Gay bars in asheville
Annie: I moved to Asheville two years ago and have loved my moment in this queer jewel nestled in the Navy Ridge Mountains. There’s an unofficial slogan of “Asheville: 10,000 Lesbians Can’t Be Wrong” that has rumored origins from a past Indigo Girls concert. When I moved here from a big city I anticipated needing to readjust my expectations of how much stuff would be going on all the time, but so far that has not been the case. Asheville is small, but it is busy!
Most of the urban area is incredibly dog-friendly and if you or your pup loves to hike or brunch with you, you’ll be blown away by the options. Due to the relatively massive presence of LGBTQ folks in Asheville, many of my recommendations below are queer owned/operated! There’s also a sizeable living wage push here in Asheville, and many businesses are Living Wage Certified (they usually have a sticker in the window!).
Brighde: I’ve been living in Asheville for the past three months and I gotta say, I’m into it. It’s a little metropolis full of odds and ends (and some queers) planted in the mountains. Like everywhere else, this place has a complex history and a lot of moving parts, especially so for the LGTBQ community.
LGBT Asheville
Asheville is a gay-friendly small urban area. Period.
According to the latest United States census, the Asheville area has 83% more lesbian, male lover bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) identified people than the typical American municipality or town. Another study, also based on census results, found that Bun-combe County (with 15.5 same sex couples per 1,000) and Asheville (19.7 per 1,000) are the most gay-friendly county and city in the state of North Carolina, on a per-capita basis well ahead of places like Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. In 2010, the gay-oriented publication, The Advocate, ranked Asheville as the “12th gayest city in America.” Atlanta was ranked #1.
LGBTQ+ visitors increasingly are discovering Asheville, with its fantastic natural beau-ty, original dining and drinking spots, heavy-duty gallery, arts and crafts scene, interesting shops and numerous gay-owned or gay-welcoming B&Bs and inns and businesses.
You are likely to see a number of openly lesbian and male lover couples around town, es-pecially Downtown and in West Asheville.
Downtown Asheville has several LGBTQ+ bars, including O. Henry’s (the oldest
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Discover a very diverse community in gay Asheville! It's been a widespread resort and relocation area for the lesbian, gay, multi-attracted , and transgender communities for many years. The large LGBTQ community enjoys welcoming visitors since most of them were once visitors before they fell in love with the area and relocated. Find many places to go and things to execute. With a very vibrant arts society, creativity abounds! For an extra festive weekend, come to the Blue Ridge Pride Celebration each fall.
Also see Cerulean Ridge Pride's community-driven, searchable database for LGBTQ safe businesses, churches, events, groups, programs, and more. Leave to Blue Ridge Pride's virtual LGBTQ Community Welcome Center.
Gay Friendly Asheville Places to Stay & Things to Do
Cedar Crest Inn, Asheville
The magnificent Queen Anne mansion provides guests with a glimpse back in hour. Lavish interior woodwork, period antiques and Victorian décor are found throughout. Just a few blocks from Biltmore… peruse more
The magnificent Queen Anne mansion provides guests with a glimpse back in time. Lavish interior
When I moved to Asheville from Boston, I quickly realized that there aren’t that many committed queer spaces. However, though this is just my opinion, we do have a large number of queer-friendly safe spaces where you’re likely to find a warm welcome.
The spots on this list are places I’ve personally visited and spent time at with friends and allies because I like their vibe.
Here are 24 bars and breweries in and around Asheville that welcome diversity.
7 Clans Brewing (Biltmore Village)
7 Clans Brewing is a Native American-owned brewery that specializes in crafting unique beers with indigenous ingredients. Their taproom is decorated with Native American art and artifacts, creating a cultural life for visitors. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating, making it a pet-friendly spot. Non-alcoholic beverages like soft drinks and lemonade are also available. Pursue them on Instagram @7clansbrewing.
12 Bones Brewing (Arden)
12 Bones Brewing is a popular brewery and BBQ joint that has been featured on the hit TV exhibition “Man vs. Food”. They give a variety of craft beers and delicious BBQ dishes, with both indoor and outdoor seating. Non-alcoho