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Favorite bar

• 1. Jack of the Wood 95 Patton Ave., Asheville, 252-5445 Longtime local favorite Jack of the Wood's Green Man Beer, Irish-style pub food, trivia nights and live performances are a combination that's won our readers’ hearts.
• 2. Usual Suspects 791 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 350-8181
• 2. The Admiral 400 Haywood Road, Asheville, 252-2541
• 3. Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge 7 Rankin Ave., Asheville, 254-4993
• 3. Westville Pub 777 Haywood Road, Asheville, 225-9782
• 3. Thirsty Monk 92 Patton Ave., Asheville, 254-5470 and 1836 Hendersonville Road, Gerber Village, Asheville, 505-4564

Dive bar

• 1. The Admiral 400 Haywood Road, Asheville, 252-2541 Since it opened in 2007, The Admiral has tried, along with fine dining, for a dive-bar feel. Apparently, they've succeeded, as the West Asheville hotspot convincingly won this new category.
• 2. Broadway's 113 Broadway or 120 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 285-0400
• 3. Fred's Speakeasy 122 College St., Asheville, 281-0920

Gay bar

• 1. Scandals 11 Grove St., Asheville, 252-2838 This nightclub brags that it's the state's "hottest dance club." With drag shows and a large dance floor, it’s famous as a local mainstay and now officially WNC’s favorite GLBT bar.
• 2. Club Hairspray 38 N. French Broad Ave., Asheville, 258-2027
• 3. Smokey's After Dark 18 Broadway, Asheville, 253-2155

Hipster bar

• 1. The Admiral 400 Haywood Road, Asheville, 252-2541 See description under "Best Dive Bar."
• 2. Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge 7 Rankin Ave., Asheville, 254-4993
• 3. BoBo Gallery 22 Lexington Ave., Asheville, 254-3426

Sports bar

• 1. Wild Wings 161 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 253-3066 The local branch of this Southeastern chain boasts endless Buffalo wings, food, beer and sports.
• 2. Bier Garden 46 Haywood St., Asheville, 285-0002
• 3. Northside Grill 853 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-2349
• 3. Baylee's Steakhouse Sports Theatre 1636 Hendersonville Road #21, Asheville, 274-6640

Upscale bar

• 1. Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge 7 Rankin Ave., Asheville, 254-4993 The Vault's 1930s speakeasy feel — right down to the old liquor prescriptions on the bathroom walls — is a hit with diners and drinkers alike.
• 2. Sky Bar 18 Battery Park Ave., Asheville, 225-6998
• 3. Frog Bar 1 Battery Park Ave., Asheville, 225-4857
• 3. Usual Suspects 791 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 350-8181
• 3. Santé 1 Page Ave., Suite 305, Asheville, 254-8188

Bartender

• 1. Kathy Taylor at Usual Suspects
• 2. Jackson Zoeller at Bier Garden
• 3. The Cliff at BoBo Gallery
• 3. Chris Towe at The Admiral

Barista

• 1. Margaret Gibbs at Dynamite Roasting Company There's a lot more to being a great barista than just knowing how to brew java: For starters, there's finessing the finicky espresso machine and remembering customer orders (all Cheers-like). Margaret Gibbs (wife of Dynamite's co-owner, Josh Gibbs) is known for making a good coffee drink every time, but also for her smile and her interest in the community. And, says Josh, the iced vanilla "Marga-Latte" (named for the barista) "drives people crazy."
• 2. Ross Gentry at Izzy's
• 3. Amber Arthur at Izzy's

Beer selection

• 1. Barley's Taproom 42 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 255-0504 Barley's massive beer selection (on two floors, no less) keeps this downtown pub a perennial favorite.
• 2. Thirsty Monk 92 Patton Ave., Asheville, 254-5470 and 1836 Hendersonville Road, Gerber Village, Asheville, 505-4564
• 3. Bier Garden 46 Haywood St., Asheville, 285-0002

Cocktails

• 1. Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge 7 Rankin Ave., Asheville, 254-4993 See description under "Best Upscale Bar."
• 2. Frog Bar 1 Battery Park Ave., Asheville, 225-4857
• 3. Usual Suspects 791 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 350-8181

Coffee shop

• 1. Izzy's Coffee Den/Izzy's Coffee House 74 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 258-2004 and 373 Haywood Road, Asheville, 258-2004 The style and intimacy of both Izzy’s locations — not to mention the coffee — draw an artistic crowd that keeps coming back for refills.
• 2. Dripolator Coffeehouse 190 Broadway #102, Asheville, 398-0209 and 221 W. State St., Black Mountain, 669-0999
• 3. Starbucks Various locations (http://www.starbucks.com)

Locally brewed beer

• 1. Pisgah Pale Ale Beer competition in Asheville remains tight — this is Beer City, USA, after all — but this year's local favorite is Pisgah Brewing Company's Pale Ale.
• 2. Highland Gaelic Ale
• 3. Wedge Iron Rail IPA

Local brewery

• 1. Pisgah Brewing Company Black Mountain-based Pisgah Brewing remains at the top of the heap among local breweries. The undeniable winner: WNC's beer lovers.
www.pisgahbrewing.com
• 2. Wedge Brewing Company www.wedgebrewing.com
• 3. Highland Brewing Company www.highlandbrewing.com

Wine selection

• 1. Santé 1 Page Ave., Suite 305, Asheville, 254-8188 A self-described mid-life crisis project by several California émigrés and wine lovers, Santé's ever-changing, ever-refined wine selection makes it a local favorite.
• 2. Hops and Vines 797 Haywood Road, Asheville, 252-5275
• 3. Zambra 85 W. Walnut St., Asheville, 232-1060