District 42

I recently dined here and while the overall experience had its highlights, the food unfortunately didn’t quite live up to expectations. Starting with the positives — the ambiance is absolutely lovely. The space is beautifully designed with a cozy, welcoming atmosphere that’s perfect for a relaxed evening out. Whether you're on a date or catching up with friends, the environment sets a great tone. The service was equally impressive — attentive, friendly, and genuinely warm without being overbearing. Our server was knowledgeable and made us feel well taken care of from start to finish. Now for the food: it was... just okay. The presentation was nice, but most of the dishes we tried were lacking in flavor. Seasoning felt muted across the board, and nothing really stood out. It's not that the food was bad — it was just underwhelming, especially considering the price point and the otherwise polished experience. For example, a large bread board is $25 and has just a few slices of bread, some butter, and balsamic and olive oil in a cup. There’s definitely potential here, but the kitchen might benefit from bolder seasoning and more creative execution. On top of that we wanted a booth, the not so friendly hostess said no those were for reservations only, but meanwhile we dined and left and still many of those were left empty and never filled.

We enjoyed our visit to District 42. The bartender seemed to be by herself that night and was kinda swamped. The drinks we had were good but only found two specialty cocktails on the menu, but maybe we just missed the rest. Comfortable and relaxing vibe. The fire pits outside we're very nice on this cool evening.

Great food. Great drinks. Great service. Great ambiance. They even welcome dogs!

Awesome hotel bar. Bar is very nice with an awesome selection of liquor and craft cocktails. The bar can get backed up if the restaurant is very busy but it’s usually not an issue. DJs on Friday and Saturday inside/outside depending on the weather with fire pits. Would recommend

The drinks here were very good and unique. I won’t lie this place is pricey though! We payed $64 for 2 drinks and some fries. This bar is beautiful and although it’s a hotel bar it is set apart to give you a full bar experience. The truffle fries here are really good. My wife and I finished them in minutes. The combination of truffle oil and parmesan cheese on these crunch fries was so good. They literally brought my starving wife back to life. My Obscure Autumn drink was tummy first try at Japanese whisky and it was very good. The drink was boozy yet full of flavor. The drink has figs in it that give it a sweet touch to the whiskey forward drink. My wife had the blood moon and it was really good as well. If you’re a fan of blood orange this drink will be right up your alley. The combination of mixers come together well for a balance drink that leave you taste buds delighted.

Since we stayed in the hotel we ate several things off the menu: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. OMG the donuts! Never had donuts like it before! The squid was quite unique as well.

Couldn’t get service at the bar. Waited a good 15 minutes without acknowledgment. Staff wasn’t into it. As locals, we knew we have better options nearby and just left.

I love this place. The place is nicely decorated, it looks like a pricey restaurant but the prices are really good. We tried fried ravioli, so yummy and $19 price. Lively atmosphere and the server Alexandra so kind, fast service. Highly recommend it.

This place is a textbook example of false advertising. They promote a $20 "girl dinner" to get groups of women in the door, but then nickel-and-dime you for every little thing -- but okay, fine. The main issue is they won't split checks. If you're going to market to groups, you need to make it easy for groups to pay. It's 2025 -- there's no excuse for not having a system that can handle separate checks. Accessibility is another major issue. There's no bathroom on the main level, which means anyone with mobility challenges (or vision loss, or chronic pain, or literally any accessibility need) is stuck navigating a complicated elevator system just to use the restroom. That's not just inconvenient -- it's exclusionary. The food itself was fine, nothing special, but any goodwill from the meal was overshadowed by the frustrating policies and lack of accessibility. If you're going to target "girl dinner" crowds, you need to make the experience inclusive and group-friendly. Right now, this place completely misses the mark.

Love this lounge area of the hotel, haven't stayed at the hotel itself tho. Came here after bar hoping from another place and decided to order small bites and also ordered Thai Ice Cream--hear me out, it was the BEST ice cream, I've ever had. Idk if it was bc I had a good buzz and I was sorta burning up, but THIS hit the spot. I already love Thai Boba/Bubble Tea and it tasted just like it, but better when it's frozen! The food was great and drinks were good too. There was a wedding reception going on, but they didn't seem to mind for the other guests. Would definitely go back!

Beautiful bar area within the Kimpton Hotel in downtown Asheville. Nice bartenders that really put extra effort when making drinks. They brewed fresh espresso for my martini, which always makes it taste so much better. Had a great time. Will definitely be coming back.

District 42 has a sophisticated casual vibe and is located right in the heart of downtown Asheville. Dogs are welcome. The menu is limited as the environment is more geared towards craft cocktails. We ordered a cheese board and pizza, both were good and it was easy to detect the use of quality ingredients. The wait staff was also exceptional. My critique would be the pricing, even for an upscale place, seemed a bit over the top. The charcuterie could benefit from a bit more bread/crackers to reconcile to the amount of cheese/toppings. Hey, it is $42! Also, I have to deduct a half star for not having blue cheese stuffed olives, which have become a staple at most reputable high-end bars. I would definitely recommend District 42 to others and plan to return during our next visit.

Food and Cocktails great! The unique appetizers and pizza from Bargello are now one of favorite in Asheville ... Live DJ was killing it with upbeat tunes... great place to lounge and bring your family and friends... Service was on spot and great specials make this destination at the Kimpton top of our list!

We were staying at the hotel so decided before heading up to our room one night to have a night cap here in District 42. It's a smartly designed space that fits well into the overall look/vibe of the Arrus/Kimpton hotel. The three nights we were there it never seemed to be too populated. (granted it was weeknights, maybe it gets a little more happening over the weekends when live music happens.) That didn't really bother us on this occasion, but if you're looking for a lively atmosphere, it may or may not happen in this space. I had the Smoked Old Fashioned cocktail which, despite the fact that I saw them make it and go through the process of "smoking" it before serving, the smoke itself was barely noticeable in the drink itself. So it felt like I was drinking a perfectly fine Old Fashioned, but since it was labeled as "smoked" I did wonder what had happened. It was also a bit price...$20 for a cocktail felt like a lot. I mean I paid it and didn't complain...such is the modus operandi for being on vacation, but glancing at it afterwords and realizing what I got, it just felt kind of pricy. There are plenty of comfortable spaces to sit...couches in little semi-enclosed areas, tables, comfy chairs...so you're bound to be comfortable here. There are numerous items on their menu suitable for vegetarians as well.

Finally got to check out this place. The ambience is very cool. They are a little disoriented with seating but luckily with community table we were able to find a seat pretty quickly. Our server was fabulous but don't remember his name. Enjoyed the Dj spinning the tunes on a Saturday night. The drinks were great including the don't burst your my bubble is a sight to see. Don't leave without trying one of their pizzas. You should not be disappointed

Loved Locals nights! The pizza was delicious - specifically loved the mushroom pesto! Definitely try the burrata and enjoyed the Holiday cocktails. The DJ was so fun!

As a local, this is one of the unsuspecting places for awesome eats and drinks in Asheville. Have had many delicious meals here and always love the special events. Last night's 1/2 off pizza and $10 cocktails with DJ Teathyme was perfect. Hope they continue to run these specials!

My family & I ate dinner here on Christmas Eve and I'm glad we did. District 42 and Bargello are sister restaurants are co-located which is cool but had our hostess a little confused on our reservation when we checked in at the wrong host stand since they're not clearly designated. There was a live pianist who was FIRE! The service was not as great as I'd expect given the atmosphere but they were short-staffed so tehy get a pass for that. The food definitely had a standout performance. Everyone cleaned their plate. Definitely a great spot for date night or happy hour drinks Must try: crab & shrimp dip with fried pita (20/10)

I don't normally leave reviews, but I felt called to because of how great our Monday night out was at district 42! I was delighted to see an Asheville hotel have a locals night! The DJ teathyme brought really great music and energy And had a wide range of music for all. Everyone was smiling and dancing which is just what this community needs. The drink and food specials were such a great touch as it definitely made sense to stick around for awhile. Their Old Fashions are some of the best around. Really hope they continue this!

Wonderful drinks and service. Martha was awesome, she showed her expertise by making drinks that were amazing and not in the menu. Always ask for Martha If she is available :-) Ps: their smoky old fashioned is fantastic a must try and perfect nightcap.

What a gorgeous addition to downtown Asheville. The newly finished bar located in the main floor of the Hotel Arras is beautifully decorated, spacious and inviting. It is lovely and it's obvious that a lot of creative thought went into designing and decorating the space. It's very classy. When you walk into the main doors from Biltmore Ave, the bar is located directly to your left and their restaurant (Bargello) is to the right. As far as I saw, there were no hosts for the bar and it was first come, first serve. My friend and I came in on a Saturday night at 7:30 and there were no open seats available. We hoovered for about 10 minutes hoping that someone might leave. No one did, so we walked to another bar and came back in an hour. When we came back, we found a booth seat that we shared with another couple. We had great service from 2 or 3 different servers who were friendly and on top of it. My friend ordered the drink Mountain Air which is a gin drink served with a rosemary bubble on top. It was super fun and delicious. I had the Rabbit on Main which was refreshing. Their cocktail menu is full of unique drinks, well crafted with good quality liquors. They range from $11-$65 for the drinks for 2-4 people. They also serve food including pizzas and desserts. I definitely look forward to coming here again and bringing some more friends. Margherita pizza is one of my favorite foods so I'll be ordering that next time for sure.

The drinks here were very good and unique. I won't lie this place is pricey though! We payed $64 for 2 drinks and some fries. This bar is beautiful and although it's a hotel bar it is set apart to give you a full bar experience. The truffle fries here are really good. My wife and I finished them in minutes. The combination of truffle oil and parmesan cheese on these crunch fries was so good. They literally brought my starving wife back to life. My Obscure Autumn drink was tummy first try at Japanese whisky and it was very good. The drink was boozy yet full of flavor. The drink has figs in it that give it a sweet touch to the whiskey forward drink. My wife had the blood moon and it was really good as well. If you're a fan of blood orange this drink will be right up your alley. The combination of mixers come together well for a balance drink that leave you taste buds delighted.

Drinks were unremarkable compared to the other cocktail spots around - Carolina mule was fine and the Lust and money was very tart, cherry purée was overpowering. Fried ravioli and falafel were mediocre. The flatbread was tasty.

I went here with my partner for my birthday dinner and we were so glad they served cute "bubble cocktails". The bartender used something that resembled a hot glue gun to fill the glass with a rosemary-infused liquid and shot the gun on top of the champagne to form a bubble. Nonetheless, food was delicious too! The ambience was classy. The staff was very friendly and attentive.

Great restaurant in the Kimpton hotel ! Tasty food and quick delivery. Staff is amazing

We were looking for somewhere to grab a late dinner and came across District 42, as most other places were closed or about to close. Nice spot with good food. My friend started with an espresso martini. I tried a sip and it was very well made (tempting to order one myself). The waitress suggested the pasta and said the pasta is made in-house every morning. We ordered the cacio e pepe and the D42 burger with truffle fries to share. The pasta was delicious, the sauce was just fantastic. The burger was okay, not bad but nothing impressive. We expected more of the burger. The truffle fries were decent as well.. not bad, but just tasted like regular fries. After taking our order, our waitress was MIA. We had to ask another member of the waitstaff for water after awhile and they seemed very bothered by that. The place was popping and most people there were drinking and dancing... granted we were there around 9:30-9:45ish. Overall a good experience but wish we had gone for an earlier dinner to try a truly local spot that would stand out.

We got cocktails and dessert here. This bar had really nice furniture and interior! Would recommend even as a date. Would like to try their food if we weren't so full. Cocktails were $12-16, and they were all very unique. They were decorated nicely, so would recommend for a date! Sadly, they didn't have the Rosemary gin cocktail I saw from previous reviewers :(

This place is so neat! Atmosphere is on point. The venue is just beautiful. I was helping with an event in Asheville and decided to walk around and have some drinks while I wasn't needed. We popped into District 42 and had a seat at the bar. Immediately greeted by a manager with a great attitude!! We had walked in right when shift was starting so the bartender didn't even have her drawer yet for the cash register. The manager (I wish I could remember her name) was so nice and went ahead and took our drink orders while the bartender prepared for shift. Our drinks were delicious and you can tell they are made with fresh ingredients and herbs! I highly recommend this venue!

This was very good the first time we went. Limited menu but salad and pizza were very good and drinks were pretty good too. Service was also good. When we went back, there was no longer table service. We were told we needed to go to the bar to order and pick up our order. Prices didn't change to reflect the DIY serving. Seems like they need to rethink their theme and pricing if they no long plan to have service. We left and won't go back, which is too bad because we liked our first visit.

My husband and I stumbled upon District 42 on our trip to Asheville. We arrived from Florida on Thanksgiving night and we were a bit nervous as most restaurants were closed. However, the outside ambiance of District 42 drew us in. We had our dog with us and we were worried if they were going to serve us outside. They stated it wasn't a problem! Our server Lauren, was extremely attentive and gave water to our dog. We had expresso martinis (delicious!). I had the chicken Caesar salad while my husband had a gourmet burger. What a wonderful "Thanksgiving meal" it was! Overall, we would definitely be back!!

What a beautiful place this is in the Arras Hotel! Host Jordan was super friendly and our bartender Dani was such a gem. We didn't grab food, but everyone at the bar was raving about how good the food was. It's just worth it to sit in such a beautiful place! I want to make this a pre-dinner tradition when I return to Asheville.

I've enjoyed the atmosphere, clean, beautiful, excellent food, amazing drinks and perfect service here at District 42!!! Live music and talented DJs show their crafts for everyone to enjoy. I meet local and out of town new friends here. As a matter of fact the staff has become part of my community. Each are uniquely distinctive with their personalities and their professionalism is always experienced here. I recommend this place to anyone who would love to take a break from it all and enjoy a nice drink with an entree. See you there! Hail to waiter G!

Staying at the Arras. Wonderful ambiance with floor to ceiling windows and great views. They even gave us gift bags for the dogs . The staff (minus the valet/bellman-but they could've been short staffed ‍) are amazing and this little gem of a restaurant kicked off our visit to Asheville with a BANG! Food was so good and service was on point!! Highly recommend. We have reservations to their other restaurant on property, Bargello...stay tuned!

I enjoy district 42 located inside Kimpton Hotel Arras we had a delicious pizza and a double hamburger the drinks were very good I had ( Wright flyer ) the servers had masks on and the tables were spaced out they are very cordial and atmosphere was enjoying although it was very cold and breezy outside

5 stars all the way! Phenomenal service, excellent entertainment, delicious food and amazing cocktails. A must go!

Bar service was wonderful inside the hotel. They had a large variety of spirits, beers, wines, and cocktails. The pizzas were fine--nothing special--but helped even out our evening meal.

Food, drinks, service are all really good! For a hotel restaurant and bar, they are doing a great job. Looking forward to coming back soon!!!

We spent our cousins wedding weekend here. So much fun! Food and cocktails were amazing! The first night I ordered a Julio marg no salt...the next night, Jordan, our awesome waiter, actually remembered what I ordered! Pretty amazing considering we had around 20-40 people with our group off and on all weekend! Szobody, the manager, came to our table too (I suppose because we drank the bar down and the kitchen had to restock after we left)...to thank us! Lol. So nice! Great place! Go! Ask for Szobody and Jordan!

Such a fun bar! Food is delicious, but the thing to write home about are the staff and their incredible cocktails. I had the pleasure of staying at The Arras for a week For a work conference and I'm so excited to have had the chance to explore this spot. What would have normally been overlooked as a hotel bar has now become a new destination spot I will haunt for months to come!

I came here with my husband during our first night during our couples only visit to Asheville. The food was very fresh - locally sourced and very delicious. Drinks - a Manhattan and an Old Fashioned were perfectly made. The DJ was incredible and made a perfect backdrop to our evening. I would definitely visit this place again.

Jordan our server is fabulous. Bar phenomenal with nice wine selection. Old Fashion very nice too. thanks szobody

If you want a true Asheville experience then I'd avoid District 42. The drinks were okay but nothing to write home about and the vibe felt like we were in an upscale bigger town that was trying too hard to be cool. The staff were helpful and kind but the overall execution of the space food and drinks were just meh. If you're in town for a short while I'd definitely recommend going elsewhere to get a more authentic Asheville experience.

This is the Kimpton bar. It has a nice main street facing patio with comfy couches and a big fire display. Bushes and a fence do a good job of shielding the patio from the street. The servers were attentive and friendly, as were the hosts. The cocktails were very good - the dessert drinks as well. Their desserts were good too. This is a nice place to end the evening and relax. I would definitely enjoy coming back here.

Giving this place a 5. Solid spot for drinks and bites, which is what we came for tonight. Last night we came for pre dinner drinks before walking to another restaurant. We will try it for dinner next time. Great ambiance and central to everything in downtown Asheville.

The music indoors was really very loud and it was difficult to have a conversation over it. I asked for a gin sour which would normally be prepared with a little bit of simple syrup but I just received gin with lemon juice, which was strange. Maybe it's just too old school of a cocktail. The desserts were amazing. The apple dessert with the ice cream sandwich was excellent. Service was fast and friendly. Overall, a really good experience.

so hospitabl and friendl! love coming here!! highly recommend.

This is the bar in the Kimpton Arras hotel, which serves some bona fide meals as wellas small plates. My wife and I had dinner here Friday night after flying in to Asheville. One always has to worry about hotel restaurants, but this is a very big exception to the rule. Food was amazing. The mussels were really incredible. The gluten-free bucatini they made for my wife was literally better than most regular pastas I have ever tasted. The scallops were grilled to Perfection and among possibly among the best I've ever had. And the service? Six stars out of five. Truly attentive, friendly, likeable, but without being overshadowing or too much in your space. Multiple members of staff checked on us in tandem throughout our meal.

Great service and the Scallops were wonderful! Liked the asparagus too and nice wine choices.

Solidly mediocre. The staff that works there is great. Friendly and good service. It's just the management... Corporate and substandard. You can tell it's run by out of town jerks. Coming in town and instead of choosing to be good neighbors they are bullies.

So I've been twice since they opened. I was excited to visit the new Kimpton hotel and try out their bar. I have spent many an evening in Kipton's and their bars. The first time I got the very expensive Black Bear cocktail. I expected a unique flavor with the Nocino, but it was just bad. I went back to the bar twice to see if they could fix it or change it into something drinkable but ended up abandoning my $14 drink. I switched to a nice aged rum for almost $20 a shot. I was there this past Saturday, and they had one server working all of the tables and sitting areas, so service was slow. The cocktails were OK but again the price was way above Asheville market. If you're looking for much better cocktails and better prices you might look in other Districts in town; there is the South Slope District, River Arts District, West Asheville area to name a few.

I would give zero stars if I could. We recently had a wedding in Asheville and I brought in prob 20 couples to stay in the Kimpton Hotel. From what I heard, they are not associated together but who knows. The hotel was great for the most part but the bar (District 42) was horrible. I heard multiple complaints from people saying they have rude bartenders/servers. Would be told in rude ways that they can't split bills unless you tell them before. If you didn't, they wouldn't do it and some guests said they were charged 20 % gratuity without being notified. One night , I had asked a individual behind the bar for a drink. He looked younger but he had a mask on so tough to tell. He got an attitude and said "I can't get you a drink I'm like 15." Then rolled his eyes and just was a jerk. I told him he didn't need to be an a$$hole and could just tell me he couldn't and get someone else to help me. Eventually he chatted with what appeared to be bar manager. About 20 minutes later, security came over and asked a group of 7 of us to leave. I never was asked anything about what happened. We had caused no other problems that night. Horrible and I would not recommend anyone go here for a drink unless you want to be helped by rude staff. Wish I could have gotten staff and bar managers names. Will never be back.

The drinks here were great. Outside is first come first serve so we sat out there. It was drizzling so we asked if the umbrella next to us could be opened, the guy that came out and opened it gave us an attitude while doing it (sorry we didn't want to get wet) but overall enjoyed our experience. Our waitress was good.

A great addition to the Asheville downtown scene. It's great to see long-time locals open and run such a beautiful venue. The staff is top-notch, the drinks are well-crafted, and the food is terrific. It's a testament to their love of Asheville that they hire local musicians and fill the entire building with locally produced artwork. This is a go-to spot that isn't to be missed.

Our waiter Shine was awesome. He is why we returned to the restaurant every day. Food was good, Mushroom pizza was awesome, but the staff is what made it really special. The bartender Tony was not only engaging, but his innovative mixology skills had us extending our afternoon happy hour into an evening-long, better than anticipated, experience. Thanks again Shine (and Jordan!) and all your hardworking incredible colleagues.

Over priced. The charcuterie board was so so. Especially because once of the meats tasted old!! Yuck! The cocktails are ok definitely not worth the $15-17. The bartenders were nice! And the establishment is gorgeous but not worth a $63 for a charcuterie board. 1 cocktail, and 1 beer.

My wife and I went in and got drinks and a couple dishes. The finishes in the space are really nice and the service was great. We got the wings and the burger and both were good. The wings however were our favorite. Drinks were a little pricey but were good. The outdoor area will be great next summer.

I tried the brisket over a pair of potato hash brown with an egg on top. It was delicious! The place was nice, calm, and clean. Service was great. Overall a very nice experience, totally recommended.