Elsewhere Cocktail Bar

We recently relocated to the south and are planning to visit all the cocktail places we spotted on Insta. This place was one of the first ones we visited. I’ve been quite excited to try it out. To be completely honest, this place is fun, and the bartender seems knowledgeable. I had a couple of cocktails. The waitress recommended an espresso martini and advised it was one of the best in town. It was good. However, the reason for my three-star review is the waitress herself. She was quite sick. She was coughing, cleaning her nose, and sneezing, which was quite unhygienic. I don’t want to get sick, so we left promptly after drinking a couple of cocktails. The place gets crowded in the evenings, so you’ll have to wait for a table. @Management, please send sick employees home 😷

For a venue that claims to specialize exclusively in cocktails, Elsewhere fell far short of even the most basic expectations. My friends and I stopped in on a quiet weeknight hoping for a quick round of classic drinks—but what we got instead was a frustrating, underwhelming experience from start to finish. To begin with, the service was incredibly slow, keeping us there far longer than we intended… (Our server was not inviting and claimed she was too busy to greet us.) And sadly, the drinks weren’t worth the wait—or the price. We ordered two of the most classic, straightforward cocktails: an espresso martini and a dirty martini for $20 each, before tip. You’d think these would be foolproof at a cocktail bar, but apparently not. We were surprised (and honestly disappointed) to hear from our server that the espresso martinis were batched in advance. That detail alone says a lot about the bar's priorities—speed over quality. It was also extremely overly sweet! As for the dirty martini, we were very clear in requesting it slightly dirty, and confirmed that the server understood. What arrived was anything but—completely over-brined, murky, and nearly fluorescent green. Attached is a photo of our cocktail, we were disappointed in their delivery of a drink that was not filled to the brim… and the olives on the side?? We left feeling like the bar was more focused on appearances than execution. When you're charging premium prices for "crafted" cocktails, there’s really no excuse for such carelessness. We expected much more from a place that claims to be all about cocktails—and unfortunately, Elsewhere did not deliver. I don’t believe we will be coming back, unless every other cocktail bar nearby closed.

I had an incredible experience at Elsewhere in Charlotte. The bartender, Star, put on a show with every drink he made — absolute top-notch craftsmanship and energy. You can tell he truly loves what he does. Every cocktail was made with style, precision, and personality. Easily one of the best bartenders I’ve ever seen. Highly recommend stopping by and asking for Star!

Elsewhere is a fantastic spot in Charlotte! I had one of the best espresso martinis I’ve ever tasted, and they even had some of my favorite beers. The staff couldn’t have been friendlier, and the outdoor atmosphere made it the perfect place to relax. The owner has a magnetic, welcoming presence—always smiling, quick with a joke, and genuinely interested in making everyone feel at home. He moves through the space like part host, part storyteller, which made the whole visit feel extra special. Can’t wait to come back!

Fantastic new spot and a must check out when you are in the area. Ambiance is great but what makes this a standout is the staff and service. Stopped in for a pre dinner drink and wow so happy I did. Star and staff took great care of us. When they took our drink order they asked us a few questions about our preferences and put their own spin on each of our drinks. We will definitely be back and recommend you check them out as well. Happy drinking!

A wonderful place to enjoy a drink in the evening. Great atmosphere—perfect for unwinding after any kind of day. The cocktails have unique flavors (though I’m not an expert in spirits). It seemed to me that the crowd is mostly young people. I’d also like to highlight the staff—they’re very pleasant. I’d give an extra point for the excellent service.

Great cocktail bar! Service is always top notch. Star is the man! Beautiful patio and interior space. Very chill vibe. The drinks are great and reasonably priced. Several non-alcoholic options as well. I would recommend this bar to anyone in South End.

New management also runs the vintage, they made so many positive changes. A lot of old staff left but who stayed is definitely of quality. The place is gorgeous, with a huge nice patio, amazing cocktails, and knowledgeable bartenders and servers! Definitely worth a stop in.

Cozy eclectic vibe - good place to go with a party of 2-3 people. Drinks are quality and solid non-alcoholic options too

Cute and vibey. Service was good for a Friday evening after work. The venue is small but has ample outdoor seating. In a sense, it looks like it kind of has two patios along the front and side of the building. The cocktails are good. I feel I was looking for a bit more "umph" since the owners also own The Vintage - Whiskey and Cigar Bar where the drinks are exceptional, but maybe that's just me being weird. It's definitely worth checking out!

Those are such a time back to elsewhere. It's good place to grab in between everything and cocktail. The Bartender was nice but somewhat limited on her experience in terms of making different cocktails and what was available. She didn't make a nice martini though. Overall, it's a nice place to stop for a drink.

Fantastic new spot and a must check out when you are in the area. Ambiance is great but what makes this a standout is the staff and service. Stopped in for a pre dinner drink and wow so happy I did. Star and staff took great care of us. When they took our drink order they asked us a few questions about our preferences and put their own spin on each of our drinks. We will definitely be back and recommend you check them out as well. Happy drinking!

Had a first date here and the vibes were impeccable. Staff and patrons curate an amazing little vibe. Indoor and outdoor seating is a nice touch. The drinks are super unique and all very good. Glad to see a cocktail bar doing well in queen city!

Great place!! Bartenders were entertaining, especially Star. Laid back vibe with a nice outdoor area. Quality drinks.

Hope the owner reads this. Group of 13 men 50-65 yrs old who like cocktails were turned away due to no more than 8 in a party or table last night aug 1st Said we would split up not a big deal and host said great. There were tables outside and she came out and said manager said no! We said again just split us at those 4 tables and she said she couldnt. Made no sense to us so we went to canopy cocktails where they were very welcoming and atmosphere was awesome. If i was the owner i would reconsider my manager choices. Missed out on a large bar bill buddy. DO AS THE NAME SAYS. GO "ELSEWHERE! " Hell anywhere but this place

Came here on a Wednesday evening and it was fairly busy. Our first two drinks, were great. A friend got a tequila drink and I got a vodka cocktail. We told the waitress what liquor and some flavors we wanted and we were both please. My cocktail glass was tiny, I wish it was bigger for the price. Cocktails were pricey $17 for tequila and $16 for vodka. Our 2nd round was an old fashioned and a glass of wine. Wine pour was real sad and not worth $14. A service charge was an automatic on the bill...why ? Just why? No restroom inside but around the corner there is a public restroom (by the donut place). Our waitress was great but the drinks are just sooo pricey, I just can't.

The hustle is real, the cocktails are amazing, the staff is boss!!! For what could be a well known secret to many, this hidden gem behind Barcelona Wine Bar (another 5* place) sits a cozy, shadowily lit mixology experience. The spiral staircase and intimate corners; you can imagine yourself in another time. The out door seating is plenty, although could use some umbrellas with the unpredictable Carolina weather. That aside, think of your classic Mad Men drink or choose from their imaginative menu (I've tried 6). Cheers for now :-)

Limited seating so be prepared to stand if you're here late night on the weekend. Once the weather breaks for patio season then there may be a reprieve. House cocktails are good. Remember you're paying for the experience as well. There aren't many mixology locations in Charlotte so you're also paying market pricing. This isn't a place for beer and shots...

LOVE THIS BAR. It's the perfect spot to get that pre or after dinner drink. The vibe is very sexy. It's quaint but they also have patio seating as well. The bartenders here are SO talented. I could go in and ask for any drink that comes to mind and they will concoct something that is delicious. One of the best bar programs in the city. It's my favorite go to spot after having dinner at Barcelona Wine Bar or Superica. See y'all soon!

First step in, I instantly fell in love. The decor feel like a hopelessly romantic place that I can keep coming back too. It's small but flow nicely into the open patio area. Plenty of heating lamps to keep everyone nice and warm. They provide seasonal drinks and then holidays theme drinks on Friday and Saturday. If you want to keep with what they got going on. It's best to follow them on IG. They have plenty of selections for my love of gin.. Had the Elsewhere Gin and Tonic. Then the Spiked Blood orange Italian Cream Soda. Reminded me of a creamsicle. Just slightly. The staffs are great. We went on for 30 mins around the best Batman. It's nice to be able to mingle with the staffs every now and then. Definitely be back!

Elsewhere is a hit or miss for me. I really want to like it. I've gone a few times, the first time great experience, bartender was awesome! Super accommodating and genuinely cared if I liked my drink or not. She made me this awesome strawberry lemonade drink and I had three & raspberry Lemon cello *chefs kiss" My last experience sat directly at the bar, they were busy. Took forever to get our drinks, felt ignored and really didn't like what he made me and he didn't really care. I'll try it again.

The only reason I giving this place a lower review is cause the menu was very minimal but not sure if they would do more than they showed. It also had a fee to enter which they called a "membership" since they don't service food and it's laws in NC. As an out of towner spending $5 bucks to have one drink is a bit much. I feel maybe for out of towners they can offer maybe $1 membership. For locals it's not bad as they offer to give you a bday drink the week of your bday. We had the from Pearis which smelled weird haha but was tasty!! We also had the spicy Mexican drink (can't remember the name, something with an X) it was very good If you like spicy if not stay away! The place was beautiful and the staff was very nice!! Would go again since we did live in the area since you do have a membership and it is a lifetime so if we go to Charlotte we will stop by.

We sat on the patio on a beautiful evening & enjoyed clever & delicious craft cocktails. Well worth the 'membership' cover we paid. Good service.

Came here after an event we had at Byron's next door. I saw the sign for elsewhere and it was on my list to check out so we stopped in for a drink. Love the interior and how kind our bartender was and how knowledgable she was! When: Thursday night; 9:30pm; party of 3 Drinks: 4.8/5 - i got a bnb in seville and my friend got the bon boyage sargeant jon. I usually get drinks with vodka and this one was good. More on the sour side because of the lemon but still good. The presentation was GORG. Like look at that glassware.. how unique!! And the flowers def added a nice picture worthy touch to it. Service: 5/5 - the guy checking IDs was very kind but the star of the show was the bartender. Young lady had offered her suggestions to the table and asked us what we like to drink so she could match us with a preferred cocktail. I didn't get to finish because I had to drive and the bartender saw and was about to offer me another drink because she thought I didn't like mine. How nice!!! Her and the host/bouncer both checked on us throughout the night and got us whatever we needed. Such great people! Vibes: 4.9/5 - another wonderful cocktail place in CLT. Nice interior with the brick and super tall ceilings and staircase to the top. Just wish it was a little bigger with more seating. Other: Right by byron's and hawkers under the water tower. A little tricky to find. Street parking nearby and paid garage.

Obsessed with this place! Cocktails are awesome, vibe rocks. Love the serving staff too.

This place is great! Awesome cocktails and the bartenders were very knowledgeable and personable. Davis made us a few old fashioneds and recommended a gin drink that was great. Davis was a fantastic bartender and we really enjoyed our time! Great location and ambiance as well.

Okay Elsewhere is a whole vibe and I went right at 5PM on a weekday to meet a friend! It's extremely tucked away in SouthEnd, but so worth seeking out! We only ordered drinks because, for whatever reason, at the time they didn't have any of the food on the menu available. That was a bummer and really the only reason this is a 4 star review instead of a 5. I was fascinated by the inside of this spot. The spiral staircase is mesmerizing and really dope! The upper area that appears to be storage only, is just a cool feature to look at and the service was wonderful! I had an old fashioned and my second drink was a surprise selection from the bartender. I simply told him what I liked and he made me a delicious drink. I don't remember what he said it was called, my bad ya'll lol. But I thoroughly enjoyed both drinks. Definitely check out Elsewhere for dope vibes and strong drinks!

Andrew is amaaaazing! Please ask for him when you come here. Great energy. Definitely a place to checkout when you visit CLT.

With a name like Elsewhere you can't help but to stop in & see what it's all about right? So myself & a friend were riding scooters bar hopping to different restaurants & bars in and around south end . I seen this bar on Instagram more than a little so I suggested we stop in . First thing to note is it's a $5 annual membership fee good up to a year . Cool casual decor and I love the spiral stairs near the bar area . Kelli was our bartender & she was great . Both of our cocktails were well crafted . She apparently listened to everything we said we loved in a cocktail . Will definitely stop back by when In the south end area. Not sure if it's some place I would just say hey let's go here today . But definitely worth stopping in and grabbing a drink if you're hanging out in the area that day .

Was doing the light trail and came to sit in at the bar when walking around. The spot we were going to sit had two drinks on it. We sat down and this rude employee told me i needed to watch out in a rude and aggressive tone so they could clean it. no manners or "excuse me". rude as all hell. we left so fast it's not even funny. go elsewhere where they treat you with respect. Barcelona Wine Bar or Hawkers are much better!

Wow I love this bar so much the drink that I got came in a small glass that was in a larger glass with ice in the bottom and I had a chard lemon in it and it was delicious the girl that I'm with got a drink and a champagne flute it was a nice guy but it was still like a nine out of 10

What a cute little cocktail bar, finally, in south end! Once you find this place, it's such a cool spot! It's located in the courtyard that connects superica and Barcelona wine bar. The only bad thing is trying to find a place to park. They have outdoor and indoor seating. They even have a couch area that I got to enjoy. Their cocktail list is endless! I just went Friday and they added a bunch of new drinks to the menu. I got the herbal berry which was good but it tasted more like a berry popsicle. I also got the" Oaxaca? I barley knew her." This drink was bomb! I highly recommend both. Between 6 people we all loved these two drinks. This place is such a vibe and I most definitely plan on going back soon!

Cozy spot with a small staff, go a few times and you'll know everyone! Love the "drink for a cause" charity cocktail added to every menu and the option for bartenders choice. Chill weekdays and energetic weekends, pick your vibe. Highly recommend.

Impromptu cocktail meet up with a few of my girlfriends yesterday... we were fascinated by the complexity and nuances of the cocktails presented. We sat outside, which honestly could do with a little bit of a spruce up... Nothing interesting about the space. Inside is very cool but since it was such a lovely spring night, we wanted to be outside. We each ordered a different cocktail. Mine was the "two piece"and was presented so beautifully in a two-part martini glass that kept my drink chilled without dilution. It was nuanced and complex, but well balanced a superb libation with wonderful company and exemplary service made for a enjoyable, impromptu night out. As mentioned before, I wish that they would do a little bit more to make the outside more aesthetic with plants, flowers, etc..... the outside area seems like an afterthought .

This was my first time here, visiting for the afternoon with a couple of friends. Because of NC law (I think), you're required to pay $5 for a membership, which was frustrating as someone who is only there for the afternoon. It's a kind of hidden location, but feels secluded but still high-energy. The cocktails I tried were both amazing, and they had a great variety of flavors and seasons represented in their menu. As someone who prefers bright, summery drinks, the coco cooler was a GREAT choice.

Great drinks and service! The staff are extremely creative and can make you anything.

Came here for a quick drink with some old friends and we were all pleasantly surprised! Concepts on the menu were very cool and my drink came in a "floating" martini glass which was a new experience for me! Service was quick and quality, the drinks came out to us quickly and we had folks stop by our table a couple times to check on us. The bar itself is fairly small but hosts were good about keeping capacity at a reasonable limit and decor was very very cute and on theme. I will definitely be coming back again soon

Great ambiance & excellent service. Music and lighting are perfect for the room. The staff is kind and helpful.

My wife and I stopped here before a dinner reservation at another restaurant. Drinks were good, however a very disturbing thing occurred. I ordered their speciality gin drink and it tasted off. My wife tasted it too, while we were sitting at the bar. The bartender reached over and grabbed my drink and explained that he forgot a key ingredient. The drink was placed behind the bar, soon it made its way to the front of the bar, was modified and sent back out to a different customer. Yikes!!!! Weirdest thing I ever had seen. Cashed out immediately

The service and cocktails provided by Madison and Brooke were some of the best I have ever had . Madison was a true mixologist and her attention to detail and customer service as well as Brooke was a wonderful experience.

Very rude and uppity service. I would recommend going elsewhere.... The waitress was very rude and seemed like she just didn't want to serve more folks because the bar was closing soon.

I do a lot of craft cocktails, so it takes a lot to impress me. Well, Elesewhere did just that. Every cocktail was excellent with some very inventive recipes. The one that stood out to me was the basiliaks, which had a great balance of sweet sour boozy and herb. I've had many cocktails with basil and it's easy for the basil to take over. The basiliks had a hint of basil, which IMHO added to the great flavor profile.

If you want an amazing cocktail bar with a quaint and relaxing atmosphere plus sensational service, then ELSEWHERE () is the venue for you. is located in the heart of South End (SE) plaited away under the South End water tower right next to Superica, Barcelona Wine Bar, and across the street from newly erected Lowe's technology corporate center. Elsewhere can arouse a quandary in unearthing its milieu, so be au courant. Now, they have a very curated cocktail list that really amuses your senses; eyes, taste buds, even the aromatic qualities enhance the experience. These are the concoctions I got (see below): ----------- $12 pimms cup pimms no 1, basil, lemon, blueberries, ginger beer | lemon wheel and blueberry garnish ----------- $13 hemingway daiquiri plantation dark rum, luxardo, grapefruit, lime | cherry garnish ----------- I've been to Elsewhere a myriad of times and every experience has been introduced and sustained with savoir faire. The finesse, suavity, and poise of the staff is unmatched but paired with a phenomenal venue & even more elevated cocktails. All in all, I would recommend a boozy evening/night at Elsewhere. They never have served food...it's a cocktail bar! Cheers MATE$! ...::: TrizzyO_o :::...

My advice would be to go elsewhere. This place honestly was confusing from the get go. We were trying to kill time with a drink before meeting up with folks somewhere else. We arrived and there were a ton of empty tables. We were told there was a 15 minute wait but they wouldn't take a name for a list. They asked us to come back which we did 10 minutes later and were told it was open seating at the tables which were open 10 minutes prior. What? In typical NC fashion they are membership only. A membership is $5 for a year and includes a guest. We begrudgingly agreed and sat down. And waited and waited and waited. We were not acknowledged at all by the staff. Not even a hello we will be right with you despite many folks walking by - maybe my friend and I were invisible in that point in time. Magic, perhaps? I eventually got up and approached the bar introducing myself and asking if we could get waters for the table. Finally someone brought Luke warm water out that were oddly filled to various points. Ever want 1/5th a glass of water? Come here. We then were shocked by NYC cocktail prices and were skeptical of the quality given the already lackluster experience. We ordered two drinks which were brought out suspiciously quickly for something that was supposed to be hand crafted. Of course the drinks were terrible and when asked how we liked them we were honest and the waitress took them away. The only saving grace of this place was the nicely embossed napkins and that they didn't charge us for terrible drinks. Again the best advice I can give is to go elsewhere - Barcelona is right next door, but then again their health sanitation rate is less than stellar so maybe not there either.

Love everything about this place. Im going to keep it short and sweet. The place is cozy, the workers are amazing and the drinks hit for me. Shout out Davis and Andrew, y'all are awesome bartenders!!!

I love this little bar! Requires annual membership but it was only $5 for the year and you can bring guest with you as well. Drinks are in normal range for South Charlotte and they normally have daily specials. I love that it's in "the cut" nestled between several restaurants and businesses, making it the perfect way to kill time on a wait list or as a night cap. This is actually a really cool little part of South Charlotte I would definitely recommend checking out!

Really enjoyed the drinks here. However, just a heads up...you have to be a "member" to be a customer. It's $5 and you can bring one person as a guest. The space is small so you may need a reservation. The outdoor patio is nice, there are multiple small tables with heaters and blankets at the ready if the weather is cold. Overall a great experience!

I came here to celebrate my 32nd birthday and to brag about being engaged! It was such a cool vibe! The drinks were awesome and they felt Taylor-made for the occasion! The staff were great and the service was AMAZING! I look forward to coming here again very soon! Be prepared to pay $5 for a membership if you do choose to go, but it lasts for a year!

If cocktails are your thing you've got to check out Elsewhere! Their globally inspired drinks have unique ingredients and combinations that might surprise you with how well they go together. I tried the Colombian Bam Bam and was super impressed with the flavor palate- we're talking bananas and nutty vanilla. It's a small bar plus an outdoor patio; perfect for pairing drinks with people watching!

Drinks and service were outstanding. Wish they had an appetizer (something salty) or two. They were out of them when we there. Would definitely go back.

Come here to get a perfect strong cocktail made by a creative bartender after going through a maze to find this hidden gem and be on your way!

A cocktail bar with amazing bartenders! I struggle in Charlotte to find a really good cocktail bar that has bartenders who can make classic drinks that aren't on the menu (my go to is a Southside or Bees Knees) and this place delivered! My friend and I came here for drinks on a Friday night and due to the unusually nice December weather we were able to sit outside. I would highly recommend coming earlier on a weekend since this place filled up pretty quickly by 6:30 and we saw numerous parties be turned away with only a waitlist. We ordered drinks off menu including a French 75, southside, and Bees Knees, as well as the on menu midnight mule, which is a nonalcoholic cocktail. I love the addition of quality nonalcoholic cocktails because a lot of the time I want to keep drinking but don't want any more alcohol. We loved all our drinks and definitely plan to come back here in the future.

Pretty good drinks. They are slightly expensive but you are in south end. Only bad thing is that there doesn't seem to be enough room. It's really cute and like a speakeasy though which I like.

My boyfriend and I popped in here on a Saturday night around 10:30pm, and surprisingly got in and got two seats at the bar. It had recently been raining, so maybe that is why it was available. The bartenders were nice and funny, and were chatting with us about beetlejuice, which was being shown on their tv. The cocktails were delicious, albeit expensive, but that's to be expected. We had a nice time and would definitely be back.

This awesome place is tucked away in the design center below the water tower and is easy to miss but trust me it is worth seeking out. They have a small inviting indoor space with a mezzanine level but in a nice day the best bet is to enjoy a table on the outside patio. I am not very knowledgeable about cocktails as I am more of a beer drinker but I knew this is the kind of spot I was going to have to broaden my horizons. Our server Korey was an all star when it came to recommending drinks and we even let him select some for us as a surprise. He definitely knew his stuff and you could tell he loved what he did. The service was fantastic and we had a great evening. I will certainly be recommending this place to friends!

Came here for the first time not knowing anything about this place, and what a wonderful surprise! We've been looking for a cocktail bar within walking distance of our apartment and we found our spot with this place! From the moment we walked up, we were greeted by a very friendly woman who ended up being our waitress. She was attentive the entire time and even chatted with us throughout the 20-30 min we were there while we waited for our dinner reservations. The drinks were SO good, I tried something new and out of my norm and I'm so glad. Can't wait to go back, highly recommend!

If you are looking for a cocktail experience, and have the time to wait, this is your place. It is small, so unless you can take advantage of the outside seating, getting in will be a problem. Then, we made the mistake of stopping on our way to a dinner reservation. It took 25 minutes to get our drinks. This is not a place to stop if you're on a timeline. When they came, they were beautiful. Even a simple Gin and tonic came with a cylinder cube of ice and an interesting lime garnish. Prices are not cheap either. But for a special night, this is a nice place, great drinks, interesting atmosphere and friendly service.