With a great vibe and a campy name (there's a particularly fun, John Waters-esque logo on the building's exterior, by the front door), Club Hairspray (38 N. French Broad Ave., 828-258-2027) is one of Asheville's best gay hangouts. Of the handful of bars in town, this one has the top following among lesbians, but it's welcoming of all persuasions. Inside you'll find a festive bar up front (pictured here), a larger space with dance floor and stage in the middle, and a pool table in the back. Club Hairspray is downtown, a short walk from the other big disco, Scandals.
Like many nightclubs in Asheville, Club Hairspray is technically a private club for members only - one of the archaic liquor laws that's common throughout North Carolina. What this means for visitors is that you show an ID, sign in as a guest, and pay a guest membership fee (usually around $5 at Hairspray), which basically amounts to a cover charge.
