Rosie's Coffee & Wine Garden

Description: Quaint cafe/bar in the McGill Rose Garden with hot drinks, craft beer & wines, plus photo sessions.

Comments: Quaint, rustic, herbal, and full of character. It feels lived in and well loved, all adding up to a marvelously inviting place that I cannot recommend enough. It took me a few years of living in Charlotte and hearing people mention it before I finally made my way here, and I’m so glad I did.

This is top tier, 100 out of 10, for remote workers or students who feel stressed and need a spot where they can open a laptop, get some work done, then step away and relax. The McGill Rose Garden here provides just that. It's much larger than it looks from the road and gives you a forest-like, nature-filled oasis in the middle of one of Charlotte’s busiest neighborhoods.

The garden is the draw here. Don’t come just to sit inside. Bring a book, bring a friend, bring your dog. Show up early to beat the heat, or if it's not that hot, show up whenever. There is plenty of space to spread out and find your own quiet little corner.

It’s also a top tier date spot. The garden is large enough that, outside of peak weekend hours, you're likely to find a tucked-away space to sit together and have an intimate conversation. I went on a weekday morning and have never felt more at ease anywhere in Charlotte while working remotely.

Indoor seating is limited, but if you show up early, you can usually get a spot. And every now and then, stand up, stretch your legs, and walk the garden paths. What a lovely place this is.