Therapy
401 n tryon st, +1 704 333-1353, (http://www.therapycafe.net). m tu-th 7am-11pm; w, f 7am-2am; sa 5pm-2am. if you're in the middle of a head-splitting barhop, the name "therapy" will make sense to you. the bar is low-key, quiet and very urban-chic. it's got the features of both a cafe and a martini bar, and the clientele reflects that blend. a cool, quiet place to recover or prep yourself for a late night of sensory overload.
Blue
Blue, corner of 5th and College inside the Hearst Tower, with a streetside entrance, +1 704 927-2583, (http://www.bluerestaurant...). M-Th 5PM-10PM, F Sa 5PM-11PM. Trendy but not overbearing, this bar has gained a reputation among Charlotte's high-rollers as a place to rub elbows. A bit lower key than some of its neighbors, this is a good place to relax and have a signature blue martini. Cocktails in the $10 range with $6 martini specials.
Dixie's Tavern
Dixie's Tavern, 301 E 7th St, +1 704 374-1700 fax: +1 704-374-1710, (http://www.dixiescharlotte.com). M-Sa 11AM-2AM. One of the city's most appealing restaurant-bar combos. Good Cajun food and reasonable drink prices make this a great place to begin a night of Uptown bar-hopping. Frequently has live music acts, and occasionally hosts large events in the parking lot.
Fox & Hound
330 n tryon st, +1 704 333-4113, (http://www.tentcorp.com/). 11am-2am daily. this bar has quickly gained a reputation among the hard-partying uptown crowd as a place to shoot pool, get good beer and be able to have an audible conversation. great place to watch a ufc fight. somewhat casual, but still very trendy and safe.
Rock Bottom Brewery
401 n tryon st ste 100 look for the red neon sign, +1 704 334-2739, (http://rockbottomsouth.com/). m-sa 11am-2am, su 11am-11pm. $3-5/pint. a local franchise of a small national chain, several beers are brewed on site. it's also a restaurant with pretty decent food.
The Corner Pub
335 n graham st, +1 704 376-2720, (http://www.thecornerpub.biz/). tu-sa 5pm-2am, su m 5pm-midnight. simple, unpretentious, and friendly. the corner pub is exactly what it sounds like, and feels disconnected from the trendy crush of college street nightclubs. a great place to go for easy, uncomplicated drinking in a neighborhood atmosphere.
Buckhead Saloon
201 e 5th st, +1 704 370-0687. a combination dance club/music venue, buckhead keeps a large crowd most nights of the week. less pretentious than the nearby dance clubs, but faster-paced than the typical sit-down bar. generally the music is second-rate, but that's not really the reason people come here anyway.
Cedar Street Tavern
120 n cedar st, +1 704 333-3448, (http://www.cedarstreettav...). su-w 11am-midnight, th-sa 11am-2am. like the corner pub, cedar street tavern is primarily a neighborhood bar. friendly service, reasonable prices and an approachable crowd make for a good low-key drinking atmosphere.
Hartigan's
Hartigan's, 601 S Cedar St, (http://www.hartigans.com). "Irish" pub located on the edge of Uptown near the football stadium. A good place to grab a sandwich for lunch, Hartigan's has solid traffic as a bar after sundown. Upstairs is mostly casual dining and drinking; downstairs is Charlotte's best-known all-lesbian bar. Gay-friendly, but very welcoming of straight clientele.