Canopy Cocktails & Garden — Restaurant in Charlotte

I don’t leave negative reviews lightly, but my experience at this establishment warrants a serious and public reflection — because what happened was not just rude or inconvenient, it was deeply inappropriate, exclusionary, and indicative of a lack of basic integrity in how this bar is run.

I was seated in an open area — a completely public space with no signs of reservation, no blocked-off signage, no event markers. I stepped away briefly, and when I attempted to return, I was told I was no longer allowed to sit there. Why? Because another group — without any formal authorization from the bar — had decided they didn’t want others near them and claimed the space as their own.

This wasn’t done with subtlety. It was blatant. And worse: the staff allowed it to happen.

Let’s be clear — there were no posted rules, no event booked, no policy to support what was unfolding. This group simply didn’t want people around them and chose to self-declare ownership over a portion of the bar, and instead of enforcing fairness and public access, the staff completely capitulated. I was the one excluded, even though I had been there first. I was the one told to move, as if my presence wasn’t welcome — not because of rules, but because of preference. Someone else’s preference.

The entire situation felt inherently unjust. Arbitrary. Humiliating. As if certain patrons had the unspoken right to dictate the space while others could be quietly dismissed without explanation. It felt like I was being targeted — whether consciously or not — in a way that had nothing to do with logistics and everything to do with power, privilege, and passive profiling. It’s one thing to reserve space. It’s another to permit one group to draw invisible lines around themselves and then enforce those lines against other paying guests — with staff compliance.

That’s not hospitality. That’s gatekeeping. That’s institutional rudeness dressed up as customer service.

This experience left me rattled. Not because I couldn’t find another seat, but because it made clear that fairness isn’t guaranteed here — and dignity is optional. The staff was either unwilling or untrained to challenge those acting selfishly and unkindly, and instead allowed an exclusionary, almost hostile atmosphere to flourish unchecked.

No one should be made to feel like an outsider in a public bar because another group decides they don’t want to be near them. And no management team should ever validate that behavior by enforcing it.

What happened was not an isolated inconvenience — it was a reflection of values, or the lack thereof. I will not be returning, and I hope others think twice before supporting a place that refuses to support all of its...

Honestly the first establishment itself is nice. We walked in and were told the outside is first come first serve. So we awkwardly waited till someone left to get a seating. However when we did, we were told to get up from our waitress Morgan bc she already sat someone there. Whatever we got up! However my wife went and asked “hey how do we get on the list bc we were told it’s first come first serve”. So eventually we get sat but being sat the service is rude. Ignores me. Etc.

However at the end I say, no hard feelings and she says no hard feelings but your girlfriend was rude to me. I lost it then. Asked management for a refund of 20% tip due to big party. They said they can’t show proof. So I said fine. Do a round of drinks. When they came out I said this all can be managed if your waitress wasn’t rude and the manager (dude) told me to get the F out of his establishment.

It wasn’t about the money or free drinks. More about a waitress apologizing as we were celebrating our wedding with a few friends. Don’t go if you want bad service. Morgan sucks....

One of my favorite cocktail bars in Charlotte! Recently, I have been coming here pretty often. I visited for the first time this past December, and have been here 4 more times since then. On 3 of those occasions, my friends and I visited at night. We were unable to find a sofa or seats outside all of those times but have gotten lucky inside where the 2nd bar is located, which is in a mini "private" room. It's not private at all, but no one ever seems to be in that room, so it always works out for my friends and I because we have all this space to mingle between ourselves.

Most recently, my friend and I came at 4pm on a Sunday and stayed there for a few hours. Our bartenders were Chad and Cecil - both were awesome! Of all these times I have visited, my go to drink is an Espresso Martini. They make it really delicious and you can easily get lost in the sauce by pounding espresso martinis like they're water. Worth every penny though. I have also tried their mezcal old fashioned which is also tasty and I'm not even an old fashioned girl. Definitely...