O. Henry’s is Asheville’s original and oldest gay bar, established in 1976. Up front, you’ll find a friendly neighborhood bar vibe with pool tables. In the back, things heat up at dance club The Underground with drag shows and karaoke, plus theme parties like Goth Night and Bear Night. O. Henry’s was recognized by Esquire as one of the Best Gay Bars in America!

How to describe The Odd? Part bar. Part performance venue. Part collection of curios and oddities. In any given week, you could attend: a punk rock record release party, a drag show, a wild burleseque performance and even fire dancing! They even host a flea market and open-mic comedy night. Then there’s the space itself, lined with animal skeletons and taxidermied bats, ouija boards and dismembered doll parts, and bones in place of tap handles. In a place this unusual, everyone belongs.

Queer-owned mushroom cafe and adaptogen bar The Pot Stirred is a community gathering space where the drinks are good and good for you. Try a Hold Your Gold made with Lions Mane mushrooms to support brain health, Cordyceps for energy, and Ashwagandha for stress relief. Inside, you’ll find a beautiful, relaxing loft lined with bright greenery and local art for big creative energy.

Step inside the hive at Asheville Bee Charmer for a sweet experience. The educated bee-ristas at this shop will guide you through a small-batch honey tasting, helping you to identify the differences in each. Buy a jar of your favorite honey, and browse for honey soaps, scents, and lotions, beeswax candles, books about beekeeping and more. Choose from their Broadway or Battery Park locations.

In less than two years, trans-owned Filipinx restaurant Neng Jr.’s has made a big splash. With just 18 seats, each meal is an intimate experience with fresh takes on traditional Filipino fare like flaky pork lumpia and succulent duck adobo. Among its many accolades, Neng Jr.’s was a James Beard Finalist for Best New Restaurant in 2023, and Chef Silver was named Esquire’s Rising Star Chef of the Year in 2022!

Nothing goes together quite like coffee and a book. At Firestorm Books, grab a cup and browse the shelves of fiction and nonfiction by queer authors, plus books on environmentalism, organizing and activism, and memoirs from members of other underrepresented communities. You can also attend in-person events like queer books clubs, game nights, and author signings at this inclusive community space and co-op.

Say it loud, say it proud at the annual Blue Ridge Pride Festival. This September event welcomes up to 12,000 visitors to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, starting with a buoyant parade that leads to the festival proper at Pack Square Park. Shop with local queer vendors and enjoy live entertainment—including the Annual Drag Pageant—at this all-ages party. Fun fact: CNN once named the Blue Ridge Pride Festival one of the top pride celebrations in the world!