The bartenders were fantastic. Great cocktails, great service, pleasant ambiance. One of the best…read morelocal spots.

Need a break from all the fun stores? Stop at this beautiful and yummy bar/coffee shop tucked away…read morein downtown Black Mountain. So many options to order! Lattes, chai tea, wine, mimosas, cocktails, beer! They even have specials! Wednesdays is $5 wine glasses. Thursday's is $3 lattes. Sundays have $5 mimosas. My friend ordered an iced chai tea with oat milk and said it's the best chai tea she's EVER had. I ordered a glass of the sauv blanc, as recommended by the bartender and it was delish crisp and delightful. Perfect for an intensely warm day!

First time eating there. I live in NC and I will definitely come back again! Taylor was our server…read moreand she was wonderful! I got the grilled chicken tenders and my friend chose the fried chicken tenders. Couldn't have asked for a better lunch. Their grits are out of this world and they make BIG chocolate cookies fresh daily. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside with the biggest chocolate chips I've seen. If you haven't been there please give it a try! You won't regret it! You will return for more

Quaint little restaurant that looks like an old service station. We sat in the enclosed patio and…read moreit was heated and warm. Ordered chicken Philly and was good! Bun lightly toasted. The baked Mac and cheese was creamier than those I've tried at other places and a delight! I'm not a pimento cheese fan but the pimento cheese was to my surprise good on the Down South sandwich. Service was pleasant. Would definitely come and try more items!

Espresso dacquiri Hibiscus mojito…read moreCaprihini (sp?) Unique drinks. Non-alcoholic menu is as cool, if not cooler than, the alcoholic one. Dacquiri is wild - unique and delicious. Gorgeous place inside and outside seating.

Cocktail bar with a turn-of-the-century feel, offering a creative cocktail and coffee menu…read morealongside a small bites menu if you're looking for something light. We stayed on the main floor since the host seated us there, but later realized you can order at the bar and take your drinks up to the rooftop--something I wish we knew earlier. The bartenders were pleasant and laid-back, not pretentious at all. The cocktails were inventive and well-crafted. I went with the Coffee Date and Lord of Misrule--pretty good--but in hindsight, I wish I had tried more of their Fever-Tree and Chemist collaborations, which sounded especially interesting.

Vault and Vator was our last stop of the night, and finding it was a little confusing which is part…read moreof the fun of a true speakeasy. It is found tucked behind the building with only a small, letter-sized paper sign marking the entrance. No flashy signage, no obvious storefront, which adds to the appeal if you're into that kind of hunt. Walking up to it late at night can be a little intimidating but it is well lit which I greatly appreciated! Once inside, the space is dimly lit and small, which makes for a genuinely intimate setting. I'd say it's good for a quieter, more conversational vibe rather than a loud night out. We went with the bartender's choice: pick a base liquor, then two words to describe what you're after. I went with vodka and "slightly sweet, refreshing," for $18. The bartender nailed the brief but it wasn't a drink I'd think about again or specifically order by name. Solid execution, forgettable flavor. Service was the real standout. Our bartender was excellent at walking us through the concept and translating vague requests into something that actually worked. That, plus the atmosphere, is enough to bring me back to see what else is on the menu since we made it there just in time for last call so I ended up only having one drink.

Vault & Vator is such a great spot. The atmosphere is fun and stylish, the drinks are really well…read moredone, and the whole place just has great energy. It's the kind of place that feels perfect for a night out--whether you're grabbing cocktails with friends or making a stop during an evening downtown. Everything feels intentional, from the vibe to the drink menu.

Owner was very knowledgeable of Brandy and great conversation and education on different option…read more Bartender seemed to be a little annoyed on making drinks and not very interactive at all for a small place. If you are looking for a local spot, with local people this is your spot. Will be coming back as I am always looking for the local place versus the commercial overpriced bar, it has its imperfections but that also adds to its appeal in a certain way.

Wow, what a find in Hendersonville! I love everything about this place - the ambiance, the service,…read moreand of course the namesake drinks. The owner is clearly passionate about all things brandy and she'll help you choose the perfect drink for your tastes, or the perfect flight. There is occasionally live music, and weekly/daily drink specials coming in around $5! Do yourself a favor and take the time to enjoy a visit! There's also great restaurants within a very short walk, and a few breweries nearby. Pro tip: Be sure to ask for a tour of the place, the owner will show you all sorts of cool, artful, even historic things about the location.

Amazing. One of my absolute favorite places in all of Lake Lure. I come here every time I'm in…read moretown and it never, ever disappoints!! It's incredible what the owner has done with the place, and the food is awesome. I'm not sure why I'm even writing this review, I'd really rather keep this place quiet and have it all to myself.... But it deserves the five stars.

We visited on Saturday and really enjoyed the atmosphere--it's a very cool place. Unfortunately,…read morethe service and food did not meet our expectations. It took approximately 20 minutes just to receive our drinks, and when our food arrived, my burger was in unacceptable condition. I was surprised that it was allowed to leave the kitchen that way. We brought the issue to the attention of the person who delivered our food, but our concern was ignored. We eventually had to track down our waitress to have the problem addressed. To make matters worse, our checks were incorrect, and despite the delays and food issue, no discount or accommodation was offered. The restaurant has a lot of potential and a great atmosphere, but the food quality, service, and pricing need improvement. Unfortunately, our experience did not justify the cost.

Swung by for a late night dinner! Great views - super high up and the city lights are so gorgeous…read more I got the "Wok This Way" salad and opted for no protein this time - was tasty! Loved the contrast of fresh salad and dressing with the crispy noodles and onions. Kinda expensive for the price ($17), but can see it's surely convenient if you're staying in the Embassy Suites!

Visited UP on the Roof for pre-dinner drinks with a friend, timed for golden hour to catch the…read moresunset. tThe View Rooftop area was closed for construction, so we couldn't be seated there but we still sat outside instead and got a partial view of the riverwalk, plus the sunset. I had the Up In the Air. I'm more sensitive to sweetness than most, so even though our waiter said it wasn't particularly sweet, I asked them to cut the sweetness further and they accommodated it without issue. My friend had the Ginger's Have More Fun, made with their own house ginger liqueur instead of ginger beer. It wasn't overly syrupy, but the syrup notes were present enough to undercut what could've otherwise been a more refreshing drink. We split the Nacho Average Nachos. It was great for picking at while we chatted and had a good concept, with a solid mix of pickled toppings, rich queso, and protein, and chips that held up fine (no sogginess). The execution didn't rise above the idea. It was a fine, forgettable plate rather than a memorable one. Good portion for two, though. Overall, a nice spot for golden hour drinks if you're already in the area, but not somewhere I'd make a specific trip for.

So I am biased, but Taylor and Laney make incredible cocktails!read more

The Magnolia Room is an upscale cocktail bar conveniently located on the first floor of the…read moreFairfield Inn in downtown Morganton. The decor inside is nice, with magnolia wood tables that give the space a sophisticated yet cozy feel. A sign posted said that the bar is not owned or operated by the hotel, so you cannot bill your drinks directly to your room tab. Additionally, they serve beverages only, so don't expect any food, appetizers, or light snacks. You will want to eat before you arrive or after. For drinks, they offer a standard selection of beer, wine, and cocktails. While they don't have mocktails explicitly listed on the drink menu, the friendly bartender offered to mix up a non-alcoholic version of their popular "Front Porch Swing" cocktail for me. It was a beautiful, blueberry-flavored mocktail that tasted fantastic. My only real concern is that the space was exceptionally quiet, with only three customers total on a Friday night, which makes me wonder how much regular business they get. However, if you are staying at the hotel and want a beautiful, quiet spot for a premium drink, it is absolutely worth popping in.