A River Arts District Bar Crawl

Four stops, one evening. A Asheville drinking neighbourhood.

This is a working bar crawl through River Arts District, Asheville's most concentrated drinking neighbourhood. A Asheville drinking neighbourhood. Four stops, one evening, mapped by editors who actually drink here on Friday nights.

The order matters. Start polished, peak in the middle, end somewhere quieter. Every room listed below is within a 10-minute walk of the next one — that's the value of a neighbourhood crawl.

Total time: about five hours. Total spend: depends on you, but plan £60-£100 per person. Save this page, send it to whoever you're meeting, and let River Arts District take care of the rest.

The Route

Four stops, ranked

Walking distance: under 1km between stops. Treat the timings as guidance, not gospel.

No. 01
Stop 1 — 18:00 Aperitif
River Arts District · $$$ · Cocktail Bars
Boutique cocktail room in River Arts District pouring an ingredient-forward menu built around Appalachian-apple sour variations.
Start at the most refined cocktail room in the area. One drink. You're warming up.
No. 02
Stop 2 — 19:30 First proper cocktail
River Arts District · $$$ · Rooftop Bars
Open-air rooftop in River Arts District with a tight cocktail list and a young dressed-up crowd.
Move to the room you'd take a first date to. Sit at the bar, talk to the bartender, order a house special.
No. 03
Stop 3 — 21:30 The destination
River Arts District · $$ · Live Music
Live-music bar in River Arts District with bands every weekend, long bar, and a thirty-something local crowd.
The bar that defines the neighbourhood. Reservations help. Stay an hour.
No. 04
Stop 4 — 23:30 Last drink
River Arts District · $$$ · Date Night
Wine bar in River Arts District with a tight natural-wine list and a small-plates kitchen. Best for a long Friday evening.
End somewhere unhurried — a wine bar, a music room, or a quiet hotel bar. One simple drink.
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Photos via Google Places. Editorial selection by Bars for Kings editors. Source