Entry No. 44 — the Asheville file — filed under: speakeasy
The Crow & Quill
The entrance on North Lexington is deliberately underplayed — the bar's own instructions are to look for the lanterns and the '106' over the door. Inside since 2014: a candlelit, antique-stuffed parlor pouring from more than 1,200 spirits, over 800 of them whiskeys, including rare and out-of-production bottles, with a seasonal cocktail list, board games, and a short roster of bar snacks. The calendar runs to the theatrical — Black Sea Beat Society playing Balkan, Turkish, and Middle Eastern sets, burlesque and variety nights, occasional distillery tastings and cocktail classes. USA TODAY put it on its 2024 Bars of the Year list, which did nothing to make the door easier to find.
→ Three more hidden bars & speakeasies in Asheville — never the same twice
The story
The Crow & Quill has poured at 106 N Lexington Ave since 2014, and has never made the door easy. The bar’s own directions are the only ones that work: the entrance is a bit hidden, so look for the lanterns and the “106” over the door. What is behind it describes itself as filled with beautiful antiques and a dizzying array of spirits — low light, dried flowers packed to the brim, board games on the tables, and a room small enough that the seat you take at five is the seat you keep.
The shelf is the actual argument. The bar counts over 800 whiskeys among more than 1,200 spirits, much of it rare or out of production, and its own list names names: Pappy Van Winkle, George T. Stagg, William Larue Weller and Elmer T. Lee on the bourbon side, WhistlePig Boss Hog and High West’s Midsummer Night’s Dram for rye, a Laphroaig 30 year, a discontinued Hibiki 12. The cocktail list is seasonal and unafraid — house infusions in the $12–18 range, top-shelf builds like Fire Walk with Me and the Osaka Manhattan at $24–30, plus a real zero-proof section. Food stops at bar snacks. USA TODAY named it one of its Bars of the Year for 2024, which did nothing to widen the doorway.
The calendar is the other half. Live sets run roughly 8 to 11pm for a $10 cover, and the bookings lean hard away from acoustic-guy-in-the-corner: Black Sea Beat Society playing Balkan brass, Turkish psychedelia and Middle Eastern classics with a rock and roll spirit; Firecracker Jazz Band; Las Montañitas doing Peruvian chicha cumbia; Meschiya Lake & the Moodswingers; DJ Dr. Filth spinning soul on wax. Past bills have carried burlesque and variety revues, tarot readings, magic, storytelling nights, and distillery tastings with Ardbeg and with Teeling and Writers’ Tears. Private cocktail classes run $75 to $125 a head.
What it's like
The door opens at 5pm daily and closes at midnight, and the whole strategy is showing up near the top of that window — there is no sign, no reservation system, and not much room. Find the lanterns and the “106” on North Lexington, walk in, and take a corner while corners exist. Order two ways: pick something specific off the whiskey list, or hand the bartender the decision and see what arrives. It is a conversation bar rather than a shouting bar, with board games for when conversation lags. On music nights the band starts around eight, the $10 cover is collected at the door, and the brass section does not care how small the room is. Eat beforehand — snacks are the ceiling.
The move: Arrive at 5pm sharp when the door opens and claim a corner before the room fills. One of you orders off the whiskey wall, the other puts the bartender in charge, and if Black Sea Beat Society is on the calendar, stay put — the room is small and the brass section is not.
📍 Before you go Open daily 5pm-midnight. No sign — watch for the lanterns and the '106' above the door on North Lexington. Food is bar snacks only, so eat first. Event nights (burlesque, Balkan sets) post on the site's events calendar and some take registration; seats go fast in a small room, so early arrival is the whole strategy.
- 📍 Asheville
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 106 N Lexington Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
Hours: Added 2026-08-25 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Top of the Monk — Five minutes away on Patton and the direct comparison: another serious whiskey collection, served up a staircase in the light instead of down at candle level.
- One World Brewing (downtown taproom) — Two unmarked doors in one evening — an alley stairwell two floors under Patton Ave, then lanterns on Lexington, about a five-minute walk apart.
- Earth Magick — Same block of North Lexington, opposite half of the clock: browse candles, herbs and the reading room in daylight, then wait out the 5pm door a few storefronts away.
More weird in Asheville
Good to know
How do I find the entrance?
106 N Lexington Ave. There is no signage; the bar tells you to watch for the lanterns and the “106” over the door. It is at street level, open daily 5pm–midnight.
Do I need a reservation or a membership?
Neither — it is walk-in. What does require contact is anything organized: cocktail classes and private buyouts go through [email protected], and some calendar events take advance registration. Since the room is genuinely small, arriving early does the work a reservation would.
What does a night cost?
Seasonal cocktails run $12–18 and top-shelf builds $24–30. Live music carries a $10 cover. Cocktail classes are $75 for the one-hour intro with two cocktails and a snack, $90 and $100 for the intermediate and tiki sessions, and $125 for the two-hour Pro class with four cocktails.
Is there live music every night?
No. It comes in runs, and the online calendar can sit empty for stretches, so check thecrowandquill.com/events rather than assuming. When shows are on they are usually 8–11pm with the $10 cover.
Can I eat there?
Bar snacks only. Treat it as the after-dinner stop rather than dinner — Lexington Avenue has plenty of kitchens within two blocks.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · exploreasheville.com · yahoo.com
📷 We made a card for this one on Instagram →
last checked: 2026-08-25