You may think this is a conspiracy, but a new bar may be ‘uptown Charlotte’s best kept secret’

Shannon Greene
·3 min read

The Conspiracy, Charlotte’s newest cocktail bar with speakeasy vibes, quietly opened in late July on West 5th Street, dubbing itself “uptown Charlotte’s best kept secret.”

Located in the spot of the former Corkscrew on 5th, The Conspiracy is owned and operated by Northwood Ravin and open to the public. Its founders “disguised the entrance as an innocuous storefront, camouflaging it amidst the building’s structure,” The Conspiracy website states. “To the outside world, this building appeared to be nothing more than an abandoned establishment, left untouched and unnoticed for years. Little did the public know that it held the entrance to a vibrant and thriving speakeasy below.”

With an expansive bar area, several tables, plush semi-circle booths and other sitting areas, the upscale bar with a vintage ambiance and enchanting atmosphere has ample room for happy hour crowds and friendly gatherings. Check out the photos below for a look inside The Conspiracy.

As expected, craft cocktails are king at The Conspiracy. Each cocktail is a nod to a conspiracy theory, said co-manager of food and beverage Bethany Shank. “We didn’t really do anything polarizing; we wanted to keep it light and fun and in the pop culture realm,” she told CharlotteFive on Friday afternoon.

  • The Lunar Leap is a nod to the moon landing. It has Tito’s Vodka, activated charcoal, Owen’s Espresso Mix and a whole milk ice cube sphere. The espresso martini part is pitch black, Shank said. “It looks like the moon in the night sky — it’s so cool.”

  • The Great Unknown is a mix of Tito’s vodka, strawberry rhubarb syrup, key lime juice & Rumchata.

  • Patrons can also “step into a realm of sophistication and mystery with The Conspiracy’s enigmatic elixir, The Chupaloma,” a blend of blend of Casamigos Reposado, ginger liqueur, pink peppercorn syrup, red grapefruit juice and key lime juice.

  • The Vanishing Act includes Casamigos Blanco, orange liqueur and clarified lime juice.

  • The Pearhart is a mix of Hendrick’s Gin, Crème de Violette, pear syrup, lemon juice and prosecco finish.

With a full bar, several other cocktails are available, along with a selection of wine and beer.

The food options are just as expansive, with a carefully curated menu that includes charcuterie, flat breads, raclette, spiced nuts, hummus, goat cheese & pesto dip, cauliflower lettuce wraps, Cuban sliders, Turkey and Waffles, shrimp scampi, crab cakes and more.

Northwood Ravin is always pushing the envelope on new, creative projects, Shank said. “It started with opening property bars for residents and their guests,” she said. “And then when a space became available in a building we already own, we said ‘Why not? We’re doing bars, we can do food, we can do hospitality.’ So that’s how this idea was born.”

The Conspiracy is open from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m., Tuesday through Saturday; closed Sunday and Monday.

The Conspiracy

Location: 412 W 5th St Suite C 120, Charlotte, NC 28205

Cuisine: Small bites, craft cocktails

Instagram: @ConspiracyCLT

Alex Cason contributed reporting.