Asheville’s local guide to outdoor dining: rooftops, patios and porches
When you live in Asheville, you never known when “springtime” will arrive. Through the month of May, the random 80+º days balance out with the blustery, overcast days below 60º, averaging out to a pleasant mid-70s – a.k.a. the perfect porch-sittin’ weather. Which begs the question, “Where can we go to eat + drink outside?” So we created the ultimate list of outdoor dining options in Asheville. Find out where to experience the best patios, porches and rooftops in Asheville, NC.
If you’re like us and dream of a master list of AVL’s best outdoor rooftops, porches + patios for indecisive moments like this, we have good news. We made one.
Enjoy porch days here.
Rooftops
☀ Capella on 9
📍10 Broadway
✔Partially covered rooftop deck, classy cocktails, heaters
🍴Menu
Capella on 9 sits pretty atop the AC Hotel, with views of downtown, Town Mountain + Beaucatcher Mountain and a Spanish-inspired food menu.
☀The Montford
📍199 Haywood St.
✔Free valet parking, upscale bar snacks
🍴Menu
Sweeping views and a first-class food + drink menu atop the Hyatt Place Hotel. Protip: Go for Sunday brunch, which the Montford recently started in collaboration with several local partners, including farmers + bakers.
☀Pillar Bar
📍309 College St.
✔Heaters, food available all day (breakfast, lunch + dinner)
🍴Menu
The Hilton Garden Inn’s bar features a botanical wall of greenery + flowers and live music most nights.
☀SkyBar
📍18 Battery Park Ave.
✔Seats + standing room, heaters
🥂Menu
Classic cocktails at this speck of a spot on top of the historic Flat Iron Building that gets packed on weekends; be ready for a wait to ascend in the elevator.
☀Hemingway’s Cuba
📍15 Page Ave.
✔Heaters, classic cocktails
🍴Menu
Traditional Cuban dishes + drinks atop the new Cambria Hotel.
☀Social Lounge
📍29 Broadway St.
✔Food + creative cocktails
🍴Menu
Order food from Social Lounge’s bar menu or Strada Italiano. Special events, including weekend rooftop yoga, during warmer months.
☀Top of the Monk
📍92 Patton Ave.
✔Cocktails + bar snacks
🥂Menu
Sip a Prohibition-era cocktail and grab a treat from the vintage mailboxes (included with your drink).
Patios + Porches
☀District Wine Bar
📍37 Paynes Way
✔Wine
Art-filled space with a carefully curated wine list that opens onto the River Arts District.
☀Wedge Brewing
📍37 Paynes Way
✔ Beer, free peanuts, food trucks, games, some covered seating, good for families
🍺Menu
Wedge’s original spot is a primo place for warm-weather people watching and perfecting your cornhole technique. MustTry: The Iron Rail IPA.
☀White Duck Taco Shop
📍388 Riverside Dr.
✔ street tacos, seasonal sangria, picnic tables outside
🍴Menu
White Duck’s Riverside location is the perfect spot for enjoying their delicious street tacos with a view by the river.
☀Sunset Cocktail Terrace
📍290 Macon Ave.
✔Covered seating, cocktails + food
🍴Menu
The Omni Grove Park Inn’s tiered porch has dining + cafe tables and space to wander. Also in the Grove Park: Edison, with indoor seating + an outdoor patio, craft cocktails, and regionally-inspired food.
☀Hillman Beer
📍25 Sweeten Creek Rd.
✔Beer, food, good for families, games, dogs allowed
🍴Menu
Grab a craft beer + a bite from Rise Above Deli and linger out front or on the shadier back patio beside a gurgling creek.
☀Ben’s Tune Up
📍195 Hilliard Ave.
✔Food + drinks, some covered seating, event space
🍴Menu
Japanese-American dishes, house-made sake + live music at this hip, unpretentious South Slope spot.
☀Burial Brewing
📍40 Collier Ave.
✔Beer + food, some covered seating, stage
Flanked by outdoor space on three sides, Burial also hosts shows in warmer months, which you can enjoy while sampling food from the stellar Salt & Smoke.
☀Bhramari Brewing Company
📍101 S Lexington Ave.
✔Beer + food, some covered seating, private event space
Bhramari’s porch is a great place to enjoy a beer + burger and catch up with friends.
☀New Belgium Brewing
📍21 Craven St.
✔ Drinks, umbrellas, good for families, event space, fire pit, food trucks
🍺 Menu
With tons of green space + an unbeatable view, New Belgium’s Liquid Center Tasting Room is your perfect river hangout spot.
☀Sierra Nevada
📍100 Sierra Nevada Way, Mills River
✔ Food + drinks, good for families, some covered seating, fire pit, trails
🍴 Menu
Sierra Nevada’s stellar food + beer is best enjoyed outside, where you stretch out and maybe even pretend you actually live in this castle of beer.
☀Mellow Mushroom
📍50 Broadway St.
✔ Food + drinks, good for families, some covered seating,
🍴 Menu
The patio of this eclectic pizza joint is great for enjoying summer nights.
☀Pisgah Brewing
📍150 Eastside Dr., Black Mountain
✔ Beer, games, good for families, event space
🍺 Menu
Pisgah is also a premiere space for some of the best shows in the area. Food trucks often line the main stage area for concerts.
☀Highland Brewing
📍12 Old Charlotte Hwy.
✔Drinks, food trucks, good for families, event space
🍺 Menu
Asheville’s OG brewery is also a perfect spot to while away a warm, sunny day. The Orange Peel also hosts some of their biggest shows here (we loved seeing Tycho + Phantogram last summer).
☀Sly Grog
📍271 Haywood St.
✔Cocktails + drinks, music every night, food trucks, games, 21+
Vintage games + eclectic decor fill this patio. Protip: Be sure to check out the attached vintage and oddities shop, Foxy & Co. (which is open the same hours as the bar).
☀Foggy Mountain Brew Pub
📍12 Church St.
✔Craft beer, food, family-friendly, dog-friendly patio, umbrellas
🍴Menu
Revisit your favorite pub food (we love the eggplant parmesan sub + the chicken gyro) at this spot that’s also great for watching the game if you decide to venture inside. Free live music Thursday – Saturday.
☀Zia Taqueria
📍521 Haywood Rd.
✔Food + drinks, family-friendly, brunch, dog-friendly patio
🍴Menu
Tex-Mex food and great margaritas (try the Palapa Más), with a covered patio and an outdoor seating area.
☀Sunny Point Cafe
📍626 Haywood Rd.
✔Breakfast, lunch + dinner, covered patio, dog-friendly, good for families
🍴Menu
Everyone’s already in the know about Sunny Point, but this is a reminder that the cozy patio + delicious food (those huevos rancheros 🤤) are worth the wait.
☀Mountain Madre
📍13 W. Walnut St.
✔Food + drinks, family-friendly, covered seating
🍴Menu
With a vast tequila selection and some seriously creative mixed drinks, Mountain Madre dishes out fresh Mexican fare and has two outdoor seating options: street-facing or out back on the open patio.
☀Universal Joint
📍784 Haywood Rd.
✔Food + drinks, family-friendly, dog-friendly patio
🍴Menu
Burgers are the go-to at this West Asheville spot where the outdoor space is arguably bigger than the indoor dining area. Build your own burger or go for the Steinbeck (with pimiento cheese, bacon + jalapeños).
☀Pack’s Tavern
📍20 S. Spruce St.
✔Food + drink, family-friendly
🍴Menu
Dining beside Pack Square with a view of art deco City Hall. The menu has lots of choices for even the pickiest eater.
☀The Brew Pump
📍760 Haywood Rd.
✔Beer, food trucks, event space, games, dog-friendly
Have fun hanging out at the gas station at this spot with tons of local brews on draft + in bottles.
☀The Bywater
📍1644, 796 Riverside Dr.
✔Drinks, games, grills, covered seating, live music 21+
Craft cocktails + local beer by the river at this popular spot to end your day of tubing. We love the Dirty French Broad cocktail, infused with sweet tea + lemon flavors. Perfect for a hot day.
☀Ole Shakey’s Getaway
📍790 Riverside Dr.
✔Drinks, games, covered seating, live music, 21+
Right beside the Bywater, a former biker bar with a hipster sheen. Protip: You can take the free Shakey’s Shuttle, a party limo from the 90s, to get to Ole Shakey’s from downtown on Tuesdays, Fridays + Saturdays.
☀Oyster House
📍625 Haywood Rd.
✔Food + drinks, family-friendly, umbrellas
🍴Menu
Have a craft beer and some fried oysters at this cozy patio that faces out onto Haywood Rd. The Moonstone Oyster Stout is made with 5 lbs of oysters (including the shells).
☀Smoky Park Supper Club
📍350 Riverside Dr.
✔Food + drinks, some covered seating, Sunday brunch
🍴Menu
This shipping-container restaurant on the banks of the French Broad has an expansive patio and riverside picnic tables, plus a separate building for events. The Wood-Roasted Half Chicken is a must-try.
☀Native Kitchen & Social Pub
📍204 Whiston Ave., Swannanoa
✔Food + drinks, Sunday brunch, games, family-friendly, dog-friendly
🍴Menu
Hidden gem in East Asheville with great, creative bar gastropub food and a half-off appetizer happy hour from 5–6 p.m. Patio + outdoor space to play.
☀Catawba Brewing Co
📍32 Banks Ave.
✔Drinks, food trucks, event space, some covered seating, live music, games
🍺 Menu
The South Slope location of Catawba Brewing Company has a great outdoor location out the back of their taproom with picnic tables, twinkly lights + yard games.
☀Asheville Pizza + Brewing Company
📍77 Coxe Ave.
✔Drinks, food, good for families, live music
🍺 Menu
ABC has a huge covered patio with TV screens + music, frequent events and drink specials.
☀The Salvage Station
📍466 Riverside Dr.
✔Drinks, food, good for families, event space,
🍺 Menu
Located along the riverfront, the salvage station is the absolute best place for hanging out with friends + family this summer. With events + concerts almost every weekend, this is a must do.
☀Westville Pub
📍777 Haywood Rd.
✔Drinks, food, covered seating, dog friendly, non-smoking
🍺 Menu
Westville Pub has recently revamped their outdoor patio just in time for summer. The full service outdoor seating area is a great place to enjoy a bite to eat or a beer from All Sevens Brewing.
Which patios, porches, or rooftops did we miss that are your favorites? Why do you love them? Send us a note by replying to our daily email or checking in with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
