Workshop Lounge

We visited from DC and decided to get a night cap at the Workshop. That turned into serval more because the cocktails were outstanding! The bar manager, Willis, was amazing and obviously takes pride in creating delicious cocktails. It was great to find a high quality craft cocktail maker such as Willis in Asheville. A true gem!

The Workshop Lounge, located in the Foundry Historic Hotel in Asheville is beautiful, immaculate, moody and masculine. In addition to several fireplaces in the lounge, there is also outdoor seating and a fire pit which Willis, the bar manager, or someone else from the bar lights nightly, in good weather. The sommelier takes great care in picking out the best wines from around the world, most of which are organic. Willis,himself, hand picks everything else to stock the bar. He takes pride in the brands of liquor he chooses. Willis even dehydrates the fruits, himself that he uses in his special concoctions and cocktails. He is always developing new recipes for guests to try. They must be good, because one frequent guest told me she always trusts him and is never disappointed in his cocktails. The food menu is quite limited and when they run out of something, that is it for the day. The salad I ordered, a locally grown Bibb Lettuce Salad with watermelon radishes and asparagus, was small for the price, and the herb dressing was watery and tasteless. I ordered a piece of salmon in addition to the salad. It was cooked perfectly, not overcooked like in so many restaurants and served cold. They might buy prepared salmon to serve, I am not sure. The salmon was also overpriced. Willis recommended a Lambrusco for me to drink with my meal and it was the best I have ever had. Not too sweet, a bit dry but of course bubbly and fruity. My compliments to the sommelier and to Willis for recommending it to me.

The hotel's lobby bar is excellent. The made-to-order pork grinds are a fantastic snack, especially enjoyable with a cocktail. It's definitely worth a visit even if you're not staying at the hotel.

Top notch cocktail bar. Willis is a true mixologist, crafting up some of the most wonderful variations of classic cocktails I have come across. Only fresh ingredients; fresh squeezed citrus, actual eggs for their egg whites, and house made syrups. If you are looking for amazing cocktails and an awesome atmosphere, this is a must-go.

Espresso martinis are my favorite, so I'm almost an expert. The Workshop Lounge has the best one. My husband loved his gin and tonics as well. They were all great: bartender, waiters, manager! It's on my list of places to visit again when I go back to Asheville.

Nice Hotel Bar as far as decor and space. Stick with drinks only. Ordered sliders and fries. Neither were cooked throughly. Burger buns were not warmed. Three bartenders behind the small bar but all orders had to be placed at the bar in this large space. You deliver your own drinks to any other location in the bar area. Food was delivered and that person was nice. With the self service setup not the best experience. As guests at the hotel for the weekend we went there three times. Always the same setup.

Excellent, unique cocktails. Check it out - you will not be disappointed