West Asheville's literary-themed neighborhood cocktail bar, where
literature and libations intertwine. Stop by for carefully crafted
cocktails, daily $9 drink specials, and a curated selection of $8 books
from our partnership with
Bagatelle Books.
Seersucker Martini
$13Uncle Val's Botanical Gin, Vodka, Carpano Bianco Vermouth, Ancho Reyes Verde, Saline, Absinthe
Mood: Rakish gardening in formal wear
Character: Refined, with a poblano pepper wink
Character Study — An Attended Bar in West Asheville, NC
Mood: West Asheville, evening, book in one hand, Old Pal in the other.
Character: Literary, attentive, $9 daily specials and $8 books.
Visit
797 Haywood Rd #100
Asheville, NC 28806
Open Daily · 4pm – 11pm
Asheville, NC 28806
Open Daily · 4pm – 11pm
The Menu
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Cocktails
Blood Meridian
$12Blanco Tequila, Ancho Reyes, Campari, Grenadine, Orange, Lime, Angostura Bitters
Mood: Warding off marauders
Character: Firm backbone, spicy tongue
Blow-Up & Other Stories
$13Reposado Tequila, Cold-Brew Coffee, Coffee Liqueur, Ancho Reyes, Mole Bitters
Mood: Ready to get the world by the tail
Character: Espresso Martini à la Robert Rodriguez
Le Guin & Tonic (Or: The Ursula)
$12Plymouth Gin, Fever Tree Elderflower Tonic, Grapefruit Essence
Mood: We live in the best of all possible worlds
Character: A drink of laughter and forgetting
The Pirandello
$12Planteray Pineapple Rum, Meletti, Demerara Sugar, Lemon
Mood: Italian veranda lounging
Character: Six authors in search of a daiquiri
Tale of 75 Lions
$11Bourbon, Sugar, Lime, Allspice Dram, Sparkling
Mood: Celebrating vanquished foes
Character: Whiskey-eyed, sharp-tongued French 75
Play It As It Lays
$11Vodka, St. Germain, Grapefruit, Lime, Cane Sugar, Hibiscus-Lavender Bitters, Soda
Mood: A time of incisive commentary
Character: Relaxed but watchful
The Devil's Dictionary
$12Mezcal, House Ginger Cordial, Lime, Crème de Cassis
Mood: Windmill jousting prep
Character: El Diablo in evening wear
Studs Lonigan
$14Irish Whiskey, Saler's Gentiane Liqueur, Jeppson's Malört, Cocchi Americano, Luxardo Bitter Bianco, Salt & Smoke Bitters
Mood: Hopeful, slightly bitter, enduring
Character: Irish, Chicago-born, evil twin of a White Negroni
Be malcontent — make it a Studs Malörtigan + $2.
Knock Down Fall Over
$13Planteray 3-Star Rum, Smith & Cross Rum, Angostura Bitters, Almond Orgeat, Lime
Mood: Love in a single glance
Character: All beautiful things have their own unique complexity
Corpse Survivor
$13Roku Gin, Italicus Bergamot Liqueur, Cocchi Americano, Absinthe, Black Lemon Bitters, Lemon, Club Soda, Sparkling
Mood: Funeral-crashing pre-game
Character: Life is long if you know how to live it
We can be a little OLD FASHIONED…
Classic
$10Bourbon, Demerara, Cherry Bark & Vanilla Bitters, Angostura Bitters
Boondoggle
$12Bourbon, Laird's Bonded Apple Brandy, Benedictine, Oloroso Sherry, Whiskey Barrel Aged Bitters, Chicory Pecan Bitters
The Spooking of Mavens
$14Blended Scotch, Amaro Cynar, Black Walnut Nocino, Cocchi Americano, Laphroaig
Most Classics: $10 · Open–Close, Daily
Boilermakers
Bukowski's Dinner
$9Ham(m's) on (Old Overholt) Rye
Berg & Berger
$9Radeberger, Underberg
Under the Volcano
$9Imperial, Tequila
Fancies
Fancy Manhattan
$16Basil Hayden Dark Rye, Cocchi di Torino, Angostura Bitters
City Lights Margarita
$19El Tesoro Blanco, Agave Syrup, Lime, Salt Rim
Desert Island Daiquiri (Or: The Robinson Crusoe)
$16Planteray Sealander Rum, Demerara Sugar, Lime
Snazzy Sazerac
$20Whistlepig 10 Year Rye, Pierre Ferrand Ambre Cognac, Peychaud's Bitters, Cane Sugar, Absinthe
French 47
$17Monkey 47 Gin, Cane Sugar, Sparkling, Lemon
The San Juan Old Fashioned
$18Old Forester 1910 Bourbon, Demerara, Cherry Bark & Vanilla Bitters, Angostura Bitters
Drømme Roll Please
$9Drømme Calm, Grapefruit, Fever Tree Mediterranean Tonic
Dice & Discipline
$9Amethyst Cucumber-Serrano, Lime, House Ginger Cordial, Club Soda
Sneaky Gardener
$8Amethyst Blueberry-Ginger-Mint, Lemon, Cane Sugar, Acid Phosphate
Sci-Fi Fashioned
$9Ritual Zero-Proof Rum, Demerara Syrup, Bittermen's Hopped Grapefruit Bitters, Fee Brother's Aromatic Bitters
Gold Shush
$8Kentucky 47 N/A Whiskey, Honey, Lemon, Aromatic Bitters
Beer
- Imperial Lager$3
- Hamm's$3
- Radeberger German Pilsner$6
- Founders' Mortal Bloom Hazy IPA$6
- Burlington Beer Co. Vaulted Blue NEIPA$6.5
- Bell's Two Hearted IPA$7
- Westbrook Brown Ale$6
- Left Hand Nitro Milk Stout$8
- N/A Athletic IPA$5.5
- Austin Eastciders Blood Orange Cider$6
- Fruit Smash$6
Wine
| House White (Gruner Veltliner) | Hasen Sprung | Krems, AUT | $8 / $32 |
| Sauvignon Blanc | Crowded House | Marlborough, NZ | $12 / $48 |
| Bourgogne Blanc | Cave de Buxy | Burgundy, FRA | $11 / $44 |
| Red | |||
| House Red (Barbera) | Cantine Povero | Piedmont, IT | $8 / $32 |
| Cabernet Franc | Gaia | Mendoza, ARG | $12 / $48 |
| Côtes-du-Rhône | Val de Rois | Côtes-du-Rhône, FRA | $11 / $44 |
| Sparkling & Rosé | |||
| Cava | Proa | Catalunya, SPA | $8 / $32 |
| Rosé | Peyrassol | Côtes du Provence, FRA | $12 / $48 |
Snacks
- Salt & Pepper Pistachios$4.5
- Hunter's Mix$4.5
- Spicy Cheese Rounds$7
- Rosemary & Garlic Chips$4
N/A Options
Soda
- Maine Root Root Beer$2.5
- Boylan's Cola$2.5
- Maine Root Spicy Ginger$2.5
- Maine Root Tonic$2.5
- Fever Tree Tonic$2.5
Other Tasty Beverages
- Dram Mushroom Cola$6
- Dram Adaptogenic CBD Seltzer$8
- Lonely Sparkling Water$4
- St. Rains THC Seltzer$8
- N/A Athletic IPA$5.5
Coffee
- Cooperative Coffee 'Virtue' Cold Brew$3
- Cold Brew & Tonic$5
Partners in Pursuit
Bagatelle Books
Every book on our shelves is hand-picked with our friends at Bagatelle Books, West Asheville's neighborhood bookseller. Sip a cocktail, browse the stacks, take one home with you.
$8
Each book on the shelf
Currently on the shelf
The Odyssey of Homer
Echo Tree
Priest of Nature
Finest Deli, in the house
Nothing goes better together than us and @finestavl.
Kitchen Open
Friday & Saturday · 5–9pm
Sandwiches, snacks, and proper deli fixings from Finest Deli — served right at your table.
Reserve a Table
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Book clubs · Reading groups · Standing meetings
Need a meeting location for your Huey Lewis fan club, Kierkegaard discussion group, or Francophones d'Asheville? We'd be happy to make a space for you.
We reserve the front table or the parlor — please call the bar during business hours to book either one.
Reach us at (828) 579-1008, daily from 4pm.
Looking to rent the whole space? See rates and inquire at our sister bar's events page: littlejumbobar.com/private-events.
Nous ne parlons pas très bien le français, veuillez donc nous appeler en anglais.
The Room
Marbled walls, a long bar, a secret forest, tufted emerald barstools, booths in caramel leather, and shelves of books everywhere you look.
Stay in Touch
Slings & Arrows Consulting
Slings & Arrows Consulting is a full-service boutique hospitality firm from the team behind Little Jumbo and Character Study.
Slings & Arrows turns ideas into fully realized, cohesive bar and restaurant concepts — built around excellent service and quality drinks.
Developers, future clients, soon-to-be collaborators, enthusiasts and friends: learn more at slingsarrowsconsulting.com or email hello@slingsarrowsconsulting.com.