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 atmosphere.
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, from the views you can expect to the food options. Whether you’re looking for a romantic evening or a fun night out with friends, you’re sure to find the perfect rooftop bar in Asheville.
What You’ll Find In This Article
MAP OF ASHEVILLE’S Rooftop bars
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
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 Asheville’s newest spot: The Observatory!
The Observatory Rooftop Bar & Lounge
Gorgeous rooftop bar in the heart of downtown Asheville with botanical drinks
The Observatory is the newest rooftop bar in 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.
Capella on 9
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.
The Montford Rooftop Bar
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.
Please note: The Montford does not accept reservations and does not accommodate parties of size or more.
Hemingway’s Cuba
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.
Pillar Rooftop Bar
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.
Fall drinks include 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.
Top Of The Monk
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.
Antidote + Fever-Tree Botanical Bar at Chemist Spirits
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.
W XYZ Bar
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.
Archetype Brewing and Kitchen
Rooftop bar and eatery in the heart of South Slope
Sit back in South Slope and enjoy city and mountain views from the top of Archetype’s newest Asheville location. Archetype moved into the former Harvest Pizzeria building in the summer of 2023 and it’s a match made in heaven. Not only can you expect Archetype’s complex brews, but they also have curated cocktail and wine offerings.
Unlike their other locations (Archetype West and Archetype North), Archetype at South Slope has a full kitchen serving a variety of bar food. The menu includes a Bavarian pretzel with beer cheese, a smash burger and six types of pizza, as well as salads and other small bites. Their pizza is awesome and ranks amongst the top pizza in Asheville for us.
Seating is available downstairs with roll-up doors, on the second floor or upstairs at the partially covered rooftop patio.
Archetype Brewing (West)
Brewery with a rooftop patio in West Asheville
If you are looking for more of Archetype’s brews but in a different location (and still with a rooftop!), head to 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.
Green Man
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.
Burial Beer Co.
A top Asheville brewery with a lesser-known 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.
Sierra Nevada Brewery
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.
New Belgium Brewery
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.
Highland Brewing
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 + Strada Italiano
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.
Strada
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.
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.
Social Lounge
29 Broadway Street | Downtown
Visit Website
@socialloungeavl
Strada Italiano
27 Broadway Street | Downtown
Visit Website
@stradaasheville