A new rooftop bar and restaurant is headed to 4936 Trojan Drive, Charlotte, where Dear Charlotte is expected to open atop the new Hilton Garden Inn Steele Creek in late fall 2026.
The independent concept comes from Maya Hotels Co-CEOs Krishna Deva and Parimal Thakor, who told What Now Charlotte they created the destination to bring a distinctive food-and-beverage experience to one of the city’s fastest-growing neighborhoods after recognizing a gap in Steele Creek’s dining scene. According to a company release, the venue will pair botanical cocktails, artisan pizzas and flexible gathering spaces with a garden-inspired rooftop setting.
Speaking with WhatNow Charlotte, Deva said the project wasn’t always intended to become a standalone dining destination. The team originally planned a traditional hotel, but when the pandemic paused construction in 2020, they reimagined the development to better serve both guests and the surrounding community.
“We realized there wasn’t a strong food and beverage offering for residents,” Deva told What Now Charlotte. “There were plenty of fast-casual and chain restaurants, but nothing that felt unique. We wanted to create something that would serve both the community and travelers staying at the hotel.”
Instead of completing the hotel’s sixth floor with guest rooms, Maya Hotels removed 11 rooms to create a rooftop destination. According to the company, the venue will feature lush botanical design, a greenhouse, curated music, private event spaces and a cocktail-forward atmosphere inspired by Queen Charlotte.
“The name has an inherent duality,” Deva said. “It’s an ode to the city that we love, but it’s also inspired by Queen Charlotte. We asked ourselves, ‘If she had her own rooftop bar today, what would it be like?’ This is our interpretation of that.”
Deva said the goal is to create a neighborhood escape where guests can unwind without traveling into Uptown.
“I like to describe it as a hideaway or an escape,” she said. “We wanted to create a place where people feel like they’ve been transported somewhere else without having to drive into Uptown.”
According to a company release, cocktails will anchor the experience, featuring botanical ingredients and bright, unexpected flavors inspired by Queen Charlotte’s love of botany. The food menu will include house-made artisan personal pizzas, Mediterranean-inspired shareables, salads, dips, pizza dough sandwiches and vegan-friendly options. Dear Charlotte will also offer three flexible event spaces for private celebrations, corporate gatherings and networking events, supported by a state-of-the-art sound system and dedicated DJ connections.
While food and drinks are central to the concept, Deva hopes guests remember the feeling they leave with.
“We want people to come, have great drinks, realize they don’t have to leave for dinner and simply linger,” she told What Now Charlotte. “Our tagline is ‘Leave decorum downstairs.’ Really, it’s about leaving your deadlines, your problems and everything else downstairs, and enjoying a different world for a little while.”
