The Odd

Review of The Odd I visited this establishment with my cousin on two consecutive evenings. Our first visit was enjoyable, and the staff were welcoming. On the second night, after we had already spent time at another bar, my cousin became more intoxicated than expected. I made the bartender (with the large ear piercings) aware that I was monitoring him and would be driving. When my cousin stepped outside—clearly under the influence—I overheard the bartender making a remark about his condition to another customer. I politely asked that he refrain from commenting on my cousin in that way. The bartender (with the large ear piercings) responded by saying that it was a “public space” and he was free to say whatever he wished about someone who was “drunk and stumbling out of the bar.” I asked whether this was the standard commentary offered about paying customers who had just purchased drinks and left a generous tip. Rather than de-escalate, the bartender doubled down, and I was ultimately asked to leave simply for expressing concern and requesting basic professionalism. To be clear: I fully understand that intoxicated patrons are part of bar culture, and it is reasonable for staff to communicate internally about safety issues. However, publicly making jokes or disparaging comments about a patron to another customer crosses a boundary of professionalism. The entire situation could have been avoided with a measure of discretion and empathy. What was most disappointing was the lack of effort to understand why someone responsible for an inebriated relative would object to such commentary. I paid the tab in full, tipped generously, and treated the staff with respect. To be met with dismissiveness—and ultimately asked to leave for calmly raising a concern—was surprising and unnecessary. I hope management considers additional training for staff regarding professionalism, discretion, and customer care, particularly in situations involving intoxicated individuals. I don’t live in Asheville and my cousin just moved here. My cousin and I had genuinely begun to enjoy this venue, and it is unfortunate that the experience ended on such a preventable and disappointing note.

We visited the Odd during AVF Fest following recommendation from a friend and had a great time. The venue wasn't too busy but had a great vibe and felt well suited to rock and punk acts. Drink options were massive, including soft drinks, and between acts we tried the cheesesteaks which were shockingly good for $13 bar food. Wandering around after sets, it is absolutely worth enjoying the sheer craziness of the decor which quickly cemented this as our favourite local venue, to the extent we even grabbed one of their t-shirts. Definitely hoping to make it back for more gigs here, but there was also a great range of other events being advertised which makes it a great space. Also, don't forget to enjoy the murals and street art on the way out - they're great!

This was such a fun and lively place. We were there this past Friday for their drag show. We were in town for a wedding. Every one was so kind. This is a very lively place. Great food and good drinks! I recommend the Philly, fries, jalapeño poppers, the sampler so you can try everything 😋 All of their food is really good! We will definitely be back! Side note: they do not have the Nachos anymore 😔

Holy hell this is my favorite place forever. I just GOT MARRIED & had my reception at The Odd! So my experience may be different than a quick visit but I PROMISE you will love this place. Tamy and every single person I had the pleasure of dealing with throughout my wedding planning was a total dream team. THE FOOD AND DRINKS - to DIE for! Like literally the best ever. No one could stop talking about it. Everyone is so beyond kind and welcoming and I felt so happy just stepping foot into The Odd. Cheers to MANY more visits throughout our years. This place will hold a special spot in my heart forever. Okay I’m getting mushy - but - just go. It’s all around the neatest place with the most AMAZING staff ever.

Easily our favorite bar during our trip to Asheville. Had a great time with great drinks and met great people. Loved the taxidermy, oddities, and general decor here. Recommend to anyone who's into the goth/punk/alt/metal scene. Loved the experience of trying their "The Blood of My Enemies" drink - cocktail out of a human skull. Super cool place. Will definitely go back any time we're in Asheville.

Loved it. Wish I could have stayed longer and watch a show here. Wife brought me here because I am an odd one indeed. Felt right at home . It was like I was back in my first apartment. Great food. Great atmosphere. Don't stay after dark or the vampires will suck your blood...

Food was great, and cheap! Bar has your average beers, with some specialty cocktails that were interesting. The building is amazing, paintings, pictures, and macabre artwork everywhere. They have a working cigarette machine! One of the coolest "dive bars"I've ever been in. Bar staff and patrons were all nice. Has outdoor seating with ashtrays, and (I think) shows every night.

This was a really cool eclectic place with pretty good prices for drinks. I would definitely recommend going here just to check out all the cool items they have on display

I've went to the Odd for years!!! Great little dive bar with the best draft beer selections and fun cocktails!!! Service is always amazing! The band's/ music never fails! If you're looking for a good drink or a good music chill session! The Odd has it!!!

Favorite hangout in West Asheville (or all of Asheville!) Queer and safe space, great people and employees, fun shows and events, tasty burgers and fries.

Taqueria Rosita's food is delicious and absolutely full of homemade flavors. My British husband is a chef and fell in love with their bowl of burnt ends, potatoes, and escabeche quickly served enough for both of us at $18. We don't leave a morsel in our bowl and they have Jarritos at the bar to drink to pair it off authentically. As a Hispanic, I was surprisingly satisfied with flavor and finesse at the ODD. If you are hungry, this is a great value and flavors tip well and enjoy the unusual ambiance.

This place is really unique. I'm not from NC, so when we saw this on yelp, we knew we had to try it out. It's really cool. The drinks are interesting and d the bartenders are super friendly! The vibe is cool if you like unique places. They had a show when we tried to go. They said we just needed to stay in a certain area and didn't charge us extra. I'll definitely come back next time I'm in Asheville!

Awesome place. Great service, great pricing, great patrons, plus added surprise of really good mexican food, Take the time to stop in if you are in the area. John K

We love this little place. We come for the drag shows when we're in town and it's always hilarious. The drinks will sneak up on you which is just how I like it. The food looks good but we haven't tried it yet. Can't wait to come back.

Super cool spot! Great vibe and ambiance. Great staff! Pool table and good food and drink selections! Great way to spend your Sunday afternoon! Great DJ playing some great jams! They have live music as well.

This place lives up to its name! Quirky and odd as well as fun and eclectic. Great onion rings. Staff is super friendly and you can start up quite the lively conversation here! Check out all of the "odd" memorabilia and just soak it all in. This is one of those places that you just have to see. Walk around the building as well - the murals are fantastic as is the "Wild West Asheville" mural out in the courtyard/patio area.

Down home locals spot. A fixture in Asheville. I hope it never changes. Love that now they have food, I can always get a Jell-O shot and there is always great live entertainment.

Great dive bar. It does have an interesting vibe but screams DIVE bar. Check out if you are in the area. Plus they serve food!

What a cool place! We went for drinks and breakfast. The bartender was very nice. The food was great! The hamburger had a good crust, brioche bun. Very tasty. We also had a pancake, biscuit, and sausage. Everything was great

came in late after a show downtow. great staff! I will go back next time Im in Ashevilly area

The drinks were made fast and delicious by the bartender. Both drinks we tried incorporated edible glitter which added to the fun. The space was an eclectic and open vibe. It was a nice day to sit outside with the pups. The crowd was welcoming and we enjoyed our visit.

Best fried pickles in Asheville! Not a fan of the smoking inside, but cool art work and love that it's a venue for live shows. I did not get a drink just food and service was fine.

If you're weird this is home. I was visiting from out of town and had a wonderful time. Good drinks, vibes and spoopy times!

Wow what a cool place! I loved the decor and theme of the bar. All of the details were perfect. Even the bathroom was super cool with the art on the walls and mirror covered up. The night we went there was a drag show and it was the best show I've been too. I highly recommend going here. I'm hoping to check out the drag brunch one Sunday!

The Odditorium is A GREAT oddball venue with an amazing staff that's sweet, quirky, and friendly. The atmosphere is a carefully curated amalgamation of true sideshow memorabilia, curiosities, taxidermy, and a whole lot of fun! Drink prices are reasonable and they have a popcorn machine for snacks during the wide variety of events they host! They also have an obvious love for their local artists and treat traveling performers very well. The green room is large and easy to navigate loads in and out of.

Unfortunately they were closed when my husband and I were passing through town but we were allowed in to talk to take pics and talk to the bartender for a bit. I wish I could remember her name because she was so friendly and amazing. If your reading this, I swear its not you, its me haha. Bad w names, great w faces. I love everything about this bars decor. Creepy, horror, spooky awesomeness. I would DEF come back again to have some drinks and hear some music. Check it out!

What a fun little gem this is and I went during the middle of the day. I can imagine nighttime is even more spectacular. Jason does a marvelous job with the drinks and Ben is a master in the kitchen-those onion rings! The menu is eclectic and daring and has something for everyone. I loved my Bloody Mary. Hint: go on a Sunday to get a meal in your Bloody Mary. The vibe is friendly and as a single, I chatted up people very easily. I got to meet Amy, one of the co-owners and we talked about a million things as though we were besties. I will be back to this joint every time I visit the city.

Unique place, but very welcoming. Great views , good vibes. I didn't get the bartenders name. She had an amazing black velvet dress with beautiful brown hair and cute bangs. Cool place

Best bar in Asheville! They always have amazing, unique events. Great drink specialties from friendly staff. A great place for anyone to feel comfortable and welcome.

Well first the place was super interesting all their decorations were so cool, and that's not even the best part, the food is honestly amazing plus the staff is very welcoming and kind. 10/10 definitely a must if in the area!

Came here for a Bachelorette to watch the drag show and it was an absolute blast. They did such a wonderful job with their performances and gave our gal a little extra love. The inside bar is definitely odd but I really liked it. It suits the name.

I can't believe that I haven't written a review for The Odditorium yet! The inside of the bar is decorated with all things creepy. It's weird and intriguing, full of baby dolls, antique circus posters, odd knick-knacks and human body oddities. It is dark inside but is full of art, loud music, creative people, and awesome bartenders. The outside space has picnic tables and brightly painted murals by local artists. The Odditorium is a very inviting space where I always feel at home. I've seen some amazing music performances here, Burlesque shoes, arts sales, yard sales, fundraising events and holiday parties. This is one of my favorite bars in Asheville and definitely a must-see for visitors.

The food?, amazing, the people? , exceptional, the vibes? Immaculate. Absolutely a 10/10

our first time here- gorgeous spacious patio, friendly staff, and amazing drinks. very cool vibe. i accidentally left my bag behind and drove all the way back from Charlotte to get it. the staff were so kind and kept my bag safe and even stayed late to wait for me to get there. lovely place, we will definitely be back!

A great experience! Have craved & enjoyed onion rings for 60 years and these are by far the best I've ever had.

Omg I absolutely loved this place Jenn and Ma were excellent host definitely hope to come back soon thanks for the hospitality

4 stars easy just for the unique experience that is The Odditorium. You'll walk around for an hour mumbling WTF? under your breath. Here, it's always Halloween, and the only people that don't fit in are those that fit in too well. So if you like the Odditorium, you're probably gonna love it. If not, you'll never go back, but you'll be glad you went at least once.

Liam is the best bartender in the universe!!! They make a mean sparkly mermaid and are an absolutely lovely human being

What can I say... there is no place quite like "The Odd"! THE destination for punk and rock etc live music as well as burlesque and drag. From the killer staff and bartenders to the unique drinks and now FOOD!! The Odditorium is a must-visit in Asheville

It feels like it has been years since I last visited the Odditorium. I'm happy to say that I got a chance to visit it last night and it is delightful. Being that it's on the exact opposite end of town from where I typically find myself, it's not a regular spot on my party list, but I may start coming here for a change of scenery. I was lucky enough to visit on a Tuesday evening, when they have open mic comedy which I have a real soft spot for. Good, bad, boring, or hillarious, I'm always excited to see people trying their best and facing the beast of entertaining others. I've tried it before, and it's no walk in the park. Seriously, I talk at people and host events, and yell in microphones all the time and there are few things more terrifying than a silent audience that wants nothing more than for you to make them laugh. Kudos to you if you brave that challenge. I just think it's awesome that the Odditorium. Oh. Oh man... I just got it. Odditorium, it's a play on words! It's a play on Auditorium, like where you'd have to sit and listen to DARE presentations in elementary school. How did I JUST get that? I mean, I thought it was Odditorium, like a place of oddities, but now I see that this is funny. HA! Okay, back to it. The Odditorium has a lovely sideshow/circus theme to it. There are strange things in bottles, curious art, and knick knacks of various levels of strangeness throughout the bar. The bar itself is well stocked with the necessities for a few classic drinks, but do not come here looking for some sort of high brow hibiscus infused carved ice cocktail. It's a bar. They have a great selection of draft beers, last night included Anchor's IPA which is not something you see around these parts very often at all. A delightful vintage recipe. Yee haw! There's a nice closed in outdoor area, complete with a couple of picnic tables with umbrellas so you can get your fresh air on while you consume your cold tasty beverage. If staying inside is your thing you can hang out in one of the booths, or challenge a friend to a game of pool on their pool table. Another niceity is the popcorn machine! Yes! Fresh popped popcorn that you can serve yourself. It ran out while I was there, but some gentleman made another batch. I don't think he worked there, just a regular that knew how to do it. So there's that! The bar is a private club, so if you're not a member expect to fill out the membership form and pay the member fee. If you live in Asheville this is something you're used to, if you're visiting don't freak out or feel like the bar is trying to scam you, this is all by the book as far as NC law has dictated. Oh! And another major plus for the Odditorium is its AMPLE parking. Seriously, I can't think of another bar in town that can offer this much parking. It's awesome.

I live in Chicago and this was my first time going to Asheville. On my visit I saw a lot of interesting places and things but The Odditorium was one of the most memorable experiences. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. Not only do they serve good drinks the food there is also great. People in this establishment are the best. I will be going back there on my next visit.

They're Creepy and they're Kooky - they're all together Ooky! You just entered the Adams Family recreation room and yeah, it's kinda cool! Bat skeletons and freak show memorabilia. Pool table, pinball machine and popcorn maker. Plenty of old school plush seating. A dance floor should you feel the urge. Live bands almost EVERY night. Six beer taps including Anchor Steam IPA, Arrogant Bastard Ale and Altamont Red from across the street. Membership is just $1 to drink. Totally pays off, especially if you become a regular. Bartender seems to love her job and jokes around with customers. I do believe Ken in a jar was watching while I drank my beer and gurgling "Help Me!" but I'm not sure. Maybe the drinks are just so good and strong, I was hallucinating!!

A wonderful dive bar with good prices and strange but loveable atmosphere. A great place to see a show! Supporter of local arts and a base for community activities such as their monthly yard sales in season. A+++

This bar is extremely unique! The bartenders were very helpful with ordering a specialty drink. We are from out of town, and they made us feel at home!! Great drinks

Worst experience I've ever had at a bar. My friend and I walked into a somewhat empty bar where everyone stared at us. We thought nothing of it and walked towards the bar where the bartender kept walking right by us and didn't even pay attention to us. I tried calling her over a couple of times but she kept laughing with her friends. We decided to leave and as we were walking out, the people and the bartender started laughing and the bartender said "yeah we are weird in here, we scared them away". How is that good customer service? Once we got in the car we both looked at each other and said we would never ever recommend this place to even our enemies.

This place has become my home. It's full of friendly and loving people. It has so many different events everyone can find something there.

We snuck off from a brewery tour and came here instead of the brewery we were supposed to be at because this place sounded so unique and cool. It didn't disappoint! It's dark and divey, with a punk vibe. There's plenty of crazy stuff on display to check out while you're walking around drinking your beer (of course they have a good selection- it's Asheville after all). Some of the highlights were containers of dirt from John Wayne Gacy's crawlspace for PURCHASE (Like, woah.) and plenty of taxidermy, with a realistic Mini Me doll thrown in for good measure. I was in some yuppie attire (they were Christmas presents okay?!) so I definitely felt some bad energy given off from the other patrons in the bar. I can't blame them too much. So yeah, if you're not at least a little "un-normal" looking, and/or a local, you might get the cold shoulder. They have shows here too, which from what I overheard can be pretty crazy, so if you're into that it sounds like a good time. All in all this place is really cool, if I lived nearby I'm sure I'd be a regular, but it's not really a place for tourists, especially if they're dressed in North Face and riding boots.

Super fun! John is an outstanding bartender and the whole experience was interesting! Definitely will go again the next time I'm in Asheville!

This is my favorite divey bar in all of Asheville. I have celebrated numerous birthdays and anniversaries here. The Odd hosts a ton of great shows ranging from drag shows to heavy metal and everything in between. Justyn from Dark and Deviant (our local supplier of unique and fascinating taxidermy and oddities) keeps most of his non-traveling items here you can purchase whenever you'd like. He also stocks the bar with some fun NOT-for-sale attractions such as the two-headed-mummy gaff and the two-headed goose. Jenny, one of the bar tenders, makes incredible Jell-O shots and my personal favorite: Capri-Sun shooters. They offer free popcorn and are always playing fun adult cartoons or Rupaul Drag Race. If you're not familiar, this is one of those places where you need to buy a membership to enter. You only have to buy it once and then show your membership when you visit. In the warmer months, they host an amazing oddities flea market where locals come to swap clothes, jewelry, taxidermy, and other fun stuff. Parking for these markets is near impossible due to popularity so be prepared to walk a bit. I love my weird little bar, stay creepy, guys!

This bar/club is amazing! Could not be better. The bartenders are so fun and the drinks are great for cheap. Plus, the DJ every Saturday night plays some 2000s bops which no bar/club does anymore. And the entertainers are hands-down amazing : )

This place is weird in the best possible way. We decided Saturday afternoon to do a bar/pub/brewery crawl along Haywood because why not and our final destination was Upcountry. Upon seeing we had made it to the brewery I noticed Odditorium across the street and wanted to check it out since I had seen reviews of it and we were already there. It was the end of our crawl so I think it was somewhere between 4 and 5 and we just wanted one drink. The oddity going on while we were there was a cloths swap taking up the majority of the area when you first enter the bar. Had to buy a membership which isn't unusual for places in Asheville and the bartender was attentive and kind. Once we had our beer we sat out front is the pretty amazing outdoor seating. Fan of Odditorium and if we're ever that far down Haywood again I would stop in again with question.

Entertaining place! Different perception of things. A lot of maybe gothic like atmosphere. We still found that the people were friendly and so was the staff

This place was The.Best. We were looking for a bar in Asheville that was a little off the beaten path and man we hit the jackpot. There is a lot of cool stuff to look at in this place (oddities), they have fun games (like what the F#ck), and the people that hang out here are awesome. Although we came here expecting a punk/metal bar, we were unpleasantly surprised to find out it was hip hop night (bummer). Either way we had one of the most memorable nights on our vacation. We will deff be back here!

There are so many reasons why this is my favorite bar in Asheville! Upon first step inside theres so much to catch the eye, this place is filled with oddities including bones, taxidermy, vintage orthotics, art, etc and some things are even for sale. They have a full bar with super fun drink specials, Jell-O shots, and multiple draft beers to choose from, recently they've had a rotating glitter tap made exclusively for them from Upcountry, the bar right across the street. Sunday's are my favorite because BLOODY MARYs. These bloody Mary's are top notch, affordable, and always filled with a bunch of snacks; I've had pizza, speciality cheeses, veggies, fried chicken, corn dogs, and much more skewered a top of a perfectly spiced bloody. There are also events almost every night (and some during the day) including traveling and/or local bands playing, burlesque and drag shows, stand up comedy, vintage markets, yard sales, fundraisers. This place never disappoints. There's also a pool table and a large out door area with plenty of picnic tables and dogs are allowed inside and out (it's also my dogs favorite bar in town). Do yourself a favor and head to the odd right now.

This place is so weird and awesome!!! I have always had an infinity for oddities and this place delivers just that. It is decorated with weird body parts, taxidermy, and totally bizarre art. Be aware that in NC, you have to be a member of bars that do not serve food and are technically called "private clubs". It's usually super easy to get a membership. $1 and filling out a small piece of paperwork. Totally worth it to check this place out if you ask me! They are always having super fun concerts and other performances. There is something going on almost every night. Tuesday's are my favorite night to go because they have an improv comedy group and stand up immediately following. This isn't exactly a bar that you want to go to with a large group because usually, there is some kind of performance going on and if you don't want a death stare, it's best to be respectful. The bar tenders are usually nice unless they are in the weeds or you rub them the wrong way. They always have some pretty good beers on tap but what is super cool are the home made tinctures that they make for their specialty cocktails. They are creative and always a little, well, odd.

Good music. Fun events. Friendly staff. Great drink selection and cool collection of oddities! Definitely the coolest place to hang out in Asheville. They always have something going on :)

The atmosphere here is eccentric and blows all other bar's atmosphere out of the water. But every time I've stopped by, there has been a cover charge of 5-7 dollars. I get that bars and shows make money this way but over the past 3 attempts there was a cover and during off nights in the middle of the week. Sigh. I want to support you Odditorium but with buying drinks- not for shows I don't want to watch in the back area! If other bars had the same cover charge, I wouldn't be fussy. Unfortunately, I have to go with my second choices on cover nights. Bummer.