The beau and I went here for drinks before brunch on Valentine's Day, and we really enjoyed ourselves! This bar is quite the hidden gem. Super eclectic and very welcoming. The gentleman at the bar was great, and he had no problem adding in a few extra things to get the right taste on my boyfriends Bloody Mary. They weren't the BEST bloody Mary's I've ever had, but I've had a lot worse. Would definitely come back again! Also, random side note - the bathrooms here are filled with extremely neat artwork! read more

Imperíal - Bloody Mary and Mimosa! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Yes Asheville, you are "Beer Town", but behind that cloud of hops are some of the best cocktail bars anywhere. Upstairs over Table you'll find this gem. It's small and special. A good enough selection to make anything, and their special cocktails are innovative. Many are long lost classics. Don't walk by on College and miss this. read more

Imperíal - Only high end liquors. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Quirky bar with interesting drinks. I'm more a beer drinker if I choose to partake, I had a wicked weed IPA and a lager (I can't remember the name) . Those around me tried the painkiller (run drink) and bulleit manhattans. The clientele is kind of young and hipster (after all you are in Asheville) . The bar wasn't really to my liking, but the others enjoyed themselves. The reason for 4 star is you get to watch the bartenders and how they put effort into their crafting of their drinks with care and detail I felt it was deserving of the high rank. The do some serious shaking of the drinks too. If you like clean showmanship on mixology and don't mind a hipster setting you should check it out read more

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This new extension of Table is a nice chance of pace from many of the drinking establishments. Small and intimate, I enjoy having a cocktail here from time to time...and cocktails they are in the sense all are "crafted". What does that mean, well it means complexity without ton's of sugary syrups. The bar staff know how to make a great cocktail as well as can adlib a bit and make something you crave, but isn't on the menu. This all reminds me of bars in Chicago like "The Velvet Hour", etc......low lighting, on the ball staff, and a great space. Though I do think they need softer seating. For a lounge this place has a few too many hard spots....even my friends who visited here recently for the first time also made that observations. More pillows and seat cushions and perhaps a few funky winged back chairs........but forgive me.......I'm harking back to Chicago again. This is a definite for date night for sure as well as a great place for "adults" to have a drink....check them out. read more

Imperial life is a 5 star cocktail lounge. It is one of the spots that really pushed Asheville's cocktail scene into a new level of awesome. Elements that they instituted from their first day have become par for the course in cocktail lounges, house made syrups, shrubs, barrel aged cocktails, mallet crushed ice... Imperial life really helped set the bar for what is expected from itself and other bars in town that serve premium drinks. What's really nice about Imperial Life's rotating list of craft cocktails is that their menu designates which of your wonderful bartenders created the item, or where it came from if it's borrowed from another restaurant's recipe. It gives each of the drinks more character in my opinion. I don't make it here as often as I would like, but I would love to fall in love with a bartender's palate by trying their drinks and follow their evolution through the year and the seasons. There is also a small plate menu that features some of the finest charcuterie in town. Do not skip out on the tartar. Yes, raw beef may be intimidating, but you should have it here to use as a bench mark for all other tartars you may enjoy in your life. The only reason I'd contemplate giving Imperial Life less than 5 stars is because I haven't figured out when it is the best time for one to come here. The space is challenging and loud. There's seating on one side of the stair way, and along the bar, but if you're visiting with a large group, or arrive after all of the other seating areas have been claimed, you may find yourself uncomfortable or shouting at your date to overcome the cacophony from other people just trying to hear each other. They have DJ's on Wednesdays, Fridays, and I believe Saturdays, which is fun, but also adds to the volume of people here. If you want to add this place to your must try list and want to really take your time diving into the menu I'd suggest a Tuesday or Thursday evening. Sit at the bar, and make sure to talk to your bartenders. They are splendid people with a wealth of knowledge they are more than happy to share. read more

The Imperial Life is my favorite "local" bar in Asheville. Besides the expertly made cocktails and wonderful small plates the service is the best in town. The best! I've never met so many fast and friendly servers. I hesitate to even share this because on the numerous nights I've been there it strikes me as a real local place for local people and I hope it stays that way. There are so few places in town that are not full of tourists and while I love tourists and love sharing my wonderful town with them I also love the fact that this place always makes me feel like it's my hometown place. Jacob, keep up all the good work! Here's to The Imperial Life! PS Don't miss out on the Pigs in Blankets. Make it a double order. read more

Was here last night on a Friday and it seemed like the place to be. The pros: Music was solid. This was my dream playlist. Mix of indie, rap, dance, everything. Loved this DJ and people were definitely dancing. The cocktails. Fantastic. Definitely a mix of creative and delicious hand crafted cocktails in addition to your usual suspects. Plenty I wanted to try but my liver would hate me. The cons: Not sure if it deserves 4 stars the whole night but after I had my drinks I felt better. Getting drinks was a pain in the ass. Guy next to me at the bar had been sitting there waiting for a refill on his beer for 20 min. I had tried 2 spots before I was successful in ordering. The downside to hand crafted cocktails is they take time. And with a crowded bar and 2 bartenders something had to give and that was service. Once it cleared up it got better but no guarantees the bartender won't go back to the same 2 spots and ignore you completely. The people/hipsters who don't shower. There were plenty of them there, sweating it up on the dance floor. Wasn't everyone but enough that it was noticeable. Now I'm not from Asheville so maybe that's normal. Overall I did like this place and would definitely come back! read more

Super classy speak - easy type of place situated above Table in downtown Asheville. Seems like it would be easily missed, if ypu don't know what to look for, but the drinks produced by these vested and well groomed mixologists should deem it worthy of more than one beverage. My date ordered a mint julep, of which at first I gave him a strange look. Don't normally see this kind of drink order out of an IPA drinker, but after watching the bartender make his julep the "true" way I understood why. They actually throw the ice in a burlap bag, smash the ever living life out of it with a mallet, and serve it "sno cone" style with fresh mint. Super refreshing, and delicious. I myself was on a gin kick. So I ordered a very light and slightly fruity gin beverage from their cocktail list and loved it equally...perhaps I loved it too fast, because I finished it in five minutes. Oops. read more

Awesome spot for cocktails, up on the second floor. Drinks were great, bartenders were cool and very knowledgable.

Very modern yet cozy lounge. I enjoyed the atmosphere and bartenders were very nice. Great bathrooms. read more

Imperíal - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

I went with my mother and sister for a cocktail before a show. I ordered an "Airmail" which consists of rums, lime, wildflower honey, and some sort of sparkling wine which was absolutely delicious. The bartender was lovely and very helpful with my mothers decision on whiskey. Great atmosphere here and the people are just lovely. The bartenders aren't too bad looking as well. If you enjoy an artisan cocktail, it's a great spot. read more

Drinks were very tasty, but kind of expensive (~$15 per drink). We did not get any 'bites' because of the drink cost. We went there for a DJ night expecting something like electric music, but it was just DJs playing different songs while adding a few twists with beats and sounds. The space was pretty small, as well. Only spent about thirty minutes, which got us one drink each, so overall the place could have been better. read more

A bar, a floor above a well known Asheville restaurant, in an old Life Insurance Building with a convenient name. My fiancé and I stopped in here on a whim after being tourists all day and also checking out a couple of breweries, looking for a cocktail as opposed to the flights of beers that had all started to blend together. We were very happy with our drinks. Yes, I felt they were expensive but the bartender was very knowledgeable and friendly and happy to offer any drink suggestion, add to our conversation, and answer any question about the drinks that my very excited fiancé threw at him. This was a wonderful place to end our night and I'm happy we impulsively ended up here. read more

Jorge did a great job! His recommendations including the breads, tartare, and tomatoes were great! Big surprise was the eggs and beans. Not something we would order but were pleasantly surprised. Really enjoyed the barrel rested Negronis. My one complaint was the other bartender, didn't get his name but had a man bun and pirate earring, didn't follow up on the sample he poured my fiancée. It was not busy at this point, approx 9:30. Not sure what happened to that guy. Good news is since he didn't follow up we saved money by not having to pay for additional drinks, or an Uber. Jorge, Negronis, and food get a rating of 5 stars. The other Bartender, and website stating they have a different menu (ARTISANAL CHEESE until 9:30, we were there before 9:30.) is why my rating is 4 stars. read more

According to the bouncer last Saturday night reusable water bottles are not allowed at this bar. I don't know if that's actually a rule of this establishment or just a bouncer on a power trip, but I resent being *threatened* for simply bringing water with me. As a local, I recommend folks go around the corner to "The Vault" for better drinks, better prices and much better attitudes. read more

Staff is very rude! Plus drinks aren't good at all. Go to the times bar. It's worth the extra few minutes walk. Plus this bar is loud and very hot. read more

Best drinks I had in Asheville. Best meat I had in Asheville. Best cheese I had in Asheville. Best bar snacks I had in Asheville. read more

This place was awesome. It's a total sleeper- you'd walk right by it if you weren't looking for it. But the bartenders know what they're doing and the ambiance is awesome, kinda classy but not snobby. I loved it! Their Shirley temples are even fancy. read more

This is one of my favorite "nice" bars in town. I really like going here because you completely avoid the frat guy/college crowd. I never have to worry about any rowdy bar fights or any anxious situation here. It's a much more mature atmosphere complimented with expertly crafted cocktails. It is quite small, but I have no problems. It's intimate enough for couples, but there are tables for small groups. It's not the kind of place where you would want to bring a large party (really no more than 6). There's comfortable bench seating with plenty of throw pillows, or you could grab a seat at the bar. The specialty cocktails rotate often, which I love. I always want to try something new! But the mixologists behind the bar are able to mix up classics if that's what you prefer. Beer and wine are available as well. We really like bringing out of town friends here for a drink or two just because it's easy to relax here. And I've never had a drink I didn't like! I also highly recommend the pickle plate if you're in the mood for a snack. The deviled eggs are also pretty good and I really like the pigs in a blanket! Overall, I really love the atmosphere here. Good vibes and good drinks? Sign me up! read more

Bar man could care less, sell you a drink when he gets there, no interest, decor ok, 5 beers on tap but no lager or Pilsner type beer, food not cheap bathrooms very nice read more

Great drinks! But they'll cost ya'. Cool little spot upstairs: mixology style. I've been here twice, and the crowd and atmosphere was quite different each time, so I'm not sure which you're more likely to find. The first time was hipster, dimly lit and loud music. The second time was more laid back, almost bright with no music (or very low music). Both times, I just let the bartenders know what I like in a drink, and they mixed up something perfect for my taste every time. Quality drinks here for sure. I'm pretty sure mine were $14 a pop, though. Prepare to pay for a wonderful imbibement! read more

Stumbled upon this place while wondering around Asheville and I'm glad we did. The staff and service was excellent, the cocktails were some of the best I've had, great selection of bourbon. We ordered the pork rinds ,which are made in house, and the artesian cheese plate to snack on while we were there and they were also very tasty. read more

Imperíal - The cocktail menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Haven't been here for almost 11 months, but every bit as top notch as it was last summer. I do not understand the less-than-5-star reviews because this place is spectacular for a cocktail aficionado. My wife and I are at opposite ends of the spectrum (I like "brown, bitter and stirred" and she likes "ice cream!") but we both find this bar to be customer-centric and easily meeting the palates of the entire spectrum of cocktail fans. Drew in particular is awesome. Worth going out of your way for a visit and ignoring any reviews less than 4-5 stars. read more

Very trendy place. The decor is impressive. It's small but more cozy than crowded. They have a mixology vibe. Lots of cool drink selections or just tell them what you're in the mood for and they will make it. My friend did this and he really liked the drink he got! We only had one drink and left but i would go back! read more

Imperíal - Menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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The service here was absolutely terrible. Looks like they have the servers doing too much. Taking orders, making appetizers. News flash...Holiday weekends require more workers. We left after receiving 0 service...not so much as a "I'll be right with you", despite seeing the waiter walk by numerous times. read more

My husband and I spent our honeymoon in Asheville last week. It was cold and snowy one night, the streets were BARE - but we got lucky when we noticed some people walking up to the Imperial. There was live music and creative libations, the perfect spot to warm up. I was inspired to write a review because the drinks were PHENOMENAL. Thoughtfully prepared and crafted. But even more than that, we had a great time chatting with Drew! (Dru? sorry for any mistake!) This guy was the best. He made us feel like regulars, and it was so cool watching how efficient he was making drinks. We were awestruck! Lightning fast with flare and a smile. Thanks Drew for making our "chill/laidback" night really fun. What a great bartender... 5/5! read more

My go to spot for all things cocktails! As I have worked my way through their cocktail list (no judging) I have not met any cocktail that I did not like, besides their take on a Bloody Mary. Unfortunately when I am there I eat an insane amount of oysters, cheese boards, and pigs in a blanket. ** Highly Recommend** read more

Retro-chic bar in the heart of downtown Asheville. In the old Imperial Life Insurance building and just above Table, The Imperial Life is one of the better bars in the whole of Asheville. Featuring rarities such as Pappy van Winkle, this bar is a great place to go for a drink that you just won't get everywhere. The atmosphere is intimate, seating probably 30 folks max. The bartenders are friendly and very happy to talk about their craft and try out new things. read more

The bartending is an art form here. You'll see ice being sawed into cubes, various herbs being chopped and special elixirs dropped into cocktails. Love the vibe too. read more

Sprinted up the stairs to get out of the cold. Cozy atmosphere and a dazzling display by the mixologists. I was the odd man out, as most bar patrons were couples waiting for a table at "Table". Bartender Naomi poured me a mean Jamesons and Ginger. Really fine. She also personalized drinks upon request of other patrons -- by taste, flavor, price point, and more. Very impressive. This should be on the list of Esquire's best bars in America. The folks at The Imperial Life have their art down to a science, but they're willing to explore and create. Cheers! read more

Went regularly, but haven't been back for months since we had a couple bad experiences with waitstaff. It's a bummer.

A great cocktail bar in the heart of downtown! I found this place while bar hoping with my favorite buddy Joe D. He spotted a video projection on a building and saw it came from a random window above Table. I figured it was a loft till we walked further and I noticed all the windows had liqueur bottles on shelves..." A bar!" I exclaimed! Hurriedly we sauntered (stumbled) up the stairs to a swanky lounge with a DJ projecting on the building across the street. The cocktails are great, the small plates are delicious. I had the mint Julep the first time, they crush the ice in burlap with a mallet! Tonight, a dozen times later or later I'm enjoying a Negroni with rye...perfect pre-game for a Booty Band show at the Orange peel!! read more

I wanted a mule, but they didn't have ginger beer so the bartender made some from scratch (fresh ginger juice, agave, club soda). It was delicious. My husband and I also split half a dozen oysters and they were very good as well. read more

This is the spot you don't know you're thinking of yet when you tell your friends to meet you for drinks before you go to dinner or a show. This is the spot you want to go to after you survived dinner with a blind date and want to extend the night. This is the spot you want to go to when you are meeting THAT friend who is always late. This spot is cool enough to have a drink alone or with a group. Cool music, cozy set up and they have Narragansett!! read more

Great spot in all of Asheville hipsterdom. If you are moving away from the craft beers and want a solid cocktail, move upstairs to this small, hand-hewn drink spot. We were here in the afternoon, bartender was knowledgeable and friendly. Best part is that they make their own bitters, liqueurs and have a fully loaded flavor Bankhead that doesn't seem to be anywhere else in Asheville. read more

This five star rating is based off of one drink: Whiskey Sour. Totally digging this place; the atmosphere, the bartender, the temperature, the ambiance, the floors, the name, and the smell--it all reeks of perfection. Great game! read more

First of all, loved the atmosphere and the cocktails we ordered. We came in around 1245am as a party of 6 and ordered cocktails, we had a blonde waitress who never expressed her name but she had short wavy hair and a septum piercing. She made 4 rude comments. The first were about the forms of identification we presented and the other was in response to us telling her we didn't need the extra waters that she would have to go out of her way to get. Again, enjoyed the atmosphere-not the specific server or service. read more

Was so happy to meet here for an after work drink and it will now easily become one of my favorite spots! I had a very well made old fashioned with rye and the ice cube was AWESOME! That may sound silly but bad ice can ruin a bourbon drink...melt too fast and it's a watered down shit show! This was perfect! Then had a nice rye and water and really enjoyed the comfortable ambiance too! Nice, easygoing and knowledgable bar tenders and a great location top off my smiles and stars for this high class yet comfy bar! read more

The drinks and ambiance are perfect. If you're looking for a well prepared craft cocktail in Asheville, this is the place.

I wanted to enjoy our experience here, but hoo boy, I did not. Now, points for the fact that the cocktails we had were delicious, well crafted, and reasonably priced, as well as for the gorgeous location. But apparently our bartender accidentally mixed some invisibility potion in our drinks? That's the only explanation I can come up with for the fact that we got completely ignored for over half an hour after we got our drinks, as we sat at the bar, directly in front of the bartender, on a leisurely Saturday afternoon when the place was nowhere near hopping. We sat there with empty drinks for 20 minutes minimum. Besides being aggravating, it was just one of the weirdest experiences I've ever had. I have no idea if we inadvertently offended the guy in some way, but we will gladly do him the favor of not returning on future visits to Asheville. read more