Word to the wise: The best bar is the one closest to you. Go deeper with our full anticipated openings list.Lost & Found’s new bar Broken Promises will offer a more mature vibe to its clubby sister spot.Leah & Louise mixologist Justin Hazleton will open his own speakeasy called The Abyss at Camp North End this summer.You just may see them on our next ranking. What’s next: There are a handful of bars we can’t wait to open this year. Since then, we lost once-hot spots like Rosemont and almost the entirety of the EpiCentre, but gained new stand-outs like Lost & Found and Charlotte Beer Garden, along with a slew of game bars like Pins and Slingshot. What’s new: A lot has changed since we last updated this list in 2018. Now’s the time to get out there, order a round of tequila shots and tip your bartenders generously. Why it matters: Our bars took a beating during COVID.

After two long pandemic years, Charlotte’s bars are packed once again.