Imperial

Nice spot for cocktails and people watching on College Street. Bartender was great. Thanks!

To say I’m disappointed would be generous. I walked into imperial well-dressed, calm, and prepared to enjoy a simple drink. Instead, I was publicly denied service because, according to the bartender, my cologne was “too strong.” Not because I was intoxicated. Not because I was causing a scene. Because I had the audacity to wear fragrance something that, last I checked, is not banned, dangerous, or even uncommon in nightlife. Let’s be clear: this wasn’t about cologne. This was about control. About someone deciding I didn’t belong based on their own comfort level. About ego, bias, and the kind of quiet prejudice that hides behind fake policies and “preferences.” The most insulting part? There was no attempt to de-escalate or address the situation with any maturity. No offer to move, no conversation just a smug dismissal as if I should’ve known better than to show up smelling like confidence and care. It’s wild how quickly hospitality turns into hostility when you walk in as a Black man with presence. Apparently, that alone is enough to unsettle fragile people. If this is how imperial operates treating guests like problems to be managed rather than people to be welcomed I’d rather spend my money somewhere that knows the difference between a customer and a threat. This space may have the music and mood, but it severely lacks class. Shame on whoever was behind that bar, and shame on any establishment that condones this kind of selective, performative “professionalism.” I won’t be back. And if you carry yourself with even a hint of self-respect, you shouldn’t either.

I went on a Friday night and the dj was playing the best Latin dance music. It was super fun. Not a big space, so only 25 can dance at a time, with limited seating, so don't expect a huge disco or night club.

Just went to the opening of the taproom downstairs and had the best time. Cocktails on tap are such a shout because we didn’t have to wait for drinks plus the staff are incredible. Can’t wait to come back!

absolutely stellar cocktails and awesome vibe. so happy to stumble on this place and would definitely come back. you can tell the bartenders know what they're doing. the spitting devil was 10/10 and the perfect daiquiri is accurately named.

Imperial's drinks were incredible! We stopped in ahead of a dinner reservation in Asheville and enjoyed the paloma and margarita. It was amazing how everything was on tap. I wish I could recreate the drinks, they were delicious!

We had the best experience here. Immediately, it was like tell me what you like and I will create it. We showed a drink recipe that we had liked and both bartenders were so excited to make the drink with their own flare. It turned into a competition. Best experience ever! Don’t miss this place! Amazing. You will miss out if you do not drop by for a taste and experience.

Love this place. It's a must everytime we come to Asheville. Get rid of whoever DJs on Saturday 3/22, he's all over the place and can't read the room. Literally nobody was dancing but maybe two people who were his friends.

Are you 30+ and remember how the clubs use to be, then go here on Sunday night (9/1)! Are you under 30 and want to know what we mean when we say clubs use to be more fun and people actually dance then go here on a Sunday night!! The DJ had this place jump from the moment we walked in to the moment we left! My husband and I danced the whole night! They even serve a small complimentary hotel style breakfast! Who doesn't love crispy breakfast after drinking all night! The drink specials and bartenders were awesome!

Best bartender ever! Knows his stuff! You want tequila come here. Place is great. Ambiance is amazing. Has plants, can't hate a place with real plants. Best experience by far this weekend

Soooo much fun! Went here with my fiancé and his parents for some Kate night fun. DJ played such fun dancing music and the vibes were so fun. Great prices for the drinks as well! Bartenders were very friendly. Would definitely return!

Good service with a chill vibe. We stopped in for a drink before dinner and there were only a few people there so no waiting for drinks or a table. By the time we left 30 minutes later, it was starting to fill up. E sure to check out the wallpaper in the bathroom.

Not sure how to differentiate the bar service from the DJ interaction. The bar service was great! Go for drinks and you won't be disappointed. You could tip the DJ $1k and he could care less about your money. Stiff him and you're experience will be complete. It's a very small and very loud spot.

My recent vacation / cocktail tour of Asheville brought me to The Imperial Life after bartenders all over the city kept staring this was one of their favorite locations. If a bartender recommends another bar it is worth checking out but if every bartender recommends a bar after several days of bar hopping it is a must! The Imperial Life is a fun second floor cocktail bar. The ambiance is this worn in look which made it felt comfortable to me. The bar was fairly busy but the wait wasn't too long. The bartenders were great - friendly, approachable, and willing to experiment and go off menu. Personally I found going off menu suited me better. Most of their menu drinks were spirit forward, which was very nice but I found when I started asking for the bartender's recommendations with the type of spirit and flavor profile I was seeking I enjoyed the results more. The drinks were more balanced when I went that route. I enjoyed my time here! It was very nice!

Imperial opened up above what was our go to spot for margaritas in downtown AVL. It's a beautiful space but it is so hot in there. The bartenders are great but the drinks were my favorite.

Very fun cocktail bar! The perfect vibes for those looking for a city/cocktail ambiance. The DJ was incredible! Drinks were strong and delicious! Highly recommend if you're in the area looking for a vibey bar!

My wife and I have visited here a few times over the past few years. We are always I impressed with the knowledge and quality of service. Emma was awesome tonight...thanks for everything...the Fleetwoods.

Jeffery and Richie provided the best customer assistance I've ever experienced. This is my third time to Asheville and I would recommend EVERYONE to come here. If you like a good martini I can tell you they would do ANYTHING to get you your "spirit" drink.

Awesome DJ, retro hipster techno/edm music. Great bartenders, fast service, clean bathrooms, fantastic cocktails. Great ambiance and we scooped window seats. Highly recommend.

A pleasant spot to pop into. I t's upstairs but you won't miss it, there is a sign outside to give you a heads up. We were going to a restaurant downtown and we were a little ahead of schedule, so we stopped in this cocktail specialty bar. the downstairs was interesting but the actual bar was up a flight of stairs. we grabbed a couple spots at the bar and checked out the offerings on the menu. There was a daiquiri martini which I didn't think I had ever had so I got that. It was a great drink, with excellent presentation. It was an elegant way to start the evening. My gal didn't see a drink she liked so she asked for a couple ingredients and the bartender went to work. He made a great drink that hit the spot. I followed up with a Gallo Margarita. The presentation could have been better but most fancy bars don't have margarita glasses that I have seen. But the drink was great. I think its already known locally as a spot to hit, but I will add my 2 cents that it's a great spot to start the night.

This bar is fantastic and I've visited it twice now. I love the imperial gin and tonic!

The perfect break from the brewery scene in Asheville (there is beer available if you are looking for that). All cocktails are $13 each unless you order the special. We ordered two rounds of cocktails: Round no. 1- Lavender Fields and Banarand Round no. 2- Handsome Devil and Smoke & Fire The cocktails were good, the only one I did not care for was the Handsome Devil. If you are hungry, food is available during certain times. Cheers.

Our favorite cocktail bar in Asheville! We love the mezcal and we love mezcal monday! They have dj's every night starting at 9pm!

Mixology. Craft cocktail. Terms thrown around with such reckless abandon that they don't really mean much. The Imperial Life, an upstairs bar that is modest, yet glamorous in its own right, pretty much epitomizes what craft cocktails are supposed to be. From the enormous array of housemade syrups, garnishes, ingredients that line the front of the bar, to the aproned bartenders deftly spending 10 minutes to meticulously craft your drink - this is the bartop equivalent of a chef's table. Waiting and watching is part of the experience. The hand sawn ice, the careful application of fire to a citrus peel, the finished drinks are almost too precious to drink, but when you do, it is an "elixir" in every sense of the word, "a magical, medical potion." We came here last night for a quick drink before we headed home after our anniversary dinner. I dug everything about it. Rum old fashioned was so rich and amazing. My Odd Four seasonal cocktail with a bubbly hit of pilsner was so complex. I was in my happy place. While pricey, it's a one of kind experience.

Great vibe, great cocktails, great bar staff. The drinks are carefully prepared and the music is fantastic. A really nice, dimly lit end to your night.

The bartender on duty said any drinks he makes is going to be the best I've ever had. It was weird. The place was hidden up some stairs. And really hot. We had to chug and run because of the heat

My husband and I stumbled upon this gem of a bar only because they had a sign out front advertising half price Mescal on Monday's. I love mescal so of course we had to check it out! Their mescal menu must contain close to 2 dozen different artisan mescals. The bartender who served us, Thistle, is a master of his craft and made us craft mescal cocktails that were excellent (and not on the menu). This place is a jewel

If you're in Asheville, for any amount of time, please go to this place, I consider myself a cocktail snob and within the 5 minutes I was in their place, I knew I was among professionals. I tasted 4 different liquors free of charge before I even made my initial cocktail decision. This Is truly a hidden gem.

Great atmosphere to enjoy a quiet solid drink by yourself or with your love ones. Bartenders are friendly and cordial

Wow! What a difference a few years has made. Imperial used to be craft cocktails in a small venue. It was classy, the cocktails were refined and a great place to have a nightcap. Now, it's loud and the $15 cocktails range from uninspired and mediocre to downright awful. There no longer is craftsman creating cocktails based on a flavor profile you like. We tried 4 of the cocktails from the menu and 1 was palatable, 1 was just ok and 2 were positively awful. Imperial used to be a must go and now it is a never again. If I'm going to spend $15 per cocktail, it needs to be drinkable. Please bring back the awesome craft cocktails and wonderful experience this bar used to be. The staff was very accommodating and made a different cocktail to replace the 1 that was completely unpalatable.

I absolutely loved this little bar. Space was at a premium but it was very cute. Had an old fashioned and it was made just right. My bartender was super friendly and for a short vacation this was just what I needed. There were a couple of djs and was able to dance the night away. Not great to go to alone but with a friend this has the right vibe.

Beautiful atmosphere with lovely bartenders and amazing drinks! 10/10 recommend, good vibes for an after dinner or late afternoon date :) Try the "this is what today looks like"

Cute little cocktail bar. The bartenders were awesome super friendly, knowledgeable, and skilled. Cocktails had a single ice cube (I am snob like that). Highly recommend if stopping by Asheville

Handsome little bar to stop in after strolling downtown. It's upstairs (above the infamous Table) and if you can grab a window seat it's an awesome place to munch, sip, and people watch.  Downside: Got one drink and a cheese/charcuterie board and our total was $50.  Both items were good, but not definitely not spectacular enough to justify the price.

We walked the town searching for a cocktail after dinner and this little gem didn't disappoint. The friendly and helpful bartender helped make the experience. She took pride in her work and helped talk us through the flavors. The bar is upstairs from street level in a very nicely restored part of an old building. If you are out for a stroll in Asheville, stop in here to cool off and relax over a crafted cocktail.

Popped in this little spot Saturday night to wait out the rain before our 9pm dinner reservation elsewhere and found it to be a much needed respite! Decor is understated, food and drinks are good without being fussy. Old fashioneds were on special so we started out with one of those and I have to say it was perfect! Smooth and delightful! Bar staff were knowledgeable and friendly, despite the place being packed! We did manage to grab stools at the bar and ordered the pigs in a blanket and deviled eggs. Both were delicious and a great small bite to enjoy with our cocktails. I'd return anytime I'm back in Asheville.

My wife and I's favorite drinks are often replicated but rarely mastered. The Imperial Life's staff managed to recreate both flawlessly. For her its the Ramos Gin Fizz, for me the Mai Tai. Her RGF was created and presented in the most visually appealing way and had the most even taste/consistency of any I've born witness to. My Mai Tai was the lightest and most refreshing of any I have ever had; at Trader Vic's, at other more modern and hip Tiki bars, at craft cocktail centers or made in my own house as I work to perfect my recipe. Truly a gem.

It feels like it should have a quiet, cozy atmosphere but the night we went the customers didn't seem to be able to read a room. The drinks are a little pricey but so worth it! The bartenders definently know what they're doing.

This new extension of Table is a nice chance of pace from many of the drinking establishments. Small and intimate, I enjoy having a cocktail here from time to time...and cocktails they are in the sense all are "crafted". What does that mean, well it means complexity without ton's of sugary syrups. The bar staff know how to make a great cocktail as well as can adlib a bit and make something you crave, but isn't on the menu. This all reminds me of bars in Chicago like "The Velvet Hour", etc......low lighting, on the ball staff, and a great space. Though I do think they need softer seating. For a lounge this place has a few too many hard spots....even my friends who visited here recently for the first time also made that observations. More pillows and seat cushions and perhaps a few funky winged back chairs........but forgive me.......I'm harking back to Chicago again. This is a definite for date night for sure as well as a great place for "adults" to have a drink....check them out.

Awesome spot for cocktails, up on the second floor. Drinks were great, bartenders were cool and very knowledgable.

Yes Asheville, you are "Beer Town", but behind that cloud of hops are some of the best cocktail bars anywhere. Upstairs over Table you'll find this gem. It's small and special. A good enough selection to make anything, and their special cocktails are innovative. Many are long lost classics. Don't walk by on College and miss this.

Quirky bar with interesting drinks. I'm more a beer drinker if I choose to partake, I had a wicked weed IPA and a lager (I can't remember the name) . Those around me tried the painkiller (run drink) and bulleit manhattans. The clientele is kind of young and hipster (after all you are in Asheville) . The bar wasn't really to my liking, but the others enjoyed themselves. The reason for 4 star is you get to watch the bartenders and how they put effort into their crafting of their drinks with care and detail I felt it was deserving of the high rank. The do some serious shaking of the drinks too. If you like clean showmanship on mixology and don't mind a hipster setting you should check it out

The beau and I went here for drinks before brunch on Valentine's Day, and we really enjoyed ourselves! This bar is quite the hidden gem. Super eclectic and very welcoming. The gentleman at the bar was great, and he had no problem adding in a few extra things to get the right taste on my boyfriends Bloody Mary. They weren't the BEST bloody Mary's I've ever had, but I've had a lot worse. Would definitely come back again! Also, random side note - the bathrooms here are filled with extremely neat artwork!

Hmm where to start... Okay so we came here on a Monday night. The bar upstairs was very, very Brooklyn. They had some great deals since it was a Monday night... First I asked the bartender to make me something refreshing and strong. He served me up a Penicillin, which classically is scotch with lemon, etc. I don't know what type of liquor he used but it tasted smokey as heck. I'm not on board with this smokey flavor trend. It honestly tasted like a band-aid. The next drink I ordered was a strawberry banana daiquiri on the special menu. It was more sour than sweet. They were serving $4 grilled cheese so I ordered that as a late night munch. It was simply not that good. Grilled cheese to me is classic cheddar or a cheese with lots of flavor, but they used some sort of mild pepperjack. The service was fine. Not very personable, but like I said everything about this place echoed Brooklyn.

If the steep stairs to the second floor above Table restaurant don't scare you off, The Imperial Life is one of Asheville's most tasteful, upper end bars with a good selection of drinks and brands at not unreasonably high prices. Although this bar is known for its craft cocktails -- mostly $11 to $12 -- we went the simple route on a recent night and just had Jameson on the rocks ($9). Imperial Life has a selection of blended and single-malt Scotches from $9 to $30, bourbons from $6 to $25, rums ($6 to $14) and other drinks, along with some local drafts, bottled beers and a few wines. You can also order a few food items from Table's kitchen, such as the house-cured charcuteries plates ($6 to $16), a cheese plate ($6 to $16), a salad ($12) and even a $9 hot dog and pigs in a blanket ($5), but we passed on the food on this occasion. Just don't overdo it here, because when you you have to navigate those steep stairs with fairly narrow steps. I could be wrong, but it seems to me the crowd here is mostly local, and somewhat older and better heeled than most Downtown bars. By the way, the washrooms here are extremely cool.

Staff is very rude! Plus drinks aren't good at all. Go to the times bar. It's worth the extra few minutes walk. Plus this bar is loud and very hot.

After trying an app at Table during our food tour, they told us about Imperial Life upstairs. When they said they cure their own meats I knew we had to try it. We went on a Sunday before dinner and were a bit surprised how empty it was. Nevertheless we took a seat at the bar and ordered up some craft cocktails. The bartender explained what was in the drinks and showed us how she made them. For the second round she made custom drinks for us depending on the flavors we enjoy. Me like! We ordered the charcuterie with three meats and two cheeses and thoroughly enjoyed the flavors. Duck sausage, mortadella, and creamy cheeses were really tasty! And the pickled celery...Where can I get some?!?! Really cute place to sit on a late afternoon and have a cocktail with cured meats!

Asheville's first charcuterie is a very welcome addition to the downtown nightlife. This loft bar is perfectly designed to be just enough rustic and classy at the same time. And the service is excellent. I had the barrel aged Manhattan...my good god was it perfect. Not too sweet and not an ounce of harshness. Perfectly mixed. The cheese an cured meat selection is incredible. They hand select their cheeses and house cure their meats. I was in heaven for the hour I sipped my Manhattan and savored the meat and cheese (and the yummy pickled okra). Head to this place as soon as possible. It's the perfect way to start, spend or end an evening downtown.

Living in Asheville, we are completely spoiled to have so many amazing cocktail bars and lounges. Imperial Life stands out from the others! It has the atmosphere of being in a larger city, but still cozy. Being placed up the stairs of a restaurant and not being store front it can easily be passed by, but don't! I went with my family a few weeks ago (we were doing sort of a bar hop around the town) and we had an absolutely awesome time! I had a few snacks, not really remembering exactly what I ordered but I'm pretty sure it had pimento cheese, YUM! And of course the drinks. I had a dirty martini (which can easily be too sea watery) but it was totally delish. If you live in town or are visiting it is a great little spot.

A bar, a floor above a well known Asheville restaurant, in an old Life Insurance Building with a convenient name. My fiancé and I stopped in here on a whim after being tourists all day and also checking out a couple of breweries, looking for a cocktail as opposed to the flights of beers that had all started to blend together. We were very happy with our drinks. Yes, I felt they were expensive but the bartender was very knowledgeable and friendly and happy to offer any drink suggestion, add to our conversation, and answer any question about the drinks that my very excited fiancé threw at him. This was a wonderful place to end our night and I'm happy we impulsively ended up here.

Old school bar. Ice blocks, more than a dozen kinds of bitters, the cantineros shake drinks until they are foamy. Kinda skimpy on the liquor choices, but high quality. It's a drinkers apothecary. Try the homemade ice cream! It's a small one-room joint upstairs from a well reviewed restaurant. Uni restrooms. Honestly it deserves 5 starts, but I just can't go 5 with so few bourbons. That's right.

Jorge did a great job! His recommendations including the breads, tartare, and tomatoes were great! Big surprise was the eggs and beans. Not something we would order but were pleasantly surprised. Really enjoyed the barrel rested Negronis. My one complaint was the other bartender, didn't get his name but had a man bun and pirate earring, didn't follow up on the sample he poured my fiancée. It was not busy at this point, approx 9:30. Not sure what happened to that guy. Good news is since he didn't follow up we saved money by not having to pay for additional drinks, or an Uber. Jorge, Negronis, and food get a rating of 5 stars. The other Bartender, and website stating they have a different menu (ARTISANAL CHEESE until 9:30, we were there before 9:30.) is why my rating is 4 stars.

According to the bouncer last Saturday night reusable water bottles are not allowed at this bar. I don't know if that's actually a rule of this establishment or just a bouncer on a power trip, but I resent being *threatened* for simply bringing water with me. As a local, I recommend folks go around the corner to "The Vault" for better drinks, better prices and much better attitudes.

I came here on a Saturday night for drinks before dining at Table, right below the bar. Not only does that make an easy 1-2 punch - but depending on how the kitchen is doing, and on how fast those bartenders are making their mixtures - you are in the same space (virtually) so it seems like a no-brainer. I was part of a group of 5 people, so we sat at one of the high top tables behind the bar, near the stairwell. Our server was very personable, enthusiastic, and prompt. I didn't see a cocktail on their menu that spoke to me, but I was glad to read that you can leave it to the bartenders to make their own concoction for you. I was eager to see what they had up their sleeves, so with a basic set of instructions (gin based, savory) I set them off and running. The first drink they made had gin, smoked agave syrup, celery, and jalapeno tincture. That was very tasty - and interesting. The smoky flavor resonated through, but the bitterness of the celery also spoke volumes. I had them expand on this premise two more times (our reservation at Table was delayed by over 30 minutes!). The next was gin based with lemon, pineapple, and a spicy pepper tincture. I liked this one even better than the first. They should put that on the menu. Lastly, I had one with gin, pineapple, mezcal, jalapeno tincture and the smoked agave syrup. I think I liked this the least, but I am not a mezcal/tequila drinker so it tends to throw me for an unpleasant loop. That said, it was still quite a tasty concoction. I would definitely come back to this place, and, preferably sit at the bar. The bartenders, and servers, seem to know their mixtures and I would like to see what other interesting creations could be made.

Best drinks I had in Asheville. Best meat I had in Asheville. Best cheese I had in Asheville. Best bar snacks I had in Asheville.

Imperial life is a 5 star cocktail lounge. It is one of the spots that really pushed Asheville's cocktail scene into a new level of awesome. Elements that they instituted from their first day have become par for the course in cocktail lounges, house made syrups, shrubs, barrel aged cocktails, mallet crushed ice... Imperial life really helped set the bar for what is expected from itself and other bars in town that serve premium drinks. What's really nice about Imperial Life's rotating list of craft cocktails is that their menu designates which of your wonderful bartenders created the item, or where it came from if it's borrowed from another restaurant's recipe. It gives each of the drinks more character in my opinion. I don't make it here as often as I would like, but I would love to fall in love with a bartender's palate by trying their drinks and follow their evolution through the year and the seasons. There is also a small plate menu that features some of the finest charcuterie in town. Do not skip out on the tartar. Yes, raw beef may be intimidating, but you should have it here to use as a bench mark for all other tartars you may enjoy in your life. The only reason I'd contemplate giving Imperial Life less than 5 stars is because I haven't figured out when it is the best time for one to come here. The space is challenging and loud. There's seating on one side of the stair way, and along the bar, but if you're visiting with a large group, or arrive after all of the other seating areas have been claimed, you may find yourself uncomfortable or shouting at your date to overcome the cacophony from other people just trying to hear each other. They have DJ's on Wednesdays, Fridays, and I believe Saturdays, which is fun, but also adds to the volume of people here. If you want to add this place to your must try list and want to really take your time diving into the menu I'd suggest a Tuesday or Thursday evening. Sit at the bar, and make sure to talk to your bartenders. They are splendid people with a wealth of knowledge they are more than happy to share.

This place was awesome. It's a total sleeper- you'd walk right by it if you weren't looking for it. But the bartenders know what they're doing and the ambiance is awesome, kinda classy but not snobby. I loved it! Their Shirley temples are even fancy.