Restaurant
Unclaimed profileAura
Charlotte, NC · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Aura pours a botanical-leaning cocktail list from its JW Marriott rooftop, with eight signatures priced $16-$18. The Mirror Image—Beefeater gin, mint, prickly pear, and yuzu soda—earned a guest nod as bright and refreshing. Wine spans $14 glasses to $475 bottles, while a dedicated 'Free Spirited' section offers two $12 zero-proof cocktails. Beers stay simple and affordable.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Mirror Image, a Beefeater gin cocktail with prickly pear and yuzu soda that one reviewer called bright and refreshing. For a rum-based pour, the Dukes Pearl layers aged house rum with passionfruit, pineapple, lime, and honey.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Drinkers seeking a cocktail list built around fruit and botanical flavors will find steady options. The dedicated non-alcoholic section also suits those skipping alcohol without leaving the bar program.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Cocktails run $16-$18, non-alcoholic drinks $12, beers $6-$9, and wine from $14 a glass to $475 a bottle.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The cocktail program skews bright and botanical, with ingredients like prickly pear, yuzu, and rose appearing across the signatures, fitting a rooftop setting at the JW Marriott.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
Eight signature cocktails, all priced $16-$18, lean on fruit and botanical accents—prickly pear, passionfruit, strawberry, rose. The Mirror Image drew a reviewer's praise as bright and refreshing, while the list spans gin, rum, vodka, and mezcal bases.
Menu strengths
- — The list offers eight named cocktails with clear ingredient specificity, from Beefeater gin to aged house rum.
- — A consistent $16-$18 price band keeps the entire signature list approachable for a rooftop lounge.
Standout selections
- — Mirror Image ($16) – Beefeater gin, mint, prickly pear, yuzu soda; a reviewer called it bright and refreshing.
- — Dukes Pearl ($16) – aged house rum with passionfruit, pineapple, lime, and honey.
Pricing: $16-$18
Wine
The wine list spans red, white, rosé, and sparkling, with eight named selections by glass or bottle. Glass prices start at $14, bottles climb to $475, and several pours offer a bottle price exactly four times the glass.
Menu strengths
- — Glass-and-bottle pricing gives flexibility, with several wines at $14-$16 a glass and matching bottles.
Standout selections
- — DAOU Cabernet ($16 glass / $64 bottle) – a widely recognized red with a structured profile.
- — Veuve Brut Rosé ($180 bottle) – the sparkling option anchors the higher end of the list.
Pricing: $14-$475 bottles
Beer
A compact beer list focuses on cans, including Michelob Ultra, Modelo, Stella, Mango Cart, and Pernicious, priced $6-$8. A monthly draft tap takeover adds rotation, and one non-alcoholic option appears.
Menu strengths
- — Affordable, familiar canned options keep the beer program approachable.
- — A monthly draft tap takeover provides a rotating element beyond the static can list.
Standout selections
- — Pernicious ($8) – a hoppy can selection for those seeking more flavor.
- — Sunboy ($8) – a spiked coconut water option adds a non-traditional twist.
Pricing: $6-$9
Nonalcoholic
A dedicated 'Free Spirited' section lists two non-alcoholic cocktails at $12 each. Both use specific NA products—Giffard NA Pineapple Liqueur and Guilt Free Aperitif—rather than generic sodas.
Menu strengths
- — The section is clearly labeled 'Free Spirited' and integrated into the cocktail menu.
- — Recipes specify non-alcoholic spirits, showing attention to zero-proof craft.
Standout selections
- — Lost at Sea ($12) – Giffard NA Pineapple Liqueur, Coco Lopez, and fresh kiwi.
- — Tide and Tempest ($12) – Guilt Free Aperitif with pineapple, guava, and NA bubbles.
Pricing: $12
Community reviews
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