Looking to visit the city of Asheville, NC soon? I’ve rounded up all of the best places to eat, drink, stay and shop in this comprehensive Asheville city guide! If a place that you love in Asheville isn’t included in this list of restaurants, hotels, breweries, wineries, please add it to the comments. I would love to hear other recommendations and suggestions!
Why Visit Asheville
There’s so much to do in Asheville, NC. Downtown Asheville is known for not only its restaurants and breweries but for its art scene, live music and local shops. Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, it’s perfect for outdoor adventure lovers. The greater area is great for hiking, tubing, camping and skiing in the winter months. We honestly love living so close. It’s a 2-hour drive from Charlotte, 3 from Atlanta, and 4 and a half from both Nashville and Raleigh. Great for a weekend visit.
Best Restaurants in Asheville
Asheville is known for its local restaurants. A lot of James Beard award winners have opened restaurants here. Here’s my guide to the best restaurants in Asheville.
12 Bones // Some of the best BBQ in Asheville.
Biscuit Head // There is a reason Biscuit Head has a line outside the door. It’s worth it. With three Asheville locations, it’s a fan favorite for breakfast or lunch.
Cantina // Fresh Mex near the Biltmore. A ton of vegetarian and gluten-free options.
Chestnut // From the same owners as Corner Kitchen, Chestnut has local food and they make all their desserts in-house. The dinner menu rotates monthly, so it’s great for repeat visitors to try something new.
Corner Kitchen // Well known in the Biltmore Village for lunch and dinner.
Curate // Spanish tapas. They even have a wine club that ships monthly. It’s downtown, right next to Mast General Store.
Early Girl Eatery // Southern fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Edison // Elevated bar fare with indoor and outdoor space at the Grove Park Inn.
Farm Burger // Grassfed burgers.
Homegrown // Local and organic meat and three.
Limones // Mexican with a California twist. Think lobster nachos or lamb enchiladas.
Luella’s // Carolina BBQ. They also have BBQ Baked Potatoes.
Nine Mile // A vegetarian-friendly restaurant featuring Caribbean inspired rice and pasta dishes.
Red Stag // The restaurant inside the Grand Bohemian hotel.
Salsa // Burritos, tacos, Molcajetes. Authentic Mexican.
Sunny Point Cafe // Breakfast and lunch all day. They also offer take and heat meals if you have a cabin or AirBnB.
Sunset Terrace at The Grove Park // One of our favorite restaurants in all of Asheville. We go for our anniversary and bring out of town friends regularly.
Taco Billy // The couple who started this taco shop got the grand idea when they were living in southern Mexico. Their taco recipes come from the locals there. And if you want breakfast tacos this is the spot.
The Admiral // The Admiral changes their menu weekly to take advantage of local produce. They’re known for creative flavor combinations and small plates.
The Lobster Trap // Sustainable seafood. If you are craving oysters or lobster this is the place.
Tupelo Honey // An Asheville staple, especially for brunch.
Universal Joint // Bar food with a dog-friendly patio.
White Duck Taco Shop // Three locations in Asheville and another in Hendersonville. Awesome tacos. Try the jackfruit.
Asheville Breweries and Bars
With more breweries per capita than any other US city, Asheville is affectionately known as “beer city.” Even if you aren’t a beer drinker, there are wineries just outside Asheville nestled in the foothills.
Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar
Funkatorium
Highland Brewing Company
Imperial Life
Lexington Avenue Brewery
New Belgium
Pour
Pubcycle Tour
Sierra Nevada Brewery
Sky Bar
Sovereign Remedies
The Wedge
Wicked Weed
Indulge
Where to Stay
The Grand Bohemian // A boutique hotel in the Biltmore Village, the Grand Bohemian has a unique style, like a luxurious hunting lodge.
The Grove Park // Nestled against the mountain, the Grove Park Inn is known for its amazing views. It’s honestly one of our favorite spots in Asheville and we go for dinner on the terrace.
The Inn Biltmore Estate // If the Biltmore is on your itinerary, you can stay on the property. Definitely a high-end luxury hotel with spa, afternoon tea and access to the Biltmore house and grounds.
Hotel Indigo // If you want to stay in downtown Asheville, Hotel Indigo is the best pick and within walking distance to restaurants and breweries.
Shop
Asheville Mall – H&M, Gap, Ulta, Old Navy
Biltmore Village // Bette, lululemon, J.Crew, Monkees and local boutiques.
Biltmore Park // Shopping in this mixed-use development includes Loft, Barnes & Noble, Athleta.
Screened Door // A great antique store, also good for second-hand books.
Tobacco Barn // Great antiques from 75+ local dealers.
Yesterday’s tree // Home decor and furniture store with a local downtown and in Arden.
Things to Do In Asheville
The River Arts District // Right on the French Broad River, the River Arts District is home to hundreds of local artists, sculptors, jewelry makers, photographers, etc. You can browse their studios or take a class – from glass blowing to painting.
The Biltmore // If you’re not staying at the Biltmore, you can still tour America’s largest home. Built by George Vanderbilt, it has 8000 acres of grounds and gardens and 250 rooms including a huge library!
Waterfall Hikes // Because Asheville is surrounded by the Pisgah Forest and Dupont State Forest there are plenty of waterfall hikes. Looking Glass Falls is super popular. We’ve done a kid-friendly hiking loop of High Falls, Triple Falls, and Hooker Falls.
Biking // Zach loves to mountain bike and he regularly goes with friends. You can also take a road bike along the Blue Ridge Parkway. If casual biking is more your style, you can rent an electric bike downtown or do one of the many biking and beer tours.
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Thanks for this!! Between this guide and all you have on Charleston you’ve basically planned our Christmas trip to those two cities. 🙂