Amélie’s French Bakery & Café | Park Road

Description: This charming gathering place draws a crowd for its pastries, light fare & coffee drinks.

Comments: One of my favorite third places in Charlotte. In fact, it was my first third place here. This location is spacious, bright, and thoughtfully designed. The ground floor has large tables that make it easy for groups to meet, and you’ll often see book clubs, church groups, and D&D squads gathered around. Even with all that activity, there always seems to be a seat for solo visitors.

The slightly raised seating area that runs the length of the building is perfect if you come alone. It’s lined with two-top tables and counters and feels a bit tucked away from the main floor. You can walk in, see families and groups filling the space, and still know there’s a quiet corner waiting for you.

Outlet access is excellent. Along the booth-style seats in the raised seating section, there’s a slim black strip beneath the padded backs with outlets. They are easy to miss, but they’re there. Someone clearly put effort into making sure people could stay a while.

Now for story time. I moved to Charlotte during the COVID-19 pandemic, which meant nearly everything worth exploring was closed. When things started reopening, smaller spots struggled with distancing, but larger ones like this Amelie’s found a way. They removed a few tables and still let people sit safely apart. After more than a year of being confined to my studio apartment, this became my first “just sit somewhere and be out of the house” spot. I would bring my laptop and a book, work remotely, watch shows, read, and just exist somewhere that wasn’t home.

I came here three or four times a week. The staff eventually started predicting my order, which is partly why I began branching out to other places. I felt I needed to be more adventurous. But this Amelie’s will always be special to me. It was my home away from home. I made my first friends in Charlotte here and saw so many others doing the same. People working, reading, studying, and talking. This spot embodies what a third place is supposed to be.

The food and pastries are alright. Nothing life-changing, but nothing bad either. The cinnamon roll is just okay, it’s gotten better. It used to be terrible, but since it’s not a French pastry, I give them a pass. The coffee is reliable, and the tea options are good. Pro tip, you can order a full pot of tea even though it’s not listed on the display menu. Between that, the pastries, and the welcoming atmosphere, everything here invites you to stay a while.

It may not be the original Amelie’s, but it’s my original. I pray it never goes away.