The Best Bars for Foodies in Asheville

Hemingway’s Cuba is without a doubt one of the best bars in Asheville. Havana native and Founder of Hemingway's’ Cuba, Tony Fraga, grew up enjoying exquisite meals with his father at La Floridita in Havana - one of Ernest Hemingway’s favorite restaurants. His goal is to share an authentic Cuban restaurant experience with the people of Asheville. The bar serves the best daiquiri in town and you can enjoy the mouthwatering Cuban cuisine along with it. Standout items here include the Cuban Sandwich, Fried Plantain Tostones and Ropa Vieja Shredded Beef Stew.

Storm Rhum Bar and Bistro, located on Lexington Avenue, is a unique dining and bar experience offering an exciting approach to food and drink. Opened in 2011, this bar offers a charming alternative to area brewpubs and sports bars. It features a huge variety of rum drinks as well as an innovative, locally-sourced menu. It’s a great place to go for everything from a cozy date to an after-concert hang with friends. Storm also has a charming patio with a huge outdoor fireplace that makes a great place to cozy up and have a drink with your special someone.

Located inside the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Biltmore Village, the Red Stag Grill is an elegant place for dining and drinks. This chich rustic lodge offers Asheville’s finest dining with the freshest local ingredients, personally selected at nearby farms by the chef. The menu features contemporary European comfort food in a sophisticated and trendy atmosphere that locals love. The bar has a great menu of signature martinis and cocktails and you can catch some great live music in the lounge and bar area at night!

Benne on Eagle, set in the Foundry Hotel, is the perfect place to enjoy drinks and celebrate a new era of Appalachian cooking. With a unique, regionally inspired menu by Chef Fleer, chef-owner of Rhubarb and The Rhu, the restaurant nods to the foundry’s workaday history as well as the neighborhood’s soul food tradition. They offer dishes like Potlikker-braised chicken wings with chow-chow, crowder pea salad and crispy quail with hot water cornbread. The laid-back bar has an awesome cocktail list with drinks like the Sage and Poblano, made with Vodka, Ancho Reyes Verde and Lemon.

BRIO Tuscan Grille is one of the more elegant spots in town to grab a drink. Located in Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, the restaurant offers special Italian grilled entrees, pasta dishes, sides, desserts and drinks. The atmosphere feels like a relaxed Tuscan country villa and you get to sit back and relax while the staff encourages you to eat well and drink well. The bar offers a menu of small bites, like Chicken Pesto Flatbread, Beef Carpaccio and Crispy Shrimp. And they also have a fantastic cocktails menu with drinks like the Cucumber Basil Gimlet!

Named for George Vanderbilt’s beloved St. Bernard, Cedric, this warm, relaxing tavern is definitely one of the best bars in Asheville. It overlooks the village green at Antler Hill Village for a cozy and relaxing setting. The decor, ambiance and menu pay tribute to the neighborhood pubs of Britain and Ireland. Order some of their delicious pub fare, bold and flavorful American cuisine and global eats presented with Biltmore flair. And make sure to pair your meal with one of their signature tap beer’s - Cedric’s Pale Ale or Cedric’s Brown Ale.

Milton’s Cuisine and Cocktails is a popular restaurant with one of the best bars in Asheville. The restaurant features contemporary New Southern cuisine using fresh, local ingredients. They create regionally inspired and handcrafted comfort food meals with options like fried chicken, shrimp and grits, apple-brined chicken and filet mignon. The room has a classic feel, with wood tables and a roaring fire - a great place to relax with a drink in hand. Dine at the bar and order tasty plates, cocktails, wine by the glass or local and craft beer to your liking.

Edison, craft ales and kitchen is an inventive restaurant and bar that brings together the food culture and local flavors of the region. The bar is super popular with locals and serves plenty of local craft beer along with handcrafted cocktails. The food menu focuses on casual Southern comfort food with an Asheville flair. And you can dine either indoors or outdoors with expansive views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and downtown Asheville! They also have a notable collection of small-batch bourbons here for whiskey lovers.

Daphne at Twisted Laurel in Downtown Asheville focuses on casual, creative, farm-to-table, New American cuisine for lunch and dinner. Recently reimagined into a new concept, it features a modern industrial-chic atmosphere and a knowledgable waitstaff with a genuine desire to provide a great experience. They have an amazing full craft cocktail bar, local taps and a cool vibe. They also have a beautiful, dog-friendly patio adjacent to Pack Square Park.

Village Social, located on the ground of the Biltmore Estate, is one of the best atmospheres for relaxing with a cocktail in Asheville. Not only do you get to enjoy the beautiful bar and restaurant, but you also get to tour the gorgeous Biltmore Estate, one of the most popular attractions in Asheville! You’ll find a mix of locals, hotel guests and visitors to the area at the full-service restaurant and bar. The menu here focuses on small plates and features sustainable seafood with local and regional farm and garden products. The relaxed atmosphere of Village Social is great for unwinding and catching up with friends or having that cozy date you’ve been looking forward to!

Located in the heart of downtown Asheville, Isa’s Bistro strives for the perfect combination of unique setting, great service and culinary excellence. The cuisine here is seasonally-inspired, innovative and new American, featuring bold flavors and inventive creations. They offer both indoor and outdoor patio dining to enjoy your meal and cocktails. They also have a gorgeous wine cellar on the lower level that’s available for private events. It features warm and intimate decor with a brick wall and a glowing fireplace. Make sure you linger after your meal for an after-dinner drink, like the “I Like to Cha Cha,” featuring rumchata, captain morgan, kahlua, and cream.