As the sun sets in Asheville, NC, the city’s bustling nightlife begins. Though the city is known for its breweries and restaurants, Asheville is also home to amazing bars and pubs. Whether you’re looking for a place to watch sports, listen to live music, sing karaoke, or just hang out with friends, there’s a great spot for you where you can grab a drink and enjoy some delicious bar food. Check out our list below of the best bars in Asheville, NC.

Enjoy a hand-crafted drink from Asheville’s original, premier cocktail bar, The Social Lounge. And don’t miss the rooftop bar for a beautiful view of the city.

Where Can I Get Drinks in Asheville, NC?

There are so many good options for bars and pubs in downtown Asheville, you can choose your destination based on the type of night (and drinks) you’re looking for.

• If you want a traditional British-style pub, try Jack of the Wood on Patton Avenue. This bar is an Asheville staple, with Irish food, local musicians playing fiddle tunes, and 18 rotating taps. (Check out their Sunday Bluegrass Brunches as well!)
• For great cocktails, check out The Social Lounge, Asheville’s original, premier cocktail bar. This bar is located on Broadway Street, and they serve hand-crafted drinks in a warm, elegant space (with a rooftop area overlooking the city). Reservation only (until further notice).
• Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge is another great cocktail spot, located on Rankin Avenue near the Harrah’s Cherokee Center. They serve tacos, burgers, and more, along with their unique cocktails (and definitely try their Cucumber Martini).
• District 42 is a newer bar to Asheville, but it’s making its mark on the city. This bar is located in the Kimpton Hotel Arras (which faces Pack Square), but all are welcome, not just hotel guests. District 42 has a classy, literary atmosphere, and they’re open all day. Stop by for drinks, dinner served by the bar’s sister restaurant, Bargello, or a bite from their pizza bar.

Swanky and sophisticated, District 42 brings together modern sophistication and Asheville’s creative style.

What are the Best Sports Bars in Asheville, NC?

Don’t want to miss your favorite team’s game while you’re visiting Asheville? Head to one of these sports bars:

• Pack’s Tavern has something for everyone. Located adjacent to Pack Square Park in the center of downtown Asheville, Pack’s Tavern is housed in a renovated historic building with great views of the city. The tavern’s North Bar has 32 taps and TVs showing all major sports games, and the South Bar has TVs and free live music performances. Their bars serve local specialty beers as well as popular domestic beers. They also serve a full menu of food from bar snacks to full meals (including salads, soups, sandwiches, and desserts).
• You’ll know you’re at Creekside Taphouse when you see the statue of a cow in a kayak on the roof. This cozy neighborhood bar sits by the banks of Haw Creek in East Asheville, serving elevated bar food, such as tacos, wings, and hot dogs (and even healthier options like salads and a portobello burger). The bar area has nine TVs showing the latest games, and there’s a sand volleyball court outside. Kids can play in the playground area, or splash in the creek behind the bar, as parents relax on the dog-friendly patio above.

Pack’s Tavern, located in the heart of downtown, offers ample space and a plethora of menu options for any size group.

What are the Best Live Music Bars in Asheville?

Looking for a place to hear great live music? Look no further than these bars in downtown Asheville:

• Barley’s Taproom on Biltmore Avenue serves local and domestic beer (40+ on tap!) and delicious pizza, lasagna, and sandwiches. They regularly have live music performances from jazz, bluegrass, and Americana artists (with no cover charge). Check out their trivia nights as well as their upstairs room with darts and billiards.
• Asheville Yacht Club on Patton Avenue bills itself as “Asheville’s only rock-n-roll tiki bar.” AYC features local musicians and serves late night food and fun tiki drinks (with names like “Blackbeard’s Ghost,” “The Donald,” and “The Monkey’s Paw”).
• 5 Walnut Wine Bar is an intimate space on Walnut Street that regularly hosts local artists (often singer-songwriters and vocalists). This is a great place to enjoy wine, beer, cheese, and other locally-sourced bites while discovering new music.

The Montford rooftop bar offers some of the best views in downtown Asheville, and their cocktails do not disappoint. Photo credit: Chelsea Lane Photography

What are the Best Rooftop Bars in Asheville?

To see Asheville from a new point of view, try heading up to one of the city’s rooftop bars. You’ll experience an unforgettable view of Asheville and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains as you sip your cocktail.

• The Montford is located on the rooftop of the eight-floor Hyatt Place Hotel, just off I-40 at the Montford Avenue exit between downtown and the historic Montford neighborhood. Experience sunset views from their indoor bar or outdoor terrace as you enjoy small plates and craft cocktails. Reservations are highly recommended.
• Savor delicious Cuban cuisine and cocktails at Hemingway’s Cuba, a rooftop bar and restaurant located on the fourth floor of the Cambria Hotel on 15 Page Avenue in downtown Asheville. Their full menu spans many Cuban dishes, from empanadas and tostones to sandwiches and larger plates (featuring free-range meat from local Hickory Nut Gap Farm). Don’t forget some flan for dessert.
• Pillar Rooftop Bar and Kitchen is located on the roof of the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Asheville. They serve small plates, sustainable wines, cocktails, and local beers from their indoor bar and outdoor patio (complete with fire pit) on the sixth floor.

Hemingway’s Cuba combines delectable Cuban cuisine and cocktails with a stunning rooftop patio.

What are the Best Bars in West Asheville?

We can’t forget the great bars in West Asheville, a quirky neighborhood adjacent to downtown that has a personality all its own. Here are our favorite spots on Haywood Street, West Asheville’s main drag:

• The Double Crown is a speakeasy-style bar inside a tiny house. The inside is decked out in lights, art, and oddball decor, giving the bar a very cozy and eclectic vibe. They have regular live music and karaoke nights.
• Desoto Lounge is a funky dive bar that serves scratch-made pub food and local craft beer. They also have foosball, ping pong, and an outdoor patio.
• WALK (also known as the West Asheville Lounge and Kitchen) is a gastropub with an easy-going atmosphere. They serve bar food, lunch, local beers, cocktails, and even Sunday brunch.

If you love Bloody Marys, don’t miss WALK, the West Asheville Lounge and Kitchen, home to fantastic pub food and cocktails.

What are the Best Karaoke Bars in Asheville?

There’s nothing like karaoke to bring friends together (in laughter, pride, and embarrassment). If you want to feel like a star, check one of these great Asheville karaoke bars:

• The Social (located on Tunnel Road in East Asheville) is an unassuming bar with some of Asheville’s best karaoke. They also serve burgers and other pub food, and they have live music and TVs showing sports.
• Lazy Diamond (on Woodfin Street in downtown Asheville) is a casual bar with karaoke, pinball machines, and old school video games. They also feature live music and serve delicious bar snacks and cocktails.

What are the Best Juice Bars in Asheville?

If you’d prefer not to drink alcohol during your visit to Asheville, try one of the area’s juice bars. These bars serve healthy juices that fuel body and mind and make you feel great.

• Pulp & Sprout is a juice bar and vegan cafe on Liberty Avenue in downtown Asheville. They offer delicious juice blends, broths, plant-based dishes and snacks, and smoothies.
• If you’re heading south of Asheville, check out one of Mountain Juicery’s two locations (Hendersonville Road in South Asheville or Spartanburg Highway in Hendersonville). This family-owned spot offers cold-pressed juices, smoothies, smoothie bowls, and wellness shots.

Ready to go bar-hopping? With all these bars and pubs (and many more we couldn’t fit), you have a bevy of beverage options in Asheville. If you’re more of a brewery person, check out our articles on the best breweries and brewery tours in Asheville. If you’re considering moving to Asheville or the surrounding area, let us know! We’d love to help you make the Blue Ridge Mountains your new home.