Smelly Cat - Charlotte

I had never experienced a restaurant that locks its doors to customers before. There were no menus inside; we had to go outside to view them on a board and then have someone unlock the door to let us back inside. Our reservation was for 12, but we arrived 15-20 minutes early. Thankfully, they were kind enough to seat us early, but then proceeded to ignore us with no contact for at least 10 minutes. When our server finally took our order, she mentioned that she would make sure to get it in before the kitchen closed at noon. It seemed odd for a breakfast place to stop serving at noon. If we had not arrived early, we may not have been able to order any food. Despite the strange service, the food itself was well-prepared.

I stumbled upon this restaurant during a casual Google search for coffee shops while on a trip to the area. The coffee and breakfast were fantastic. The ambiance was peaceful and inviting. The service was excellent. I would highly recommend this place and will definitely come back if we find ourselves in the area again.

I visited Charlotte for the first time and was in need of coffee. I stumbled upon Smelly Cat, but arrived just 5 minutes after they had closed. The employee saw us trying to enter and came out to invite us in. They asked the owner for recommendations of other coffee shops that might still be open. The owner was incredibly kind, offering suggestions and even allowing us to make a reservation for the following morning to enjoy the cozy interior. We returned the next day and found the atmosphere to be delightful, with great coffee and yummy breakfast biscuits. The owner and staff were extremely friendly and accommodating.

The service at this restaurant is fantastic, with knowledgeable staff who are able to differentiate between dairy-free and regular drinks. Despite the indoor seating being closed due to COVID (as of December 27th), there is a spacious outdoor seating area where you can relax and socialize.

This charming restaurant offers beer, wine, and excellent coffee. We were pleasantly surprised when they made us Irish coffee with oatmeal froth upon request. While we didn't try the food, they do have a selection of vegan options available.