Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Where Books Meet Bubbles in Downtown Asheville

Tucked inside the historic Grove Arcade at the heart of downtown Asheville, Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar is one of those rare places that defies easy categorization. It is simultaneously a café, a champagne bar, and a two-floor bookstore housing over 10,000 volumes — the kind of space that invites you to arrive for one thing and stay for several others. Wine Spectator recognized it with an Award of Excellence in 2025, a nod to a drinks program that punches well above what you might expect from a bookshop.

The Drinks

Champagne is the clear star. Guests can order by the glass, by the bottle, or as a flight designed to walk you through the world's most celebrated sparkling wine. Literary-themed cocktails — the Secret Garden, the Great Gatsby — add a playful layer without feeling gimmicky. Beyond bubbles, an extensive list of reds and whites from around the world ensures there is something for every preference, whether you are settled into a couch with a novel or lingering on the outdoor patio.

A dedicated service bar even pours what the venue calls "Browsing Beverages" — drinks you can carry with you as you wander the shelves. It is a small detail that says a lot about the overall philosophy here.

The Food

Chef McCartney Dubois runs a kitchen built around an ever-changing seasonal menu sourced from local producers. The cheese and charcuterie boards have earned a reputation of their own — generous, shareable, and well-suited to the Spanish-inflected small-plates approach that defines the food program. Gourmet paninis, fresh seasonal salads, seasonal soups, and house-made pastries round out lunch and dinner, while Sundays shift to brunch from noon. A strong selection of gluten-free and vegan options means most guests are accommodated without fuss.

The Space and the Books

The bookstore itself calls to mind, in the venue's own words, "a library out of Dickens or Harry Potter." Special collections cover Civil War and U.S. history, art and design, award-winning fiction, and classics, with display cases holding first editions and author-signed works. Table-side service runs throughout both floors, so there is no need to leave a good read — or a good glass — behind.

For private events, the venue scales from the intimate Gatsby Lounge (up to 25 guests, with a 1920s speakeasy feel) through The Second Story and Full Bookstore configurations, all the way to a whole-venue rental for up to 120 guests. Live music on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings adds warmth to what is already a singular atmosphere in the Asheville dining scene.