The Times Bar & Coffee Shop

Fabulous vibes! Great bartenders! Tried a unique chicken noodle soup based hot alcoholic beverage! Very good but very different! Will visit again!

Let me set the scene. You’ve just wandered the quirky, artsy, beer-loving streets of Asheville. Your feet are slightly sore, your camera roll is full of murals and weird statues, and you’re ready for something classy but not snobby. Enter Times Bar. Tucked inside the historic S&W Market, this place feels like you stumbled into an old-world newspaper lounge where the cocktails are stronger than your willpower and the lighting is just right for pretending you have your life together. Now, I came for the ambiance but stayed for the espresso martini. And let me tell you, this was not your average “I just learned how to use an espresso machine and I’m feeling bold” situation. No. This was rich, velvety, perfectly shaken, and chilled to the gods. They told me it was the best espresso martini in Asheville and honestly, they had no reason to lie. It was the kind of cocktail that makes you lean back, close your eyes, and re-evaluate every other espresso martini you’ve ever had. I’m not saying I cried but I definitely felt emotions. To pair with this work of art, I ordered the chocolate macaron. Just one. I wanted to act like I was the type of person who says things like “just a small treat for me today” while secretly planning dinner number two later. The macaron was delicate, chocolatey, and disappeared so quickly I briefly considered going back for three more and telling the bartender I was doing “macaron research.” No regrets. The vibe here is elegant without trying too hard. It’s got that old-school glamor with tiny touches that make you feel like you’ve entered the speakeasy version of a European café. But here’s the catch. Seating is limited. Like, blink-and-it’s-full limited. So if you see a spot open, do not hesitate. Sit down. Put your phone down. Live your best life while sipping your martini and judging everyone else’s drink choices. Whether you’re a cocktail snob, a chocolate lover, or just someone who wandered in looking for a break from craft beer, Times Bar is a must. I’ll be back. Probably in the same outfit. Probably ordering the same martini. And definitely making awkward eye contact with anyone who dares to sit in my favorite chair.

Fantastic night spot in downtown Asheville. Great service and great options on spirits. The Old Fashioned they make is perfection!

Wish I could give it a 6. Great people and great drinks. From coffee to cocktails, everything is the best I have had. They make things in house. Their egg nog drinks are amazing, and of course, best Espresso Martini anywhere.

Like the sign says, Cool Bartenders! Friendly and welcoming all around. I stopped in to see what local bev they had. Very nice vibes here and scientific like cocktails. The walls of spirits are like a library. Please visit and support!

Went for an after dinner cocktail. They have a very creative menu and really pack the flavors. Ben was great and guided us through the experience. So friendly and fun we had a blast! Thank you.

These mixed drinks are like nothing you have had before. The drinks are or seem to be a few dollars more than other bars. But if your observant, you know why. Freshness and uniqueness. Remember, some of these mixed drinks aren’t your fruity, beachy, vacation drinks. But, they are all so darn good. Heck, I didn’t even know most of the ingredients (thank you Google). Everything is made in-house and fresh. The employees are constantly working on juices and other ingredients in-between mixing your order. It’s a small place which means they can attend to less people in a more intimate nature. They are very friendly and chatty but not in a fake way like most bars. We stopped in for a quick break while we were walking around Downtown. From online reviews, I read they have great drinks with a wonderful, friendly atmosphere and staff. Understatement of the decade. These people are the true professionals in their craft. We tried several drinks over the two stops on our weekend visit. After the first visit, we knew it was worth another sit down.

An absolutely amazing experience. Our bartender Eddie (I just remember it starts with an “e” ;) was fantastic! He made the best espresso martini I’ve ever had and was just genuinely an awesome bartender. I cannot wait to visit again, I will definitely be back. The vibe of the place was grate also. It’s a small joint, but it’s got a great atmosphere, electric but also chill.

crimes of Passion recommended if you are a fan of Mojitos! the Half Nelson is as serious as it sounds fast friendly acknowledgment and service even when it's busy!

Great service and expertise! Matcha for my wife old fashioned for me. What a great atmosphere. The air conditioner ( not something I normally would review) rocks! Thank you for a great visit on our pub crawl. Stop one. Definitely coming back.

One of the classiest coffee shops I've been to. There was a line (obvi because it's such a great place) but the wait time wasn't as long as we thought. Excellent customer service, clean environment, and top quality coffee. I love this place!

Stopped in here the other night as I've been hearing a lot about it. We did go on a Saturday and it was quite hard to get in the door both Friday and Saturday and Friday we turned around. Lucky enough to eventually snag some seats at the bar. The bar and space itself is absolutely gorgeous. They have a floor to ceiling, ladder, and tons of beautiful bottles lit by gorgeous lights. Exceptionally clean and cozy. Their fall drinks looked interesting, but none peaked my interest that much. I opted to get an espresso martini because I know this is also a coffee bar. Honestly, the staff were a little standoffish. I felt a bit judged for being basic, but I really had just wanted to try some thing coffee from the coffee space. The staff seem to be very interested in people who are spending a lot of money and ordering shots rather than anybody wanting to talk or learn. The martini itself was pretty good, but it didn't blow my mind. It was quite smaller than others. I had experience and didn't taste super strong. The coffee was not that pronounced. The drink itself was light, creamy, and delightful. Overall, I do believe this is a nice spot to drop in, but it's not cheap. It is also very touristy. But it is also very aesthetically pleasing and cozy. Would not be a local favorite or somewhere. I go often, but could definitely be an add-on for a little cocktail crawl.

My God, I can't say enough good things about this place. I was split between wanting a coffee and wanting a drink and this place just so happened to have both. We were there during Christmas, so they had a Christmas menu with some really unique cocktails. We ended up having a couple rounds of cocktails. When I tried to grab a coffee after our cocktails I was told that they stopped serving after a certain time, I think it was around 3 PM. The interior is gorgeous, and I'd love to replicate that at my own house. There isn't a lot of seating, so if it's a busy time, expect to stand, but we were able to grab some chairs at the bar. The staff was also very knowledgeable. Prices are about what you expect to pay for these top-notch cocktails. I have this place on my radar anytime I'm in Asheville. I will definitely be making multiple visits.

When I say the drinks on this menu were special- they were SPECIAL. We had actually noticed this bar walking by en route to another destination, but promised ourselves we would stop by on our way back because it looked so cozy and perfect. From the drinks mimicking Tom Kha Soup to Chimichurri, every drink was exceptional and creative. Service was great and we had such a good time at this nook that seemed like it would be a great place for writers to convene and chat into the night. I believe the cocktails change too depending on the season, which I love because there will always be something new. Cheers to the times bar, if I'm ever in Asheville again I'll be back!

I love the Times Bar & Coffee Shop. I must say, they make the best espresso martini! The service is always amazing, and the bar is so cozy & inviting!! I wanted to stay and continue the martinis, but we moved on to the next bar. I will always come back here for this cocktail- and try a few of the rest the next time!

Excellent coffee. We stopped in right before they stopped their coffee service for the evening, but they were more than accommodating. I had a lemon verbena iced coffee--let me tell you, it was the most refreshing and surprising combination of flavors! Highly recommend. Good vibes, good coffee.

Staff was super nice and the cocktails are beautifully crafted. I ordered a drink off the flavor notes only to realize it was whiskey and I hate whiskey but I figured I love all the flavor notes so I'll try it. Needless to say it was AMAZING! Cute place with a chill vibe. Deff worth a stop in!

Loved their drinks. Wish we had a chance to come back to try some more during this trip, but I'll be back the next time we are in town. The boozy coffee drinks are the perfect way to start off your weekend. We loved the hot buttered rum and queen of the underworld, which is a tea based cocktail. Can't wait to go back and try some more drinks. The bartenders were great, and you order your drinks before finding a seat.

Such a beautiful bar with delicious and unique drinks! I got a classic espresso martini and it was one of the best I have ever had! Romantic and intimate ambiance. Great place to go on a date!

I was instantly drawn to the Times Bar with their historic and vintage style bar ambiance. If you're a fan of crafted cocktails and coffee, this is a must try! Their menu has a great variety and drinks made with unique ingredients/combinations. This was my second time here and always found the staff to be very friendly and helpful. Also, this is really easy to get to if you're already walking downtown Asheville! I highly recommend to check it out.

Last bar or the night! Great company! Bartenders were super informative and laid back. So much to chose from and they had a later on their liquor cabinet!!

Really cool spot with something for everyone. I had a boozy daytime coffee and my bf had a tea. There's seating for small and larger groups. Great place to hang out. Only small complaint is that the cider donut was not good.

Such an amazing and centrally located bar. This is a spacious bar with lots of seating and a really classy ambiance. The staff is kind and they make fantastic drinks. They have a very large menu with plenty of drink options. Just a really nice place to grab a drink with friends.

Really cool coffee shop and bar in an old bank (I think?) in downtown Asheville. The staff was really friendly and took good care of us, even during a busy time and at the end of their coffee service (cuts off at 4 PM). We sat in the window table and took in the space, which was impeccably decorated for Halloween.

This place is great! I came here for my birthday and I really enjoyed the vibe. The drink was called "get in loser," which I thought was funny. It was really good! The bartender was super nice! I wish I got his name because he deserves some recognition!

Such a cute bar! AND they allowed our well-behaved dogs inside! This bar had super yummy mocktails and they made them fun! It's super common for other bars to bring out the cocktails with cute garnishes or smoke bubbles etc. and bring the mocktails out plain. As someone who doesn't like alcohol and always gets mocktails, I really appreciated that they made my mocktail just as cute as the cocktail! Its the little things :)

Fun drinks and a cool vibe for enjoying an evening in Asheville. The bar team are very accomplished and take great care of the customer.

Really enjoyed this bar. We came as it was starting to get busy & the two bartenders still provided nice service even with larger tables of people needing to be served. Both of our drinks were well-balanced and executed. Definitely a nice place to stop before or after dinner for a quick drink.

Drinks were excellent and the ambiance was moody and dark which loves on the rainy night

We had a great experience here ! Our bartender was super nice and she explained very well every drink we asked about ! She was very sweet ! If we ver go back to Ashville we would go back there first sure ! Drinks were so good ! PICK YOUR POISON $13 rhubarb, lemon, rice milk, cocchi americano aperitif, bad art ginger bitters, licor 43 spanish liqueur, zubrowka bisongrass vodka ITS ALWAYS SUNNY $12 sunflower seed orgeat, lemon, ketel one vodka, meletti italian amaro, highland brewing IPA

If you serve a smoked old fashioned kind of drink (but not quite a smoked old fashioned) but serve it in a glass full of ice, you get a star taken away. The drink itself was good but it didn't floor me. I'd give it 3.5 if I could. I am impressed by the selection of whiskeys, rums and gins and it is a very creative cocktail menu. I might come back and try something else or just try a scotch I've never had before.

Amazing. My husband and I came to this bar at around 3:30 pm for a quick drink/coffee on a very cold Saturday afternoon. I ordered an Espresso Martini, and my husband had ordered a hot coffee drink since he was not in the mood to drink. The espresso martini was outstanding! I would have 100% drank another one had we planned to stay there longer. The vibes were super cute, and it is pretty small. But, definitely recommend!

The Times Bar is a delicious craft cocktail bar that is super welcoming to boot. Fun atmosphere, casual ambiance, with attentive bartenders I was thrilled to have the opportunity to hang out here for awhile. For a trivial club membership fee - a foreign concept for the out of stater that I am - you can belly up to the bar and immerse yourself in delectable treats of a liquid kind. The drinks were wonderful. My favorite was Pick Your Poison because it was tart, but smooth and the rhubarb was edible. It was so easy to drink and super refreshing. Our bartenders were great. After trying menu drinks we started asking for their recommendations and they had so many! They would mix and match, experiment, and bounce ideas off each other. It was a really fun environment to be in! I left here simply thrilled. It was a wonderful moment.

I stumbled into this spot and I'm glad I did. It is the perfect place for date night. It's very dark inside. The bar area is small but cozy. They have really well made drinks. I asked for a warm drink and the bartender made me a hot toddy that was amazing.

Such a great vibe! Excellent and knowledgeable servers. The cocktails were fantastic and the ginger cookie...oh man! So good. Can't wait to return.

This bar has the best coffee martini. The wonderful ambience and friendly service. This place was great.

We were walking by downtown and decided to stop in for a drink or two. The vibes were right in this place, the music wasn't even bad. I do believe the waitress gave a lot more energy to the group of folks beside us, it was literally like night and day comparing her demeanor. Now when she saw that we wanted to order more drinks she kind of got her act together. Either way, She tainted the experience. Good drinks though.

The Death Proof cocktail is great! Refreshing, yet booze forward and I'm a huge fan of ancho Reyes liquor. And the bar feels big from the high ceilings and love the speakeasy vibe! Cool, central location too. Definitely stop in when walking downtown Asheville.

Dominique was THE BEST bartender ever; one of those people you can say, "I like gin, a fruity lean, and not opposed to vinegar/shrub" and she'll present you with a cocktail and, maybe, a story about "carrying the Juan." She's great. Highly recommend the Mocha Banana coffee with a shot (or two?!) of the house-infused banana Jameson and, of course, anything Dominique wants to make you. This will be my first stop any and every time I'm in Asheville.

Came in with my dog on a Monday evening during a cross country move stopover - did not disappoint. Beyond phenomenal drinks, and more importantly, service is beyond amazing. The two bartenders were extremely thoughtful, considerate, and knowledgeable. One server offered to watch my dog and my computer while I went to the restroom, and provided wonderful company. These are great people here, you can tell that they genuinely care about their customers and their craft. I would 100% return anytime I come back to Asheville!

Our favorite cocktails during our Asheville trip. Threat level midnight was special. Get in loser also a wonderful drink. Bartender was super friendly and accommodating, even brought us waters from the self serve station. Cool, clean ambiance.

Passed by this place while walking and said "this looks so vibey". Kind of reminds me of a library or something with the bottles being the books. They have really great drinks as well. The bartender made me an old fashioned with vanilla simple syrup. SO GOOD. They have seasonal drinks as well as coffee during the day. Their price is also very reasonable.

Love this place for cocktails! We didn't think we would get in because it was late and pretty busy but the server made sure we could get a table for a drink before closing.

Fantastic cocktails and amazing bartenders. Terrific food court attached to it. Great selection of spirits

I'm so upset we found this place so late at night. The vibes here were immaculate. My husband got a corn drink that tastes like elotes. We didn't stay long because it was so late, but we'll absolutely be making a stop here next time we're I. Asheville!

Great drinks and awesome selection of spirits. Staff is great and the vibe is perfect. Definitely recommend if you're in town!

Super cute spot. The seasonal drinks were a bit wild, even for me. A lot of them seemed to have spice elements to them, including the one I got. I'm not a huge spice person and don't really look for that in my drinks. My husband loved the "ballin on a budget" bourbon deal.

My second visit here, and I can confirm that I like this place! Both trips have been in the daytime and there were not many other people inside so I would be interested to see what the nightlife is like. This time I got the chai latte with oat milk and it was one of the best I've ever had. Super smooth and creamy, perfectly spiced, although I had to ask for a cup of ice since the drink was lukewarm. We also tried one of the vodka cocktails with the honey crisp garnish... don't skip this! It's like a crispy sticky homemade honey candy, but beware it tastes like licorice when it gets wet. The vibe is very low key and could be a good place to do some work. I think there's also a connection to the food hall next door. Would return.

It is my 21st birthday and me and my boyfriend were denied service :( since when can you not be served alcohol on your 21st birthday?

I have had drinks here twice and it is wonderful! We sat at the bar this visit and the bartenders were so nice! The owner engaged with us as well, and it is clear the place's passion for the art of cocktails! They make many of their ingredients and infused spirits, which are so delicious! The specialty menu may seem small, but they will make anything. Everything was excellent, check out this hidden gem!

Was super impressed with every drink I ordered here, it was absolutely delicious. Such great vibes, and the bartenders were very attentive and super helpful. Definitely exceeded my expectations! Will definitely be back, highly recommend!!

Our favorite drinks of our five days in Asheville and yes we tried a ton of breweries and places. The bartenders were great, hospitable and fun to talk with about the cheeky names of their cocktail menu. My favorite was the side car and my husband had his espresso martini. Ambience was super chic and we can't wait to go back

It's Time to Check out this bar! This bar has some of the best drinks I've ever had! The Dark Arts is a boozie drink for any bourbon lover and it stole the show! It's my favorite drink now!!! I also had the Half Nelson which was awesome to look at but a very Smokey tasting drink, I thought it was good but not my go to style. It is also for the bourbon lovers. My wife had the Steven Marty had a Party and the I Drink Therefore I Yam. Both of these were excellent cocktails! She lets me have sips, when I'm good. The aesthetic made my wife feel like she was in a movie. Overall an amazing experience!!!

The drinks were delicious and their bourbon selection was top notch. Service was amazing and the look and feel of the place was amazing.

We arrived at the bar after dinner hours for a couple of coffee and a good catch-up session among friends. Was slightly disappointed that coffee was not served after a certain hour, but decided to give their cocktails a try. One person in our group with an adventurous palette ordered their sesame mocktail - that mocktail had an intense sesame flavor to it, which wasn't bad, but the whole drink was extremely potent and sour and severely off-balance. Said person shared this feedback with our server, who expressed understanding and offered to make a different drink. The second drink came through better. Later we discovered that they comped that drink as well when we got the check. We were impressed by and appreciated their attitude and service.

Welp, I just had the best latte of my life! I love the vibe of this coffee/cocktail bar, outside and in. It's a classy-looking, Gastby-esque place. It looks to be more about the coffee during the day and cocktails (no coffee) at night. We went early afternoon for a perk-me-up. I ordered the Cardacoco (see pix), and was absolutely delighted by the new and delectable flavors, subtle sweetness yet plenty of depth. I asked for a ceramic mug because lattes in to-go cups make me sad. They were happy to oblige. I had to wait a few minutes for my drink but enjoyed watching servers climb the sliding library ladders to reach the liquors. There were fresh flowers along the bar and comfy seating and pleasant lighting. I'm tempted to move to Asheville for this coffee!

Great concept providing some great craft cocktails. I wish I drink coffee as I would be tempted to try one of those boozy drinks. The Half Nelson was very tasty. This place has just been added to my favorites for Asheville

We have been here a few times and have found the drinks to be good but inconsistent depending on the bartender. It does offer a nice atmosphere and fun menu!