Nightlife Readers’ Pick Winners: Best in the Nest 2021
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.
BEST ARCADE BAR
Winner: Abari Game Bar
Runner Up: Pins Mechanical Co

BEST BOWLING ALLEY
Winner: 10 Park Lanes
Runner Up: Queen Park Social
BEST CIGAR BAR
Winner: The Vintage Whiskey & Cigar Bar

BEST COCKTAIL BAR
Winner: Soul Gastrolounge
Runner Up: Dot Dot Dot

BEST DIVE BAR
Winner: Thirsty Beaver Saloon
Runner Up: Snug Harbor
BEST DOG BAR
Winner: Lucky Dog Bark & Brew
Runner Up: Hattie’s Tap & Tavern

BEST HOOKAH BAR
Winner: Crave Dessert Bar
Runner Up: Red @ 28th
BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR
Winner: Snug Harbor
Runner Up: Hattie’s Tap & Tavern

BEST POOL HALL
Winner: Smokey Joe’s Cafe
Runner Up: Montford Billiards

BEST SPORTS BAR
Winner: Brazwells Pub
Runner Up: Sidelines Sports Bar
BEST STRIP CLUB
Winner: The Men’s Club
Runner Up: Paper Doll Lounge
BEST WINE BAR
Winner: Dilworth Tasting Room
Runner Up: The Artisan’s Palate
BEST CLUB DJ
Winner: That Guy Smitty
Runner Up: Flock of Slagles
BEST DANCE CLUB
Winner: The Roxbury
Runner Up: Lost & Found
BEST KARAOKE BAR
Winner: Snug Harbor
Runner Up: NoDa 101
BEST ANNUAL PARTY
Winner: Charlotte Pride
Runner Up: Durag Fest

BEST BAR TO MAKE A NEW FRIEND
Winner: Snug Harbor
Runner Up: Hattie’s Tap & Tavern
BEST PLACE FOR A QUICK DRINK
Winner: Hattie’s Tap & Tavern
Runner Up: Growlers Pourhouse

BEST SINGLES BAR
Winner: Snug Harbor
Runner Up: The Peace Pipe
BEST BAR TO PEOPLE-WATCH
Winner: Sanctuary Pub
Runner Up: Hattie’s Tap & Tavern

BEST BARTENDER
Winner: Chris Burns
Runner Up: Nadira Martin
BEST LGBTQ-FRIENDLY BAR
Winner: Petra’s
Runner Up: Hattie’s Tap & Tavern

BEST MIXOLOGIST
Winner: Nadira Martin
Runner Up: Bob Peters
BEST PLACE FOR A FIRST DATE
Winner: Camp North End
Runner Up: The Artisan’s Palate

Become a Nerve Member: Get better connected and become a member of Queen City Nerve to support local journalism for as little as $5 per month. Our community journalism helps inform you through a range of diverse voices.

This work by Queen City Nerve is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.