Your votes are in. Congratulations to our CLTtoday’s Best winners, who rose to the top as your favorite places to work, live, play, and eat:
Best brunch: Cafe South | It’s not Saturday morning in our city without the pancakes, grits, and omelettes served up at this comforting spot.
Best coffee shop: The Hobbyist | This favorite coffee shop not only has delicious espresso drinks and specialty lattes (looking at you, black walnut latte), but beer, wine, and fun events.
Best brewery + distillery: Vaulted Oak Brewing | Craft beers, wine, and plenty of non-alcoholic beers make this spot your No. 1 choice in breweries — plus, it’s gorgeous whether you sit inside or out.
Your No. 1 choice in breweries and distilleries is Vaulted Oak Brewing.
Photo by Vaulted Oak
Best dentist: Kakouras Family Dentistry | It’s time to start getting your dental cleanings in a massage chair — this family dentistry features modern facilities and a courteous, professional staff.
Best arts + craft store: Upcycle Arts | Your craft materials have a second purpose when they come from this non-profit — they were collected from local businesses and residents and diverted from landfills.
Upcycle Arts was voted the No. 1 local craft store.
Photo by CLTtoday
Best museum: Levine Museum of the New South | We’re on the edge of our seat waiting to see where this No. 1 museum winner will set up permanent shop — for now, catch partner events with Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and other local organizations.
Nominations are open for the City of Charlotte’s 2026 Crowns of Enterprise Awards. The award recognizes small businesses, leadership, and the economic impact they have on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. Nominations are due by Monday, Jan. 23.
Santa Claus is visiting The Goodyear House tonight and Tuesday, Dec. 23, starting at 5 p.m. Bring the family for photos and a new, unwrapped toy to be donated to ourBRIDGE for KIDS. Psst... did we mention kids eat free?
Sports
Prepare the mayo bath. Wake Forest and Mississippi State will face each other in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium on Friday, Jan. 2. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. — tickets are on sale now, and the game will air on ESPN.
Real Estate
Nineteen Charlotte-area ZIP codes exceeded $500,000 median home values, with the biggest increases reported in Myers Park, Foxcroft, and Cotswold. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Concert
You won’t be “Emotionless” at this show. Avenged Sevenfold and Good Charlotte will play at PNC Music Pavilion on Sunday, Aug 18, 2026. Presales start Thursday, Dec. 11 at 10 a.m.
Weather
Last night was the coldest night of the season so far. Much of the Charlotte area felt temperatures in the teens and low 20s. WCNC’s Chief Meteorologist shared these tips to keep you, your pets, and your home warm. (WCNC)
Biz
Chef Matt Deering is taking over as Executive Chef for both Lincoln Street Kitchen & Cocktails and Craft Tasting Room & Growler Shop. The Charlotte-born chef is an NCRLA Chef of the Year 2024 and plans to use seasonal flavors and ingredients to elevate the menu.
Sports
Kon Knueppel was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for October and November. Does he have a shot at being the NBA’s Rookie of the Year? Go beyond the scoreboard for the biggest stories on the Charlotte Hornetswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Watch
“The Pitt,” “Severance,” and “Pluribus” are among Time Magazine’s top 10 TV shows of 2025. With the cost of streaming services going up and up, we’re planning to watch them on the couch this winter with a local lunch deal in hand.
Coming Soon
🍣 Feeling hungry?
Is your mouth watering for these small bites from Uchibā?
Photo via Uchi
Long-awaited Uchi is preparing to serve its Japanese-inspired spread in Plaza Midwood — and it’s arriving with a sister concept, Uchibā, a bar-forward spot focused on sushi, small plates, and cocktails. The Austin-based pair will open at the Commonwealth in early 2026, giving Charlotteans everything from elevated omakase to bar bites in one destination.
Ahead of the opening, CLTtoday caught up with Shaun King, the Chef de Cuisine, to discuss what diners can expect and the excitement of opening in the Queen City — from taking over a historic Plaza Midwood spot to exploring local favorites like milkbread — plus, when to sample a bite.
I’m so excited for the pop-ups planned in Charlotte ahead of the Uchi and Uchibā openings in Plaza Midwood. Did you miss that news nugget? Go back and read our Q+A with Chef Shaun King — I’m already calling him an honorary Charlottean.
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