Asheville Yacht Club

Hot hoes running around everywhere. I be like… Yo mang keep the jams coming. Shots on shots on shots! Shirts off and dump em out!

I gave them five for the service. Waiter was Aaron was great. Very original menu. Had the peanut butter and bacon sandwich. Yea, you heard right. Worth a try.

After a long night in Asheville my fiancé’ and I decided to try this local bar out. Our goal was to get really shitfaced really quick. This place delivered. I recommend the «pain killer».

I’ve been to dive bars and cantinas from Tangiers to Nashville to Portland to Paris to Oaxaca to Brooklyn to Memphis — and these fine establishments required a bit of gumption to even enter the premises. Bikers, revolvers, Tequila shot challenges, with patrons sporting broken noses and bloody lips —
So the «dive bar» Asheville Yacht Club is first class — elite and friendly compared to the perilous «Last Chance Saloon», «Hombres Muertos», «The D.O.A.», «Last Call», among other dive spots I somehow escaped with my shirt and my life.
Outstanding service for members and guests. Youngish crowd, mostly college age. Super bartenders and servers.
Booths are comfy, as well as the bar stools.
The locale is perfect.
& the Asheville Yacht Club is primo.
We did not try the famous Painkiller drinks. Stayed with Jameson and brews, for the most part.
Cheers!

First thing’s first: yes, the name is ironic.
This is your standard, divey, ironic, «tiki bar*».
Light is dim, they have booths, the booths have palm frond roofs.
They have lots of sugary, islandy drinks with a rum base.
BUT, being that this is Ashland, they also have quite a bit of good beer on tap. Which is to be expected of Asheville, am I right?!
That’s why we came here: good beer on tap and open late.
Note: by the photos, the food looks mighty tasty, we didn’t eat here though. Maybe next time.
*Sidebar on tiki bars: have you read the Wikipedia on them? It’s pretty interesting. Take a look:

This place is also referred to as the heavy metal tiki bar.
Do you still want to play? Because you should.
Save yourself the trouble of looking at the menu, walk up to the bartender and politely and confidently state that you’ll be having «the one that’s on fire».
Marvel at the beauty that is this flaming drink. You are drawn to it like a moth before candlelight. Drink deep, feel it’s comfort wash over you.
«What’s that?! Hell yes you’ll have another… and another… AND ANOTHER!!!
What did you say? It’s called a painkiller? That can’t be right, because right now the only thing I’m killing is „it“…way hard.»
Right about now you should probably be considering getting something to ward off your hangover. Sure you could get a pitcher of water, but why not get a pitcher of tater tots instead? Thirst quenching!
Get some chicken wings.
You are a carnivore, murder death kill! Leave nothing but bones and broken hearts in your wake.
Toast your victory over delicious domesticated farm animals and fried tubers with a flaming drink!
You are now part of the club.

I’m from Richmond, Virginia, so a dive bar playing metal made me feel at home. Inside was interesting, lots of stuff going on in there nautical beachy piratey vibe. Drinks were cheap and strong, definitely left hammered. There’s something really nice about drinking a tropical fruity tiki cocktail with little umbrellas and chunks of fruit that will knock you on your ass while listening to Sepultura. Bartenders were attentive as well as the servers, A+ employees.

I work downtown and this is my go-​to spot for a happy hour cocktail and dinner. The staff is attentive and the food is good. I also go there for their classic tiki cocktails and the metal they play
Word of the wise to any newcomers or locals: the weird intoxicated tourist crowd starts mixing with the UNCA frat boys at about 11 on Friday nights. I suggest high tailing it out before then.

Skipped the pain killer and went right for the zombie. Not immediately apparent that the drink was strong (smooth taste for it being a two per person limit) but I certainly had a great night. Wonderful little booth was big enough to fit 9 gals. Cool dive spot with interesting characters. Worth the stop.

Probably my favorite bar in Asheville. Want to try a local beer, eat a pitcher of tater tots, drink a PBR and listen to rock and roll? This is the place to do it! They also have some tiki drinks that will peel all of the paint off of your house, so be forewarned. I have also to mention the excellent array of food, such as garlic kimche wings, pork belly sliders and delicious sandwiches. One night I saw they had a pulled pork ramen bowl as a special, and it was the best ramen I have ever had! I lived in Japan for three years, so that is saying a lot. My only gripe is the smoking «balcony» on the sidewalk; since the windows are open during the warm weather, all of the smoke wafts back into the place, and it can get a little too much sometimes. Be sure to have a dollar for a membership card too, thanks to some archaic NC laws.

Okay — I probably would have not ever gone here if not for Kipper. His review had mentioned a drink called a Painkiller.
Who doesn’t like painkillers? Especially surgery patients in the hospital. Am I right, or am I right? Thanks! I’ll be here all week…
A big Ric Flair «Woooooo!» Man, smooth like fruity silk, then it turns around a kicks your a$$. And… it’s on fire! It was like a little sugar cube Birthday candle. Happy Birthday to me! Yay! I would definitely say it’s the equivalent to 800 mgs of Ibuprofen. Afterwards, you feel good and you care a whole lot less about what’s going on around you.
A super cheery but laid back waitress, didn’t judge me for a «one and done» drink and didn’t make any comments about our water cups from another nearby establishment.
The whole time friendly people were chatting with friendly people and a musician was jammin’ away on his guitar. Great little place for a drink. What’s that? They have food too? Maybe next time!

The Yacht Club has been my go-​to since shortly after they first opened, years ago.
There has been some ebb and flow on the food, as they have endured through various kitchen challenges but I am very pleased to report that it appears they have found the groove again and everything is back to tip top!
Don’t get me wrong, the food and staff has never been anything less than fantastic, and the variances would probably be imperceptible to anyone but those that are very frequently here.
The menu varies from time to time but I have never had anything that I would not recommend.
The Ruben is one of my very favorites and although it was absent from the menu for a period, it is back and just as awesome as it has always been!
Get the brussel sprouts as a side, yeah BRUSSEL sprouts?!
Another favorite is the pork belly, fried with brussel sprouts and topped with a fried egg… decadent, and worth it!
Pricing is not only on par with surrounding establishments but in fact, better.
All of the staff is fantastic and it rest assured, your money and time spent here, stays here, as the owners are in fact local residents and spend there money here in Asheville, too.
There really isn’t a comparison so I can’t say it’s the «best of it’s kind»…granted, it is not for everyone… but they are absolutely the best at what they are!
Right downtown and residing at the intersection of Patton and Coxe avenue, just down from Pritchard Park, allows a huge added benefit: Hands down, unequivocally the best people watching roost in, arguably the entire city.
Je suis Asheville Yacht Club!!!

This was my mistake. Stopped in on a freezing Friday before the rush. Probably would have been a better experience with warmer weather, darker lighting, and a larger crowd. Oh, well.
As per Unilocal recommendations, I ordered the Painkiller. Bartender was lovely but everyone in the joint was drinking a shot and a beer so it was almost uncomfortable to ask for a drink list. Either way, the Painkiller was solid but certainly not something I’d rush out to drink again.
Next time I’m in Asheville on warmer, less dreary day, I’ll be sure to give Asheville Yacht Club another shot, particularly when I’m hungry. The food menu is dope!

If you are in the mood to see a ton of bearded people drinking at a tiki bar, this is your spot. I mean, there are so many bearded dudes, I thought I was at the Duck Dynasty gathering.
— KILL ALL YOUR PAIN with the Painkiller. Whether you are hurting from the cold outside or the sight of their bouncer, you can be sure the painkiller will do the trick.
— COME EARLY or you risk not getting a seat. We came here a little before 10, if I am remembering correctly and spots were already starting to get scarce. Later in the night, really got filled up.
— A BIT SLOW on the food orders, but the waitress was attentive.

On my Asheville list the first time I visited was «get the Painkiller at the Yacht Club». Little did I know that as i walked in confidently, sat down at the bar and placed my order with the bartender heads would turn as he threw together juices, liquors and brought me a glass of flaming delight. That’s right folks, the painkiller is deliciously dangerous and comes to customers on fire! What I love about the Yacht Club is that it delivers a little something different from the infamous breweries and put together cocktail lounges of Asheville. From my experience, it’s the place the locals drink (especially after working shifts at Tupelo Honey!) and if taking the beer tour of Asheville, it’s the perfect place to stop when you need to cleanse your pallet.
Yacht Club is tiki themed, a bit dirty and specializes in cocktails, priced reasonably for the area. I haven’t tried the food so I can’t weigh in their, but definitely recommend checking out the vibe of this easily missed destination (located conveniently between Tupelo Honey and Jack of the Woods – and across from Thirsty Monk). As with any good Asheville establishment, they also have a handful of taps. Since we’ve always ventured into Yacht Club during the day, we’ve never had to get a membership, but I noticed some other reviews saying that’s required – might want to check that out prior to venturing inside at night. Overall, I highly encourage you to be charmed by this club and you’ve got to try the Painkiller at least once in your life!

Since Labor Day weekend of 2012, I have been searching far and wide for another place like this. I’m convinced that this is the only beach themed biker bar you will ever find in a mountain town, and I absolutely love that about the place. Also, the heavy metal music was a nice touch. Keep Asheville Weird!

I have imbibed in the AYC only twice. This is truly an AVL dive bar.
Regulars make up this joint, but many tourist peak in if they can get through all the smokers right outside.
Staff if friendly and the music can range from Headbanging to 80s for which I’m not sure if there is logic to it, but I’m sure there is I just don’t know it.
It is an affordable place to have a drink and the food is «good»…with a special shout out for their tater tots… which I have a great affection for no matter where they are served.
Though this may never make an AVL top ten list, it is on mine… as well as many other locals I’m sure.

The Asheville Yacht Club is a vacation from the norm.
I have my favorite haunts and watering holes where I can typically be found… but on rare occasions, I’ll venture out with a few brave souls on a quest for «fire».
Oh boy. Fire nights. By this point I should know that as soon as a friend brings up wanting fire, that I should just order a pizza, fall asleep on the couch, and hit myself in the head with a hammer, because that’s where the night is going to end up…
But the fun lies in the adventure.
The Yacht club has a real specialty in the wonderful, beautiful, horrible drinks called Painkillers, a real classic of the mid century tiki movement. Aside from being chock full of enough rum to numb a pirate’s face, and enough fruit juice to mask that fact, they are also served en flambé. Thus… fire.
The problem is, they’re delicious. And they’re fun. And as soon as a friend shows up late you’re bound to owe yourself another round. Remember how adults told you not to play with fire as a child? Well playing with fire is fun, until you wake up the next morning.
Maybe it’s not the drink itself that leaves me feeling awful… maybe it’s the fact that due to the fact that the Yacht Club serves delicious late night eats, I have no reason to leave, and end up drinking more than just the one or two that would suit a mortal man.
The Yacht Club’s menu is actually seriously delicious. Tacos, wings, entrees. But the real star are the pitchers of tots. Yes. PITCHERS of tater tots. What better nibble to share amongst friends making bad decisions.
In addition to serving pitchers of fried potatoes and offering the most dangerous drink in Asheville the Yacht Club may very well have the best interior décor out of any bar in the city or North Carolina for that matter.
You want crazy s**t on the walls? You got it. Skeletons, Surfboards. Harpoon Guns. A Giant Light Up Moa Head. It’s a visual onslaught of quirky nick nacks.
The Yacht Club will not be everyone’s cup of tea. It’s loud, it’s dark, it has a ton of regulars, and some may feel intimidated by all of these elements. If they can brave it though… they’re in for one hell of an adventure.

Might be my favorite spot in town – great atmosphere and amazing menu. Love the colored strung lights and cozy booths. Oh my, and don’t get me started on their Chili Cheese Dog Tots. But don’t be fooled, they also serve tartare on their menu! So fancy!
Only thing that’s not my favorite is that it’s open-​air and one night it was all sorts of muggy. That was just one night of many though, so every other time it was most pleasant.
Really one of a kind, must be a member ($ 1 to join) – I’ve only come as a guest!

Membership required for a buck…
Great place to drink some local beer and watch the locals.
However, the music in here was a little too loud and slightly annoying. I can’t speak for the food — I did not eat.
The service was good and the bartenders stayed on top of the drinks.