Highest-rated dessert shops in the Charlotte area by diners
Highest-rated dessert shops in the Charlotte area by diners
There's no denying that Americans have a sweet tooth—nearly 41% say they enjoy a sweet treat at least once a day, according to a November 2024 YouGov survey.
One of the most popular desserts to dig into is ice cream. An International Dairy Foods Association survey from May 2024 found that just about all Americans (97%) love or like ice cream. The frozen confection has held a special place in the U.S. since the turn of the 19th century with the invention of insulated ice houses. By the mid-1800s, ice cream was manufactured and sold to the masses. Soon, old-fashioned soda fountains started selling sundaes, milkshakes, and ice cream sodas, becoming a gathering place for young people. Today, more than 150 years later, those dessert options not only remain perennial top choices but also evoke a sense of nostalgia and community.
Over the years, Americans' dessert tastes have led to some other tasty trends, from the cupcake craze of the early 2000s thanks to bakeries like Magnolia, Sprinkles, and Crumbs, to the self-serve frozen yogurt frenzy that followed in the early 2010s via Pinkberry, 16 Handles, and Red Mango. Most recently, the 2020s have seen cookies sweep the nation, with chains like Insomnia and Crumbl stoking childhood memories, launching TikTok trends, and growing exponentially.
Today's desserts also go far beyond ice cream, cupcakes, and cookies. Many modern dessert shops are redefining the experience by fusing timeless recipes with multicultural flavors, offering creative twists such as matcha-infused cupcakes, horchata ice cream, and Basque cheesecakes that celebrate both tradition and innovation.
To keep up with the ever-evolving dessert trends, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated dessert shops in the Charlotte area based on diners' reviews on Yelp as of February 2025. Restaurants tagged as "desserts" on Yelp within a 10-kilometer radius of Charlotte were included. As a result, some restaurants featured may primarily serve other food items.
Whether indulging in a time-honored pie or exploring a fusion delight, the world of desserts remains as vibrant and diverse as the communities that enjoy them. Keep reading to see if your favorite spot made the list or to find your next sweet treat!
#19. Insomnia Cookies
- Rating: 3.0/5 (123 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 210 East Trade St. #B-224 Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Desserts, Food Delivery Services, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Insomnia Cookies
- Rating: 3.1/5 (144 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9211 North Tryon St. Space 4 Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Food Delivery Services, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Crave Dessert Bar
- Rating: 3.6/5 (888 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 500 West 5th St. Ste 120 Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Lounges, Desserts, Hookah Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#16. La Belle Helene
- Rating: 3.9/5 (575 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 300 South Tryon St. Ste 100 Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: French, Desserts, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Boxcar Betty's
- Rating: 4.1/5 (110 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1115 North Brevard St. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Sandwiches, Desserts, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#14. BrickTop's Restaurant
- Rating: 4.1/5 (559 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6401 Carnegie Blvd. Ste 1B Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Desserts, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Tea Fusion Cafe
- Rating: 4.4/5 (307 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 440 East McCollough Drive Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Desserts, Bubble Tea, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Pasta & Provisions
- Rating: 4.5/5 (161 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4700 Park Road Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Delis, Pasta Shops, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Bar Cocoa
- Rating: 4.0/5 (115 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 201 East Trade St. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Desserts, Chocolatiers & Shops, Macarons
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Manolo's Bakery
- Rating: 4.1/5 (131 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4405 Central Ave. Ste D Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Bakeries, Desserts, Specialty Food
- Read more on Yelp
#9. What The Fries
- Rating: 4.4/5 (251 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2200 Thrift Road Ste 1 Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Desserts, American
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Two Scoops Creamery Southend
- Rating: 4.4/5 (103 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1616 Camden Road 100 Ste 100 Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Foxcroft Wine Co - Dilworth
- Rating: 4.4/5 (178 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1235 East Blvd. Ste I Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Wine Bars, New American, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Haraz Coffee House
- Rating: 4.5/5 (143 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1204 Central Ave. Ste 100 Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Desserts, Patisserie/Cake Shop
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Popbar
- Rating: 4.5/5 (264 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3123 North Davidson St. Ste 102B Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Gelato, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Smallcakes Steele Creek
- Rating: 4.6/5 (140 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4847 Shopton Road Ste East Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Desserts, Cupcakes, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Nothing Bundt Cakes
- Rating: 4.6/5 (122 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 601 South Kings Drive Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Bakeries, Desserts, Cupcakes
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Tous Les Jours
- Rating: 4.7/5 (159 reviews)
- Address: 4625 Piedmont Row Drive Ste 105 Piedmont Town Center Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bakeries, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#1. The Batchmaker
- Rating: 4.8/5 (170 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 901 Berryhill Road Charlotte, North Carolina
- Categories: Bakeries, Desserts, Cupcakes
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cynthia Rebolledo, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 241 metros.
