If I'm ever having a bad day, I always make a point to come over to Smelly Cat for an iced soy dirty chai latte. The baristas are always happy and make a point to ensure your experience from the time you enter the shop to the time you leave with your coffee is positive. The chai is not a syrup like some of the independent coffee shops in Charlotte and is made to order. They also have yummy biscuit sandwiches and breakfast burritos if you can get there early enough. Lots of seating inside and out and a great location if you just want to take your coffee to go and walk around NoDa. Even though they sell something as simple as coffee, their passion and amount of care they put in to their drinks really does make a difference. Smelly Cat is one of the examples I give when people ask what I love about living in Charlotte.