Basically, its a proud boy bar. Dudes with confederate flags are always there. Door is pretty aggressive. I avoid the place.

This business' standards are ridiculous. I came in just before closing and made sure to ask a bartender what time they close. She confirmed 1am before I ordered several drinks, was charged for about $32 and tipped $10. Went on to the porch to have the drinks. After 10 minutes, a man started to yell and harass everyone out the door. He approached me on the porch, albiet screaming at me for at least 3 minutes telling me I couldn't be there and needed to get out. Literally escalated an altercation. As if looking for a fight. I didn't illicit this behavior, I just wanted to drink my nearly $45 worth of drinks. But no. He wouldn't allow us to finish our drinks without "taking them outside the gate." Seriously? I asked for a manager and she came out and, I kid you not, yanked a drink out of my friend's hand. Literally as he was taking a sip. Now, let's not get confused, I am well aware of bar business times and individual company preferences, so I understand closing times. Where this business made a mistake is, for one, selling the drinks in the first place if they don't intend to honor the time allotted to drink them. A business can specify what time they want drinks done and establish a cut off. She was so cordial taking my card before all of this. Now, most pointedly? They did specify we could "put them in a cup and take them outside." A highly illegal practice offered freely to us, mind you. Told us we could have our drinks "anywhere but there." Not only that, but when approached about all this, the "owner" "called the cops" and the "owner" wished we'd "stick around for 15min so we would get arrested." Are you serious? Is that really the business you want to run? Know the people you are talking to. Realize not everyone is drunk and belligerent like you apparently assume. This "owner" said he didn't want my business. Seems the business is built on manhandling patrons out the door only minutes after they arrive, even when those patrons make it a point to confirm they are still welcome to be served. I cannot describe the malcontent these people had with me 10 minutes after my arrival. If you, as a business, do not intend on allowing patrons to finish the drinks they paid for, don't serve ANYONE after the 30 minute mark. Make a last call. It is with so much disappointment that I relay that these people actually had the audacity to ask me "who do you think you are?" A patron! I'm a self-aware, money-spending patron! I spent money at your business AFTER I confirmed I was allowed to do so! I'm literally floored. I've bartended, I've been a front of house/back of house manager, a GM, etc. I've even kicked people out! Your employees appear to have been trained to be crass, misleading, and, in short, pushing the line of acceptable. I will be saying something to the BBB. And they said they refunded my tip when I went back in to revoke it. Rest assured, I will be monitoring my bank account. I'll promise you this: the employees at Smokey Joe's offered me to "take our beverages outside the gate in a cup." I think they'll realize that mistake soon enough.

Great dive bar for hanging out and meeting up to listen to some live music. The vibe is laid back, leave your pretentiousness behind and put your jeans and boots on and come have a good time!

This is an eclectic little dive bar that has been around forever. Great music, attentive bartenders, billard table, Foosball, outside seating, small parking lot so I recommend ride sharing to have more fun anyway.

Honestly one of the best bars I have been to in a long time. Bartender was extremely friendly, beer selection was great and the atmosphere is exactly what you want when visiting a cozy late night bar. Live music can be quite loud but if visiting before it doesn't get much better.

Great dive bar, cheap beers, good atmosphere, cool live music. Great place to hang if you're trying to keep it cheap. Also has a pretty big outdoor area.

Wow I'm sad I've been missing this one all these years. Very cool spot. I was the DD this time but sure hope to come back to enjoy it when I'm not! Great bartenders, awesome decor, stocked bar and really cool people. It was also clean. As old as it is, I was really surprised how clean it was.

Smokey Joe's is one of the last bars/restaurants left in Charlotte. Many locals have continued to come for 30+ years. It's a cool, welcoming atmosphere filled with memorable that reignites memories of days of old. My favorite spot is the huge "Game Room" filled with board games, cards, Jenga, pool, ping pong and so much more, it's cozy with a home like feeling. There are live bands every weekend and other events on week days. There is outdoor seating, both covered and non covered, with heaters and fire pits in the cooler months. It's a jump back in time. I will say it's full of locals and rare to find tourists here.

It's a very welcoming workingman's bar. They have a few pool tables and ping pong outside. The drink prices are inexpensive and the staff is friendly. They offer live music several nights of the week with a modest cover charge.

Love this place, just moved to Charlotte and I found a gem. The owners and bartenders are great, not to mention the live music. Yessss!! The patrons are all super nice as well. I've made friends

I went for the Open Mic last night and really enjoyed my visit. The people were cool and the atmosphere was great. A lot of great music happening on that stage. I will definitely be back!

An old Classic, Smokey Joe's! Listen to great music or play pool inside. The drafts & cocktails continue outside with the ping-pong table. Always a good time! 💖

First time here, but I want come back 😊 great live music 🎶 So it’s always nice to listen cool songs and to drink some cocktails or wine. It is a place where you can meet a new people for small talk.

One of the Coolest bar in town! Tuesday nights open mic with lots of great musicians!

Live music was great. Place was packed. Not great for wheelchairs. No accessible entrance. But there was a ramp to get to the door. No wheelchair parking. Gravel lot. But the drinks were good. Everyone was nice and moved out of my way when I needed. Had alot of fun.

Best bar in Charlotte. Live music. Fun crowd. Eclectic mix. Ping Pong. Pool tables. Foosball.

What a cool bar?! Sand filled beach feel in uptown charlotte north caorlina. Great place to hang out and have good time.

Always an awesome time. Great service amazing crowd. Unique experience. The atmosphere is one of a kind with great safe vibes each and every time. Some of my best memories were made on the nights they have live music. There are 2 pool tables and also badminton and ping pong as well! No food but eat before you go and some nights they have food being cooked outside when leaving. Definitely a gem of Charlotte

This place is really not my vibe so take this review with a grain of salt. It definitely lives up to its name of Smokey joes. There is a LOT of smoking outside to the extent that even the interior is a little Smokey. If you are sensitive to smoke, I would not come here. The bar itself is super eclectic and interesting. The walls are plastered with bumper stickers and posters. The bathrooms have pin ups of both men and women. The beers are pretty much dirt cheap. Even craft brews on tap are about $5. The live music is good but if you are inside you will not be able to hear anything else. A nice medium is to sit outside while the band plays. You can still hear them but aren’t yelling at each other to be heard. The clientele are all local and very chill, this is definitely a townie place. I personally would not go back because it’s just not the type of place I like but if you love the dive bar vibe, this place is for you. Parking is in a gravel lot with a bit of a hill.

Great atmosphere, friendly bar tenders inside, unique spot. Beware of the bar back outside, I’ve never experienced anyone of his kind. I observed him repeatedly yell to customers, and my family and friends, “get out of my way.” Understandably staff was overwhelmed because the place was crowded. However, later in the night the bar back pushed me out of his way and aggressively yelled at me too. When I calmly confronted his nasty attitude and behavior, he proceeded to tell me I was kicked out, which was absurd. The experience was more than unpleasant, his behavior was disgusting. It seemed the bar back was looking to escalate the situation to make a scene. When I called to speak with management, a man picked up and told me the whole situation was my fault because I didn’t listen to the bar back, then he hung up the phone. Apparently the establishment condones male employees disrespect and agression towards women and customers.

Best dive bar in Charlotte!!! Great local live music and the drinks are strong. Pool tables and outdoor ping pong table on sand! Very laid back atmosphere and great service. They don’t serve food, but will have a food vendor outside the front door on occasions.

There was a $5 cover charge, place was small and packed in the inside. There are places to sit and play pool. The service was okay and the parking lot is small. It looks like you can park around the bar and walk.

Smokey Joe's is my favorite bar in Charlotte. In a city where most things feel so hermetic, Smokey Joe's is the salve. A true to form dive bar featuring everything you could want in a night out. Pool, ping pong, the ring game, great beer prices and live music to boot. Scott even gave me a disc when I left town as a memento. They still got a few in there last time I checked...

Very close to the Bo Jangles Collesium. Has an awesome deck to chill out on. If they had one in Rock Hill I'd probably be a frequent visitor.

Just all around place to sit have a cold beer and relax . great place love it

The bar is original and it feels like home. Does not have that sterile environment that corporate bars have. Even though the place is old it is clean . Loved the atmosphere

Amazing little dive bar with great atmosphere, good music, and awesome service

As a Charlotte native, Smokey Joe's has been a staple. Not sure what changed, the management or clientele but this dive bar gives off Proud Boy vibes as many of the patrons carry their flags/iconography subjects of discussions overheard by the doormen. What a shame a dive bar has become such a place for hate. Don't and won't support this place anymore. Neither should you.

Always a nice vibe at this location.. Great live music. No watered down drinks. And friendly bartenders.

Reasonable prices, live music, table tennis, outside swings, etc! They also have food vendors come by with typical bar food (bbq one day, hot dogs another, etc). As a musician I have a great time playing here whenever I do. Tuesday nights are an open mic night with a house band that’s also an open jam. The house band is typically a group of Charlotte veteran musicians. The inside is pretty cool, and it’s also sick that part of Talladega Nights was filmed here.

Best live music setting in town, 2 nice pool tables, ping pong, awesome outdoor covered patio and the staff dont make you wait long to get a drink. People of all walks show up and have a blast. Chad the guy that runs it is awesome too.

Dive bar with great live music and well-priced beer. Pool. Outdoor areas. Fun decor. Very casual.

My all time favorite dive bar. If you love authentic dive bars with live music and down to earth bartenders, definitely visit.