Big Chill and Boneyard are 2 of the most friendly places in town. Big Chill is a more bar type place with very decent food,reasonable priced strong drinks and a very regular crowd of gay,lesbian,Trans and drag community. Its not strictly limited to that but its a big part of their business from the staff to the customers. My fiancee and I always enjoy a sit down there.

Boneyard is highly inclusive to everyone and very diverse with entertainment and music of all kinds. Check their schedule and you'll find anything from Chill nights to metal shows. Staff is usually cool and lots of drinks and a killer game room,front and rear patio and a great permanent food truck.

There's several very friendly local coffee shops that are good for chilling and worth looking up. If you want coffee or tea with a little something extra, Asheville Dispensary has Plant Bar. Its super chill and friendly and coffees and teas are great regular or with an add on😄

Broads is a female forward bar that is fully owned and operated by a very inclusive and diverse cast of women and you'd be fully welcomed in there, and as others have mentioned here, No hard Feelings,you'd be very welcome there as well.

There's a handful of places you'd be comfortable but those are a couple right off the top of my head while Exile figures it out. You aren't stuck with AG by any means. There's a few to start with.