Asheville Speakeasy Scene : The Secret Bars of Asheville NC
I love finding the hidden gems in a city, including secret bars and speakeasies. The Asheville speakeasy scene is surprisingly great and I found the prices to be really reasonable compared to other cities. After working remote in this North Carolina mountain town for a month, I’m telling you how to find the secret bars of Asheville. 🕵️♀️
- Asheville Speakeasy & Hidden Bar Guide
- Cocktail Bars with A Speakeasy-Like Atmosphere
- Asheville Speakeasies & Cocktail Bars that Have Closed
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Asheville Speakeasy & Hidden Bar Guide
One of my favorite things to write about in this travel blog are things you can do once the work day has wrapped up, since I travel and work as a digital nomad. Speakeasies and hidden bars are some of the most fun and satisfying places to visit once the work day is done in my opinion.
There are five truly hidden Asheville speakeasies and bars, and I’ll tell you how to find each one below!
Pink Moon Bar Asheville
Pink moon is a wine bar behind the Double Crown and considered one of the best if not the best Asheville speakeasy! The biggest downside of this wine and cocktail bar is that it’s outside, and only open during good weather during the March-December season. To get in, visit the Pink Moon IG page where you’ll find if it’s open that night and if so, the password will be in their Story. Then head around the back of the Double Crown and find the padlocked door with the pink light above it where you’ll put in the code. When you find the bar you’ll notice the big pink moon sign which I love.
The owner is passionate about wine, so if you’re a wine lover this one is a must! It was surprisingly more crowded than we thought it would be on a Friday night. We were able to get a table only by coincidence, because a couple was just leaving as we got there. After we got our table I didn’t see anyone else get up the whole time, so if you want to get a table make sure to show up right when they open at 5:00 or late night. You can read my full Pink Moon Bar Asheville Review for more info on this Asheville hidden gem.
The Crow And Quill
The Crow and Quill is a prohibition era Asheville speakeasy and the pictures don’t do it justice. This one turned out to be one of my husband and I’s favorite cocktail bar we’ve ever been to! To find it, head to 106 N Lexington Ave in the downtown area and look for the door with lanterns outside of it and #106 above the door. The Crow and Quill is open every day besides Monday.
As soon as we walked in we were so impressed, by the atmosphere and just how detailed everything is. From the textures, to the sounds, decorations, antique furniture, bartenders and lighting, the place really sets the mood and makes you feel like you went back in time. When we arrived on a Thursday night they had a live music act playing, which added a small cover to our nightly bill. They have live music most nights of the week, which is an added bonus!
Although the place was pretty full there were still plenty of places to sit, including a cozy corner with antique couches. The cocktails were excellent – I highly recommend The Smoke Moon. If you’re inspired by their cocktails, the Crow and Quill offers cocktail making classes! Read my Crow and Quill review to learn more about this fantastic Asheville speakeasy.
Tiki Easy Bar Asheville
Tiki Easy Bar Asheville is a tiki bar and speakeasy, which you can find at the back of Hi-Wire Brewing in the downtown area. Venture toward the back and you’ll find a black carpet that leads to an unmarked door, where you can let yourself in. I saw mixed messages about when it’s open, first seeing that it was only open on weekends but now the website states it’s open every day of the week, so make sure to check on the Tiki Easy website for current hours of operation before you visit.
The space is actually surprisingly big, with the high ceilings that Hi-Wire Brewing is known for and tons of hanging lights that give it the tropical feel. We thought the contrast of drinking at a bright brewery and the vibe of this dark tiki bar was really fun.
They have tons of tropical drinks and also “bowl drinks” which you can share with others, making it a great one for groups. There are also plenty of spots to sit including booths and tables, and every time we went there were places open to sit.
The best part is the twice hourly simulated storm which reminded me of Rainforest Café. So creative and fun!! I hope more bars follow their lead!
Added bonus: Hi-Wire Brewing is an awesome Asheville brewery, so you get two bars in one outing!
Strange Magic Bar
Strange magic is located at the back of the Lazy Diamond bar, and is only open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Check the Strange Magic instagram page for current hours of operation to be safe and to make sure nothing has changed.
The vibe of the place is excellent, with a pink glow and trendy decorations. The space is pretty small, but they still manage to have live music a lot of the time which isn’t too loud or overwhelming. The cocktails are also top notch.
One World Brewing Downtown
Although One World Brewing downtown Asheville definitely isn’t your typical speakeasy, we’re considering it a secret bar because there’s a secret entrance. To find this Asheville brewery and hidden taproom, head to 10 Patton Ave in downtown and follow the alley under the string lights. There you’ll find the stairwell that leads you down to this basement taproom. This is definitely the best Asheville speakeasy for beer lovers!
The bar doesn’t have the typical dimly lit speakeasy feel, but it was great to switch it up from the type of speakeasy we usually go for. They had live music on Friday night which we really liked. And of course the beer was great!
Cocktail Bars with A Speakeasy-Like Atmosphere
I like to think that a speakeasy is a bar that is hard to find with a hidden entrance, but some people consider dimly lit cocktail bars speakeasies also. I’m including a few of the cocktail bars we went to which could pass as a speakeasy minus the secret entrance below.
Antidote at Chemists Spirits
We hadn’t heard as much about Antidote At Chemist Spirits but actually found it on Google. I’m so glad we found it! This Asheville cocktail bar had some of the best cocktails we had during our entire trip, and great decor that made you feel like you were transported back in time. The service was great as well.
This place does fill up fast and they do not take reservations. We arrived on Saturday at 5:30 there was a “at capacity” sign, but we ended up getting super lucky because the server came out right away to tell us there was a spot for two opened up. Make sure to call ahead if you want to guarantee there will be a spot for you, or be open to waiting a few.
Sovereign Remedies Asheville
Sovereign Remedies Asheville is a small cocktail bar in downtown Asheville that also serves delicious small plates. It definitely had a speakeasy-like atmosphere, with dim lighting and candles. When we went on a week night it was a little too crowded for our taste, but we were still able to sit at a table. The cocktails were also very very good. I loved the presentation and taste of each of the rounds we got.
Golden Pineapple Asheville
While not a speakeasy, the Golden Pineapple Asheville is a must-see for anyone who loves cocktails and good food. This is a local favorite bar and eatery, with excellent hand-crafted and unique cocktails and exceptional small plates + entrees, that look like little pieces of art. Go for dinner and a few drinks and you won’t be sorry.
Asheville Speakeasies & Cocktail Bars that Have Closed
I thought having a section for bars that have closed would be a good idea, because sometimes it’s not super clear on other sites or Reddit!
Gigi’s Underground
Gigi’s Underground which was in Downtown Asheville has unfortunately closed. RIP!
If you’re interested in learning more about some of North Carolina’s best destinations and digital nomad spots, be sure to read my travel blog posts about Charlotte, NC here.
Lauren Kessel
Lauren Kessel is the author of this blog post and the creator of the Inspired Backpacker travel blog. She is a passionate digital nomad, with the mission to make slow travel a more accessible way of life for everyone. Lauren believes travel is an important means of education and more importantly, a way for people of different cultures to come together and understand each other better. She has a BS in Tourism and has planned countless domestic and international trips for herself, her family and friends, having visited over 12 countries and 30 states so far.
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