Suitcase Social Club Check-in: Walking into The Golden Hour Bar feels like stumbling onto Asheville's most seductive secret, a speakeasy that accidentally overdosed on aphrodisiac energy and decided to keep the mood going. Everything is velvet, low-lit, and a little too inviting in the best possible way. The bar doesn't just glow. It smolders. You sit down and suddenly your inner James Bond wakes up whispering, "Behave... or don't." And then there's Anderson. This man doesn't "serve drinks." He curates intimate experiences in liquid form. Forget cocktails. This is high-end tequila worth slow-sipping, wine pairings that feel like they were chosen after a background check, and pours so intentional you start wondering if he knows your secrets before you've said a word. The humor and conversation? Absolute chef's kiss. Anderson speaks in smart, sly little one-liners that feel halfway between flirtation and philosophy. Every exchange is a smirk wrapped in silk. He kept the conversation dancing, clever, warm, and just suggestive enough that you're not sure if you're being charmed or recruited into something thrilling. Talking with him is like: * sipping tequila with a wink * swapping banter that feels tailored to your IQ and your ego * and being gently nudged toward Asheville's underground-bar ecosystem, the hidden gems, the moonlighting dens, the places that only open if you knock twice and compliment the décor Anderson dropped insider local recs with the smooth confidence of someone handing you a secret dossier. If West Asheville has a pulse, he's got his fingers on it. Quick bite intel (because you shouldn't sip on an empty soul) The food deserves its own little slow clap. The Crab Beignets are southern perfection: golden, pillowy, and just rich enough to make you consider writing them into your will. They're the kind of bite that makes conversation pause for a second, not because you're rude, but because your brain is busy filing a formal complaint against every lesser appetizer you've ever tolerated. The Golden Hour is sensual without trying, refined without bragging, and just chaotic enough to feel alive. It's the place where you don't just have a drink, you catch a vibe, loosen a collar, and remember that life gets interesting when the lights get low. Suitcase Social Club Rating: 5/5 Speakeasy Energy: dangerously intoxicating Tequila + wine program: curated for slow-burn pleasure Crab Beignets: southern royalty Anderson's wit: legally should require a warning label Tim Albright, the Suitcase Regular read more

Wow! We had a great time at this spot. I had never heard of it but my partner surprised me with reservations here and it was a delight! We sat outside and had the patio to ourselves - it was hot, but I wanted to be outside during sunset! The inside area is immaculate - clean, fancy, I would definitely be okay dining and relaxing there as well. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable, answered all of our questions and gave us good recommendations. We ended up ordering an old fashioned and a citrusy cocktail to start. We also shared a bread and cheese board. Everything was delicious - fresh, soft, warm, gooey, all the best temperatures and textures. I also got a glass of bubbles to and it washed all the food down perfectly. It's edging on the pricey side, but definitely great value for the experience, atmosphere, and flavor. Definitely recommend! @azfitfoodfun read more

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Nestled inside of The Radical hotel Golden Hours offers up phenomenal drinks. I've tried the wine I've tried the beers. The food is fantastic we always pony up to the bar for great conversation. Pro tip order a caviar bump with the head chef for unique dining experience. Parking is a pain the ass but drive around enough you will find a parking spot. Also go here during restaurant week to give them your support and try new menu items. 5 stars read more

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Date of visit: September 18, 2024 Came here as part of a large group for a work outing and loved the ambiance and decor of the space! Staff was very friendly though they sometimes seemed a bit unsure of what some of the food items they were giving us were, which could be a bit concerning. The mashed potatoes had an interesting flavor to them and when I asked what kind they were, he just said they were mashed potatoes. I asked differently, suggesting maybe they were garlic, or cheese and garlic, but he doubled down on them just being mashed potatoes... I have been trying to get into mocktails more as a teetotaler and the hibiscus nojito was quite good, except for the large chunk of mint that came through the straw upon my first sip. The grand finale basque-style cheesecake was a bit of a mixed bag; the cheesecake was good, the lemon curd had an off flavor (maybe that was what was in the mashed potatoes?). Highlight of the meal was definitely the seafood beignets. The name sounds revolting but they were actually quite tasty and I would definitely have them again here or at another establishment. read more

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Golden Hour is a culinary oasis within the Radical Hotelier, a boutique hotel on Roberts Street in the River Arts District of Asheville. It is a feast for the senses. I would consider staying at this hotel to come to Golden Hour for Happy Hours and dinners, so I can completely be immersed in culinary happiness with views of the river that take me to a place of spiritual purity and strength. Strength and spiritual purity. As you descend the stairs from the stylish lobby, you are immersed in a world of post-modern art, setting the tone for an exciting and trendy dining experience. Three-dimensional artwork of scantily clad women during the Renaissance period stood from the lobby floor to the ground floor, where there was a reception area with seating before the entrance to the restaurant. A sign that says "Stay Gold" stood by. Golden is strength Stepping into Golden Hour, we were greeted by the bar area adorned with golden chains, instantly igniting our anticipation for the delectable food and drinks to come. Our table, located on the other side of the bar within the dining area, offered a perfect vantage point. As we settled in, the barrel-aged Negronis we ordered was nothing short of magical. My wife and I went to town on a plethora of culinary goodness, including duck confit, pork chops, and seasoned veggies. Any time I can enjoy duck confit, I feel better for it. I feel better about myself, and this was prepared and cooked wonderfully, served with sweet potatoes. The golden potatoes were additionally fabulous, so creamy and tantalizingly wonderful. The pork chop was also seared to perfection and tasted succulently from start to finish. read more

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We went for Sunday brunch. We didn't like that the lobby of the hotel had strong artificial smells that we could also smell down in the dining room. The service was good. Didn't care for the food unfortunately. We both had steak and eggs. The side salad was strangely spicy and overly salty and there was a lack of any flavor on the steak and eggs itself. read more

Quite the scene this place is. Rather pricey too although probably no different than similar places. We were staying at the hotel where this restaurant is and it had started pouring rain so we were grateful for a very convenient place to go. My husband had a burger with lots of fries and I had a lamb kebab which was from their appetizer menu. Not much food for a lot of money but very fun people watching. read more

Great place and great food. This screams Asheville and is in the middle of the River Arts district. It was our first visit and was one of the most enjoyable meals I've had. The "3 Day Weekend" cocktail replaced my favorite Old Fashion as my go-to drink. Their hanger steak was a superb cut, done perfectly and now is my favorite steak. The lobster beignets are worth the trip by themselves. The staff is very professional, helpful and friendly. It has a speak-easy vibe which added to the experience. Easy walk to the increasing number of galleries and parking at the Wedge. The hotel itself is a creative creation within a repurposed building and reminded us of our favorite hotel in London. As locals we'll be back for more. read more

Had a great dinner at the Golden Hour. The place has an industrial funky vibe in a pretty large space. We ordered a bunch of smaller plates. They were all good but the beignets really stood out. They were addictive. Service was super friendly and attentive. I will order bigger plates next time to see how they are. read more

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Sat at the bar for Friday night dinner. The chicken dinner was delicious. My husband got the pork steak he really enjoyed his as well. Service was quick & constant. The ambiance is neat & cozy good for a date night. read more

Golden Hour - Pork dinner - Bars Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Excellent food and service! We sat at the bar the tuna, hangar steak and crab beignets were excellent! Desert was ok.

The vibe here is fancy but chill. The service is great! The seafood beignets and mushrooms are a must try!! read more

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Incredible restaurant! Ate on the patio adjacent to the restaurant/bar. Had deconstructed potato salad that had tiny whole boiled potatoes with layers of dressing between them. For entrees, my husband had 1/2 roasted chicken and I had a sliced pork chop. Both were tender & juicy and presented well! The clincher was dessert... carrot cake with curry flavored frosting and carrot jam infused layers! Tasted incredible! Service was very friendly and personable and other dining patrons were very friendly! read more

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It was a pricey outing, but worth it. Had a great spot at the bar where I had an espresso martini and then I asked about a seltzer but the bartender made me his own seltzer like concoction that was SO DELICIOUS! I'd recommend. read more

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Súper cool spot! The ambiente is awesome both indoors and with a great view of the River. The bartender is on point. Great drinks. And dinner is delicous. Plus because it's a hotel you can take a drink to go to the rooftop. read more

PERFECT addition to the River Arts District! Golden Hour is located in the new, colorful, unique Radical hotel. Sensory overload (in a good way) upon entering the lobby. So much to see and multiple cozy spots to sit and admire the interior. From the lobby, head down the stairs to the restaurant. A large, beautifully decorated restaurant that blends old and new. Exposed brick walls and high ceilings with an impressive light fixture as the centerpiece of the expansive dining space. Delicious food and excellent service. Our server Jerry was patient with our group, and she was always available for questions about menu details. We ordered a variety of dishes for the table to share. Steak tartare, corn pone w/ heirloom beans, the lamb shank, mushroom skewers, a hanger steak and chess pie for dessert. read more

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They just opened and we had a stellar experience! Must try are the shellfish beignets. The hanger steak was also delicious. Service was friendly and pretty efficient, especially given it was day 2 after opening. read more

Golden Hour - 8 oz Hanger Steak - Bars Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

We ate here with another couple last week. The food was excellent and the service was excellent. We found it to be a fun place for dinner. The one drawback - this applies to those of us members of the older crowd (like us - late 60's & early 70's) there is no sound absorption at all, so a 3/4 full restaurant makes it extremely difficult for the four of us to carry on a conversation and hear each other with all of the ambient noise bouncing off the hard walls and hard floors. Some thoughtfully placed sound absorption would turn our 4-star review into a 5-star review. read more

Lovely server (Alex?) redhead. Very helpful. Some yummy food. Shellfish beignets were fun and the blue and green salad was different and tasty. Loved that they serve, mock tails. Lamb shank fell off the bone. Dessert was a croissant bread pudding with orange ginger ice cream. But it really was more like a French toast. Very well flavored. my thumbs down is the gold chain hanging off the bar and the acoustics are really noisy. They need to hang some things from the ceiling to muffle the sound. I loved love loved the funky hipster ambience of the hotel above. Need to carry this through to the restaurant. read more

Golden Hour - Lamb shank cooked three different ways. - Bars Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Wow!! This place is gorgeous inside of the new Radical hotel. It's definitely fine dining for foodies. The lamb shank was well worth it, and the roasted mushrooms were divine. The vegan salad was super flavorful as well. And, the waitress told us that the whole menu is essentially gluten free except for a few items. And, she shared that a lot of the dishes could easily be made vegan. This place is definitely a gem. read more

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RUN don't walk to this restaurant. 20/10. Seriously. The atmosphere, the service, the food. Exceptional. Get the hanger steak. I'll say it again, get the hanger steak. Sit at the bar and talk to the bartenders. I had the famous beignets, hanger steak and carrot cake. All of it, OUTSTANDING. read more

Golden Hour - a glass of orange juice on a table - Bars Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Folks, I'm in Asheville NC, have to try some restaurant and found Golden Hour, it was so good I vacuumed the food and forgot to take photos. The cocktail Barreled age old fashion, my God to die for, I can drink it all night. Our appetizer Deviled Blue Crab, a winner. And our shared entree was the lamb, it melts in your mouth. Just to die for. Price is reasonable. Excellent attentive service. read more

Golden Hour - Bars Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Had an awesome lunch brunch at Golden hour today. Cocktails were perfect. We cleaned our plates. We will certainly be back many more times. I had the pork Benedict. My wife had the quiche. read more

Golden Hour - Shaded patio. - Bars Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Came here on a 2 night trip and stayed in the attached hotel. Took a VERY LONG while to get served or asked about drinks or what we were ordering. Maybe understaffed a bit but it wasn't too crowded. Ordered the NC crab beignets and it was good. Drinks were great, but the Just Peachy cocktail was a pre mixed drink with vodka added. Turns out all cocktails here have a premade mix. Overall good ambiance and nice vibes. Music was loud but not crazy. Only issue was that it took an hour to be asked what we wanted to eat or start with. read more

Like many reviewers, I had mixed thoughts. In evaluating JUST the restaurant Golden Hour, I would say the food was ok tasting. The smashed golden potatoes? Just mashed potatoes, no better than could be made at home. The pork chop was tasty although lacked much of a side or topping to accent it. House fries had a good feel to them, voluminous to have a soft center and fried nicely for a crunchy exterior. Neither desert was one that I would order again. Not bad, but a restaurant's dessert needs to overcome that the fact that most people are capable of making great desserts at home for much cheaper, and neither of these did that for me. They also have a $28 hamburger. $28! The ambience was really cool, and the dishes are all East Fork, so I give props to the decorator and the support of local business. Probably wouldn't come back for food, but would for a drink. 3.5 review for me. They are a new restaurant and might improve with time. read more

Pricey but food was excellent. Service was excellent. Decor was eclectic and ambiance was very noisy.

Wow! I took the wifey out for Valentine's Day and we were both impressed and delighted with everything about Golden Hour. The vibe was amazing from the moment we entered. The entire building inside and out stuns the eyes with beauty and pride. The staff were pleasant and apparently happy, setting the tone for the night. We were seated promptly and our server was just excellent. We order a white fish of the day, smash burger, and many other things (two salads, meatball skewer, sunchokes, etc.--all of which were delicious! I cannot say enough about how pleased we were with our experience. We're looking forward to our return. read more

Got served rotten trout. I heard other people did as well. The drinks were great though. I'd recommend sticking to them but avoid the food, no excuses! read more

Excellent choice in RAD. Basement level of The Radical hotel. The atmosphere is well lit and trendy. Huge bar in the center of the restaurant with great selections, including a few high shelf bourbon pours. We had a great appetizer [Pork and Beans with Johnny Cakes] and both entrees hit the mark. This one will join our regular rotation of Asheville staples. read more

The building is cool. The staff is nice. I paid 34 dollars for a tiny portion of tilefish and a sprinkle of white beans that took an hour to cook. Walked away hungry, unsatisfied, and feeling hosed. Could have gotten a big ole steak dinner with all the sides from literally anywhere else in town. Won't be coming back. Don't come here if you are actually hungry. Do come here if you're in a pretentious mood. read more

Went for Mother's Day Brunch. Food was subpar and service was subpar. Beautiful building but disappointing experience.

Food, drink service very good. The look modern and eclectic, well worth the visit. Also rough top bar at sunset is amazing.

Great new addition to the Asheville foodie scene! Everything was delicious! Our drinks were spot on. Can't wait to come back.

Cool spot, creative, curated food. Everything was so good...Ambience, quality, options. Yum!

It was adequate, just adequate. That's all I really have to say. But this thing says I need 85 characters.

Outstanding! Our party of 5 enjoyed steak tartare, seafood beignets, blue crab dip, pork chop and a variety of salads. Everything was delicious and meticulously prepared. Portions are small but fun to order several and share. Wonderful staff, and we were fortunate to enjoy a spectacular sunset on the rooftop bar. read more

We ate at Golden Hour on the night before Thanksgiving while visiting our daughter in Asheville. It was one of the best meals we've had in Asheville over the past 5 years. We loved the decor and ambiance and the service was outstanding. The food was incredible. Everything we tried was interesting and delicious. The greens and purples salad was a favorite. I know - it's a salad - but the dressing and choice of greens made it really special. The corn pone and heirloom beans was worth the visit alone. I highly recommend. We shared the Sunburst trout which was more than enough for 3 people and was mouth watering. Side of fries were great too. I also want to mention that our daughter is gluten free-celiac and we called ahead to see if they could accommodate us. They over achieved in that area! They have a dedicated fryer and at least half the items on the menu are GF. They were very careful and we highly recommend this restaurant for anyone with Celiac. read more

If you are going to do anything in Asheville it should be eating the seafood beignets at Golden Hour. I'm not one to leave a random review unless it's absolutely amazing and eating here is worth it! the ambiance and decor is really cool. The mushroom side dish is also amazing! definitely worth it and highly recommend. read more

This place has potential to be really great. I can tell a lot of time and money went into creating a visual vibe. Unfortunately the vibe of the service and atmosphere does not match up. The staff just seemed really stressed out and rushed around the whole time we were having dinner. The food was pretty good, but did not live up to the high prices. The crab dip was nothing to write home about and they didn't give you enough crackers to eat the ample crab with. Also the kitchen and waitress were not on the same page when she voluntarily brought us more crackers, the kitchen then tried to charge us for them. It was odd. However we did love the whole Trout! It was perfectly cooked. The waitress cleared my boyfriend's cocktail before he had finished, and she misplaced my credit card. She didn't seem very apologetic about it. I'd your going to charge these kind of prices for food, there really shouldn't be any complaints. This place is all potential, but they really need to get their act together. read more