by TM Petaccia & Kristen Wile

In town for the debut National Pastry Conference? We’re excited to have you! There are plenty of incredible restaurants to explore around Charlotte. Here are some of our editor’s picks near the conference, hotel, and for a taste of our pastry scene.

Near The Park Expo

The Teal Turnip
Open for lunch and dinner, chefs Taylor Kastl and Steve McGinley have quickly made this restaurant one of Charlotte’s must-visit spots, offering a fun and casual vibe. Describing their food as “haute New Age American for the adventurous eater,” the current menu includes such items as “What’s the Big Dill?” (dill rotisserie chicken salad) and “My Barbacoa Don’t Want None” (Latin pot roast).

Puerta, The Crunkleton, or Rosemont
Swing by one of 1957 Hospitality’s three restaurants on 7th Street, just down the road from PastryCon. Puerta serves tequila, tacos, and chef-driven Mexican fare; The Crunkleton is known for its whiskey collection, cocktails, and hearth-cooked fare; and Rosemont is a destination for wine lovers.

Common Market
Pop in for a quick sandwich and beverage from the coolers at this popular Charlotte hangout, known for its quirky personality and welcoming vibe. Sandwich options include vegetarian and vegan selections.

Near Marriott City Center

Fin & Fino
This is one of Uptown’s most dependable restaurants for lunch or dinner, but Fin & Fino is also a great place to grab a seat at the bar and enjoy a fantastic meal and cocktails. If you’ve got time, settle in for The Treatment, a chef’s tasting menu.

Haymaker
Enjoy modern Southern fare in a beautiful interior at Haymaker, just across from Romare Bearden Park. Open for lunch and dinner, this is a great place to get a taste of the modern, chef-driven style of cuisine known in Charlotte.

To sample Charlotte’s dessert scene

300 East
One of Charlotte’s oldest restaurants also has one of the city’s greatest pastry legacies. Some of the city’s best pastry chefs have come out of the kitchen, thanks to the tutelage of operating partner, chef, and pastry chef Ashley Boyd. Current pastry chef Lex Druhan continues the traditional of excellence.

The Batch House
The pink facade of this West Charlotte bakery hints at the lightheartedness within. Pastry cases hold a variety of cookies, cakes, and sweets that have earned The Batch House a loyal following in Charlotte.

Renaissance Pâtisserie
Enjoy classic French pastries, tarts, cakes, and breads at this SouthPark spot run by Paris-born chef Sylvain Rivet. Renaissance is open for breakfast and lunch, with a great outdoor space if you need a bit of fresh air after a day in the conference center.

Restaurant Constance
Chef Sam Diminich’s restaurant is known for serving seasonal, local fare, and the same is true for pastry chef Ann Marie Stefaney’s desserts. With a stellar menu, it will be hard to save room for dessert, but worth it.

Wentworth & Fenn
Camp North End is home to a variety of small businesses, from food stalls to a plant shop. Bakery Wentworth & Fenn sells traditional pastry items with unique flavors in a petite but luxurious space.

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