charlotte lifestyle july/august
24
We started at Smelly Cat Coffee House and Roastery on E
36th St. in the popular arts district of Noda. Smelly Cat has
been a staple of the Noda Community for 20 years and we
found out why. The atmosphere here is cozy, inviting and
its variety of both indoor and outdoor garden area seating
make this the perfect place to go regardless of the weather.
Despite the hustle and bustle of this busy coffee shop the
well-staffed counter had us at the front of the line in just
minutes and seated comfortably with a variety of options.
We have already been back here several times and to put it
simply “we love this place and most of all the folks behind
the counter.” Smelly Cat offers an entire fare of simple to
complex lattes and teas, but what impressed us most was
the Kombucha, available on tap. Kombucha is a fermented,
lightly effervescent tea typically black or green and comes
infused with a variety of flavors. We have tried them all and
highly recommend the Lavender.
Next, we swung over to the west side of town where we
found Floyd & Blackies. Established in 2012 on 8TH Ave in
Cramerton. Floyd and Blackies has been voted year over
year “Best Coffee in Gaston County.” They are a down to
earth gathering place for folks that like down home charm,
a local feel, And a real good cup of coffee. As we have found
with so many of the places we visited……it is the barista
that creates a unique experience for the patron. Floyd and
Blackies barista Jennifer was like an old friend we hadn’t
seen in years. Her warm smile and the sincere affection and
relationship she had with each and every customer is truly
what made our visit special.
Freddie Norhoff
Owner/Barista
doing his thing at
South End Grind
The Summer
Samurai from
Hex….. beats
the heat
Shout out to
the crew from
Brakeman’s,
Emily, Sam &
Rachel