Dilworth was Charlotte’s first “streetcar suburb” and was established in the 1890s by Edward Dilworth Latta, who introduced the first electric streetcar to the country. This quaint and eclectic neighborhood is filled with mature oak trees and community parks. Take a walk to East Boulevard, lined with boutiques and restaurants, or stroll past the beautiful Queen Annes, two-story Colonial Revivals, and cute bungalows that Dilworth residents call home.
Commute
This pedestrian-friendly neighborhood of Dilworth is just a short walk to South End and minutes from City Center. If you need to get around the greater Charlotte area, don’t worry, you have a number of public transportation options including bus, train, and bike. The LNYX Blue Line is the Charlotte region’s first light rail service and operates from South Boulevard to The University of North Carolina’s campus in University City. The rail has 26 stations, one of them in the Northwest corner of Dilworth. It operates seven days a week from 5:26 a.m. to 1:26 a.m with varying hours.
The CityLYNX Gold Line is an old streetcar system that runs from east to west Charlotte, modernized with new streetcars and upgraded power. Hop on the Gold Line and connecting to the rest of the city is a breeze. The system runs every 15 to 20 minutes with varying hours throughout the week. Check out the schedule here.
Ride the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) Bus Service if your destination is further away from the rail. The bus has over 70 local, express, and regional routes, at $2.20, $3 and $4.40 each way respectively. Seniors and kids between K-12 ride for half price with a valid ID, and children 5 and under ride for free.
If you’re more of a free soul and enjoy fresh air, you can utilize Charlotte’s bike-sharing program. Hundreds of bikes are scattered throughout the city to rent and take for a spin.
Rent
Dilworth’s charming and spirited character will cost you a bit more than other parts of the city. This historic community is sprinkled with trendy and cheeky boutiques, incredible local food joints, and a lively bar scene, making this a prime neighborhood for renters in their 20s and 30s. The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Charlotte is about $1500 a month, while apartments in Dilworth go for a few hundred more. The comparatively low rent prices and great neighborhoods, like Dilworth, are just a few of the reasons people move to Charlotte.
Eat
There is no shortage of great grub in Dilworth. As Charlotte’s original suburb, a number of locally owned sit-down restaurants and quick-bite places are open to tantalize your taste buds.
Dilworth Neighborhood Grille is a popular spot to try in the historical Cavalaris Village on East Morehead Street. This family restaurant and bar is a hot spot for everyday eating and events. You can always find new culinary creations added to the menu, like the spicy shrimp and carne asada tacos, and you can never go wrong with the pulled pork and full rack of ribs, slow-roasted for 12 hours. Looking for something a bit lighter? Hit up the popular build your own salad bar.
Looking for a super casual vibe? Check out The People’s Market located at 1315 East Blvd. This neighborhood bodega offers specialty made-to-order coffees, wine and beer, sandwiches, salads, snacks, and locally crafted kombucha. For those looking for the best BBQ joints in Charlotte, Dilworth has one of them, Mac’s Speed Shop, in its backyard.
If you need a sweet fix, head over to Duck Donuts at 1710 Kenilworth Ave. #220, which opens every day at 6 a.m. Try the famous duck donut, a vanilla cake donut you get to top as you wish, and sample its seasonal menu. Local favorites include the s’mores and the sunrise lemon icing donut with raspberry drizzle. Get a dozen fresh donuts for $13.50 or a single donut for $1.40.
Drink
Dilworth also has no shortage of cozy wine bars and pubs. Ed’s Tavern, located in the heart of the neighborhood, is a comfortable bar with a variety of craft beers and weekly drink specials like their housemade alcohol punch for $6 and Fireball shots for $5. Watch the game on one of their many flat-screen TVs or sit by the stage and jam out to local bands.
For a more sophisticated, upscale vibe, head over to The Wine Loft in South End. With over 50 wine selections by the glass and an additional 100 options by the bottle, your vino fix will be well taken care of. It also has a full liquor bar, craft cocktails, beer, and bourbon to quench your thirst.
Things to Do in Dilworth
There’s more than enough to keep you happy in Dilworth. For starters, the town is home to the Dilworth Jubilee, an annual neighborhood get-together with family-friendly activities, food trucks, live music, and local breweries.
Because of Dilworth’s historic charm, the Dilworth Home Tour welcomes locals and visitors to tour beautifully restored homes in the neighborhood. This tradition began in 1972 and serves as a fundraiser for a local nonprofit chosen by the Dilworth Cares committee.
Love culture? The Yiasou Greek Festival is one of Charlotte’s biggest and most anticipated cultural events every year. Yiasou, meaning “hello,” “goodbye,” and “cheers” in Greek, features authentic cuisine, live music, dancing, art, Hellenic cultural exhibits, homemade pastries, and more. This festival immerses you in Greek culture and is “a time of the year when everyone can be Greek!”
This neighborhood also offers outdoor fun. Freedom Park, located on East Boulevard, is a 98-acre, beautifully landscaped park between Dilworth and Myers Park, and is a popular spot for locals. Fish in the 7-acre lake, walk around its nicely paved trails, play volleyball and tennis, or hang out in the shade on the pavilion overlooking the lake.
Right next to Freedom Park is an interactive learning center for children called the Charlotte Nature Museum, which houses animal and plant exhibits. Like to explore on foot? Take the Rail Trail, an almost 4-mile trail that connects you to other communities intertwined throughout Charlotte. You’ll discover bars, quaint cafés, art galleries, and maybe stumble upon an artist mid-work, or even an impromptu concert.
Between the wine bars, yearly festivals, and local eats, Dilworth is a pretty exciting place to live. Search apartments on Zumper and make it your new home!
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