The Imperial Life

Music is way too loud! Cocktails are good. I was here once before and cocktails were also good then.

This is the spot you don’t know you’re thinking of yet when you tell your friends to meet you for drinks before you go to dinner or a show. This is the spot you want to go to after you survived dinner with a blind date and want to extend the night. This is the spot you want to go to when you are meeting THAT friend who is always late. This spot is cool enough to have a drink alone or with a group. Cool music, cozy set up and they have Narragansett!

Drinks were decent, but it took 30 minutes to receive them after ordering from the waiter, and it wasn’t even that crowded.

I wanted a mule, but they didn’t have ginger beer so the bartender made some from scratch (fresh ginger juice, agave, club soda). It was delicious. My husband and I also split half a dozen oysters and they were very good as well.

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.

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.

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.

The Imperial Life is my favorite «local» bar in Asheville. Besides the expertly made cocktails and wonderful small plates the service is the best in town. The best! I’ve never met so many fast and friendly servers. I hesitate to even share this because on the numerous nights I’ve been there it strikes me as a real local place for local people and I hope it stays that way. There are so few places in town that are not full of tourists and while I love tourists and love sharing my wonderful town with them I also love the fact that this place always makes me feel like it’s my hometown place. Jacob, keep up all the good work! Here’s to The Imperial Life!
PS Don’t miss out on the Pigs in Blankets. Make it a double order.

This is one of my favorite «nice» bars in town. I really like going here because you completely avoid the frat guy/​college crowd. I never have to worry about any rowdy bar fights or any anxious situation here. It’s a much more mature atmosphere complimented with expertly crafted cocktails.
It is quite small, but I have no problems. It’s intimate enough for couples, but there are tables for small groups. It’s not the kind of place where you would want to bring a large party (really no more than 6). There’s comfortable bench seating with plenty of throw pillows, or you could grab a seat at the bar.
The specialty cocktails rotate often, which I love. I always want to try something new! But the mixologists behind the bar are able to mix up classics if that’s what you prefer. Beer and wine are available as well.
We really like bringing out of town friends here for a drink or two just because it’s easy to relax here. And I’ve never had a drink I didn’t like!
I also highly recommend the pickle plate if you’re in the mood for a snack. The deviled eggs are also pretty good and I really like the pigs in a blanket!
Overall, I really love the atmosphere here. Good vibes and good drinks? Sign me up!

this is also a really fun little place in Ashville to drink, if you’re feeling a little spendy that is. it really provides a more elegant approach to going out as opposed to the many beer hops which don’t get me wrong just as fun. but there wasn’t anything on the menu that really wowed me or maybe say oh this place sets them apart from any other

Okay three words. Get. The. Charcuterie. Seriously, I think Imperial Life’s charcuterie is the standard by which all charcuterie should be judged.
When I have out of town guests, we do the restaurant crawl, and I always put Imperial Life on the list. Great atmosphere and drinks, and the snacks are so good.

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.

Great drinks! But they’ll cost ya’.
Cool little spot upstairs: mixology style. I’ve been here twice, and the crowd and atmosphere was quite different each time, so I’m not sure which you’re more likely to find. The first time was hipster, dimly lit and loud music. The second time was more laid back, almost bright with no music (or very low music).
Both times, I just let the bartenders know what I like in a drink, and they mixed up something perfect for my taste every time. Quality drinks here for sure. I’m pretty sure mine were $ 14 a pop, though. Prepare to pay for a wonderful imbibement!

Very modern yet cozy lounge. I enjoyed the atmosphere and bartenders were very nice. Great bathrooms.

Sprinted up the stairs to get out of the cold. Cozy atmosphere and a dazzling display by the mixologists. I was the odd man out, as most bar patrons were couples waiting for a table at «Table». Bartender Naomi poured me a mean Jamesons and Ginger. Really fine. She also personalized drinks upon request of other patrons — by taste, flavor, price point, and more. Very impressive. This should be on the list of Esquire’s best bars in America. The folks at The Imperial Life have their art down to a science, but they’re willing to explore and create. Cheers!

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 jalapeño 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, jalapeño 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.

Super classy speak — easy type of place situated above Table in downtown Asheville. Seems like it would be easily missed, if ypu don’t know what to look for, but the drinks produced by these vested and well groomed mixologists should deem it worthy of more than one beverage.
My date ordered a mint julep, of which at first I gave him a strange look. Don’t normally see this kind of drink order out of an IPA drinker, but after watching the bartender make his julep the «true» way I understood why. They actually throw the ice in a burlap bag, smash the ever living life out of it with a mallet, and serve it «sno cone» style with fresh mint. Super refreshing, and delicious. I myself was on a gin kick. So I ordered a very light and slightly fruity gin beverage from their cocktail list and loved it equally… perhaps I loved it too fast, because I finished it in five minutes. Oops.

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.

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.

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.