Citizen Vinyl

The recording & record pressing tour was really interesting. They sell vinyl albums here too. I would go just for that. They do have a bar & coffee sandwich selection, with dedicated indoor seating to kick back and listen to music.

We expected more since the café has good ratings and an interesting concept. However, not everything met our expectations. The matcha drink wasn’t very tasty.

Amazing chill spot to relax, have a coffee, try a pastry or something on their lunch menu. It’s so quaint and love the old school feel of it. I have the jerk pork sandwich and it was amazing. Came out piping hot and seasoned so well. Great to pop in after a day of shopping and take a load off.

We elected to take the tour of Citizen Vinyl and are glad that we did. Not being from the area (or even the country) there was a history to the building that we hadn't appreciated, and it was nice to understand its origins before it became a music venue. The tour was nicely conducted and then covered its conversion to a music venue. It was nice to see up in the recording studios, but the highlight is seeing the pressing factory at work given how few are left in the world (especially that are independent). There's a good walkthrough on how the process works whilst you can see it all live in the background. We were there in AVL fest which meant we got to see some of the acts being interviewed in the main space, which just added nicely to the overall experience. If you're a music fan - especially if you collect vinyl - it's worth the hour!

The team here at CV is extraordinary. Eric is so kind and thoughtful, El is so genuine and humble, Cassie is so sweet and dependable. 6+ visits, and so many beautiful memories here. Consistently amazing coffee, incredible atmosphere, upstairs to study, chill, talk, etc.. plus the bonus of being in a record store, with record pressing production in the same space. Generous, eclectic mix of music playing all the time. AVL fest 2024 host - Jon Charles Dwyer, c’mon. Plus others. Wedding venue, private events, for real 😮!!! Love, love, love this space.

What a gem Citizen Vinyl turned out to be. Immediately upon entering I recognize the throwback sounds of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill on record. This mecca has a quality coffee shop, record store, and record pressing which you can see through large windows. The staff here is very friendly and pleasant to deal with. Pricing is better than standard for a hip coffee shop, and the vibe makes it an even better deal. I didn't purchase any food, so I can't comment on the quality. However, the mocha latte I ordered was wonderful. The to-go cups are corrugated in a manner that mimics the sleeve on other cups so you don't burn your hand, which makes just carrying your coffee around so much more convenient. There is a balcony which is accessible by staircase right next to the service counter. This place is fairly spacious as well. Next time I'm in the Asheville area I'll for sure be back. Well done, Citizen Vinyl. Cheers!

An innovative jewel in Asheville’s crown, Citizen Vinyl is part record-pressing factory, part history lesson, part cafe and part kick-back lounge. ▪️ Loved the vinyl playlist, loved my Curried Cauliflower Bowl, loved the friendly service and easy vibe, loved looking around at years of time and music distilled into one inimitable concept. ▪️ I waited too long to experience this place - don’t make the same mistake.

such a cool tour, Franco was our tour guide and he was so funny and made a good environment to ask questions! really cool that they allow tours and the info they share is really interesting! it’s free and not super long so it’s a fun short thing to do, plus they have good merch and a cute cafe in there

This experience was booked as a surprise from my spouse and I can say I enjoyed it! The lobby takes advantage of the historical significance of the building itself (take a tour for more info, won't give away spoilers!). The coffee was a nice treat before we went around the different business floors. It was awesome to learn the history of the radio and recording portions of this - seeing some of the studios in person was also fun for me as a musician. The tour guide was awesome and made what we saw more significant, thank you for offering this as a way to learn more about the history and brand. It was awesome to see the record press area and learn about the market today and just how much demand there is for this lasting media medium. Will be back next time I'm in to see the factory in action (they were out for holiday, understandable)! Plan this if you're in the area!

An innovative jewel in Asheville's crown, Citizen Vinyl is part record-pressing factory, part history lesson, part cafe and part kick-back lounge. Loved the vinyl playlist, loved my Curried Cauliflower Bowl, loved the friendly service and easy vibe, loved looking around at years of time and music distilled into one inimitable concept. I waited too long to experience this place - don't make the same mistake.

Such a cool place that was memorable! Only had an iced coffee there but it was fun walking around and looking at the record pressing factory and vinyls.

Sweet place! Still making old school vinyl records. It's in a cool building and a good location.

The sort of thing you would expect to find in Asheville, this is a retro shop that prints vinyl records and also has a large cafe. I missed the tour, but stopped in for a quick bite. Their chai was heavily spiced with an intriguing flavor and only a hint of tea aftertaste. The pastry they had on display actually wasn't that great, but I took a nice and chewy chocolate chip cookie to go. The cafe was large and would be a nice place to sit.

I love this place. It's in a gorgeous 20's building, has great coffee, lovely breakfast sandwiches, incredibly friendly staff, and just a great overall vibe. The record production area was closed when we were there, but was interesting to look through the glass regardless. The outdoor seating is on a really nice section of a small street, across from another beauty of a building. We'll be going back, whenever we're in town.

A neat spot, but not what I expected. You can watch them press actual records through a giant window, which was VERY cool! They offer tours, but only for 8 people at a time twice a day. We wanted to get a tour, but not had spots left for days we were available because they are so small. If you want a tour, book in advance! They have a record store in the building as well, but it's very small. They do sell cool merch and also decorative vinyls that they press themselves - no music, simply for display. They're very pretty. A neat experience overall, although a bit underwhelming.

In the same shared space as Sessions Cafe, this little record shop won our hearts. You can find used records and records pressed in-house, They also sell merch and have artwork that is printed on-site as well. We saw someone hard at work making records...was pretty cool to watch. We picked up a print and a record -- and they picked up a family full of fans. We love this place and will definitely come back next time we're in town.

I can't believe I've lived here this long, and didn't know the spot existed. Close to downtown, on a little side street, resides, citizen vinyl, and session Café. This is the perfect spot to browse records, listen to some classical music, and have either a Coffee Or Cocktail. They are pretty active online, so you can always see the schedule and hours there. They tend to have a few classical music happenings, as well as some poetry reads and other community art events. The space itself is very beautiful. Open, but somehow still cozy. At the session café, there are some light breakfast options, but they are pretty pricey. They have muffins and cookies that are affordable, but quiches and parfaits that are on the more expensive side. . Everything looks delicious. Since it was afternoon, I opted for a cocktail. They have a small menu, but don't let that deter you. It is still very diverse, and uniquely tailored to the space. The cocktail with espresso was the name of the tropical depression and I loved it. Small and not sweet but full of flavor. Also not cheap but definitely good quality. The service was wonderful, but there can be a long line at times because we weren't instructed to order at the bar regardless of cafe or cocktail. I got some beautiful jazz on a Sunday afternoon and was able to read my book at a cute little table. There's plenty of space whether you are meeting a friend or solo.

Went to a Pop-Up on June 14th at Citizen Vinyl, Sessions Cafe. My first Pop-Up experience and it was awesome!! Uncle Thom and I ordered all three of the offerings and some wine, of course. Our favorite was the pork belly dish, ya'll these pork belly bites were amazing!! Never enjoyed pork belly until Chef Paul Cressend's preparation, bit of a crunch and local honey. Thom hogged the majority of the mushroom toast, while I enjoyed the Jambalaya. I was able to steal one slice of the mushroom toast and it melted in my mouth with the whipped ricotta. Looking forward to more Pop-Ups with Chef Paul!

Very cool vinyl store as well as coffee, cocktail, and food shop. They have a ton of vinyl for $5-12 including miles Davis to Thundercat to Metallica. Coffee options are solid and they put in time to give you a lovely coffee art. Food here is solid, especially the chicken sandwich. There's also an upstairs working space.Can be a tad loud and internet may be choppy at times for video calls but otherwise a good space (though few tables have access to outlets so don't plan on staying too long). There's also a super cool vinyl pressing studio here as well. Well worth a visit or hang

What a cool place!! This is a vinyl record store, coffee/pastry shop and cafe all rolled into one. It is a large space with plenty of seating, so when you are finished looking at the records, you can take a minute to grab a coffee, or eat a sandwich with a friend. It was great for me, because I was able to work on my computer while my husband looked at the records. Another thing that is super cool about this place is that they cut vinyls for musicians.

Best coffeeshop in Asheville hands down! Incredible vibe with the classic vinyl records for sale. Perfection with the Cortado and Pour Over. Amazing food that's so delicious! A must stop every time I'm visiting from out of town!

Hip cafe where you can purchase records and knickknacks, as well as watch vinyl records being made! Tasty food and drink options! Chill place to just sit and relax with a beverage of choice.

This spot is SO COOL. What's better than cocktails, coffee and records all in one place? Nothing!! Very welcoming and lots of records to choose from. They even had art from local artists and old refurbished record players and radios!

Such a cool and cute place. Loved the plants and muted colors that decorated the space. Stumbled upon this place 15 min before they closed on Christmas Eve. The staff still served me with a smile and it was a delish cup of coffee.

One of the last 30 locations that does vinyl work. Whether its making brand new vinyls, or transcribing modern music to one, they do it all here in the historic what used to be a radio tower. Theres a free tour here as well that takes you behind the scene and is a must have if you are visiting! The vibes and ambience is very chill, I love the lighting and decor. The food and drinks cater to anyone and everyone. Vegan friendly. Grab a cocktail or special drink and sit down and relax!

What a cool place! We stopped in to grab a bite (delicious egg and bacon sandwich btw) and ended up getting in on a tour of the facility which was fascinating and I highly recommend (shout out to our tour guide Jen who was just lovely)! We did a little shopping after the tour and got some cool prints that were designed and printed there too. If I lived in Asheville I would definitely be a regular at this place. Another aspect we found really cool was they have clipboards filled with facts from music history of that week. Perfect place to get a delicious bite to eat, a coffee or a cocktail, listen to some great tunes and just chill.

I got an orange caramel latte it was different but good Nice barista/bartender Relaxing vibe Pretty neat they have records being made to the left when you first walk in I cannot stress how comfy the couch is It was so calm in there I could have accidentally fallen asleep

Amazing chill spot to relax, have a coffee, try a pastry or something on their lunch menu. It's so quaint and love the old school feel of it. I have the jerk pork sandwich and it was amazing. Came out piping hot and seasoned so well. Great to pop in after a day of shopping and take a load off.

Love this spot. Had the french toast and mushroom melt with cold brew and latte. The latte was a bit sweet but everything was great

This place is so freakin cool. The coffee and pastries are so good, the space is big with tons of places to sit and hang or do work, the playlist rocks, and the staff are friendly. Great for dates, casual work meetings, or just a place to go decompress. CANNOT recommend it enough. Wish they were open all day! Also they have the best cold brew in Asheville (in my opinion).

I love the ambiance / vibe better than I do the food/coffee. I have gotten chai tea (too sweet for my taste), and a cappuccino before (good Capp!!), and a breakfast sammy. I love the vibe here, it's very casual and a great place to sit and talk- lots of seating and good art / decorations.

This place has a vibe unlike any other. John Lennon playing over the speakers, cold brew in hand, vinyl records as the decor...what a place! I stopped into grab a coffee and I wished I would have allowed for more time here. People were at the presses in the back but I didn't get to stop and see what they were up to-don't make the same mistake! They have performances in house so be sure to check the wall of albums of the day and to see what events are happening.

This hip record store, bar and coffee shop was so intriguing when we walked by (while visiting Asheville), we just had to go inside. You can watch them pressing records or have a drink at the huge, well-stocked bar. Just the building itself is fun to explore--the architecture and interior of the Asheville Citizen Times newspaper building. And if you are in search of vintage record--they have an eclectic selection!

Any place where I can shop for new/old vinyl, sip a cocktail, and get a decent breakfast sandwich- is going to be a solid 10/10 for me. Such a beautiful building/vibe/location/all of it. We toured the place afterwards, which I also highly recommend!

Thanks to Esquire magazine's Best Bars in America 2022 for pointing us to this gem, Session, within the record shop. Our visit was a relaxing experience, with friendly service for a late day cocktail after shopping. It was so enjoyable we went back the next day as well. Session serves up a delightful Negroni, but my personal favorite was the Cultura Revolver. As someone who is not a fan of tequila, I was pleasantly surprised to find a drink with tequila that was so good! Take some time to peruse through the collection of records for sale to enhance the entire experience. Although we didn't eat there, a local shop owner advised us that the food is also good. Will have to grab a bite next time we visit....

Great vibes and great service. Loved the orange caramel latte and breakfast sandwich. Will def be back!

i have been coming to citizen vinyl/session/coda for three years now. as a musician, beverage lover, record collector, and connoisseur of good vibes, i can safely say that this operation is one of the greatest in existence currently. i am not shy to name drop session as my favorite café ever. wishing this building to continue to thrive, especially with moog moving in!!!

A fun vintage modern esthetic. Lots of records of non main stream music and live record playing over surround sound system. Cute bar set up with either coffee/cocktail/beer/wine selections. Kitchen was closed when we visited, but they had baked goods available in a display case. The upstairs is cool...more of an office/lounge space.

Vinyl factory, coffee, and plant store all in one?! This a place dreams are made of, and it's a must to visit here. Take a tour of the factory!

Interesting record shop inside the old Citizen Times newspaper office. Right across the street from the Grove. Mostly new records, but some real used finds here - college rock, goth, sixties. They also have some nice shop wares. There's a coffee shop on the same floor. Prices are moderate. Staff friendly. I understand one of the owners used to work in the record biz before moving to AVL.

This place is so cute!! They have vinyls, art prints, tote bags, and t shirts. I just wish that they had more vinyls to browse through!

I think it's worth stopping by here for the atmosphere alone. My rating is based solely on the record selection. The space is a repurposed newspaper office building, very open and airy. There is a little cafe inside, and a large glass window so that you can see records being pressed. As far as actual selection of records is concerned, they had far more used records than new, which is always a good thing for me. They had some rarities and gems, and the prices were competitive. It's a fairly small selection of records compared to most shops, but worth the trip.