Review: Nightswim Coffee

Note: this is part of my Charlotte coffee shop series. Click here to see the list of all coffee shops and their ratings, sorted alphabetically.

• Specialty Latte: $7.25 for a 12oz iced lavender ube latte – 6.5/10

• Black coffee: $3.25 for a 12oz drip coffee – 9/10

• Vibe: 6/10

• Overall: 7.2

For the specialty latte, I ordered a 12oz lavender ube cappuccino. It arrived as an iced latte, though, with a sweet purple sugar rim. It was fun, unique, and refreshing, but I didn’t get much flavor other than a strong hint of lavender. It wasn’t too sweet, which I appreciated, but I was missing something: either more espresso flavor, ube flavor, or more creaminess from the milk. They roast their own beans, and I thought the drip coffee was fantastic and smooth.

The ambiance feels a bit… unfinished at Nightswim. The floors are bare concrete and the ceilings display exposed framing and pipes. Luckily, bright furniture and shelves of colorful coffee ground bags line the space, making it feel more approachable. I did love the amount of seating: not too cramped or empty-feeling. The music selection inside is also excellent, and there’s a few tables outside to enjoy a nice weather day.

Nightswim offers a selection of pastries, perfect to pair with a creative beverage.

There’s a few dedicated parking spots in front of Nightswim and a whole street of parallel spots nearby. You likely won’t have any trouble finding a space.

I did a bit of remote work at Nightswim myself when I visited, and others seemed to be using the space for that as well. It’s set up well for this purpose, with small two-tops for working or one-on-one time, and a large table and couches for bigger groups.

Overall, I think Nightswim is a great place to get work done and try a beverage you might not have thought of, but don’t miss out on a classic cup of black coffee!