Smelly Cat Coffee

Excellent place to hang out. Great coffee, great people, excellent bakery!

I absolutely loved this little coffee shop in the Noda district of Charlotte. The space is a little tight but theres a great atmosphere here to make up for it and provide such a cozy coffee shop vibe! Outside seeing is available with some quirky art painted on the side of the building and some cute lights strung above the table area. Inside is set up with recycled materials and seemed like a nice place to set up a lap top and sit down and do work, but the weather was way to nice to not enjoy the outdoors and watch people walking to and from the farmers market.
Their customer service was great too! If you seem quizzical in trying to make up your mind on what to order they are all there to help you decide! I ordered an iced hazelnut latte but was sad when i found out they don’t carry hazelnut and the woman helped me find an even better flavor; toasted coconut! it was delicious and well made and kept me going all day! I am so happy that Noda had this little oasis to stop by that was a good break from brewery tours and pizza shops!

Awesome and friendly staff, helped me pick a great drink and taste some of the cold brews they had. Next time I am in Charlotte I will go again.

Wonderful local coffee shop! The fact that amazing cold brew coffee is just a couple of blocks away from my house is like a dream come true. Friendly staff, they roast their own beans, my wife loves the lattes, and there are some nice seating options (though they are few). Highly recommend Smelly Cat if you want a great cup of coffee, latte, or cold brew!

So I’ve probably passed this place a thousand times since moving to Charlotte and finally stopped to see what the good olé smelly cat hype was about. It’s a little vibrant coffee shop located in the Noda area. I’m a huge iced coffee fan but I thought ahhhh what the heck I’ll step out of the box today. I tried a iced vanilla latte with almond milk and it was okay. You have to have an acquired taste to drink them but they were really good but much different taste from a iced coffee to clarify. The young lady behind the counter was super nice and helpful. Even let me sample a few things! Loved there outdoor seating and the fact that it has shade so I can still sit outside and enjoy a nice book even in June 90 degree weather. I’d definitely say try it out they offer more than just lattes!

In the midst of Charlotte’s lackluster coffee scene, Smelly Cat stands out as one of the best. Their iced coffee is delicious, and the setting is always a great place to work. I’ve written many a college paper there.

Love the vibe of this place. Never been disappointed except with parking options. Coffee is delicious and the atmosphere is inviting.

What a fun enjoyable place to come to. I came here one morning grabbed a coffee (which was delish) and muffin and sat outside (there is some great people watching which is an added bonus).

it was ok. I had to wait 20 minutes for my coffee because it was so busy and they only had 2 people working & then they gave my sisters coffee to somebody else so we had to wait another 5 minutes. It took way longer than it should have. The coffee however was very good. I got the chunky monkey frappé & it was amazing. The costumer service on the other hand was bad as the lady who worked there was rude to everyone.

I didn’t have coffee but my wife got a cup, cool little place and quick service. The staff really knows there coffee right down to the flavor notes the different beans are giving off. She always gets coffee from there when we are in NODA during the day. I really like how they roast their own beans. Next time we are in NODA, Ill have to get a coffee as well.

4.5 stars
What kind of coffee place doesn’t recycle? Is this a new thing?
Recycling aside, Smelly Cat was the perfect place for some caffeine fortification before the return leg of a road trip. Ended up with a frappé with an extra shot of espresso, and it was lovely and tasty. The dirty chai gets a lot of press, but I love my classics. Parking is free for two hours (put your receipt on the dash!)
I assume that this is named for Smelly Cat of Phoebe of Friends fame (maybe they should have Friends reruns playing? too blatant?), and it’s a lovely little coffee shop with plenty of comfy seating and knick knacks and décor that you’d expect from a local little hipster-​ish coffee shop. This is totally the kind of coffee shop I would hang out in to catch up with an old friend, or to solo write or read. Busy, cosy, but not too crazy.
Side note: They ran out of whipped cream while fixing my friend Kristen B’s frappé and I was as put out as a five year old who doesn’t get rainbow sprinkles on her sundae. However, they said I could come back for it in a few, and they totally did when I came back for it later!

Funky little joint that quickly went on my itinerary based on the name alone!
Sweet New Orleans was the iced coffee I got in the store as well as as a bag of NoDA espresso and their dark blend. Haven’t broken into those bad boys yet but the place was nice and clean. There weren’t any room in the parking lot so I had to park a little in the sidewalks.

Came in for open mic night.
Wasn’t a great night.
But its a cute shop, and the coffee was real good.
The parking is a pain, but its like that no matter where you go around here.

Stumbled upon Smelly Cat Coffee with some friends while we were in Charlotte for the weekend and looking for a caffeine fix on a Sunday afternoon. The name, of course, instantly brings to mind Phoebe from Friends. I ordered a frappé because the weather was nice and I wasn’t disappointed. Actually, the only disappointment was that they were out of whipped cream (!). Whoopsies.

Best coffee is found in hipster coffeeshops and this is a great hipster coffeeshop!
They have free wifi which makes it great to study/​get some work done. They have both indoor and outdoor seating.

Great Dirty Chi and funky atmosphere. The Hubbs and I drive from 25 min away just to get a coffee and hang out. Worth a little drive.

Best coffee in the Queen City, hands down. I love coming here early in the morning, never once will you meet a rude barista in this coffee house. The staff are always so friendly and perky. Watching them roast the beans in front of you is always a treat.

One of my fav coffee places in Charlotte. You can smell the aroma right from their parking lot.
We ordered a cortado and cappuccino… good mix of coffee and music … loved the ambience and the currency wall… found a note from my country: p
Will definitely come again when in Noda

A good weather calls for a good cup of coffee .
Enjoying my cortado with a very fine company !
This place offers good ambience and good music with great coffee.
Also, I bought my first smelly cat coffee mug today: D

I love smelly cat coffee! This is one of my favorite coffee shops, for sure in Charlotte, but may be of all times. I love the nostalgic feel inside and the seating outside. The variety of drinks makes this hole in the wall a special place to visit.
Sometimes parking can be a problem on the weekends, but if you don’t mind a stroll, you can easily find parking up and down the street.
If you come hungry, don’t worry! Their breakfast burritos are cheap and fantastic!

Best dirty chai ever. Excellent staff and a delicious beverages. Just an overall enjoyable coffee experience.

Funky little spot in which we found by luck. I had the caramel frap and I must say it hit the spot. The girl at the counter said they made their syrups and caramel, I indeed could taste the «home made» in it. The caramel was sweet and even a tad-​bit salty which made it even better.
Finding a parking space was no problem, which is always a bonus. It being a Saturday night they were having a group of people doing spoke word session, which made us have a good laugh and added more personality to this coffee shop.
Got 3 coffees, and 4 pastries for less than $ 30 and had a great time.
Will be back soon for more caramel fraps!

Cozy place for drink coffee, work or play some games with friends.
I love their different coffee beans.

The best Chai Tea Latte I’ve ever had! My friend and I came here maybe a month or two ago. It was my second time, her first time, so we asked for a good recommendation. The girl who helped us was very sweet and welcomed us, and mentioned that their Chai Tea Latte was pretty tasty. Chai Tea Latte’s are one of my favourite drinks and so of course I wanted to give this one a try. My friend and I both ordered one, and when one of the staff members brought it to us at our table (which was also really nice!), we were both really impressed! We will definitely come back here.
The atmosphere was very cozy and welcoming.
Board games are available for you to play with whoever you happen to be with!
We brought our own deck of cards so we played that for a while and a group behind us was playing a Harry Potter board game! Felt like I was at a peaceful family get together. Haha!
All in all a really great experience — I’ve recommended this to basically all of my friends.
The location is wonderful as well! Easy to just step out and walk around NoDa area and explore a bit.
The only downfall (if you choose to see it that way) is parking! Both times I came here, I had to park a little ways away. Maybe it was because I didn’t look hard enough? I didn’t mind though. I enjoyed the entire experience!

Funky little place. Been driving by here for ever and always wanted to stop. Friendly staff, typical coffeehouse menu. Got the toasted coconut frappé. YUMMO! I’ll have to stop in more often.

Smelly Cat brings me joy.
Their coffee has never let me down. Hot fresh, roasty, toasty, creamy latte goodness.
Cute like a baby whose cheeks you want you squeeze.
Friendly like Labrador who wants to be petted behind his ears (sorry Kitty).
Perfectly located like a nose on your face (and in my favorite neighborhood).
A welcome beacon — a lighthouse that guides me to a caffeinated night cap before my journey home.
Gracias, mi amigo, Smelly Cat.

The atmosphere is very relaxed, and the baristas are very friendly! The shop is small and a little cramped but they have seating outside as well.

The coffee shop is the only shop in town that offers their own roasting on premises. They have a giant contraption that they roast the green beans into what you’re used to putting in your coffee grinder.
The coffee was delicious, a citrus raspberry taste with a light roast.
They also offered plenty of samples of their baked goods, which tasted amazing. I was happy to see that they offer real milk and cream, instead of the non-​dairy creamer stuff.
There were plenty of places to sit and relax, play one of their games, or read one of their books. They offered lots of free literature at the front and back of the bar.
The staff was very welcoming and friendly, and the prices were quite reasonable for the high quality of coffees they’re serving.

This place definitely delivers when you are looking for a neat little coffee shop in a new town. I was around the Charlotte area for an interview and I love exploring coffee shops in new places.
I loved the local art hung up on the walls and the earthy feel of the place. The people who work there were super cool too — the guys behind the counter gave me a lot of great recommendations. Not only do they sell awesome coffee drinks there but they also serve alcohol — unfortunately I could not imbibe. I got their pumpkin spice latte and it was amazing. I also brought some work with me and was able to be productive in my quiet corner of the shop.
Definitely check this place out if you need somewhere to chill downtown!

I love the atmosphere. It’s warm and cozy ad the perfect place for a nice warm drink and relaxation. Love the chai latte. Prices are good, friendly service. I will be back.

Cool location and the best cup of coffee on our trip. Cool shirt and mug bought there too, but a bit pricey for the swag though.
Gal ringing us up was very apathetic, but that was her and didn’t affect the product one bit.
Would definitely come back if passing through again.

Great service from attentive baristas who have not learned to burn coffee like Starbucks, and also fail to give a convincing apathetic attitude to suggest they are only doing this until their art sells to a generous patron. In fact, Smelly Cat has easy off street parking in a fashionable neighborhood, and is an enjoyable place with good bakery items. They may learn to be disappointing someday, but for now they actually measure up. Get there soon, or don’t. Then I will get more coffee.

How can you not love a coffee shop named as a direct homage to the show Friends? Well, whatever they are feeding Smelly Cat, it must be fantastic! See what I did there?
Smelly Cat is well-​placed in NoDa, and a perfect pit stop on the way to NoDa Eclectic Marketplace on Saturdays. Smelly Cat is pretty small inside, so getting a table can certainly be challenging and encountering a line is not an uncommon experience. But, that dirty chai though is well-​worth the hassles.

Love the chunky monkey, a frappé with a banana and chocolate blended in. So yummy!
The atmosphere is a true «coffee house» with great tunes and workstations with privacy and outlets.
A great noda treasure!

I used to spend many a day here during my first two years as new Charlotte resident but Sunday was my first time back in about a year. I can’t remember what I used to order all those times but I am now a fan of their ever-​popular iced dirty chai latte (with almond milk). Is it too far of a stretch for me to say that Smelly Cat is pretty close to being considered hipster-​ish?
In my experience, the employees are and always have been very knowledgeable and willing to break down any and all aspects of a drink. I’ve found that it’s easier to ask about certain things than relying on the menu that’s posted. Availability of some things change plus they’re usually adding food items. On Sunday morning when I visited, they had scones, muffins, sausage/​bacon & egg biscuits, and bagels — all made in-​house. Maybe because it’s the South, but I just don’t see the need for a coffee shop to sell biscuit sandwiches. I skipped the food this time and happily sucked down my drink.
The dirty chai latte was/​is delicious!!! The medium was $ 5.71 but I don’t think it’s that much more than what you would pay for the same drink at Starbucks. I loved that they prepared it with crushed ice and there was no need for any additional sweetener. The chai spice they use settles down at the bottom so be sure to give your drink a good shake before you take your first sip.
There are so many different drinks and coffee concoctions they that I look forward to continuing to drink my way around their menu!