28-02-2025
Secret speakeasy Syn opens in South End — good luck finding it
The team behind Canopy Cocktails & Garden, one of South End's most popular nightlife spots, has quietly opened a nearby speakeasy called Syn.
Why it matters: Charlotte has plenty of bars with speakeasy vibes, but few fit the definition of a traditional speakeasy — hidden and password protected. With its lack of signage and "if you know, you know" undertone, Syn fits the bill.
What to expect: Although the speakeasy is just steps away from its sister bar, Canopy, you won't find any exterior signage guiding you to it.
But before you worry about finding it, you'll need to secure a reservation, says David Schmidt, Canopy's general manager and part of the team behind Syn.
How it works: If you're already at Canopy, you can ask a bartender for a card, which will have a link to book a reservation. Someone will guide you to the first entrance, but the rest is up to you.
Or, you can snag a reservation on OpenTable and try to find the entrance on your own.
We were asked by its owners not to say too much — it would defeat the purpose of the speakeasy. But, you know you're getting warmer when you see the industrial walk-in cooler. The dimly-lit, swanky cocktail den isn't far from there.
The vibe: Once you make it past the multiple entrances, you'll walk into Syn, with its low lighting, draped walls, vibrant furniture and paintings inspired by Picasso Cubism.
Unlike Canopy, which is usually packed to the brim with South End-ers on any given weekend, Syn offers a more exclusive experience, Schmidt tells Axios.
The layout is spacious, with seating at the bar for around 10 and plenty of tables and couches throughout.
Sip on this: The signature cocktails are named after world-famous artists and inspired by their home country. The "Da Vinci Code," named for Italian artist Leonardo Da Vinci, for example, features the Italian apertif Cocchi Americano.
They also serve wine and beer.
If you go: Syn is open Thursday through Saturday from 6pm to 2am.
The address is 118 East Kingston Ave., the same as Canopy.
