Asheville Best Bars + Cafes

Vinyl is big throughout Asheville, and especially at this shop and community center. A local singer/songwriter took over the historic Citizen Times newspaper building downtown, transforming it into a vinyl pressing facility, a recording studio, a farm-to-table cafe and horseshoe-shaped cocktail bar, and a record shop. Bartenders curate the daily tunes, playing both A and B sides of their extensive record collection. Patrons can see how the records get made through a large glass window overlooking the press, which operates seven days a week. An adjacent record store sells new recordings along with rare and collectable vinyl. Leather couches and communal work tables placed throughout the bright, airy space let digital nomads do what they do best.

Photo courtesy of Citizen Vinyl.

14 O'Henry Ave.

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There’s no leaving town without a taste of the small-batch brew scene. Burial’s in South Slope is a fave for its meticulous crafting, delicious taste, and fun design. (They serve wine, too!) Open every day from noon until 11 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Burial Beer Co.

40 Collier Ave.
+1-828-475-2739

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The craft beer scene may be very strong in Asheville, but don’t for a second believe that’s the only game in town. Plēb combines brewery vibes with their own wines, made primarily from local grapes. Order a flight of small-batch varietals — reds, whites, roses, or Old and New Classics — and don’t be shy about bringing a gang. There’s room in the warehouse for everyone to spread out and settle in.

Photo by Team Fathom.

289 Lyman St.
+1-828-774-5062

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The historic New Medical Building used to be home to doctors’ offices, and a drug store and barber shop, and the picturesque bar behind the big arched windows on the ground floor retains a bit of an old-fashioned, healing apothecary vibe. Maybe it’s their special mix of ingredients in the cocktails; maybe it’s the vintage bar and serving pieces. Regardless, you’ll leave a night here feeling refreshed in all the right ways.

Photo courtesy of Sovereign Remedies.

29 N. Market St.
+1-828-919-9518

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Adhering to the doughnut expert’s golden rule — Only Eat When Hot — this simple shop will hand roll and fry each order on demand to ensure that doughnuts are the optimum temperature and texture when entering your mouth. The ingredients and ethos are simple and fresh: The flour is stone-ground, the oil is non-GMO, the workers are paid a living wage. Order a half or whole dozen and they’ll throw in an extra ring.

Photo courtesy of Hole Doughnuts.

168 Haywood Rd.
+1-828-774-566

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An acronym for Old World Levain, the West Asheville walk-up window offers a glimpse into a genteel life of leisure, coffee, and European-inspired pastries. Appreciators of fine carbohydrates memorize the weekly bread schedule and flock to the little corner clapboard house for naturally leavened breads made by hand: spelt rounds, ciabattas, milk breads, deli ryes, einkorn, and porridge loaves.

Photo courtesy of OWL Bakery.

295 Haywood Rd.
+1-828-785-1770

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An unassuming and popular little lunch spot for cups of soup, hearty salads, and grilled sandwiches served with crispy chips, coleslaw, and an array of locally made hot sauces.

Photo courtesy of Veranda.

119 Cherry St.
Black Mountain, NC 28711
+1-828-669-8864

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Choose from a big menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner crowd-pleasers — from steak and eggs to chicken and waffles to burger and beer — and eat your fill in the down-to-earth cafe that prides itself on organic produce and its own backyard garden.

Photo courtesy of Sunny Point Cafe.

626 Haywood Rd.
+1-828-252-0055

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A coffee bar that feels like a cocktail bar, and one that centers around sustainability and ethical business practices. How’s that for a novel business plan? One could order a cappuccino, cortado, and cold brew, of course, but there are also creative concoctions to consider, like Roses Are Falling (espresso, rose syrup, mocha, strawberry milk) and Sweetie Pie (brown sugar latte, sweet potato, pumpkin, topped with a toasted vegan marshmallow).

Photo by Team Fathom.

66 Broadway St.
Asheville, NC 28801

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Books and wine are a historically perfect pair, and you can find plenty of both on offer at this funky and elegant used bookstore and champagne bar in the beautiful Grove Arcade, just one of many Art Deco gems around Downtown Asheville. Peruse the two floors of shelves, order a cheese plate, and settle in with a newfound treasure. If you’re there when someone is playing live music, all the luckier. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself begging the server to open an outpost in your hometown — and don’t be surprised when they politely refuse.

Photo by Team Fathom.

1 Page Ave. #101
Asheville, NC 28801
+1-828-252-0020

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Fathom Favorites : Asheville Bars + Cafes

1. Citizen Vinyl

2. Burial Beer Co.

3. Plēb Urban Winery

4. Sovereign Remedies

5. Hole Doughnuts

6. OWL Bakery

7. Veranda

8. Sunny Point Café

9. Rowan Coffee

10. Battery Park Book Exchange