By now almost everyone knows that Asheville is home to a ton of craft breweries. In fact, we wrote a couple of posts about some of our favorite outside patios in Asheville as well as our favorite brewery tours. But we’re more than just a beer-loving town. We’ve also got some great places to get a mixed drink or a craft cocktail. Old fashioned anyone? In this post, check out some of our favorite and best cocktail bars in Asheville.
Antidote Bar at Chemist Spirits | 151 Coxe Avenue
By now you’ve probably heard about Chemist Spirits, pictured above. They’re the woman-owned distillery on South Slope that’s created quite a buzz with their made-in-Asheville cocktails. You can take a tour of the distillery or just go for drinks and hang out in their space. Antidote also made it onto our list of one of the best outdoor bars to grab a drink in Asheville. They also do tours. Learn more here.
Cultivated Cocktails | 25 Page Avenue
Stop in and see the folks at Cultivated Cocktails for a free sample of their small-batch hand-crafted spirits. Their production facility is located in East Asheville but their shop and distillery is right across from the Grove Arcade. And if, upon visiting, something feels familiar, it may be because Cultivated Cocktails recently rebranded. They used to be H&H Distillery. This spot is a great starting or ending place if you’re trying to hang out in downtown Asheville for a few hours.
The Omni Grove Park Inn | 290 Macon Avenue
If the weather is nice, the back patio at the Grove Park Inn, aka the Sunset Terrace, is a great spot for cocktails in Asheville. It’s hard to beat the view of the mountains as the sun sets in the distance when you pair it with the perfect craft cocktail of your choice. As winter sets in the Sunset Terrace closes up but the Omni Grove Park Inn is still a great place to grab a cocktail in Asheville because you can sit in front of the massive fire place or visit one of their bars like the Presidents Lounge or the Great Hall Bar.
The vibe of the Grove Park Inn is similar to some of the lodges in National Parks. There’s a lot of hefty wooden furniture, old photographs that give you insight into the history of the place, and of course, the view. Oh, and you don’t have to stay there in order to get a drink there.
Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge | 7 Rankin Avenue
The burger at the Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge gets bragged on a lot but their cocktails are also some of the best in Asheville. The bar is a darkly lit space with an intimate feel (yeah it feels like a vault and at one time was a bank vault) but it also has a patio with umbrellas if you want outdoor seating. The vibe is on the upscale side but because it’s Asheville pretty much anything goes. If you go, be sure to take a peek at their seasonal cocktail menu. Bonus: their late night menu runs every Friday and Saturday from 12pm to 2am and on Sundays from 11pm to 1am.
Sovereign Remedies | 29 North Market Street
Located in downtown, Sovereign Remedies is one of the best cocktail bars in Asheville. The space is bright (it has 14-foot windows), is filled with plants and cool vintage finds and, perhaps most importantly, the cocktails are creative and delicious. (If you need a break from the liquor, you’re in luck because they also have a house sasparilla soda.) Though they have a delicious menu, Sovereign Remedies is also a great pre or post-dinner spot in case you already have dinner plans.
The Times Bar and Coffee Shop | 56 Patton Avenue
The Times Bar in Asheville has quickly made a name for itself with its cozy interior and seasonally inspired cocktails. They’ve got 250 bottles of booze on their shelve so you are sure to find something you like. They’ve also got a cool program called the Break Even Bottle. Each week they select one top-shelf spirit and will pour you an ounce at cost. But the reason the Times Bar made our list of one of the best places to get a cocktail in Asheville is because of the quality and inventiveness of their drinks. They’re not just boozy but balanced and beautiful, too. Bonus: afterward you can pop over to the newly renovated S&W building.
Little Jumbo | 241 Broadway Street
Some of the best cocktails in Asheville can be found at Little Jumbo. The unassuming exterior will win you over as soon as you step inside. It’s a great spot for a date or a special occasion. The service is as on point as the drinks. As for the mood, the lighting is romantic, and you can spend hours in there without even realizing it. Plus, there’s live jazz every Monday from 7-10pm! And don’t just take it from us. Garden and Gun just rated them one of the best cocktail bars in the South.
The Social Lounge | 29 Broadway Street
Downtown Asheville has no shortage of great places to get a drink but if you want a place that has an outdoor rooftop patio and drink specials every day except for Friday and Saturday then be sure to check out the Social Lounge. They’ve also got a pretty sweet weekend brunch and the food is as good as the hand-crafted cocktails. Bonus: the food is not only delicious, it’s a work of art, too.
Best Cocktail Bars in Asheville Recap
There are so many great places in Asheville to get a great cocktail that it can be difficult to choose. Which one of these places are your favorite? Did we miss one that you think should be on here? Let us know in the comments below.
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