Richie Havens, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Budos Bands, and a host of great local talent have graced the stage at the longest-running all-ages venue in town, a relaxed spot with a large dance floor, a chill patio, and a serious soundsystem. Grey Eagle Taqueria, right inside, slings traditional tacos and fresh margaritas to help keep the buzz going strong.
Photo by Leon Black Gaither / The Grey Eagle Music Hall.
185 Clingman Ave.
+1-828-232-5800
Before they let you in, they’ll ask you to become a member. But if you value a venue that knows its cocktails and has more than 600 whiskeys and 1,000 spirits on offer, you’ll be glad for the benefits that this free membership bequeaths. Claim your perch at the bar to study that dizzying array of drinks, or else settle into the vintage armchairs and sofas, a slightly better vantage point for admiring all the antiques so artfully arranged everywhere.
Photo by Team Fathom.
106 N. Lexington Ave.
Awesome cocktails, agave spirits, charcuterie, tacos, empanadas, and other hand-held bites inspired by Mexico — served upstairs inside a cool old building in Downtown Asheville. If the right DJ is spinning when you’re there, you’ll probably quietly hum along to beloved 80s favorites.
Photo courtesy of Imperiál.
48 College St.
+1-505-8455
The all-you-can-play arcade features 75+ working vintage pinball machines as well as video games along with beer, soda, and a variety of pinball memorabilia. It closes early, which makes it a good one for families.
Photo courtesy of Asheville Pinball Museum.
1 Battle Square Ste., 1b
+1-828-776-5671
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
The new 4,000-person outdoor venue from the folks from Orange Peel and Asheville Brewing Company offers movies, live music, rotating local food trucks, and beers in Downtown Asheville. It's here that you can get your Silent Disco fix, experience the musical stylings of Thundercat, and sway to Bon Iver under the stars.
Photo by Paul Stebner / Rabbit Rabbit.
75 Coxe Ave.
Feeling spontaneous? Then head to West Asheville for this all-ages rock-and-roll venue, dive bar, comedy club, and vintage shop — which happens to also have a Vegas-style wedding chapel. Think neon, kitsch, and no commitment: For 75 bucks, you can have a fake wedding for friends, pets, inanimate objects … complete with wedding rings and a bogus certificate.
Photo by Team Fathom.
496 Haywood Rd.
+1-828-505-5525