Asheville Nightlife You Don’t Want to Miss
Coming from Colorado, which is known for its craft beer scene, it’s usually hard to find a city in another state that can match the microbrewery hopping found in Denver or Boulder. But Asheville is definitely the exception. In fact, when it comes to breweries per capita, it boasts more than any other city in the U.S., including my hometown. There are roughly 100 local beers to be enjoyed in Asheville, served on draft and in bottles at breweries, restaurants and bars around the Blue Ridge Mountain town. But nightlife in Asheville is not entirely beer focused, in fact there is so much more to be experienced in this fun town with a super laid back vibe and no pretentious dress code. The streets here are filled with a vibrant energy that is contagious and even if you had plans to turn in early, when the weather is warm, it’s hard to not stay out late – you’ll simply be having too much fun. Best of all, most of Asheville’s nightlife can be experienced in its compact and walkable downtown area, making it affordable to just use Uber for a ride back to the hotel after a night on the town, rather than having to take cabs between bars.
Here are my four favorite spots for a drink around Asheville. All but the Nightlife Food Park is located in the downtown core.
1. Nightlife Food Park and Market
Not downtown, but worth the short trip to its location across from Carrier Park and right on the French Broad River. It’s a great place to start the evening with an outdoor vibe away from the buildings and crowds. It’s a multi-use venue with a few different shops including Edna’s at the River for coffee and a small local grocery story called Whisper Holler Farms Market & Bar that sells everything from produce to chocolate and cheese. And then there is Cascade Lounge, where drinks are served. It’s a locally run craft beer and cocktail lounge. Grab a drink and watch the sunset unobstructed on its patio and soak up the true laidback spirit of old school Asheville. Food trucks rotate through, so you won’t be hungry should you want to fill up.
2. Ben’s Tune Up
Sure, Asheville has lots of traditional American microbreweries, but at Ben’s Tune Up, downtown, you get both a beer and sake brewery plus a restaurant in the experience. The name comes from the building’s former occupant – Ben’s Tune Up is located in a converted auto shop. Drink wise, the home-brewed sake, which is also infused on site, is what to order. Try a flight to taste all six kinds of sake, including a lemon ginger infusion to a natural type, which is milky and unfiltered. They also do craft beer and Japanese-inspired American fare. Sit outside in the courtyard when the weather is nice. If you’re looking to nibble with a group, try the pupu platter for several different appetizers including dumplings, marinated tofu, pork egg rolls and siracha honey wings. The ramen is also excellent for a more substantial solo meal.
3. Top of the Monk
For a fun speakeasy style bar experience, I love the Top of the Monk, which is located above the Thirsty Monk, its sister bar below – you’ll need to look for this as there is no sign for the Top of the Monk. The atmosphere feels artsy and big city but still intimate, and no more than 30 people are allowed inside at a time, which is great for having conversations. The menu at this handcrafted cocktail bar is split between “classic quaffs,” which are 100-year-old recipes and “modern tipple” that features unique drink recipes from around the world. Bartenders can also customize cocktails based on personal taste. I loved the Walk Through Napa, which is a light and playful drink make from Hendricks, Lillet Rouge, crushed grapes, rosemary, lavender saturated agave and fresh lemon, served up. The coolest part of this experience, however, is after you order a cocktail, you’ll be given a key, which is used to retrieve a small complimentary serving of food from an old-fashioned P.O. Box on site. It’s a tradition left over from prohibition, when free food with a drink was called a “free lunch” and most often included very salty food that was meant to induce thirst so you’d order a second drink.
4. Nightbell
Another speakeasy style bar is Nightbell, which is the creation of James Beard nominated chef Katie Button. In an inconspicuous location behind a gate in a 1925 warehouse set back from Lexington Ave, it looks like an antique shop from the street, making it purposefully difficult to find. Up the staircase inside you’ll find turquoise chandeliers, rich, velvety upholstered chairs and sofas and more than a dozen craft cocktails mixed with premium spirits and hand-carved ice. I suggest ordering the Island Time, which is served on shaved ice and is a delicious concoction of Gran Sierpe Pisco, Flor de Cana 7-Year Rum, coconut milk, orgeat, vanilla, lime, pineapple and angostura bitters. As a chef run bar, expect the food to also be a major selling point for small plates. Menu must tries include the caramelized turnips, which are made with curried whey cream sauce, sunflower seeds, farm and sparrow bread crumble and micro radish, as well as the beyond decadent deviled eggs, which are a foamy concoction of creamy yolk and corn sabayon studded with trout gravlux, and served in the eggshell for slurping. They come out tasting sweet, savory, smooth, smoky and absolutely delicious. The steak tartare is also worth a mention, made with hand cut brasstown beef with smoked horseradish cream.
