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Battery Park Book Exchange
1 Page Ave #101, Asheville, NC 28801, United States
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Battery Park Book Exchange
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Ja
Review №1

What a delightful cafe. Cannot recommend enough the Goat Expectations sandwich enough. Take time to wander upstairs and see what gems they have tucked away. Very elegant atmosphere, perfect for a date. Grab a cheese board and some tea for two, or lunch and a book. They even have pie?! Can they be more perfect??

Ta
Review №2

This place is such a little treasure. The concept of a book store that serves food, cocktails, and bakery items is brilliant. I love the different levels with books galore and seating on every level. My only complaint was the not so friendly hostess. I was alone and wanted to sit outside but the table offered to me was inside and felt out in the open. If I was with someone else I may not have minded but I felt a little on display. I asked if I could sit outside but she said nothing was available but a few minutes later sat a couple outside. I still enjoyed myself and my waiter was fantastic, I wish I remembered his name.

Ro
Review №3

Had a fantastic lunch. Service was great. This is a really good place to have lunch outside when the weather is good.

Sk
Review №4

While we were disappointed that pups aren’t allowed inside anymore (nor are they allowed on any seating), the staff was still kind and offered lots of treats for our pup! They also were very helpful about what drinks they recommended! Amazing drinks and snacks, and a wonderful seating area outside. Would definitely recommend stopping here if you are in Asheville!

Je
Review №5

We loved our afternoon spent on the terrace! Wine was delicious and the cheese board was perfect!

El
Review №6

This place is amazing. We stopped by on Friday afternoon and absolutely loved everything about it. If you like books this place is a must! Great atmosphere, service, selection of wines and champagnes. Highly recommend!

An
Review №7

My idea of heaven! We had 2 different champagne flights which were so yummy! The cheese plates were a beautiful presentation and tasty. Such a gem!

Co
Review №8

Absolutely love this quaint gem in the heart of Ashville. I love the concept and atmosphere of this very unique bookstore and champagne bar. Its a great venue to enjoy a quiet drink and chartreuse while listening to jazz musicians.

Ja
Review №9

My wife and I went here and we were absolutely amazed.So many books !But guess what?They have an amazing staff and they serve food and beverages.But wait!They also have local musicians that come in and perform wonderful live music .Also there is heated outdoor seating.Very comfortable and very cozy.We were very relaxed and had great conversations. Definitely check this wonderful place out when visiting the downtown area of Asheville.We cant wait to return.

Sa
Review №10

This place has a great concept! You can go have a couple of drinks and a quick bite or just go in and enjoy the books (and maybe buy one or two).

Am
Review №11

This place is fantastic. I loved it. Even my kids enjoyed it and that says a lot.

Cu
Review №12

You were not open when we visited but enjoyed the comfy chairs and air conditioning inside the Grove Arcade

Di
Review №13

If youre a book lover this is a must see! And the outdoors is dog friendly!

Va
Review №14

Neat story behind this place so we looked around in there for a bit. Very cool and unique experience.

Me
Review №15

Fun eclectic champagne bar with seating scattered over two floors of used books. Kept thinking I’d turned the last bend! Tons of books and cozy nooks

Ni
Review №16

I could spend all day here. I love books. I love champagne. I love charcuterie. The menu is creatively worded (everything is book themed). The champagne cocktails are tasty. Their champagne selection impressive. The vibe is calm and casual. Absolutely love it.

Co
Review №17

This is a great bookstore with friendly staff and a great vibe. Great selection of champagne and wine and lots of snack and desserts. The books are fantastic and a little bit of everything. We made new friends here and recommend this as a must stop in Ashville. Check out our review and more photos @jwandcoryadventures

Br
Review №18

Pretty unique combo: books and bubbly! We would like to come back when things are normal again! Very nice drinks, and a lot of books to explore. We liked it so much, we visited twice in two days.The champagne fights are nice, and you get a little lesson about each one you try.The cocktail list was sparse, but that may have been due to the current Covid situation. The ones we tried were delicious, though.

Ju
Review №19

It was busy today and we had already eaten so we just cruised the books. I found my fiance a 15 volume (circa 1882 ) set of books from Hawthorne. I got me a pic book with pics from the 30s with a lot of info on my hometown. I will definitely go back for the Charcuterie and atmosphere.

Al
Review №20

Wow what a gem! We were walking back to the car on the way from brunch and saw a few shelves of books from the front window. Since we both love books we decided to walk in to glance at their selection. I was so surprised by what we saw as we continued through the store. It was one of those places I could spend all day just drinking coffee and getting lost in a good book. The smell of croissants floating in the air and the cozy feeling of shelves filled with books of all kinds. This is now one of my favorite places in downtown Asheville and I’m glad we made one last stop on the way out.

Br
Review №21

#gratefulOne of my customers we were doing a moving job for recently highly recommended the Champagne Bar downtown on one of my YouTube videos I definitely Im going to share everything on Twitter and send all my friends and family we are so grateful you are part of the community

Me
Review №22

Such a unique bookstore! It’s truly a gorgeous building!

R
Review №23

This book store is a gem. Weve lost so many of these marvelous places to online sales. Enjoy this bookstore. Have some cheese crackers and champagne. Browse the eclectic and wonderful books. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Kr
Review №24

The hostess was a little unfriendly but everything after that was tops. It was a fun experience. I would suggest the champagne flight

An
Review №25

Classic and enchanting bookstore. You feel like you have entered a magical place. The way its all set up and arranged is a marvelous experience to savour. This place should be a landmark to be treasured by all in this wonderful city of Asheville. My words cannot fully describe it ...you must see it for yourself.

Em
Review №26

Amazing experience across the board. Donna really crushed it with our reservation for my sister’s bachelorette! We had an amazing outdoor spot reserved for us that was right in front of the band and allowed a lot of great people watching. They let me have some people, who couldn’t make the festivities, order stuff for the table ahead of time. Emily and Donna really were welcoming and created such a night to remember for myself, my sister, and our crew. Food was delicious and the champagne flowed! Definitely will have to visit this place again!

Ch
Review №27

This is absolutely one of my favorite places in Asheville! Enjoy champagne, wine or tea accompanied by a delicious charcuterie board. Sit outside and listen to music or cozy up with a book inside. Battery Park Book Exchange is a great meeting place with excellent service.

An
Review №28

One of my favorite places to send tourist. I do wish the steps still went up one side and down the other. It loses a tad of its magic blocked off. But still a neat store.

Me
Review №29

When you have to decide between books and booze - dont! This place is amazing you enter on the street outside Grove Arcade, and youre met with a wall of champagnes and tons of books. There are three floors and tons of hidden seats hidden within the stacks. Stay and cozy up with a book and coffee or a lovely flute of champagne or a cocktail. In order to use the seat you are supposed to have ordered food and/or drink beforehand.

Ab
Review №30

Rude Staff. My experience at this establishment today was very poor. I came in with friends to do some work and hang out while we visited Asheville. We started out by ordering tea and planned to order charcuterie boards and drinks later. 3 different staff came up and expressed that we needed to leave in about a 5 minute span explaining that we had stayed past the 1.5 hour time limit and they needed to seat new people at our table. It’s a shame they did not allow us to order more items before asking us to leave. It would have also been nice to have known up front there was an expected time frame. The way the message was communicated was very rude and I was not impressed by the staff at all. We were also just expected to be okay with having the last 1/2 cup of milk they had in stock for 4 people to put in their tea. We were also criticized by a waiter for taking the bill up to the counter ourselves instead of handing it to a staff to take care of even though we had just been asked to leave…??? Really???However the live music was awesome and the physical set up is attractive.

Do
Review №31

Amazing service, awesome atmosphere.

Sc
Review №32

What a unique venue! This was an absolute oasis to find during these troubled times, a bookstore with a great wine list and horderves. If youre visiting Asheville, take the time to visit this lovely spot, buy a book or three and enjoy the outside patio. And it was a delightful surprise to get our check in the Dr. Seuss book, Green Eggs and Ham. Enjoy!

ho
Review №33

Alright, my reviews are generally good because Im not a hard person to please I guess, but this place deserves more than five stars. My girlfriend and I didnt order anything other than four different sparkling cocktails, but they were immaculate. The tasty cocktails, coupled with the live music and the odd air of comfort from being in a cozy book club really put the icing on the proverbial cake. Youd be lucky to get in and experience this establishment. Id be hard pressed to say you would not completely enjoy your experience.

Ca
Review №34

Book Store AND Champagne Bar, what more could you ask for? Their cocktails and charcuterie selections are all literary themed, and if you arent into champagne, they have a wide selection of wines and beers. The service was incredible and super fast, even though they were incredibly busy. Make sure to check out the bookstore while youre there, its beautiful! Definitely hope to be back on my next visit to Asheville.

Ro
Review №35

Cool place. The bookstore was really interesting.

Ke
Review №36

Its a really cool space, the grove arcade is beautiful. The menu is limited and expensive. The pies are from the baked pie company and are, as always, fantastic. The host that seated us was friendly and calm. Our table was so long we couldnt really talk to each other while we were seated. We asked if we could move but were told that we couldnt. Our server seemed upset that we asked for tea. There was also some sort of construction noise that happened which was fine if a little odd. Overall an okay experience.

E
Review №37

Great place to enjoy a drink, some food and the company of books. Chic multi cultural ambiance with delicious food, great deserts.. Try the chocolate pie! and go looking at their selection of wonderful and usually hard to find books.. The service was also great! Go and enjoy them. I will be back on my next vacation to Asheville!

Aa
Review №38

Great experience, champagne and mimosa flights were amazing. Beauty and The Meats charcuterie board was delicious too. Checkout pic for how the check was given, awesome.

Da
Review №39

Such a cool venue! Attended a wedding meet&greet and really enjoyed myself

D
Review №40

We love browsing for books here, with a glass of champagne in hand. Such a unique book shop and truly one of a kind.

Je
Review №41

Very cool place! Great atmosphere for drinks with friends and all the books you can imagine! What could be better???

An
Review №42

Cute place! Enjoyed looking at the books. They even had a cafe and a place to eat too.

Jo
Review №43

Is it possible to other than love this place? So many cool books! Not a ton of new prints, but thats completely as it should be!

Ch
Review №44

Cheers! Fun spot, left with four great books!

St
Review №45

Beautiful library with a great selection of books to browse. The hostess (older lady in charge of the bar area) was very unfriendly, hence the missing stars. My husband and I were inquiring about seating to read and drink. We were first told that if we wanted to spend hours reading we should sit in the Arcade and not the bookstore, since their seating was for limited time only (??). Then we were accused of carrying our own books into the store and we had to clarify that the books in our hands were from the bookstore itself. The hostess was the only minus in the whole experience though!

Be
Review №46

Champagne flights and live music. Perfect setting for my bachelorette weekend kick off. The waitresses were precious women who seemed very knowledgeable about tea and champagne and the musicians were fabulous. Even with COVID, it was spectacular.

Cy
Review №47

👌Awesome staff. Great atmosphere. Fun to browse. Great music. I could spend all day there!

Ma
Review №48

Wonderful place to spend an afternoon. Eclectic selection of good condition books covering a wide breadth of genres and a multitude of nooks and crannies to seek out hidden literary gems. It also hosts a dessert and champagne bar to accompany you while browsing and the atmosphere is very conducive to staying a while and not realize time is flying by.

Ke
Review №49

This is the most amazing eclectic book store Ive ever been to. It not only is a book store but also has a coffee shop and wine bar. Lots of places to sit and work/read/drink. There is a great seating area upstairs where you can overlook the first floor. They also have a selection of rare books for sale. Only problem with this store is that the isles are narrow so it can be cumbersome to get through on a busy day. Make sure you have plenty of time to browse!

An
Review №50

This place is actually a pinball museum in a bustling downtown experience. Found it on a whim and scored big. I was disappointed with the pricing structure so we didn’t stay too long. Be prepared to pay 15 a person no matter what. Though that price guarantees you all-day admission, we had too many other items on our agenda so we explored the selections and then left shortly after. Alcohol is served here which helps. I wish they had a quick pass here for in and out visitors like myself.

Da
Review №51

Such a cool place. The best pimiento cheese sandwich Ive ever had. A must when visiting Asheville!

Pa
Review №52

I love the idea, but all the signage around asking you not to read anything without purchasing it really turned me off. I put down the book I was about to get and left without buying anything 🙁. That spirit just doesn’t fit in a bookstore.

Je
Review №53

Very nice selection of champagne. Cheese plates and chocolates. Friendly service. Walls and walks of books with plenty of nooks and crannies to cozy up. Such a neat spot. Put it on your list, impress your date! They also accommodate small parties. We held a bachelorette shower here and it was perfect. Visiting Asheville with kids? There is a kid section upstairs. Grab a drink while the kids explore and read then walk up the street to the pinball museum.

Sy
Review №54

A must see if you are a tourist, and a great go for locals. Tons of book choices. Dog-friendly! Cocktails, champagne, coffee. The apple brie sandwich was excellent! Funky corner seats and couches to relax.

Ca
Review №55

Fantastic place to have a drink and read! Fave new place to go

M
Review №56

What a great concept! We loved the set-up inside. So many shelves of books interspersed with cozy tables and couches to eat/drink at. The sparkling wine cocktails we had were delicious and the books we found were a great price.

Jo
Review №57

Awesome shot with an amazing selection of books to choose from. Coffee bar as well as alcoholic beverages. Great lounge to sit and socialize, read, and simply enjoy a little bit of downtime.

sh
Review №58

Love this place. Drinks were wonderful, great book selection and super friendly staff.

Cr
Review №59

What a lovely book store!! Super dog-friendly! Delicious coffee, treats, and champagne! Such a neat layout and atmosphere. Lots of cozy sitting areas for small and large groups. Amazing book selection. I absolutely loved my visit here!

Ja
Review №60

Great cocktails. Fantastic charcuterie boards. The ambience is amazing. Most definitely an experience.

Le
Review №61

Great champagne, cheese board, and nap spot.

Bi
Review №62

Fun experience. We tried a champagne flight and meat and cheese plate that hit the spot.

Si
Review №63

If you are a book person this is a must! Great selection of books and a wonderful atmosphere. I could spend the entire day browsing while enjoying some food and drinks.

Am
Review №64

Their doors were open and we walked in and were quickly told to leave because they dont open until noon....it was 11:47. We apologized and said we didnt notice the time, just the open doors so made the assumption they were open. We were told thats the way they take the cushions out. I guess it just felt like a rude greeting to a potential costumer. How about, feel free to browse but we are still getting things around or oh, yes, I can see how thats confusing....we would love you to come in 10 minutes. 🤷‍♀️ Happy to shop and spend money elsewhere. 💰

ke
Review №65

Reeking with atmosphere and holding the promise of a Parisian Cafe experience, The Battery Park Book Exchange suffers from a soul-crushing defect---This beautiful bistro is espresso-less. Not a drop to be had no matter how desperately you plead. (Adding insult to injury The Host will kindly suggest that you are free to hike a block or so up the street and order your latte from a take-out window and bring it back with you.)Other than that grand faux-pas this place features a good selection of snacks cheeses meats and a sandwich or two. Waldorf chicken salad on a flaky croissant---delish! A broad selection of wines and champagnes try with no avail to make up for the vacuum created by the absence of a hot frothy cappuccino.Lovely casual Street side seating is available for late afternoon conversation with subdued live music in the background.Too bad about the lack of good coffee.

Ha
Review №66

I had a party of 10 and inquired with the hostess about availability. She looked at me and simply rolled her eyes and acted if my request was outlandish. She was an older woman with glasses. This happened just five minutes ago and I am so appalled at their level of “customer service” that I am writing the review now. The actual space may be might cool but the staff, RUDE. I thought Asheville was supposed to be welcoming.

Co
Review №67

Such a cozy place to relax and enjoy the great books, food, and drinks. Highly recommended!

Ma
Review №68

Loved everything! Outdoor seating, delicious charcuterie board, Great Gatsby champagne cocktails , fun wait staff, and awesome live music! It was a perfect post-covid afternoon!

Ta
Review №69

Unique ambiance, great Champagne flights, & excellent small bites. Must see in Ashville.

Ro
Review №70

Best place to meet friends for coffee, champers, wine etc.

J
Review №71

One of our favorite spots to eat and read. For what it offers in books the prices are very reasonable.

Er
Review №72

Very cool place but ok service

Ay
Review №73

One of my favorite spots in Asheville to sit outside and people watch. Its such a special space inside as well, with an incredible selection of books and artwork on the walls and all these nooks to find and relax in with a glass or two. Staff is always exceptional.

Co
Review №74

Loved the vibe in here! Next time Ill come here to eat and not just shop since everything smelled amazing

Mi
Review №75

This is a cool place to visit. I loved the way it was set up!

Ca
Review №76

Officially my favorite place in Asheville. Great variety of books for sale, really cool vibe inside. And outdoor seating for a glass of wine was great. Hummus plate was delicious and a great value!

Li
Review №77

Experience was delightful, had a wonderful meal and nice company and enjoyable music

Ke
Review №78

Stopped by on a Friday. What a lovely evening it was. Wine & cheeseboard on the patio with live music inside. Fabulous service!BOBE has a European flair about it. There are lots of little nooks to enjoy a glass of wine.I originally came here to look for a book, but I got so mesmerized with the wine and the music I didn’t do much browsing of books.Will be back for exploring and perhaps another glass of wine or two.

Vi
Review №79

Nice place. Cool live music. Lots of interesting books. Plan on spending some time exploring the nooks on both floors.

pa
Review №80

This review is just for the bookstore. my husband brought me here cus last time he came a few years ago he was impressed, but this time the selection of books was really underwhelming and poorly organized in some spots.

ES
Review №81

Charming and rather sophisticated with a great selection of champagnes and wines. Notorious Pink was especially delicious despite its cryptic name. Very dog friendly.

Er
Review №82

This may be the most welcoming and comfortable bookstore in the planet. Dog friendly, comfy chairs, offering coffee and wine. Great decor and more. Wish there was one closer to my home!

Ca
Review №83

It has some lounge couches on the sidewalk, where local artists were selling goods, the crossiant with jam was yummy, and the bill came in one of my favorite books...Dr Seuss!!! Great relaxing time

Ni
Review №84

Would probably work better as separate book store and place to get a drink, for a more intimate setting.

Pa
Review №85

Great place to visit and buy great books!!

R2
Review №86

Such a quaint little place, food and service are superb. Prices can get a bit steep but the place is worth it.

S
Review №87

Pretentious pretty much sums it up

La
Review №88

Sat outside under the awning which was perfect, even in the light drizzle of rain. Had the Tale of Two Choices charcuterie with a soft cheese and salami. Beautiful presentation and plenty to share.

Ca
Review №89

Its hard to believe a place like this exists. You can buy/read books, have some cafe treats, drink champagne, and even bring your dog inside!!! 🐕

Ew
Review №90

Battery Park Book Exchange is always a destination on my visits to Asheville...today was no exception. Enjoyed a delicious lunch and two of the hot tea selections...excellent customer service, very attentive staff and it was a pleasure to meet the lovely owner. Incredible selection of books! Highly recommend!!

Ro
Review №91

Extensive collection of wines, great ambiance and a classy setting.The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, and if you have a dog you can bring it too, which makes them alright in my book.

Ca
Review №92

This beautiful and charming coffee/tea/champagne bar/book shop makes you feel like youre in an old school library with comfy leather seats in little corner nooks. So glad we stopped in for a drink and a read.

Ha
Review №93

Great environment! Got there too late to order food.

Er
Review №94

Great staff. Fun environment

Mi
Review №95

My goodness, what a gem! Live music, great selection of books, and beer/wine/champagne!

Co
Review №96

Felt like I was sitting at a sidewalk cafe in Paris. Had drinks there Friday night. Sat at one of their outside tables. A nice chill in thee air and a Bassist thumping away live music outside was great. Although e did not get one, lots of tables with fire pits outside. Also, would have loved to get inside as it looked so cute, alas it was prime time and we were just lucky to get a seat anywhere. Highly recommend this place... oh and the champagne cocktails rocked! Friendly service too. If they had 6 stars they would have 6 from me!

Ji
Review №97

Always come by whenever I visit Asheville downtown. It’s so charming and comfortable and welcoming and chic. Their selection of books and great pricing as well as the large amount of intimate space. They have a lovely space on the side where they serve drinks and live music so you can sip and listen to music if you want to read. They have a second floor with lower ceilings if you want a quieter darker leather couch and table setting. I LOVE THIS PLACE

Ky
Review №98

Book collection was nice, but I felt restricted to browsing as much as I wouldve liked. Many of their seating locations were right in front of bookcases. I would advise to go here only if you plan to be seated and enjoy their wine and charcuterie.

Ki
Review №99

This place started off amazing. It’s got a really good atmosphere and food and wine. We would have stayed longer and ordered more, however our server just disappeared for an hour and a half. We were patient at first because it was pretty busy, but once we hit the hour mark with empty plates and glasses we were done. It took another 30 minutes to find her and get her attention. At that point, we were so fed up we decided we’d leave and drink our own wine at home. After bringing us our check and apologizing for overlooking us, we waited another 10 minutes for her to pick it back up, but she didn’t return. We saw her chatting at the bar with another employee. Left cash and immediately left.Really disappointed because it was a cool place. Hope no one else has the same experience because we’re not dying to come back.

Ch
Review №100

Loved it. Had some bubbly cocktails and enjoyed some soulful music. Bought a few books as well. Definitely going back again.

Information
100 Photos
100 Comments
4.6 Rating
  • Address:1 Page Ave #101, Asheville, NC 28801, United States
  • Phone:(828) 252-0020
Categories
  • Book store
  • Espresso bar
  • Used book store
  • Wine bar
Working hours
  • Monday:Closed
  • Tuesday:Closed
  • Wednesday:12–7PM
  • Thursday:12–8PM
  • Friday:12–8PM
  • Saturday:12–8PM
  • Sunday:12–6PM
Service options
  • In-store shopping:Yes
  • Delivery:No
Health and safety
  • Staff required to disinfect surfaces between visits:Yes
Accessibility
  • Wheelchair-accessible car park:Yes
  • Wheelchair-accessible entrance:Yes
Planning
  • Quick visit:Yes
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