Elsewhere, Southend’s newest cocktail bar, opened on February 5, 2020 in the Design Center courtyard off Camden Road. Its location is cleverly nestled in between new and popular restaurants such as Superica, Hawkers, and Barcelona Wine Bar, which is no coincidence-- Elsewhere was envisioned as the perfect place to pop in and grab a pre-dinner or apres-dinner cocktail.
The idea behind Elsewhere is so simple yet ingenious that many aspiring bar owners are probably kicking themselves for not thinking of it first: owner Josh Patton has stated that his inspiration was found in the many residents of Charlotte who are not originally from the Queen City, but have moved here-- in other words, they’re from Elsewhere. “The idea is to borrow from the brewery model a bit and have a few core drinks on our menu but rotate through a wide variety of unique, interesting, innovative cocktails as well,” said Patton, who is an expert in the industry-- he’s also the CEO of well-known and loved Southend brewery Wooden Robot. When we visited Elsewhere, we were anticipating the same levels of creativity and attention to detail that Patton has shown in his execution of Wooden Robot, and we weren’t disappointed.
Grab your suitcases and passports, and read on to learn more about our trip to Elsewhere.
When we first stepped inside, we were asked to become members-- pretty standard for most cocktail bars in Charlotte these days. We did note that the member rules did seem to be a bit stricter than other places: memberships were $5.00*, and each member could only bring one guest at a time (unlike other places that allow multiple guests per member). Not the hugest inconvenience, but something to be aware of. (*NOTE: The membership price will increase after February 2020 to $10.00, so go now and get your spot!)
The space inside Elsewhere is a mix of industrial chic and a vintage antique shop-- the open shelving at the bar and painted brick facade lent to a modern, open space but there were cozy, kitschy touches like vintage suitcases piled in a corner and maps of various far-away places scattered across the walls. There are multiple seats at the bar, as well as intimate corners with couches, ottomans, and leather stools for larger groups. Tucked in the corner is a spiral staircase that leads up to a narrow hallway above the bar-- we were told that plans are in the works to add seating upstairs. For now, it adds a layer of aesthetics and visual depth to the space.
As far as the main event-- the drinks-- they were delicious and had options for every cocktail lover. Their menu was divided into two sections, “Another Place” (inspired by the Elsewheres of the world), and “Another Time,” which the menu described as “modern twists on classics for nostalgic tastes.”
We’d recommend the Roaring 2020 ($12) from the Another Time menu-- Tanqueray gin, green chartreuse, lime, simple syrup, and fresh basil served in a coupe martini glass.
Also notable was the Queen’s Park Swizzle ($12), made with Captain Morgan white rum, lime, cane simple, mint, angostura and Peychaud’s bitters, and mint sprig. The helpful bartender said that one of Elsewhere’s most popular drinks is the Painkiller ($13)-- cruzan blackstrap & pusser’s rums, coconut, pineapple, orange, and lime served over ice in a pineapple-shaped glass.
We also noted-- and loved-- that drinks in highball or pineapple glasses came with a metal straw. Environmentally friendly? Check. Delicious drinks? Check. Cozy interiors? Check. Elsewhere ticks all the boxes and we will definitely be returning for another foreign-inspired adventure.
To visit Elsewhere in person, their address is 101 W. Worthington Street, Suite 140, Charlotte NC 28203-- they’re located in the alley in between Barcelona Wine Bar and Superica.
To visit Elsewhere online, check them out here; or visit them on Instagram or Facebook.
