A homecoming 15 years in the making: flora opens its second location at Atherton Mill in Charlotte’s South End.
Rooted Hospitality Group is proud to celebrate its newest restaurant opening: flora Charlotte is now open at Atherton Mill, 2120 South Blvd #1, in the heart of Charlotte’s South End neighborhood. The celebrated New American restaurant from co-founders David and Rachel Hersh brings shareable appetizers, handcrafted specialty cocktails and one of the most beautiful dining rooms in Charlotte to one of the city’s most vibrant communities. For David and Rachel, this opening is far more personal than a business expansion. It’s a return to the city where their story together began.
flora Charlotte is the second location of the award-winning flora brand, which started on Main Street in Westhampton Beach, New York. It is also the first flora outside New York. If you’ve been searching for new restaurants in Charlotte, a beautiful spot for date night in South End, or a place to linger over cocktails with friends, here’s everything you need to know.
flora Charlotte at a Glance
- Address: 2120 South Blvd #1, Charlotte, NC 28203 (Atherton Mill, South End)
- Phone:(704) 961-9981
- Cuisine: New American, with shareable appetizers, seasonal entrées, specialty cocktails and zero-proof drinks
- Reservations:Book a table on Resy
- Menu:View the flora Charlotte menu
- Takeout:Order online
- Hours and updates:eatdrinkloveflora.com/charlotte-nc
A Homecoming 15 Years in the Making
Long before flora had a name, Charlotte was home. David and Rachel Hersh moved to the Queen City early in their relationship, bought their first home in South Charlotte, and planned to build their restaurant dream here.
“Charlotte has always held a special place in our hearts. When Rachel and I first got together, we moved here, bought our first home in South Charlotte, and built some of our most meaningful memories. Work eventually pulled us back to New York and New Orleans, but we always knew we’d return. Now, with our two young boys, Jude and Shayd, it feels like the perfect moment to come home.”
David Hersh, Co-Founder, Rooted Hospitality Group
Family called them back to New York, and the dream they had sketched out in Charlotte took root on Long Island instead. That’s where Rooted Hospitality Group grew into one of the region’s most respected restaurant companies. Charlotte never stopped feeling like home, though.
“Charlotte was never really a ‘someday’ for us. It was unfinished business. When David and I first got together, we actually moved here with the plan of building what we eventually built. Family called us back to New York, so the dream started there instead. We don’t regret anything, but we always carried this feeling that we’d find our way back to see it through.”
Rachel Hersh, Co-Founder, Rooted Hospitality Group
From Westhampton Beach to Charlotte: The flora Story
David and Rachel opened the original flora in Westhampton Beach, NY in 2020. It quickly became one of the Hamptons’ favorite gathering places, earning a devoted following for its shareable plates, handcrafted cocktails and warm, polished hospitality. The restaurant is built around three simple words, Eat. Drink. Love. It’s a place where a mid-day glass of wine can turn into a long, lingering dinner with friends.
flora is also built on values. It is a Certified Green Restaurant® and an Ocean Friendly Restaurant through the Surfrider Foundation. Those commitments inform every sourcing and operational decision made in the kitchen. They came south to Charlotte along with the menu, the cocktails and the team culture that made flora a success in Westhampton Beach.
Why Charlotte, and Why South End?
Charlotte has changed a lot in 15 years, and David and Rachel love what the city has become. Its dining scene, its energy and its sense of community made it the clear choice for flora’s first expansion beyond New York.
“Charlotte has this great balance right now. People care about what they eat and how they feel, but they also want to go out, have a drink and enjoy themselves. That’s very much flora.”
David Hersh
South End is the perfect home for that spirit. It’s one of Charlotte’s most walkable and lively neighborhoods, packed with breweries, boutiques, fitness studios and some of the best restaurants in Charlotte. flora sits right along the Charlotte Rail Trail, a short walk from the LYNX Blue Line, and just minutes from Dilworth and Uptown. That makes it an easy stop whether you’re heading out for date night, grabbing lunch near the office, meeting friends before a Charlotte FC match or celebrating something special.
The location carries its own history, too. Atherton Mill began as the Atherton Cotton Mill, built in 1892 as the first industrial mill in the planned Dilworth factory district. Today the restored mill is one of South End’s signature destinations. A restaurant built on deep roots could hardly ask for a better neighbor.
Inside One of Charlotte’s Most Beautiful New Restaurants
Step inside flora Charlotte and you’ll see why we think it’s one of the most beautiful restaurants in Charlotte. Lush greenery hangs over the dining room, and botanical details, warm wood and soft lighting make the space feel like a garden in full bloom. A large central bar anchors the room. Comfortable indoor and outdoor seating is designed for the kind of meal you don’t want to rush.
The most talked-about feature is the Cuddle Booths: intimate two-person booths where the seats wrap around the table so guests sit side by side instead of across from each other. They’re made for date night, anniversaries and anyone looking for a romantic restaurant in Charlotte. They had people buzzing on social media long before the doors opened.
Nothing about the design is accidental. For David and Rachel, the small details are the whole point.
“We agonize over those details, and they’re often subtle on purpose. So when a guest notices and it clearly meant something to them, that’s when we know: this is exactly who we built this for.”
David Hersh
What to Eat and Drink at flora Charlotte
flora Charlotte’s menu features the brand’s signature approach to New American cuisine: shareable appetizers, layered flavors and specialty cocktails crafted with premium spirits and fresh ingredients. Nothing earns a spot on the menu easily.
“Our philosophy is it has to be absolutely the best we have ever tasted to make the menu. We have some pretty high standards.”
Rachel Hersh
Dishes worth the trip
Standouts include the Blackberry-Roasted Duck Breast, Seared Scallops, Tuna Tartare and the Sweet Basil Chicken. Asked which dish he could eat three nights a week, David calls it a tie between the Sweet Basil Chicken and the scallops with chorizo. “Both are one of those dishes you start craving again a few days later,” he says. To start, Executive Chef Ben McKinney points guests to the Truffle Mushroom Arancini: “simple but delicious.”
Don’t skip dessert
The already-iconic Flower Pot dessert arrives in a terra cotta pot filled with sweet surprises, and it’s become a flora signature. “It’s just fun,” says Chef Ben. “It’s nostalgic and fits in with the flora theme so well. People smile when it hits the table.” Carrot cake lovers, take note: it’s the chef’s personal favorite.
Cocktails, wine and zero-proof drinks
The cocktail program is a destination in its own right, with standouts like the Lavender Fizz, the Red Currant Margarita and The Greenhouse. flora also pours a thoughtful wine list and a lineup of zero-proof cocktails made with the same care as everything else on the menu.
Meet the flora Charlotte Team
A great restaurant is only as good as the people behind it. flora Charlotte is led by a leadership team that pairs deep Rooted Hospitality experience with real connections to Charlotte and North Carolina. Learn more about each of them on the flora Charlotte Guest Connect page.
Benjamin McKinneyExecutive Chef
Chef Ben brings a decade of culinary experience to flora Charlotte, built on a foundation at Johnson & Wales University, a name Charlotte’s culinary community knows well thanks to its campus in Uptown. He started cooking at a young age alongside his parents and began his career as a baker. He refined his technique at Verde, the fine dining restaurant at Stratton Mountain, and then served as Executive Chef at flora Westhampton Beach, where he perfected the flora approach.
In Charlotte, he’s adding a Southern perspective. “We use local ingredients whenever we possibly can, and we really pay attention to what’s in season,” he says. “We want flora to feel like flora, but also reflect the area that we are in.” He’s been building relationships with local growers since well before opening day. “North Carolina has some amazing ingredients and producers, and we want to try and use as many as we possibly can.”
Sierra GreygorGeneral Manager
Sierra has been part of the Rooted Hospitality family for years. She helped build the flora brand in Westhampton Beach and now brings that experience to Charlotte. Raised in a close-knit Italian family where food was how people showed love, she has spent nearly a decade in hospitality creating experiences that feel both elevated and personal. She fell in love with Charlotte the moment she arrived. Her picks: the Kale Salad and the Lavender Fizz.
Cedric EdwardsGeneral Manager
Cedric is a North Carolina native who returns home with more than two decades of experience in some of the country’s most influential dining markets, including Philadelphia, Atlanta and New York. He leads flora Charlotte’s front of house with a focus on operational excellence and a polished but welcoming atmosphere. Off the clock, you’ll find him exploring Charlotte’s dining scene and cheering on Charlotte FC. His favorites: the Harissa Coconut Mussels, the Blackberry-Roasted Duck Breast and the Dangling Carrot cocktail.
Hospitality Is in Our DNA
At every Rooted Hospitality Group restaurant, service comes first. We call it “Hospitality DNA”: the highest attention to service and a dedication to delivering a superior guest experience every time. It’s also why Rooted has been recognized multiple years as one of the Best Restaurants to Work For. That distinction shapes every hire, every service interaction and every guest experience across the company.
“To us, hospitality means our guests never leave with the words, ‘I wish they’d.’ Real hospitality is meeting and exceeding what someone needs and expects every time, so they walk away feeling genuinely cared for, loved, and appreciated.”
David Hersh
So what do David and Rachel hope Charlotte remembers about a first meal at flora? In a word: loved. “We hope they had a great meal, stayed a little longer than they planned and left thinking about who they want to bring back to share in that feeling,” David says.
About Rooted Hospitality Group
Rooted Hospitality Group (RHG, or Rooted) is an award-winning, family-owned restaurant hospitality company based on Long Island. Founded by David and Rachel Hersh in 2009, Rooted began with a dream of a gathering place that paired sun, soft sand and refreshing breezes with good drinks, chef-driven food and great company.
In 2010, RHG opened its first location, RUMBA in Hampton Bays, NY. Cowfish followed in 2012, also in Hampton Bays. In Patchogue, RHG transformed a one-story building on the revitalized downtown Main Street into a tri-level restaurant with the only rooftop dining terrace in the area. It opened as RHUM in 2016 and was rebranded to RUMBA in 2025. RHG expanded into Westhampton Beach with flora in 2020 and added Fauna in May 2022. The group also operates AVO TACO, a unique fast-casual hybrid with locations in New Hyde Park and Bayside, NY and New Orleans, LA. In 2025, Rooted took its island-inspired concept south when RUMBA debuted in Metairie, Louisiana.
Now, with flora Charlotte, the journey continues. Explore all of our restaurants, learn about our community work, or join our team.
Plan Your Visit to flora Charlotte
Whether it’s date night in a Cuddle Booth, cocktails at the bar with friends, a business lunch or a family celebration, we can’t wait to welcome you to flora Charlotte.
Planning a private event? flora Charlotte hosts private parties, rehearsal dinners, corporate gatherings and celebrations of all sizes. Submit a private event inquiry and our team will be in touch.
Be the first to know.Sign up for the flora Charlotte email list for news, new menu items, events and exclusive offers.
Follow the flavor. Keep up with flora on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, and follow Rooted Hospitality Group on LinkedIn for company news and career opportunities. For everything flora Charlotte in one place, visit our Guest Connect page.
Frequently Asked Questions About flora Charlotte
Where is flora Charlotte located?
flora Charlotte is at 2120 South Blvd #1, Charlotte, NC 28203, inside the historic Atherton Mill in Charlotte’s South End neighborhood, along the Charlotte Rail Trail.
Is flora Charlotte open?
Yes. flora Charlotte is now open for lunch and dinner. Check eatdrinkloveflora.com/charlotte-nc for current hours.
What kind of food does flora Charlotte serve?
flora serves New American cuisine, with shareable appetizers, seasonal entrées such as Blackberry-Roasted Duck Breast and Seared Scallops, the signature Flower Pot dessert, specialty cocktails, wine and zero-proof drinks. Chef Benjamin McKinney uses local North Carolina ingredients whenever possible.
Does flora Charlotte take reservations?
Yes. Reservations are available on Resy, or call (704) 961-9981.
Who owns flora Charlotte?
flora is owned by Rooted Hospitality Group, the family-owned restaurant company founded by David and Rachel Hersh in 2009. Rooted also operates RUMBA, Cowfish, Fauna and AVO TACO.
Is flora Charlotte related to flora in Westhampton Beach, NY?
Yes. flora Charlotte is the second location of flora, which David and Rachel Hersh opened in Westhampton Beach, New York, in 2020. It is the first flora outside New York.
Is flora Charlotte good for date night?
Absolutely. flora’s signature Cuddle Booths seat two guests side by side, and the botanical dining room, specialty cocktails and shareable plates make it one of the most romantic restaurants in South End Charlotte.
Does flora Charlotte have outdoor seating?
Yes. flora Charlotte offers both indoor and outdoor seating, along with a large central bar.
Can I host a private event at flora Charlotte?
Yes. flora Charlotte hosts private events and celebrations. Submit an inquiry here.
flora Charlotte · 2120 South Blvd #1, Charlotte, NC 28203 · (704) 961-9981 · eatdrinkloveflora.com · @eatdrinkloveflora