With more than 200 restaurants in Center City and another 139 in the Historic South End neighborhood, Charlotte has become a mecca for foodies. Conference attendees are in luck – most of the city’s culinary gems are just a short walk or light rail ride away from the Convention Center. If you’re a vegan, vegetarian, or need to follow a gluten-free diet, don’t despair – our restaurants can definitely accommodate your needs!

Vegetarian/Vegan Dining Options:

• 5Church (127 N. Tryon St., Suite 8) – Quickly gaining a reputation as Charlotte’s best new restaurant since opening in 2012, 5Church is casual, yet refined, boasting a bold, technique-driven environment paralleled only by the incredible New American dishes carefully crafted using local ingredients. Veg-friendly options include the chickpea salad, quinoa tabbouleh, and crispy marinated tofu.
• Brixx Pizza (225 E. 6th Street) - Brixx is known for their thin-crust pizzas, huge selection of lacto-vegetarian options, and decent vegan options. For vegans, the Greek Pizza appears to be the favorite; vegetarians prefer Pear & Gorgonzola. There is no additional charge for vegan cheese.
• Dandelion Market (118 W. 6th St.) - Taking its name from the famous outdoor market that thrived in Dublin back in the early 1970s, Dandelion Market provides Uptown Charlotte with a place for friends and family to gather and enjoy the best in food and drink, served with a smile, in a cozy pub setting. Veg options include the fried beet falafel, zucchini ribbon pasta, and portabella fries.
• Fern, Flavors from the Garden (1323 Central Ave.) - A vegetarian restaurant offering a diverse selection of seasonal, local fare in Plaza Midwood.
• FUEL Pizza (500 S. College St. and Corner of 6th & College Streets) - FUEL offers DAIYA cheese for vegan pizzas.
• Levant Mediterranean Cuisine (135 Levine Avenue of the Arts - If using GPS, enter 135 1st Street or 550 South Tryon) - Levant offers traditional Eastern Mediterranean food in a lavish setting. Nearly all of the starters are vegetarian-friendly. Baba ghanouj, a creamy roasted eggplant spread rich with garlic, keeps company with other traditional foods such as smooth, velvety hummus; juicy yalanji, grape leaves stuffed with rice and tomato; and mihammara, a spread with bread crumbs, walnuts, chili pepper, cumin, and olive oil.
• Luna’s Living Kitchen (2102 South Blvd. Suite 150) – Luna’s is an organic, mostly raw restaurant serving plant-based cuisine, smoothies, and plant-based juices.
• Zada Jane’s (1601 Central Ave.) – Zada Jane’s is a funky, eclectic neighborhood spot catering to vegetarians and meat lovers alike –with half the menu devoted to each tribe. Try the zucchini and yellow squash cakes or the East-Western – organic tofu seasoned with yellow Indian curry and scrambled with sautéed mushrooms, green peas, fresh spinach, tomato and caramelized onions.

Gluten Free

The following menus have dedicated gluten-free menus. (But please, don’t limit yourself to this list. Many restaurants can make a dish gluten-free, just ask!)

• Basil Thai (210 N. Church St) [GF Menu (GF items denoted with green circle)] - Refined Thai Cuisine and an invigorating dining experience in the heart of downtown Charlotte.
• Blue Restaurant & Bar (Corner of 5th & College Streets) [GF Menu] – Sophisticated Moroccan with dishes representing the cuisines of Italy, France, Greece, North Africa.
• e2 emeril’s eatery (135 Levine Avenue of the Arts, Suite 100 - If using GPS, enter 135 1st Street or 550 South Tryon) [GF Menu] - e2 emeril's eatery features an eclectic menu focusing on New Orleans-inspired American cuisine using local ingredients.
• FUEL Pizza (500 S. College St. and Corner of 6th & College Streets) [GF Menu]- REAL pizza made with the finest mozzarella, vine-ripened tomatoes and the highest-quality fresh ingredients, Perfect Wings, Fresh Salads and Tasty Sandwiches.
• Jason’s Deli (210 E Trade St @ the Epicentre) [GF Menu] - From sandwiches to salads, Jason's Deli offers healthy and delicious food that everyone can feel good about.
• Morton’s The Steakhouse (227 W. Trade St.) [GF Menu] - Morton's prides itself on quality and consistency and features USDA prime-aged steak, fresh seafood, hand-picked produce, delicious appetizers and decadent desserts
• Rooster’s Wood Fired Kitchen (150 N. College St.) [GF Menu] - New Southern cuisine, locally sourced farm-to-table, casual fine dining, excellent wines, house made charcuterie and local beer.
• Tupelo Honey Café (1820 South Blvd.) [GF Menu] - Fresh, scratch-made and Southern –comfort foods transformed into inventive goodness.

Local Favorites

For those of you without dietary restrictions who want to experience the best that the City has to offer, here are a few local favorites, all within walking or light-rail distance from your hotel:

• Barbecue:  Queen City Q (225 E. 6th St.) – Queen City Q serves up a melding of styles from eastern NC, western NC and SC created from cherished recipes. They also believe great barbecue means serving the freshest, most amazing meats smoked low and slow with homemade sauces on the side. This way you can sauce them in whatever style you want. Or not.
• Sandwiches:  Mortimer’s Café & Pub (210 E Trade St, Suite C 148)- Since opening its doors in 2010, Mortimer’s has become Uptown Charlotte’s neighborhood bar. From their gourmet Boar’s Head wraps, pitas, sandwiches and paninis to the great drink specials and live music twice a week, Mortimer’s is the place for affordable food in a fun atmosphere.
• Southern Soul Food: Mert’s Heart & Soul (214 N. College St.) - Located in the heart of Uptown Charlotte, Mert’s Heart and Soul is one of the most sought after dining destinations in the Queen City. From the award-winning macaroni and cheese, to the sweet, buttery cornbread, to the shrimp and grits – Mert’s southern, Low Country, and Gullah – inspired favorites leave guests with an unforgettable, “home cooked” experience.
• Steakhouse:  Ruth’s Chris (222 S. Tryon St.) - Whether it's a romantic steak dinner for two, an important business luncheon, or a private party, Ruth's Chris Steak House can accommodate your needs. The Uptown Charlotte steakhouse features USDA Prime beef a cooked in 1800 degree broilers and served on 500 degree plates. The salads, side dishes and desserts are inspired by Ruth's New Orleans heritage.
• Sushi: Enso Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar (210 E Trade St.) - Enso is a favorite among diners for its chic decor and the vibrant mood set by DJs spinning modern electronic music. Chefs sate crowds with creative pan-Asian cuisine such as Asian yellowtail ceviche with wonton chips, sushi rolls that pair blue crab with sliced strawberries or microgreens, and entrees of seared Chilean sea bass served with dollops of edamame mashed potatoes. Bartenders mix top-shelf cocktails at a glittering bar lined with black pebbles.

Sweet Treats

Everyone craves sweets from time to time, and Charlotte has plenty of local vendors who specialize in satisfying your sweet tooth!

• Amelie’s French Bakery (330 S. Tryon St. & 2424 N. Davidson St.)  This self-proclaimed “Parisian shabby chic” bakery will have your taste buds saying “merci beaucoup” the minute you walk in and catch a whiff of the sweet sugary goodness. Offering every classic French sweet (pastries, petit fours, éclairs) and savory (croissants, baguettes, tartines) as well as fresh homemade soups and sandwiches, Amelie’s also specializes in European-style coffees, espressos, macchiato, and lattes. Don’t miss the salted caramel brownies!
• Bar Cocoa – Ritz Carlton (201 E. Trade St.)  One of the premier chocolate shops in Charlotte, NC, Bar Cocoa is a delectable Dessert Boutique, retail shop and cooking lab for chocolate lovers of all ages. Located in the lobby of The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte, this chocolate shop offers a cozy dining nook or sidewalk terrace to enjoy its house-made pastries, French macarons, cakes, pies, house-made gelato, and Norman Love confections to enjoy in the moment or to take away. For those who long to learn the secrets of professional chocolatiers, including groups seeking a unique team-building experience, Bar Cocoa’s pastry kitchen hosts ongoing weekend cooking classes at Cocoa Lab throughout the year.
• Charlotte Pie Authority (Order online – pies can be delivered to your hotel!) - The Charlotte Pie Authority, a local bakery in Charlotte, North Carolina, specializes in uniquely delicious, fresh pies. They offer seven resident pies year round: sweet potato pie, buttermilk coconut pie, chocolate pie, apple crumb pie, lemon chess pie, pecan pie, and pineapple brûlée pie. The pies are made by hand and with love by Denay, the owner/operator of the Charlotte Pie Authority. With over 20 years of baking experience, you can rest assured that whichever pie you try, you and your belly will be completely satisfied!