Desoto Lounge

I have loved this establishment for over a decade! The servers and owners are amazing. It's a dive bar/locals bar...if you can't handle a dive bar, then don't come. The food is awesome and brunch is where it's at! Thank me later after you put the biscuits and gravy in your mouth!

My second time at desotos and they were rude af from the start. No one was welcoming, the only reason we were there was because fleetwoods was at capacity. Everytime we ordered drinks they acted like we were putting them out. I asked for orange juice and they poured half a glass and didn’t go get a new bottle to fill the rest. Then when a bartender named Malcom was picking up glassware outside I asked how much I need to tip for them to bring the drink to me and the said I have to go to the bar, they told me I have to go to the bar and I said ok, went to the bar and ordered the drinks, I left the change for them then 5 minutes later they walked out and threw the change on the table in front of me. I said thank you. But that was incredibly rude and I will never be to that establishment again and will be encouraging everyone to cease any business with them, not that they have much. It was a Friday and we were 3 of 10 in the whole establishment.

It was New Years Eve and I happened to wander into this cool little place. Everyone behind the bar was super nice, friendly and very attentive. I loved their simple inexpensive bar menu and all of the offerings coming out of the kitchen looked nice ... I had the black bean nachos with a generous portion of guacamole to compliment my cocktail. It was a nice way to end 2022 ... and begin 2023.

Had brunch today and as always it was amazing. Food was delicious. Service was awesome. Perfect weather to sit outside on the back patio. Desoto never disappoints.

The bartenders are amazing, the drinks are awesome, and the vibe is unmatched!! Great dive bar with pinball and a ping pong table!! Go have fun here

Perfect grunge diner. Excellent breakfast food. Good drinks. Great Bloody Mary bar.

Showed for drinks and loved the sandwiches. The twist of horseradish and jelly on and sandwich made this a memorable sandwich spot. Meanwhile it’s a great bar.

Varying weekend brunch menu. Expect a wait. Decent sized portions for the price. Meatloaf sandwich is very good & the bloody Mary bar is the move!

Dive bar atmosphere. Cold beer. Games in the back. Nothing fancy. Makes you sign in when you enter- not sure why. Guess they have a nice patio in back. Ordered at the bar. No problem with service. Only 6 beers on tap- i got a Michelob ultra can. Would come back but not at the top of my list.

Bearded bartender is rude. Very much a smartass. Very insulting, talks about people's appearances. We won't be back.

Came here on a Sunday morning for brunch with my friend who lives in town. He said this was his local go to spot and I needed to try it. It's a local bar and seating is seat yourself. We did have to wait a few minutes for a table so we ordered a bottle of champagne at the bar. There is a mimosa and bloody mary bar set up for you to make your own. They had plenty of juices and garnishes to choose from. You do have to go to the bar and order your food as well. Sharing is caring, right? So I ate half of the waffle sandwich and the brie/jam on the french toast. Both were good, but I am a cheese girl sooooo the brie one was my favorite. There is only one chef, so have some patience. She is working her bum off back! I loved all the funny sayings around the bar. There is a pool table, darts and some more games in the back. I would like to come back for drinks at night!

I have no idea how I've not written a review for Desoto Lounge yet. I've been here probably close to a hundred times over the years for drinks, food, patio-chillin' and games. This is a great neighborhood bar in West Asheville. It feels very much like that-a neighborhood bar-where every time I walk in, I know at least one other person who is hanging out. The bar is honestly kinda stuffy-feeling and is dark with loud music playing. They always have weird, eclectic artwork hanging out the walls and feels kinda dirty. But that's what I love about it. It has a dive bar vibe with great drinks/beer and even better food. Their brunch is really creative and delicious and you don't have the long wait to get a table which is typical of Asheville brunch spots. They have a Bloody Mary and Mimosa bar on weekends too! Their dinner food is tasty too with snacks and sandwiches such as my favorites, The Cuban served with strawberry jam and the Meatloaf Sandwich. Their portion sizes are perfect and their food options are great for take out too. I've spent many, many hours sitting on their back patio with friends chatting into the wee hours of the morning, while enjoying the open air and cocktails. This is a great spot to be to just have fun, eat food, and chillax.

Five stars for the spot, great time was had by all even if I don't quite remember all of it ha ha!!!

I was reading the reviews, most of which are from years ago, and many mentioned rude service. I didn't think much of it as it was so long ago, but apparently not much has changed. The woman on the phone was incredibly rude to me, as well as to my boyfriend who went to pick up our food. Apparently online menu is not accurate? Food was pretty good, although a little overpriced. I fully understand working in the service industry is super stressful, but nobody wants to be talked to that way. There are plenty of bars and restaurants in west avl that have friendly staff and good food for a decent price.

B L O O D Y M A R Y B A R............that is all I can write...........Sunday if "Fun"day here and reminds me of the day in Chicagos with Carol.....enjoying a Bloody Mary.....this edgy WAVL bar/eater has a great staff and good food and creative drinks. Don't forget the patio in the back..........

Great brunch here! The brunch menu rotates so you always have the opportunity to try something new and delicious. The staff that works here are all very friendly and they have some super talented chefs in the back. I love the Mimosa and bloody Mary bar which allow you to get creative with your own alcohol. They also have a little backyard patio which I believe is dog friendly. This is one of those places that you need a membership for so be prepared to sign in at the door. Periodically they do art shows for local artists and I believe sometimes they have live music as well although I usually just visit on Sundays in the morning for brunch. Something that has surprised me, however, is that small children are allowed to run around the bar. In my experience people under 18 or even 21 are not usually allowed in bars but perhaps this place is an exception because they serve food. If you're looking for a delicious brunch menu at 10:30 AM on a Sunday the De Soto lounge is the place to be. Just don't be that guy that brings their kids.

The DeSoto Lounge is a very hipster style dive bar. If this is not your scene then you're not going to like it. But, if you are looking for a local dive bar it's a great place to hang out and grab a drink. As with many a bar in Ashville there is a "membership fee". It is a dollar and lets you bring a few guests in. While it isn't really my scene I'm giving it 5 stars b/c it is the epitome of a great dive bar. The staff was welcoming, polite and I didn't feel horribly out of place. They have food but I didn't order any. They also have daily drink specials and pinball located in the rear of the bar. It very much so has a unique and distinct vibe to it (in a good way).

This is a cool little dive bar that still gives me the Asheville I knew several years ago. The staff is friendly and the drinks are good. This is a great place to meet up with friends when you want a good drink in a laid back environment. There is ping pong, and a few arcade games. They also display and sell art by local artist - so if you're in the market for a new piece, stop by and check out what they have. There's a cute little outside area. There is a bar menu - next time I go I will make sure to go hungry.

As far as dive bars go, DeSoto looks, smells and tastes the part, and does it all effortlessly. If you blink, you'll walk right past it, which my wife and I did by mistake. Once inside, we were greeted by a host who requested our membership card. We weren't sure why we needed one and why it only cost $1, but fair enough... we went along with it. Besides, who can complain about a $1 "lifetime membership"? Count me in! We found a spot at the bar and immediately struck up a conversation with some of the regulars, who were incredibly friendly and shared stories about the neighborhood (what is now considered by many locals as "the real Asheville"). The bartenders had tons of character and a great sense of humor, especially Chuck--that dude's a hoot! He mixed us some seriously strong cocktails, all of them moderately priced. The big surprise for us was the food. During our brief visit to Asheville, we were looking for some late-night eats. After much Yelping and Google-ing, we eventually found ourselves back at DeSoto as it was the only place in our neighborhood with an open kitchen. My wife had the Mufaletta and me the Cuban sandwich. Both were served fresh with chips and a side salad. My sandwich came with a layer of Lusty Monk mustard... by the far THE SPICIEST condiment I ever put in my mouth... YIKES! A fantastic sandwich nevertheless... and a wonderful place to which we will soon return on our next trip to the AVL.

My favorite brunch spot, great music, fabulous bartenders, delicious food and the best brunch cocktails. Also seems to be a bit of a hidden gem, as it's not usually too busy compared to other west Asheville brunch spots. The huevos rancheros are killer!

Four stars sounds about perfect for this place. It's a super divey dive bar with some games in the back and a weird fenced in patio where all of the smokers hang. I didn't even know they had food until recently. I would have given this bar 3 stars before I tried the food! The menu is a good size... When I found out they serves food, I had to try it! We got a meatloaf sandwich and a cuban. Both came with a good amount of hand cut potato chips and a salad! That's a great amount of food for the prices! The meatloaf sandwich was, for lack of a better term, cray. It was cooked perfectly and big enough to be filled up on one half of it! The cuban was good! I saw on the menu that their was going to be some kind of fruit preserves on the sandwich which it did not come with... But it was still a good cuban! They I was just thrilled to have the right pickles and a large amount of pickles. If you didn't know, I love pickles...

https://bit.ly/2MAc47G Looks Great! Alas Asheville, We Hardly Knew Ye! #FreeAsheville

Believe the hype. Desoto kicks ass and delivers a great experience each and every time. It is a hole in the wall dive bar that makes no attempts to be anything different. Its cool and quirky, and locally owned by some real nice people. My favorite time to go are Saturday and Sunday brunch service, with a menu so great one would then think Anthony Bourdain created it. Most of the items on the brunch menu sell out within the first hour and half. So getting there at 12pm to get your dish of choice is key. I can't tell you how bad it sucks when you read the description of that plate that makes your taste buds salivate only to order and the bartended tell you she just sold the last one... Yeah, its happened more than once! DeSote is also that great place to start your evening and its even better to end your evening. Great pinball action with ping pong and foosball to add.

Great joint. Good beer selection and vibes in West Asheville. Pinball, ping pong, and foosball plus an outdoor patio.

After a very disappointing and expensive dinner I needed a cheap drink and some food that would actually fill me up. Desoto was close to where we were staying and wasn't very crowded so we decided to give it a try. Staff could have been a little friendlier seeing as how we were the only four people in the actual bar area when we were there but Desoto served its purpose at the end of the day. Nachos filled me up and didn't run me $45 bucks like my dinner had and the beer was cold and cheap.

Worst bar ever...Kim ruined my evening before it even started! If you want your bartender to dump on your face then this is the bar for you! Just be aware that you might not be be hipster enough to be dumped on!!! Go to oyster house, zia, or if yor are really desperate standard pizza

By far one of my favorite bars in town! They have cold drafts along with a great selection of bottled varieties as well! Full bar and bartenders that know you should actually taste the alcohol:) Try the CHEESE TRAY which in love for cheese is hands down the best in town! Foosball, ping pong & large outdoor patio round off this great dive! Monday PBR and Pinballs! $1.50 PBR Tallboys and all pinball machines set to free play. $4 Jim Beam. You're welcome. Tuesday $4 New Amsterdam Gin $2 Bud and Bud Light Wednesday Full Sail Session IPA, Lager, and Black Lager only $2 Bulleit Rye only $6 Thursday Jameson only $5 Friday Maker's Mark $6 All import bottles only $4 Saturday Join us for Brunch including Chicken and Waffles. Bloody mary and mimosa bar from noon - 3pm. Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum only $5 Sunday Join us for Brunch. Bloody mary and mimosa bar from noon - 3pm. El Jimador Tequila $6

I envy those that live close enough to refer to Desoto as their "neighborhood bar". Desoto has been a bastian of cool since the day it opened. Poured concrete bar? First one in Asheville was here. Tin ceiling panels. And a deer wearing a conquistador helmet. This bar is cooler than your bar. Sorry, it's a fact. Need more proof? How about 4 pinball machines, including everyone's favorite, the Addams Family. (Interesting fact, the Addams Family pinball machine is the all-time best selling pinball machine. Look, you learned something!) There's also ping pong, and a foosball table. Plenty of entertainment for you. Sitting and chilling out more your thing? Good news! There's an enclosed patio in the back. Oh man! It just keeps on getting better and better. What really sets Desoto apart from most of its other cool bar brethren is the fact that it has a full menu of delicious snacks and treats, including a truly righteous meat loaf sandwich. Yeah, you thought this was going to be another one of those private bar spots, but it's not! You don't need to know a member, no sign in, just enjoy yourself!! I don't think that Desoto is for everyone, but for a select group of people, this may be just the spot you've been looking for.

One my all time favorite bars in West Asheville. I go there because I know they'll have a good drink selection but mostly their kitchen makes delicious food. Almost everything comes with a salad which makes me feel okay when I eat the meatloaf sandwich. They also have a few pinball games a ping pong table. Nice outside area.

Just another west avl bar.... Full of hipsters and new asheville residents trying to find themselves. Nothing too important. Kind of small, cramped.

Parking check, nice beer selection check, ping pong check, foosball check, relaxed atmosphere check. I don't know what you expect when you go to a dive bar, but this one seems to deliver. It had great beer prices and a good selection. I also had their Cuban with the strawberry jam and it was a lot better than I expected. Don't expect for great service or a classy atmosphere and you should leave happy.

Based solely on the one experience I had here, I would suggest going at 17:45. Because at 17:47 or so, the place goes from a ghost town to the most happening spot on Haywood. It was Ethiopian night, which appears to be a pretty big draw. I ordered off the regular menu because I'm not adventurous, and Ethiopian food just wasn't doing it for me. So I got a Cuban sandwich, which turned out to be delicious. Decent drink specials and an above average sandwich will likely bring me back here someday, but perhaps with ear plugs. We were actually attempting to have a meeting for the local group that I'm in, but that was rendered impossible when the music kicked on. Literally couldn't hear the people across the table from me. If that's your scene, then head on down.

And the freakin jukebox can't be beat. This little lounge is one of Asheville's very best; they have decent late night foods --boiled peanuts and a hard to beat, meatloaf sandwich, plus an ample beer list that includes many of the local-brew faves. They have been know to put on an art show or a band on occasion, but the prize entertainment in the joint goes to their teeth cutting ping-pong scene. This neighborhood spot gives credibility to the whole West side.

I used to love this bar so much. The games are cool and they play great music. It's got such a cool atmosphere but recently the bartender has been so rude. If you're going to work at a bar you have to be somewhat welcoming and talk to people rather than stare at them and make them feel awkward. We were in last night (& a few other times recently) & the bartender was so rude we left. There are too many amazing bars in AVL to deal wth rude. We probably won't return for a while until their staff can get it together. ***update: I found out today the rude bartender is one of the owners. Sad.

One of my favorite dive bars (pre-covid). I still get their brunch to-go almost weekly. Ping pong, pinball, rad tunes, funky decorations, and a great staff.

One of my favorite bars in town. Has the best jukebox of indie material I have ever seen! Truly special. Great selection of local beers, really cool hang out, hipster folk, best pimento cheese spread ever (did I say that???). Go. Its really one of the best trippy bars in town.

One of the best Sunday brunches in Asheville! Incredibly good food! Bloody Mary bar too. And Sabrina is a sweetheart of a bartender!

If i could give a negative star i would. While the music is amazing. I'm left questioning the customer service as well as the atmosphere of an lounge that plays majority-hip hop from what i have observed fail to acknowledge the presence of African American customers. We stood at a not crowded bar for more than 10 mins as the only bartender walked past numerous times without even providing a menu or saying she would be right with us... unless she has a secret meth enterprise i doubt very seriously working for tips is her actual source of income. This place is a complete and utter joke i would avoid at all cost unless you want to step into a confused Jim Crow universe. Where they play Kendrick Lamar as a back drop sound track as they ignore your being.

5 stars for a lovely group of people that have always treated my friends and i well. our go-to spot for drinks for most occasions, music is gonna be good and drinks are gonna be strong. food can be veganized, and their specials are usually a good bet. i've walked out of here too drunk to drive many times and the staff have always been super accommodating, allowing me to leave my car, calling a cab, etc. i appreciate the hell out of this place. other customers can be annoying as hell, they're not worth cutting down the rating. tip ya bartenders well! have a picture of your membership card on your phone. don't be rude. you'll have a good time.

Stopped in for lunch food was great and the bartender was very friendly. Would definitely come back

Wow, rudest bartender ever. I've been to Desoto over a dozen times and always had a fine time. But this last and final time was pretty bad, I don't know if the bartender had some stuff going on or what but she really shouldn't treat people like that. There are plenty of other bars within walking distance where the staff doesn't treat you like complete shit. So long.

Favorite dive in Asheville! Kind of hidden off in West Asheville so it's mostly locals and it never gets too busy. Those that complain about the bartenders being rude- I think their staff is great but it is a dive bar. They're not overly friendly but they're helpful and I have never seen them be rude -unlike other places in town. Great little patio in the back with some tables and all the games they have is one of the best parts about it. Really low key environment.

Food is very good but service is sometimes rude. Good never fails but don't always except to meet a smiling face.

Desoto is a great place to stop in for a drink and a meal. Their black bean nachos are better than any of the Mexican spots I've found in Asheville. Recently, I tried their turkey/cream cheese sandwich, and was floored by how tasty it was. I went back last Saturday afternoon and had the turkey pesto sandwich, which was also fantastic. This is definitely more than a convenient bar...as location is quite good. I've had a mimosa or two, and loved the bloody mary bar as well. Keep it up!

Best dive bar in asheville. They have an awesome outdoor seating area and cold beer for a good price. The male bartenders are always top notch. The female bartender can be a wee bit unhappy at times.

Great hipster bar, complete with jukebox, pinball and Ms. Pac-Man. Was there on Halloween weekend and found a good mix of hipsters and zombies. Despite being more of a corporate type, found the bar staff friendly and loved the atmosphere.

We just keep going back. Good selection of beer and cocktail, friendly and good bartenders, small but nice menu including vegetarian and nice brunch. You can go the the tables outside and bring your dogs. Pinball and ping pong. Have never seen a dirty bathroom.

Five stars for five reasons. Their service is fast. Their back patio is lovely. Free pinball Monday's. Their nachos are delicious. And theyre in walking distance to my house.

Love this spot! This the usual begining and end point for any given night debauchary in the Ville. The staff is great, rinks are strong, jukebox is good. Lots of seating, and a decent sized outdoor patio.

Really cool lounge with ping pong, foosball, pacman and pinball. Nice patio out back. Pimento cheese platter is really good. Super nice bartenders. Love it.

The food was good, service too, but the bar was really loud. I like the selection of music, but I could not hear the person sitting next to me at all. This was really frustrating because the only reason we were out was to talk, relax, have a drink and enjoy the atmosphere. Drinks were a little pricey compared to other places locally, and the place was just too loud. I ordered food, and although it helped with the hunger, it wasn't anything I couldn' t have made myself. I might try the place again as I have a few friends who really like the place, but I was not impressed overall.

Ok, so I know it's a dive-y bar. I get that, even though it's not incredibly dive-y, having craft beers on tap and a foosball table and everything. Still, since it was the only Ethiopian food in town, I'd been trying to get to DeSoto's Ethiopian Tuesdays for a while now. I don't know why I was so disappointed. I shouldn't have expected better, especially at their bargain basement prices. The Siga Wot was sloppy joe style BBQ, the Mesir Wot was baked bean style lentils, and the Ye'Abesha Gomen was not particularly well-done collard greens. There wasn't a detectable trace of beautiful berbere spices in anything, and anybody whose ever tried true Ethiopian-style food will tell you that's an essential component. Lastly, how is it possible to take bacon and dates, both god-like foods in their own right, and create a bacon wrapped date that is a disservice to both bacon and date? The one saving grace was the inerja bread. It's a very serviceable wheat flour version of the real thing with good spongy texture and a pleasant taste, only lacking a little in tang. Food notwithstanding, this place has great music, a good enough beer selection to keep anyone happy, and an eclectic collection of locals. I still long for good Ethiopian food, though.

Bartenders should return all change and not presume what is a tip. Humility. Maybe carry more than one white wine?

ping pong AND foosball! (and pinball and patio)

Known as a dive-y bar but not really dive-y once give it a chance. Unlike other reviewers I had no problems with the staff. I wouldn't say they were overly friendly but certainly not rude. You have to check out the ping pong paddles from the bartender who asks that you "just please bring them back." The Blood Mary bar was really nice with asparagus, olives, etc. and a good selection of hot sauces. Decent beer selection which includes some local brews and PBR tall cans. The food is an excellent value. For $7 I got a really great BLT with a fresh salad and chips and I tried a bite of my friend's cuban which was also great. They had some specials and vegan selections too. Although I didn't try them, the black bean nachos looked delicious. There was a wide range of folks there from scruffy looking folks to families with kids. In the back is a ping pong table, several pin ball games and a Pacman/Galaga video game. There is also a patio but it is used by smokers so if smoke bothers you, you probably won't want to go outside. There is a juke box with lots of punk selections. I enjoy Desoto and will keep coming back.