Cocktail Bar
Unclaimed profileThe Times Bar & Coffee Shop
Asheville, NC · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
The Times Bar & Coffee Shop runs two programs under one roof: coffee by day and cocktails with separate hours later. The current fall cocktail menu, Creature Feature, draws its theme from creature cinema, and the bar states it prioritizes making incredible cocktails. Customers describe the drinks as creative and well-crafted, with seasonal changes and a story behind them. For spirits, a weekly whiskey event includes a break-even bottle where a top-shelf option is offered at cost, and Malört sits on the shelf. The focus is on a tight, thematic cocktail list rather than a broad spirits library.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Creature Feature fall cocktail menu; it is the current seasonal list and the clearest expression of the bar's thematic approach. For a straightforward spirit, Malört is on the shelf. If you visit during the weekly whiskey event, ask about the break-even bottle offer, which makes a top-shelf pour available at cost.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- People who want a seasonal cocktail menu with a clear theme and a story behind the drinks, and who appreciate a bar that also takes coffee seriously with separate hours. Those looking for a deep spirits collection may find the selection limited beyond the weekly whiskey event and Malört.
- When should I go?
- Go during cocktail hours, which are separate from coffee service, to focus on the Creature Feature menu. The weekly whiskey event is a specific draw for spirit-focused visits. The bar's dual identity means the earlier coffee hours offer a different experience from the later cocktail service.
- What should I expect to spend?
- The packet does not include specific prices for the Creature Feature menu or other cocktails. The weekly whiskey event includes a break-even bottle where a top-shelf option is offered at cost, which may appeal to value-conscious spirit drinkers. Otherwise, expect typical cocktail bar pricing for the area.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The combination of a coffee shop and cocktail bar with separate hours is unusual, and the fall menu's creature cinema theme gives the cocktails a narrative angle. The weekly whiskey event with a break-even bottle at cost is a concrete, guest-reported feature that sets the spirits program apart from a standard back bar.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
The cocktail program is defined by the Creature Feature fall menu, a seasonal list inspired by creature cinema. The bar states it prioritizes making incredible cocktails, and customers consistently describe the drinks as excellent, creative, and well-crafted, with fresh ingredients and a story or theme. The menu changes seasonally, and the thematic concept is central to the offering.
Menu strengths
- — Seasonal menu with a clear thematic concept: Creature Feature, inspired by creature cinema and named on the homepage.
- — The cocktails as excellent, creative, and well-crafted, with fresh ingredients and a passionate approach receives consistent praise.
- — The bar explicitly prioritizes making incredible cocktails, and the menu changes seasonally with drinks that often have a story or theme.
Standout selections
- — Creature Feature — the fall cocktail menu inspired by creature cinema, named on the homepage.
Spirits
Malört is present on the liquor shelf.; A weekly whiskey event is described by a recent customer account.
Menu strengths
- — A weekly whiskey event is described by a recent customer account.
- — A weekly break-even bottle offers a top-shelf option at cost, according to a recent customer account.
- — Malört is present on the liquor shelf, as noted by a recent customer account.
Standout selections
- — Malört; A recent customer account describes a weekly whiskey event.
Community reviews
Anyone with a free Inebrious account can rate the drinks here. Community ratings are kept entirely separate from the Inebrious editorial score above.
No community reviews yet. Be the first to write one.