Nightlife Readers’ Pick Winners: Best in the Nest 2022
Best of Charlotte's nightlife chosen by Queen City Nerve readers
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.
TO KICK IT
BEST ARCADE BAR
Winner: Super Abari Game Bar
Runner Up: Pins Mechanical Co

BEST BOWLING ALLEY
Winner: 10 Park Lanes
Runner Up: AMF University Lanes

BEST CIGAR BAR
Winner: The Vintage Whiskey & Cigar Bar
Runner Up: Havana Smoke and Reserve
BEST COCKTAIL BAR
Winner: Idlewild
Runner Up: Dot Dot Dot

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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