From the lavish colors and magic-hour scenery in Death Valley to the Ryan Mountain Trail, one of the world’s best sunset-viewing spots in Joshua Tree, golden-hour photos and memories make the best souvenirs. In Asheville, North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Mountains literally have you surrounded, affording killer views everywhere you look, but especially from above. With more than a dozen rooftop bars in downtown Asheville, you can tackle your own bucket list one by one, or book an outing with Asheville Rooftop Bar Tours that includes visits to three rooftop bars to sample drinks and learn about the area’s history from an elevated perspective. An evening sunset tour costs $89 per person and guarantees seating at every stop.
The rooftop terraces at Antidote at Chemist Spirits and Visuals Rooftop Bar are local favorites for cocktails, open-air vibes, and conversation, but when factoring in the best mountain views with envy-inducing sunset photo ops, these five bars are at the (roof)top of their game. I’ve lived in the Asheville area for nearly two decades, and have been drinking on rooftops for even longer. I based this list on personal experience, backed up by reviews on trusted sites, including Tripadvisor and Google.
Wildwood Still
A relative newcomer to the sunset scene, whiskey-forward Wildwood Still sits atop The Moxy Asheville hotel on Biltmore Avenue. The Asian-influenced menu has an inventive cocktail menu to match, not to mention more than 150 bourbons and whiskeys. Pistol Whip, one of their nitro draft cocktails, combines Buffalo Trace bourbon with Borghetti espresso liqueur, orange bitters, and Licor 43 for a chic take on an espresso martini.
The airy space is anchored by a giant two-sided fireplace in the center, warming every seat in the room. The front half of the space has several lounge seat groupings between the fireplace and the bar. On good-weather days, walls open up on three sides of the restaurant to unobstructed western-facing Blue Ridge views. A large bonsai tree in the middle of the modern yet cozy dining area is the only potential distraction, but a whimsical and welcome one. Some visitors say Wildwood Still has the best rooftop views in Asheville. One reviewer on Google claimed that it “will definitely be a go-to spot moving forward for date night and when friends are in town.”
The Observatory Rooftop Bar & Lounge
Just a five-minute walk from downtown Asheville’s historic Grove Arcade, The Observatory Rooftop Bar & Lounge feels like a modern garden party with botanically infused vibes and drinks. Enjoy sunset views from a table inside, surrounded by plants through floor-to-ceiling steel-paned windows. Outside, stringed lights twinkle over a terrace that’s walled on three sides, offering a welcome reprieve from downtown Asheville’s wind tunnels. Dine and drink at bistro tables, or park your crew on facing couches to stretch out while taking in the stretching sunset views…