Whether you’re visiting Asheville for the weekend or you’re a local looking for a fun night out, there’s nothing quite like sipping a cocktail on a rooftop bar with a view of the mountains. And lucky for you, there are a number of great rooftop bars in Asheville, each with its own unique vibe, atmosphere and view.
This guide to rooftop bars in Asheville shares all of the places where you can sit back and relax with a drink and a wonderful view.
We share details on each spot, from the views you can expect to the food options. We also share a great number of breweries with rooftop patios. We have listed the ‘fancier’ rooftop bars first because these are the places we typically think of first.
What You’ll Find In This Article
Where To Enjoy A Drink With A View In AVL
This guide highlights rooftop bars in Asheville. If you are looking specifically for rooftop restaurants, check out our guide to restaurants in Asheville with a view.
Rooftop Bars In Asheville, NC
This list starts off with a look at rooftop bars in Asheville. Though there are a few restaurants below, most of these places are true cocktail bars with great signature drinks and limited food menus. They make great a great stop either before or after dinner.
Let’s start the fun with one of Asheville’s newest rooftop spots: The Observatory!
Gorgeous rooftop bar in the heart of downtown Asheville with botanical drinks
The Observatory is rooftop bar in downtown Asheville and it is absolutely gorgeous. It’s located at the top of the stunning Restoration Hotel, a boutique hotel in downtown Asheville.
Their botanical-inspired drink menu is unique and refreshing, with everything from a limoncello ‘Lovely Lemon’ to a Fruity Pebbles-based cocktail. Of course, you can also opt for wine or local beer instead.
The Observatory has a few light bites available, including small salads, hummus and a charcuterie plate.
But what really sets The Observatory apart is the ambiance. The views are breathtaking, making it the perfect place for a romantic evening under the stars or a fun night out with friends.
To get to The Observatory, take the elevator located just through the lobby of the Restoration Hotel up to the 6th floor.
Restoration Hotel also has an on-site restaurant, The Exchange, and a basement bar with a small bowling alley, The Draftsman.
Amazing rooftop views with cocktails and small plates
Located at the top of the AC Hotel, Capella on 9 is a visit-worthy rooftop bar and restaurant. They have great cocktails and several small plates and tapas on the menu. We especially love their seared scallops and the brown butter gnocchi.
The rooftop is the star of the show at Capella on 9. There’s a large dining area inside and a great outdoor area with firepits. Thanks to the large windows, you’ll enjoy sweeping views of Asheville both inside and out. Seating is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Signature cocktails include the Capella G&T, Honeysuckle Sour with vodka and lychee berry liqueur and Ole #24 which uses a Capella on 9 private select whisky by Maker’s Mark. They also have craft beer, ciders, domestic beer, seltzer, wines and bubbles.
Capella on 9 also offers a daily rooftop breakfast with avocado toast, breakfast tacos, french toast and other breakfast favorites.
Panoramic view of the mountains and excellent cocktails
If you are looking for an incredible sunset view in downtown Asheville, The Montford Rooftop Bar is the perfect destination. It’s a classy spot with a great outdoor patio and a drink menu featuring signature cocktails, wine and local craft beer.
The rooftop patio at The Montford faces west toward the Blue Ridge Mountains and offers a stunning backdrop for an evening. Especially when the sun is setting!
The Montford has a few shared plates, like a collard green dip, house tater tots, truffle fries and chicken wings. They also have cheese and charcuterie boards.
The Montford is located at the top of the DoubleTree Hotel and offers complimentary valet and an elevator.
Rooftop with a fire pit and tiki drinks
Pillar Rooftop Bar is located at the top of the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Asheville. Their menu and feel changes with the season, which adds such a special touch. In the summer they featured a tiki setup complete with tropical-inspired drinks.
Their fall drink menu includes a candy corn shot and a pumpkin + rum drink. And don’t miss their Rudolph Rooftop Holiday pop-up after Thanksgiving!
The food menu at Pillar includes a few appetizers (such as Santa Fe Eggrolls and Crab Cakes), a burger that can be made plant-based, a few seafood options, and even flatbread pizza.
It’s a family-friendly rooftop bar and restaurant with a variety of seating options, from tabletops to lounge chairs to couches. A garage door opens to the rooftop area with additional seating. The most coveted spot on the rooftop is by the fire pit. It’s the perfect place to warm up on a cooler Blue Ridge Mountain evening.
Authentic Cuban cuisine with stellar mountain views
And here is yet another awesome rooftop bar in downtown Asheville with absolutely stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The outdoor terrace at Hemingway’s Cuba is 4,000 square feet and offers panoramic views of the city and mountains. You can watch the sunset from the rooftop and take in the vibrant downtown scene.
Hemingway’s Cuba is located on the fourth floor of the Cambria Hotel in downtown Asheville. Not only is it a great rooftop bar for a drink, but it’s also a full-service restaurant. They serve authentic Cuban fare for breakfast, dinner and weekend brunch. It’s a crowd-favorite for rooftop brunch in Asheville.
You can make reservations for Hemingway’s Cuba online. However, outdoor seating is not guaranteed. If you want to sit outside, be sure to request it in the notes section when making your reservation.
Rooftop bar in Asheville with live music and a river view
Asheville’s newest rooftop bar The Roof is located at The Radical hotel in the River Arts District. The hotel is absolutely one of the coolest in town, and The Roof located at the top is the cherry on top.
While The Roof is currently operating on winter hours and only open Friday and Saturday evenings, we can only imagine how fun it will be come spring, summer and fall.
The drink menu at The Roof includes several fun cocktails, like a rum-based ‘It’s Always Sunny In The Banana Stand’ and a bourbon + apple + ginger + rosemary concoction. They also have a great tequila + fruit and firewater drink, the cleverly named Roof Is On Fire.
Apart from cocktails, The Roof also offers beer, wine and a few non-alcoholic options like a Phony Negroni and Devil’s Foot.
Turn-of-the-century speakeasy spot with a seasonal rooftop bar
Antidote at Chemist Spirits in South Slope is such a cool spot. It’s very design-forward with unique touches everywhere you look, from the architecture to the tile to the cocktail menu. It has the feel of a turn-of-the-century speakeasy meets an old chemist’s shop.
The rooftop part of Antidote is the Fever-Tree Botanical Bar at Chemist Spirits. It’s a collaboration between the two brands. The menus are different at the two spots, so you’ll need to bring your drinks from the downstairs part if you prefer those.
There are a ton of local breweries nearby, like Wicked Weed’s Funkatorium, Burial Beer and Green Man, so you can make a whole night of it in South Slope.
Cocktail bar with mountain views
Top of the Monk is a rooftop cocktail bar in downtown Asheville located at the top of the tri-level Thirsty Monk Brewery. It’s a great place to grab a drink but don’t plan on eating at the rooftop level.
The menu features cocktails, beer, and spirits, and the rooftop patio faces the Blue Ridge Mountains. While the view of the mountains is great, the bar is not very high up and there is a building in the way that blocks the view of downtown.
Delirium Bar and Holy Water Hard Seltzer Brewpub are also located at the Thirsty Monk’s tri-level location. Delirium Bar is located in the basement and serves Belgian beers, various whiskies, house wine, and non-alcoholic drinks.
Holy Water Hard Seltzer Brewpub is located on the main level and offers Thirsty Monk’s Craft Beers, Green Man Brewery’s Craft Beers, and the award-winning, cocktail-inspired Holy Water Hard Seltzers by Thirsty Monk.
Cocktails, pool tables and outdoor seating
The W XYZ Bar is a trendy, modern cocktail bar located at the Aloft Hotel in downtown Asheville. The bar is not quite on the roof of the hotel, but it still offers views of the city from the patio area.
The bar has couches for lounging, pool tables, and a menu of small plates.
Breweries with Rooftop Bars In Asheville
We realized that many of the rooftop bars in Asheville are actually located at breweries. This makes sense, given the number of breweries in the city. Below is a roundup of breweries in Asheville that offer a rooftop or patio-like place to enjoy a drink.
Brewery with a rooftop patio in West Asheville
Archetype Brewing’s production facility in West Asheville offers plenty of seating everywhere from an outside patio to a rooftop deck. Their menu includes core beers and a few seasonal and small-batch brews. You can also get cans or bottles to go.
While they don’t have a kitchen on-site, they are located next to two of our favorite restaurants: Gan Shan West (awesome for takeout!) and Pizza Mind. Both restaurants offer online ordering.
Soak in the views at the Green Mansion in South Slope
Green Man is a great brewery in South Slope that occupies a three-story, 22,000-square-foot space known as the ‘Green Mansion.’ This building houses their production facility, merchandise shop and a tasting room.
The rooftop part is located on the third floor and the patio overlooks the Blue Ridge Mountains and McCormick field. Inside you can catch a glimpse of the second-story production area.
What’s interesting about their rooftop is that it’s actually covered. The sides are open when the weather allows.
And as for food, they have a great menu of pub fare. It has everything from fresh-cut fries + comeback sauce to their legendary fish and chips. Just order online and they’ll deliver it to the taproom.
Top brewery in Asheville with a not-talked-about-enough rooftop patio
Excellent beer, gourmet fare, surprising biergarten and Tom Selleck + Sloth mural typically come to mind when asked about Burial. One thing that somehow gets overlooked too often, though, is the rooftop patio. But it’s a great spot to enjoy an evening soaking in the views.
You’ll also find an excellent food menu at Burial featuring smash burgers, a Chop Shop hot dog, a fried chicken sandwich and a few smaller plates like mushroom toast. Burial Beer Co is one of our favorite breweries in Asheville and is definitely worth a visit.
If you are looking to hop around and the weather is nice, check out Burial, Wicked Weed Funkatorium and Antidote for a very fun night out in Asheville.
Balcony overlooking the Sierra Nevada Amphitheater
Did you know that the Sierra Nevada Brewery in Mills River has an upper balcony overlooking the amphitheater and gardens? While High Gravity is not open daily, you can count on it for special events, like live music in the amphitheater. This is typically Tuesday and Wednesday from 5 to 7:30 and Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 5.
You can also book their High Gravity venue space for a private event for up to 50 guests.
Outdoor patio with a view of the French Broad River
When we think about places to drink outside with a great view, New Belgium definitely comes to mind.
Though it’s not actually on a rooftop, you still get a great view of the French Broad River from their outdoor patio. It’s fun to people-watch from here because it’s a popular spot for kayakers.
New Belgium Brewery is located in West Asheville, just across the river from River Arts District. You’ll find rotating food trucks, a great selection of beer and a dog-friendly atmosphere.
12 Old Charlotte Highway | East Asheville
Brewery rooftop open for occasional events
While The Rooftop at Highland Brewing isn’t always open to the public, we wanted to include it here as a spot to keep in mind. It’s available to rent for private events and they occasionally host pop-up events at Highland that give access to the rooftop.
That wraps up our list of the best rooftop bars in Asheville. If you looking for more fun things to do, consider a brewery tour or maybe take a look at our list of the best craft breweries around.
Social Lounge
29 Broadway Street | Downtown
Cocktail lounge in downtown Asheville with Italian fare
Social Lounge is a cocktail bar in downtown Asheville with a rooftop patio. It is connected to Strada Italiano, its sister restaurant that specializes in delicious Italian food.
The full Strada menu is available at Social Lounge, so guests can enjoy cocktails and Italian cuisine in one location.
While they don’t have the most breathtaking views of downtown, it’s a pretty cool spot and offers a unique perspective.
Reservations are required for all tables at Social Lounge. You can make a reservation through Strada or by calling the restaurant. Be sure to select the option for rooftop reservations. If you select ‘indoor dining’ then you will be seated at Strada and not Social Lounge.
Strada
One thing to note is that Social Lounge and Strada do not have an elevator, so you’ll need to walk up a few flights of stairs to get to the rooftop patio.