Best Rooftop Restaurants in Asheville—A Local’s Perspective
My first time at a rooftop restaurant involved a half-hour of stairwell-induced confusion, an accidental inspection of the kitchen, and view obstructed by overprotective safety rails. Not the best dining experience. I think the trouble was, I wasn't in Asheville.
If I had been, I could've traded all that noise for mountain views, locally sourced artisan dishes, and the best art-deco skylines south of New York.
For a city of moderate population, Asheville boasts an impressive slew of rooftop restaurants and bars. It's all part of my hometown's strong culinary backbone, the nationally famous views of the Blue Ridge mountains, and fine people like yourself, ready and willing to partake of some high-altitude dining.
I invite you to read on and discover five of the best rooftop restaurants in Asheville.
This restaurant’s name and culinary roots come to us all the way from a little place in Cuba, a restaurant loved by both the founder of Asheville's Hemingway and the notorious author himself.
Sitting high atop the Cambria Hotel in downtown Asheville, if location is everything, then Hemingway's has everything.
Here, one may find empanadas and pressed Cuban sandwiches in the morning, and at night, arroz con pollo and ropa vieja, while their dessert menu features Latin classics like churros and flan with pineapple. As for the drinks, an open air dinner here, high above Asheville's rooftops, finds its perfect companion in a summery daiquiri, prepared as Hemingway liked it.
Combine all that with close proximity to the Grove Arcade—an excellent section of town for both shopping and parking—and you can see why Hemingway's Cuba is an undeniable contender in any list of the best rooftop restaurants in Asheville.
But keep in mind, as with many restaurants attached to hotels, reservations are highly recommended.
Hours: Open for brunch 7am to 10am, Monday through Thursday, 7am to 1pm, Friday through Sunday. Dinner served 4:30pm to 9:30pm, Sunday through Thursday, open until 10pm Fridays and Saturdays.
Up on the ninth floor of downtown's AC Hotel, Cappella towers over the city's center, and offers a stunning view of the Asheville skyline silhouetted against the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The menu is tapa-centric, and proudly features locally-sourced ingredients.
I’m always a fan of the variety and culinary craftsmanship offered by such menus. Stand outs include braised short rib and tomato prosciutto toast, while their brunch menu features an irresistible Spanish-style breakfast board.
Hours: Breakfast served 6:30am to 11am, every day. Dinner and drinks, 3pm to 11:30pm, every day. Open until midnight Fridays and Saturdays.
While they couldn't actually fit this chic kitchen and lounge atop the historic Grove Park Inn—architectural concerns, I'm told—Edison Craft Ales wins a position on this list of the best rooftop restaurants in Asheville by the sheer majesty of its splendid views the Blue Ridge and Grove Park’s rolling grounds.
Like Hemingway’s, Edison stands as a testament to Asheville’s connection to historic celebrities. It is said the famous inventor just couldn't resist a little mountain air, and so was a frequent visitor to the Grove Park Inn.
Their menu is defined by charcuterie boards and venison tenderloin and accompanied by a rotating selection of local craft brews and cocktails. A taste of Asheville, you could say, with a killer view.
Reservations are heartily recommended here. The Grove Park Inn's a happening place, especially during the holidays, and at the height of leaf season.
Hours: 4pm to 10pm, Monday through Thursday. Open until 11pm Friday nights. 11am to 11pm Saturdays and 11am to 10pm Sundays.
Here, high atop the Hilton Garden Inn—at downtown’s eastern edge—Pillar Rooftop Bar specializes in delectable Southern fusion, good drinks, and good views.
Here you can expect burgers, berry French toast, fire pits, downtown vistas, and on the weekend, live music. Meanwhile, it's drink list consists of local brews and sophisticated cocktails, catered to the season
All-in-all, Pillar Rooftop Bar delivers a comfortable and laid-back experience. This makes Pillar an excellent choice for rooftop restaurants in Asheville close to downtown’s attractions, while standing far enough apart that you don't have to deal with congestion and crowds in the city's heart.
Hours: 5pm to 11pm, Monday through Thursday. 4pm to midnight Fridays and Saturdays. 5pm to 9pm Sundays.
In a city as brew-rich as my own, its no surprising that one of the best bars in Asheville also moonlights as a rooftop restaurant.
Found atop the Double Tree Hilton to the west of downtown, here you can chow down on hefty platters of bison ribs, truffle fries, and fried green tomatoes, and wash it all down with Blue Ridge views and South Slope beer.
The Montford’s devotion to local brands is obvious throughout their menu, proudly serving Chop Shop salami, Lusty Monk mustard, and Hickory Nut Gap Farms bacon. Those names may be a load of mumbo-jumbo if you're not an Ashevillean, but let me tell you: it's a mark of a bona-fide eatery to serve these local delights.
Combine with a rustic-chic aesthetic, and some of the best views of any place on this list, it only takes one visit to see why the Montford Rooftop Bar is one of the best rooftop restaurants in Asheville.
Hours: 4pm to 10pm Sunday through Thursday. 3pm to 11pm Fridays and noon to 11pm Saturdays.
Businesses Mentioned
Hemingway’s Cuba Restaurant and Bar
(828) 417-6866
15 Page Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
Capella on 9
(828) 258-2522
10 Broadway St F9, Asheville, NC 28801
Edison Craft Ales + Kitchen
(800) 438-5800
290 Macon Ave, Asheville, NC 28804
Pillar Rooftop Bar
(828) 575-1188
309 College St 6th Floor, Asheville, NC 28801
The Montford Rooftop Bar
(828) 505-8750
199 Haywood St, Asheville, NC 28801
