Asheville's bars run from whiskey libraries behind unmarked doors to dive bars with karaoke, pool and cash-only taps. Most of them sit downtown within a few blocks of each other, with the South Slope a short walk south and Haywood Road in West Asheville a quick ride across the river.
The Crow and Quill
Downtown, 106 N. Lexington Ave.
The Crow and Quill has poured cocktails behind its Lexington Avenue door since 2014. Look for the lanterns and the 106 over the door, since the entrance is easy to miss. The back bar holds more than 800 whiskeys, including rare and out-of-production bottles. Antiques fill the room, giving you plenty to look at while you work through the seasonal cocktail menu. Bar snacks round out the drinks, and the bar also offers cocktail classes and private events. Come here for a whiskey you haven't tried or a seasonal cocktail rather than a sports-bar night.
Tip: Tell the bartender what you usually drink and ask them to pull a whiskey you have never tried.
Little Jumbo
Five Points, 241 Broadway St.
Little Jumbo is an award-winning cocktail bar at the north end of downtown near Five Points and Montford, set in the old Jenkins grocery building with tin ceilings and green leather seats. Its house 1870's Old Fashioned is the bestseller, and the Hello Friday has been on the menu since 2017. Free live music runs Mondays and Tuesdays, with Big Brains trivia on Sundays and game night on Wednesdays. The rest of the week puts the cocktails first. The bar has been featured by Punch, Garden & Gun, Southern Living and Food & Wine.
Tip: Park free in the Five Points lot up Broadway after 4 PM.
The Crowbar
Downtown, 92 Patton Ave.
The Crowbar took over the old Thirsty Monk space on Patton Avenue. It comes from Michael Reppert and Brenden Wyand, who also own The Blackbird restaurant and Shiloh & Gaines. The crow theme runs from the name to the wall murals, with drinks and snacks alongside games, live music, DJs and karaoke. That mix makes it a different kind of downtown stop from a cocktail-only lounge: you can build the night around a show or go for drinks and games. Check the current event listing before choosing a night.
Tip: Look up the night's event before you go if you're choosing between live music, a DJ set and karaoke.
Banks Ave.
South Slope, 32 Banks Ave., Suite 101
Banks Ave. calls itself an all-inclusive bar, with drag shows, karaoke, pool tables and skee-ball. It sits on Banks Avenue on the South Slope, so it's an easy addition to a night around the neighborhood's breweries. You can go for the performance or spend the visit at the pool tables rather than planning the whole night around a show. Downstairs, The Bottom is available for private parties and other events. Check the bar's current event announcements to choose a night that matches what you want to do.
Tip: Check the specific event for admission details rather than assuming every drag show or karaoke night has the same setup.
The Low Down
West Asheville, 723 Haywood Rd., downstairs
The Low Down is a basement cocktail bar at 723 Haywood Road, from Casey Campfield, the founder of The Crow and Quill. Campfield opened it as a neighborhood pub with a date-night feel, using custom woodworking to transform the downstairs space. Cocktails share the menu with wine, beer, nonalcoholic drinks and snacks, and there's a shuffleboard table if you'd rather play than sit at the bar. It's a useful West Asheville choice for a drink before dinner or a night that doesn't revolve around a stage.
Tip: Planning a party? The Low Down books private events, so ask ahead.
The Handlebar
West Asheville, 1655 Old Haywood Rd.
The Handlebar is a dive bar out on Old Haywood Road, listed on its profile as Handlebar (No Grill). A pool table, karaoke and outdoor seating give you a few ways to spend the visit without making it a sit-down dinner. Reviews describe a mixed crowd and reasonable drink prices, with pool and karaoke doing most of the work. It's a different choice from the cocktail lounges along Haywood Road. Go for a drink and a game, and eat beforehand rather than counting on a kitchen.
Tip: Confirm the current karaoke night before making a special trip, since published schedules disagree.
Sky Lanes Bar, Grill & Bowling
West Asheville, 1477 Patton Ave.
Sky Lanes pairs bowling with a bar and grill on Patton Avenue, making it a different kind of group night from a table at a cocktail bar. The food menu includes bowling-alley snacks such as nachos and fries, plus salads, sandwiches and burgers. For groups with children, bumpers and an assist ramp help younger bowlers join in. You can make bowling the main event and eat between games, rather than trying to fit a separate dinner around the visit. Check lane availability before bringing a large group.
Tip: Call ahead about lanes and shoe rentals when planning a group visit.
Shiloh & Gaines
South Asheville, 700 Hendersonville Rd.
Shiloh & Gaines is a neighborhood bar on Hendersonville Road from the same owners as The Crowbar downtown. Rotating food trucks handle dinner, so what's available changes with the schedule. The bar's live music calendar lists bands on weekend nights, with performers ranging from funk and reggae to folk and classic rock. You can plan around a particular band or make it a South Asheville stop for drinks and something from the truck outside. Dogs are welcome, and the bar is 21 and up after 8 PM.
Tip: Check the food truck schedule on the Shiloh & Gaines website before you go so you know what's for dinner.
Town Pump Tavern
Black Mountain, 135 Cherry St.
Town Pump Tavern is a bar in Black Mountain's historic downtown, east of Asheville, with live music at its Cherry Street address. It gives you a reason to stay in town for a drink after dinner rather than heading straight back to Asheville. Film fans may recognize the room from scenes in "The World Made Straight" and "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," both noted by Visit Black Mountain. Music is part of the draw, but check the current lineup rather than planning around a standing weekly schedule.
Tip: Bring cash. The bar's owner described its cash-only policy to Mountain Xpress, though payment policies can change.
West Asheville and the River Arts District
- Potential New Boyfriend, 647 Haywood Rd. A dessert and natural wine bar, 21 and up.
- The Odd, 1045 Haywood Rd. A dive bar, music venue and oddities museum with drag, punk and comedy.
- Fleetwood's, 496 Haywood Rd. A vintage shop, bar and rock and roll wedding chapel.
- Anoche, 176 Clingman Ave. A mezcal and tequila bar with most of its seating outside.
Bars in Asheville: FAQ
Where are the bars in downtown Asheville?
Most downtown bars sit within a few blocks of each other on Patton Avenue, Lexington Avenue, Biltmore Avenue and College Street, so you can walk between them. The South Slope, just south of downtown along Coxe and Banks avenues, adds more bars and most of the downtown breweries.
What time do bars close in Asheville?
North Carolina law ends alcohol sales at 2 AM every night, and drinks have to be finished by 2:30 AM, according to the NC ABC Commission. Many bars close earlier, so check the profile before you head out late.
Where are the dive bars in Asheville?
Try The Handlebar and The Odd in West Asheville, Shiloh & Gaines in South Asheville and Town Pump Tavern in Black Mountain.
Are there LGBTQ+ bars in Asheville?
Banks Ave. on the South Slope calls itself all-inclusive and hosts drag shows. Q-Hall on Coxe Avenue describes itself as a women's sports bar and LGBTQ+ venue, and The Odd in West Asheville books drag on its calendar.
Where can I go out without drinking?
NightShade on the South Slope is an alcohol-free lounge with zero-proof cocktails, and Sovereign Kava Bar on Biltmore Avenue serves kava. The Low Down and Färməsē both list mocktails or nonalcoholic drinks on their menus.
