Sweet July Cafe in Uptown
Ayesha Curry opens a new all-day cafe in Uptown’s The Ritz-Carlton.
Uptown Charlotte’s caffeine scene will get a new addition when Sweet July Cafe opens at The Ritz-Carlton on Monday, July 20. The new all-day cafe, open daily until 8 p.m., is a new concept from author, actress, restaurateur and philanthropist Ayesha Curry. I was invited to get a first look at Sweet July Cafe ahead of its opening, so here’s everything you need to know and what to order when you go.
Sweet July Cafe Opens in Uptown
Located near the lobby of Uptown’s Ritz-Carlton Charlotte, Sweet July Cafe pays tribute to Curry’s Caribbean roots with dishes and drinks that are made with locally sourced ingredients. To bring this concept to life, Curry partnered with award-winning chef Michael Mina for another culinary collaboration — this time back in North Carolina, where she spent her teens.
The cafe shares a name with Curry’s skincare line. When I asked Curry why she decided to open a coffee shop, she explained that the brand Sweet July is a reminder to “find gratitude in life’s little moments.” She hopes this new Charlotte coffee shop will provide a place for people to unwind and find those “little moments” amid the day-to-day hustle.
Sweet July Cafe carries a curated selection of products, including raw syrups from French brand Bacanha, beans from local coffee roasters, bottled drinks and other snacks.
Sweet July Cafe Menu
Open at 6:30 a.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sweet July Cafe serves coffee, matcha and smoothies, alongside breakfast and lunch food options.
Get your caffeine fix with signature beverages like the Island Love Latte, a personal favorite of Curry’s that uses both ginger and coconut milk for a sweet, slightly spiced espresso drink made with your choice of milk.
If you’re a matcha fan like I am, order the Matcha-Pineapple Soul Warmer. Even if you haven’t gotten into matcha yet, Curry encourages customers to try this drink made with ceremonial-grade matcha, which offers a smoother taste. This refreshing iced drink sweetened with falernum and coconut water will take your tastebuds out of Uptown and have you feeling like you’re on a beach somewhere.
Other Signature Sips on Sweet July Cafe’s menu include strawberry lavender tea and a Caribbean Rum Cake latte that I’m dying to try next, as well as drip coffee and classic coffee drinks with syrups like vanilla, maple, lavender, caramel and hazelnut.
For non-caffeinated, fruit-forward options, order one of Sweet July Cafe’s smoothies. I tried the Sunrise Glow which uses some of my favorite ingredients: orange juice, mango and pineapple, along with coconut water, agave for sweetness and MCT camu camu for clean energy.
One of the other five smoothies on the menu is appropriately named The Queen City, made with ceremonial matcha, apple juice, kale, spinach, banana, pineapple and flax seed.
Complement your drink order with a pastry, created by MINA Group’s Director of Global Pastry Operations Veronica Arroyo, like the strawberry shortcake croissant with strawberry filling, cinnamon rolls and three types of cookie-lava cake hybrid. Other food options include avocado toast served on seeded country bread, a smash burger, Jamaican beef patties (another nod to Curry’s roots) and salads.
A staple of Sweet July Cafe’s food menu are the foldies, created by Mina. Order these pita sandwiches for breakfast with the prosciutto and pesto or spinach and mushroom foldies, as well as lunch options like turkey BLTA, Caribbean chicken and fava bean falafel. Each foldie comes with a sauce, as Curry explained “I don’t like dry food. Everything has to have a sauce.” The Wagyu Shorty served with horseradish cream was my favorite of the evening.
For some, no meal is complete without dessert. Sweet July Cafe has that covered, too, with soft serve sundaes that also come in vegan-friendly options and house-made chocolates by the pound that you can gift wrap and bring home.
I work a few blocks away from The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte and plan on stopping by when I need a break from the office. I’ll definitely keep you updated on my social media when I try more of Sweet July Cafe’s menu, so be sure to follow me on Instagram and TikTok.
Sweet July Cafe is located at 201 E. Trade St., Charlotte.