Smelly Cat will reopen the interior of the Charlotte cafe

716 days.

23+ months.

2 years.

It’s the time you’ve spent without the cozy interior of NoDa’s Smelly Cat Coffee, sipping lattes from apricot-colored mugs while munching on zucchini bread and smelling the bustle of the Charlotte neighborhood.

And now after two years (monthly)you won’t have to wait long.

After closing at the onset of the coronavirus, Smelly Cat Coffee House & Roastery is reopening its indoor space on March 1. The neighborhood haunt celebrates with new extended hours and a slew of cafe cocktails, plus new charcuterie boards.

AND, you can now reserve a table in advance. It’s music to our ears – if you’ve frequented the Arts District hangout before COVID-19 hit, you know snagging a table is no small feat.

A few adjustments to note: The interior space will be converted from counter service to full service (you will have a server). All takeout orders will continue to be processed through the walk-in window – so if you want the coffee to go, please stay outside. This will help the cafe in its efforts to limit capacity.

“I can’t wait for people to get their neighborhood cafe back,” owner Cathy Tuman told CharlotteFive on Friday. “They missed being inside their cafe. I can’t wait for them to find their place.

Here’s what to expect from March 1:

Extended hours:

• Monday-Tuesday: 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Wednesday-Thursday: 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Friday-Saturday: 7am-10pm
• Sunday: 7am-8pm

Note: The interior space is intended for people staying for a certain period of time, and it will now only be served at the table. If you plan to pick up and go, please continue to use the walk-in windows along the left side of the building (photos in gallery above will illustrate).

Table reservations

Smelly Cat is a small cafe with lots of regulars – and before the pandemic hit, getting a table could be tricky. The new reservation system (via Open Table) avoids any uncertainty. Place your 90 minute reservation online — even a few days before your coffee date!

For walk-in showcases, you can continue to place your order in advance using the Odeko app.

New coffee + charcuterie cocktails

In addition to the Smelly’s coffee and espresso drinks you already know and love, you can now order:

• Coffee cocktails
• Chai cocktails
• Salted Caramel Cocktail
• beer and wine

Rotating drink specials will be offered daily.

Charcuterie platters will also be on the menu, perfect with an espresso martini or dry red on Friday night.

Smelly Cat Coffee and Roast

Location: 514 E 36th St, Charlotte, North Carolina 28205

Neighbourhood: NoDa

Instagram: @smellycatcoffee

CharlotteFive’s Alex Cason contributed reporting.

This story was originally published February 25, 2022 12:51 p.m.