Octopus Garden

Octopus Garden has been part of the Asheville scene since 1993, and after all these years it remains one of the most well-regarded smoke shops in town. Ask anyone who shops here and the first thing they mention is the people. The staff has a real knack for making everyone feel welcome, and locals will tell you they'll bounce between a big group and make sure each person gets attention. Jesse gets called out by name for being thorough and giving spot-on recommendations, and folks who came in skeptical of smoke shops in general have left surprised at what they found here.

The selection covers a lot of ground. On the cigar side, the humidor stocks names worth knowing: Arturo Fuente, Padron-level classics like Montecristo, Cohiba, Romeo y Julieta, Rocky Patel, Drew Estate, Macanudo, CAO, Gurkha, Ashton, My Father, Alec Bradley, Perdomo, Perez Carillo, and more. If you're into hookah, they carry Al Fakher shisha and Fantasia. Beyond that you'll find glass pipes and water pipes, vaporizers and vapes, tobacco pipes, kratom, and a good range of CBD and hemp products, plus the everyday smoking accessories.

One regular put a favorite line, the Astria Farm vape, at the top of their list after being pointed to it. Prices are fair, the variety is deep, and the atmosphere is easygoing and positive, right down to the old gumball rock machine that people get a kick out of. We've heard the occasional note that the cigar humidification could run a little better on a given day, so if you're picking up a single, it's worth giving it a feel first. That aside, the word around Asheville is that this is a friendly, knowledgeable spot people are glad to have close by.

If you're looking for a smoke shop in Asheville with real staying power and staff who actually know their stuff, Octopus Garden earns the loyalty it has built up over the decades.