South End

South End is a district in Charlotte. Extending from the southern side of the I-277 freeway loop south of Uptown, it extends along South Boulevard toward I-485. It was historically dominated by mills and factories, but it has been reborn as an arts and entertainment district. It is one of the city's fastest-developing districts, primarily due to the placement of a light rail line along South Blvd.

Get in

Map of South End.

South End is well connected to other parts of Charlotte. South Blvd connects to I-485 south of the city, giving visitors from that direction an easy inlet to the district. Visitors from the Uptown area may travel down South Blvd by car (the easiest way is to take S. Brevard until it becomes South Blvd after the I-277 junction). A cab is also a reasonable option, since the district is only about a mile from Uptown.

Visitors may also reach South End via mass transit. The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) operates the transit system in the city. The LYNX Blue Line light rail service runs the length of the South End, stopping at Carson Blvd., Bland Street, and East/West Blvd. The Blue Line connects the South End to Uptown to the north and travels along South Blvd. to the south. Frequency varies from 7-10 minutes on weekdays to 20-30 minutes on weekends. Fares for LYNX are $2.20 one-way (seniors and youth receive 50% discount), $4.40 round-trip. In addition, bus routes 10 and 16 serve the South End corridor while numbers 19 and 36 just pass through the area.

The northernmost end of the district is within reasonable walking distance of Uptown, though this requires crossing over I-277 via a somewhat unsightly pedestrian bridge along either College or Tryon streets.

Buy

• 1 Canine Cafe, 125 Remount Road, ☏ +1 704-588-3647. Lots of homemade treats for your dogs and gifts for both canines and dog lovers. 
• 2 Elder Gallery, 1520 S Tryon St, ☏ +1 704-370-6337. Tu-F 10AM-6PM, Sa 10AM-2PM. Showcasing the work of many renowned American artists. 
• 3 South End Exchange, 1616 Camden Rd, ☏ +1 704-353-4600. A large consignment store with a broad range of antique items. 
• Atherton Mill, 2000-2140 South Blvd. A high-end shopping mall, located inside the historic Atherton Mill buildings. (updated Oct 2023)

Eat

• 1 Tavern on the Tracks, 1411 S Tryon St, ☏ +1 704 372-0782. 
• 2 Fuel Pizza, 1801 South Blvd, ☏ +1 704-335-7375. 
• 3 Sullivan's Steakhouse, 1928 South Blvd, ☏ +1 704-335-8228. $20-40. 
• 4 Nikko Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar, 1300 South Blvd, ☏ +1 704-370-0100. Lunch M-F 11:30AM-2:30PM, Dinner Su-Th 5PM-10PM, F Sa 5PM-11PM. At around 10PM most nights, the owner arrives and dances go-go dances on the tables for a few minutes. $8-20. 
• 5 Midnight Diner, 115 E Carson Blvd, ☏ +1 980-207-3641. Diner serving scratch comfort food 24/7 in a classic railroad car-style space. (updated Jun 2017)
• 6 300 East, 300 East Blvd,28203, ☏ +1 704-332-6507. Family-run spot serving New American fare in a quaint renovated house with a bar & patio. (updated Jun 2017)
• 7 Mac's Speed Shop, 2511 South Blvd, ☏ +1 704-522-6227. Local restaurant & bar chain serving BBQ, burgers, wings, Southern fare & more, plus numerous beers. (updated Jun 2017)

Drink

Bars

• 1 Amos' South End, 1423 S Tryon St, ☏ +1 704-377-6874. Like South End Brewery, Amos' popularity exceeds the mere gentrification of the neighborhood; it helped make South End hip. Amos' hosts a very diverse range of live acts, but the proprietors have good taste and shows there are generally expected to be pretty good. One of the best singles joints in town, and typically a good stop for a beer regardless of who's on stage. 
• 2 The Gin Mill, 1423 South Tryon St, ☏ +1 704 373-0782. 
• 3 Sycamore Brewing, 2161 Hawkins St, ☏ +1 704-910-3821. Bustling taproom & beer garden offering in-house sandwiches & international food-truck fare. (updated Jun 2017)
• 4 Triple C Brew, 2900 Griffith St, ☏ +1 704-372-3212. Excellent brewpub offering varied beers in cozy, industrial digs complete with games & a patio. (updated Jun 2017)

Coffeehouses

• 5 Not Just Coffee - Atherton, 2102 South Blvd. Aesthetic coffee shop with a hipster atmosphere. (updated Jun 2017)

Sleep

Despite being the location of many high-end apartment complexes, there are no hotels in South End. For accommodations, your nearest options are to cross I-277 into Uptown.