New patios, cool rooftop bars to visit this summer in Asheville

ASHEVILLE - The idea of baking in the blazing sun may thwart the desire to get outside and enjoy the summer.

Fret no more. Local restaurants, breweries and bars have you covered with cool patios, rooftop decks and shady porches.

Established tried-and-true venues aren’t to be overshadowed as they remain among the favorite places to sip a refreshing beverage and nab some nosh during the warm weather season.

Yet, this season, more high-rise lounging spaces have debuted offering spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the city from rooftop perches. New ground-level social spots have come onto the scene embracing earth and nature.

Here are some of the new, covered and open-sky rooftop terraces and patios to visit in Asheville.:

Cooperative Coffee Roasters

Cooperative Coffee Roasters opened its first café, connected to the West Asheville roastery at 210 Haywood Road. Cooperative Coffee Shop offers a shaded raised deck with a cozy “secret garden” seating area below.

El Patio by Guajiro

El Patio by Guajiro’s Cuban-inspired interior design complements its outdoor nature-centric vibes at the new River Arts District beer and wine bar. El Patio by Guajiro, equipped with a front patio and back porch seating, is on the first floor of Asheville Cotton Mill Studios and is the sister concept of the food truck, Guajiro Cuban Comfort Food at 122 Riverside Drive.

Highland Brewing Co.

Highland Brewing Co. has upgraded its outdoor amenities to include more than umbrella-covered front porch seating. The brewery introduced cabanas made from repurposed silos that fit up to 24 people and are available for rent in its spacious outdoor field, The Meadow, at 12 Old Charlotte Highway. The Meadow is equipped with an outdoor bar and food trucks are in rotation. Also, look out for announcements for special events hosted on Highland’s rooftop bar.

Soprana Rooftop Cucina

Soprana Rooftop Cucina opened on the rooftop of Embassy Suites by Hilton Asheville Downtown, 192 Haywood St. The Italian-inspired restaurant and bar offers a spacious wraparound patio with lounge seating and an indoor dining room that opens up to the mountains and downtown views from the seventh-floor of the hotel.

Terra Nova Beer Co. South Slope

Terra Nova Beer Co. opened its main brewery facility and taproom at 101 South Lexington Ave. on the South Slope. Order a pint and pie from Mission Pizza to enjoy on Terra Nova’s covered, raised deck. Also, stop by Terra Nova’s Swannanoa taproom for craft drinks, food provided by Loott House and an enclosed, open-air patio.

The Flat Iron Hotel Rooftop Bar

The Flat Iron Hotel, 20 Battery Park Ave., offers three unique rooftop lounge areas at the ninth-floor bar. The open-air chill zones are accessible through separate doors, different sizes and face different directions giving unique vantage points and views across the city and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Light bites are sold at the bar or make a reservation for its first-floor Italian-meets-Appalachian cuisine restaurant, Luminosa.

Visuals at Burial Beer Co.

Burial Beer Co.’s new wine and cocktail bar, Visuals, showcases the brewery’s natural wine brand, signature cocktails and other craft libations. Visuals sits on top of Burial’s Eulogy music venue at 10 Buxton Ave., a few stories from ground level, and looks over the South Slope brewing district with mountains in the distance. Burial’s Forestry Camp taproom has covered seating areas at 10 Shady Oak Drive in Biltmore Village.

Aloft Splash! Rooftop and Lounge

Coming soon… Splash! Rooftop Pool and Lounge will reopen fully remodeled with poolside cabanas and covered seating in July at Aloft Asheville Downtown, 51 Biltmore Ave., coinciding with the opening of the Moxy Asheville hotel next door. Aloft and Moxy overnight guests and the public are welcome to the third-floor rooftop pool deck and bar. Public day and seasonal passes are available.

Stories you may have missed:

• Asheville Food Bites: Cabana rentals, vegan soul food recipes, margarita twists, more

• Mount Mitchell State Park's restaurant reopened by Burnsville couple; What's on the menu?

• Historic Flat Iron Hotel, Luminosa restaurant open in downtown Asheville

Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at [email protected] or follow her on Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: New patios, rooftop lounges to visit at Asheville restaurants, bars