Optimist Hall is getting a new spot to sip and stay awhile. Pollyanna, a sit-down cocktail bar, is set to open inside the food hall on Friday, May 29, bringing a vintage-minded drink list and lounge-style seating to a place better known for fast-casual bites and quick rounds.
The concept leans into classic technique, with stirred, spirit-forward cocktails and a focus on polished service. The idea is to give evening crowds a quieter corner of the hall where they can actually sit down, order from a server and linger over something stronger than a seltzer.
As reported by the Charlotte Observer, Pollyanna plans to pour handcrafted staples like the Negroni, martini, Paloma and Paper Plane once doors officially open Friday. David Schmidt of Hibernian Hospitality Group told the paper the team wanted a cocktail bar “rooted in the traditional bar experience,” balancing tried-and-true classics with a few fresh twists. Optimist Hall partner Erik Johnson added that Pollyanna “adds an important new layer to the overall experience at Optimist Hall.”
Inside the lounge
The bar's site lays out the vibe: a sit-down lounge with emerald-velvet booths, leather seating and neon accents framing a full-service bar. The room is designed for easy hangs, second rounds and late-night conversations, not just a quick drink between food stalls.
The site also lists operating hours and describes a small-service format built around table service, so guests can order cocktails without abandoning their food hall finds.
What it means for the hall
Pollyanna joins a growing roster of sit-down concepts at Optimist Hall as the property leans more into full-service bars and restaurants alongside its lineup of stalls. The bar comes from Hibernian Hospitality Group, which already operates other venues in Charlotte and has been expanding its local footprint, a move noted in coverage of recent bar activity at the hall by Axios Charlotte.
Hours and opening
According to the bar’s posted hours on its website, Pollyanna plans to open at 4 p.m. on weekdays and at noon on weekends. Optimist Hall's tenant page also lists Pollyanna as the newest bar in the building and notes its location inside the hall. Both sites are the best places to check for any soft-opening details or last-minute updates.
