Wine Garden
Runner Up: The Artisan’s Palate

Inside Rosie's Wine Garden — Rosie’s Wine Garden (Photo by Grant Baldwin)

TO PARTY

BEST ANNUAL PARTY

Winner: Shiprocked! Pride Party at Snug Harbor
Runner Up: Spring Fest at Sycamore Brewing

BEST MOBILE TROLLEY/PUB

Winner: Trolley Pub Charlotte

BEST NEW NIGHTCLUB

Winner: Resident Culture South End
Runner Up: The Hive

BEST PLACE TO GRAB A QUICK DRINK

Winner: NoDa Company Store
Runner Up: Tommy’s Pub

BEST SINGLES BAR

Winner: Snug Harbor
Runner Up: Hattie’s Tap & Tavern

Snug Harbor in Plaza Midwood (Photo Ryan Pitkin)

BEST WEEKLY NIGHTLIFE EVENT

Winner: Mindless Minutia Trivia Events
Runner Up: Karaoke Night at Snug Harbor

FOR THE PEOPLE

BEST BAR TO MAKE A NEW FRIEND

Winner: Tommy’s Pub
Runner Up: Snug Harbor

BEST BAR TO PEOPLE-WATCH

Winner: Common Market Plaza Midwood
Runner Up: Workman’s Friend

People perusing outside of Common Market in Plaza Midwood — Common Market in Plaza Midwood. (Photo by Grant Baldwin)

BEST BARTENDER

Winner: Chris Burns at Snug Harbor
Runner Up: Stacey Badger at Tommy’s Pub

BEST LGBTQ-FRIENDLY BAR

Winner: Petra’s
Runner Up: Snug Harbor

Petra's in Plaza Midwood — Petra’s in Plaza Midwood (Photo by Grant Baldwin)

BEST MIXOLOGIST

Winner: Ciara Mariano
Runner Up: Bob Peters

BEST PLACE FOR A FIRST DATE

Winner: The Artisan’s Palate
Runner Up: Dilworth Tasting Room

BY NEIGHBORHOOD DRINKING

BEST BALLANTYNE BAR

Winner: Duckworth’s
Runner Up: Bradshaw Social House

BEST BELMONT BAR

Winner: Jekyll and Hyde Taphouse Grill
Runner Up: The Bearded Buffalo Sports Bar

BEST EAST CHARLOTTE BAR

Winner: Tommy’s Pub
Runner Up: Smokey Joe’s Cafe

BEST MATTHEWS/MINT HILL BAR

Winner: Seaboard Brewing, Taproom & Wine Bar
Runner Up: CharBar 7

BEST NODA BAR

Winner: JackBeagle’s
Runner Up: Salud Cerveceria

People sitting at a bar — JackBeagle’s (Photo by Grant Baldwin)

BEST NORTH CHARLOTTE BAR

Winner: Petty Thieves Brewing Co
Runner Up: NoDa Company Canteen

BEST NORTH MECKLENBURG BAR

Winner: Hello, Sailor
Runner Up: Primal Brewery

BEST PINEVILLE BAR

Winner: Tavern 51
Runner Up: Pineville Tavern

BEST PLAZA MIDWOOD BAR

Winner: Workman’s Friend
Runner Up: Snug Harbor

An outside shot of Workman's Friend bar in Plaza Midwood — Workman’s Friend (Photo by Grant Baldwin)

BEST SOUTH END BAR

Winner: Resident Culture South End
Runner Up: Vinyl

BEST SOUTHPARK BAR

Winner: Dot Dot Dot
Runner Up: Lucky Lou’s Tavern

BEST STEELE CREEK BAR

Winner: Lucky Dog Bark & Brew

BEST UNIVERSITY CITY BAR

Winner: Flying Saucer Draught Emporium
Runner Up: Boardwalk Billy’s

The Boozin’ on a Budget crew at Flying Saucer Draught Emporium in University City — The Boozin’ on a Budget crew (from left) Ryan, ReeCee, Aerin, Karie, Justin and Dion at Flying Saucer Draught Emporium in University City. (Photo by Grant Baldwin)

BEST UPTOWN BAR

Winner(Tie): Connolly’s
Winner(Tie): The Roxbury
Runner Up: Dandelion Market

BEST WEST CHARLOTTE BAR

Winner: The Milestone
Runner Up: JackBeagle’s Moorehead

The Milestone Club in west Charlotte — The Milestone Club, on Tuckaseegee Rd. (Photo by Grant Baldwin)

TO DANCE

BEST CLUB DJ

Winner: That Guy Smitty
Runner Up: Flock of Slagles

BEST DANCE CLUB

Winner: The Roxbury
Runner Up: Lost & Found

BEST KARAOKE

Winner: Bone Snugs N Harmony at Snug Harbor
Runner Up: NoDa 101

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