Emily’s Guidebook to Asheville
Food scene
Really great Asian fusion comfort food (and is walkable from the house). I often get their pork ramen.
89 locals recommend
Gan Shan West
285 Haywood RdReally great Asian fusion comfort food (and is walkable from the house). I often get their pork ramen.
Tasty, unique a la carte tacos. They have two locations: one in the River Arts District, and one downtown.
440 locals recommend
White Duck Taco Shop
388 Riverside DrTasty, unique a la carte tacos. They have two locations: one in the River Arts District, and one downtown.
Great “dressed-up” southern comfort food—their menu is always changing and is ALWAYS really unique and delicious.
173 locals recommend
HomeGrown
371 Merrimon AveGreat “dressed-up” southern comfort food—their menu is always changing and is ALWAYS really unique and delicious.
Tasty--and often busy--joint downtown that does burgers really well. They've got everything from the basic to unique. I highly recommend this spot if you're craving some good grass-fed beef.
151 locals recommend
Farm Burger Asheville
10 Patton AveTasty--and often busy--joint downtown that does burgers really well. They've got everything from the basic to unique. I highly recommend this spot if you're craving some good grass-fed beef.
Award-winning Indian street food (be sure to get their deep-fried okra).
311 locals recommend
Chai Pani Asheville
22 Battery Park AveAward-winning Indian street food (be sure to get their deep-fried okra).
Moe's Original Bar B Que
4 Sweeten Creek RdGood North Carolina barbecue
12 Bones Smokehouse RIVER
5 Foundy StGreat, iconic BBQ joint.
A staple on the visitor’s circuit, their treats are amazing. I love their sipping chocolate and picking out a few truffles for a treat or a gift.
363 locals recommend
French Broad Chocolate Lounge
10 S Pack SquareA staple on the visitor’s circuit, their treats are amazing. I love their sipping chocolate and picking out a few truffles for a treat or a gift.
Really great food (a little overpriced for the portions but totally worth it), and it’s a nice destination after checking out galleries at the River Arts District. Great gluten-free options.
101 locals recommend
All Souls Pizza
175 Clingman AveReally great food (a little overpriced for the portions but totally worth it), and it’s a nice destination after checking out galleries at the River Arts District. Great gluten-free options.
Plant
165 Merrimon AveIncredible, upscale plant-based menu--and I mean incredible.
A West Asheville institution with great Southern comfort food with a twist for brunch, lunch, or dinner. One of my favorite places in West Asheville.
587 locals recommend
Sunny Point Café
626 Haywood RdA West Asheville institution with great Southern comfort food with a twist for brunch, lunch, or dinner. One of my favorite places in West Asheville.
Really good brunches and a sweet vibe (bonus: is an easy walk from the house). Also has a location downtown on Wall Street.
223 locals recommend
Early Girl Eatery
8 Wall StReally good brunches and a sweet vibe (bonus: is an easy walk from the house). Also has a location downtown on Wall Street.
Incredible northern Indian cuisine. Their dinners are a bit more expensive, but if you do the lunch buffet it’s way cheaper and you have the same options as the dinner menu.
191 locals recommend
Mela Indian Restaurant
70 N Lexington AveIncredible northern Indian cuisine. Their dinners are a bit more expensive, but if you do the lunch buffet it’s way cheaper and you have the same options as the dinner menu.
Red Ginger Dimsum & Tapas
82 Patton AveTasty dimsum downtown.
Hands-down my favorite over-$25-a-plate spot in town. Amazing menu that changes all the time, and it's all cooked in an open kitchen with a diner feel. And it’s a 7-minute walk from the house! Portions are on the small side so be prepared to savor!
316 locals recommend
The Admiral
400 Haywood RdHands-down my favorite over-$25-a-plate spot in town. Amazing menu that changes all the time, and it's all cooked in an open kitchen with a diner feel. And it’s a 7-minute walk from the house! Portions are on the small side so be prepared to savor!
Really excellent Spanish-centric menu. Katie Button has won many national and international awards—it gets insane reviews and has been a staple of the Asheville fine dining scene for a long time. Definitely make a reservation.
518 locals recommend
Cúrate
13 Biltmore AveReally excellent Spanish-centric menu. Katie Button has won many national and international awards—it gets insane reviews and has been a staple of the Asheville fine dining scene for a long time. Definitely make a reservation.
Great local ice cream shop in West Asheville with plant-based options.
93 locals recommend
The Hop West
721 Haywood RdGreat local ice cream shop in West Asheville with plant-based options.
Vinnie's Neighborhood Italian
641 Merrimon AvePopular "old school" Italian spot
Strada Italiano
27 Broadway StPopular traditional Italian with homemade pasta
Coffee and Tea
Good coffee, nice open-air vibe when the windows are open, and pretty good baked goods too (the vegan baked goods are just meh, in my opinion). One of my favorite work-out-of-the-house spots.
83 locals recommend
Odd's Cafe
800 Haywood RdGood coffee, nice open-air vibe when the windows are open, and pretty good baked goods too (the vegan baked goods are just meh, in my opinion). One of my favorite work-out-of-the-house spots.
A hip local Black-owned coffee spot in the River Arts District. The owners are doing some really cool work around lifting up Black-owned businesses in the area.
16 locals recommend
Grind
346 Depot StA hip local Black-owned coffee spot in the River Arts District. The owners are doing some really cool work around lifting up Black-owned businesses in the area.
Incredible French pastry and great coffee. One of my favorite morning rituals is to walk to OWL (just 8-10 minutes from the house) for a croissant and coffee.
156 locals recommend
OWL Bakery
295 Haywood RdIncredible French pastry and great coffee. One of my favorite morning rituals is to walk to OWL (just 8-10 minutes from the house) for a croissant and coffee.
Nearby coffee spot with outdoor seating and a punk vibe. Another great spot to take a laptop and post up for awhile. Tiger Bay Cafe is in the back of the building and has a great menu.
109 locals recommend
BattleCat Coffee Bar
373 Haywood RdNearby coffee spot with outdoor seating and a punk vibe. Another great spot to take a laptop and post up for awhile. Tiger Bay Cafe is in the back of the building and has a great menu.
Tea house with a loungey vibe, an extensive tea menu and tasty vegan small plates/bites. They have two local locations: one in West Asheville and one downtown.
96 locals recommend
Dobra Tea West
707 Haywood RdTea house with a loungey vibe, an extensive tea menu and tasty vegan small plates/bites. They have two local locations: one in West Asheville and one downtown.
Excellent coffee with a relaxing indoor and outdoor space. I also love the High Five location along Riverside Drive (right along the French Broad River), and their location on Rankin Avenue is really convenient if you are downtown.
186 locals recommend
High Five Coffee
190 Broadway StExcellent coffee with a relaxing indoor and outdoor space. I also love the High Five location along Riverside Drive (right along the French Broad River), and their location on Rankin Avenue is really convenient if you are downtown.
Great coffee and a relaxed space to bring a laptop or hang out. They also have a location downtown on Lexington Avenue.
39 locals recommend
Izzy's Coffee House
976 Haywood RdGreat coffee and a relaxed space to bring a laptop or hang out. They also have a location downtown on Lexington Avenue.
Now called "Rite Rite." Chic, cozy coffee spot in the heart of downtown.
42 locals recommend
Trade and Lore
37 Wall StNow called "Rite Rite." Chic, cozy coffee spot in the heart of downtown.
Wine and Cocktails
5 Walnut Wine Bar
5 W Walnut StA favorite wine bar downtown--cozy and vibrant.
A lovely maze of a bookstore with a wine/champagne bar downstairs--a great place to relax and check your email or read!
191 locals recommend
Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar
1 Page AveA lovely maze of a bookstore with a wine/champagne bar downstairs--a great place to relax and check your email or read!
Little Jumbo
241 Broadway StGreat cocktail bar in the Montford neighborhood
Social Lounge
29 Broadway StIconic cocktail bar in the heart of downtown.
Cocktail bar with a vintage, lush vibe and unique offerings on picturesque Market Street.
203 locals recommend
Sovereign Remedies
29 N Market StCocktail bar with a vintage, lush vibe and unique offerings on picturesque Market Street.
Neighborhoods
A fun, eclectic part of town with TONS of artist studios (ceramics, glassblowing, fine art, etc) that are within an easy stroll of each other. There is plenty down there to spend an afternoon wandering through studios, having coffee at Ultra or Grind, a beer at the Wedge, and getting food at White Duck Taco as an example.
700 locals recommend
River Arts District
3 River Arts PlA fun, eclectic part of town with TONS of artist studios (ceramics, glassblowing, fine art, etc) that are within an easy stroll of each other. There is plenty down there to spend an afternoon wandering through studios, having coffee at Ultra or Grind, a beer at the Wedge, and getting food at White Duck Taco as an example.
Sightseeing
Watching the sunset from the back terrace at the Grove Park Inn is a must-do. You can get cocktails and a beer and it's the perfect way to end the day.
573 locals recommend
The Omni Grove Park Inn Spa
290 Macon AveWatching the sunset from the back terrace at the Grove Park Inn is a must-do. You can get cocktails and a beer and it's the perfect way to end the day.
a historic national scenic parkway that passes just south of Asheville. Some of the most beautiful views along the parkway are within a 45-minute drive of Asheville. You can hop on the parkway near Waynesville (between Sylva and Asheville) and hop off just south of town. The Folk Art Center is an interesting attraction just off the parkway too. The North Carolina Arboretum is another beautiful spot just off the Parkway. Admission is $12 per vehicle, or you can park at Bent Creek Experimental Forest next door and walk in on the trails for free. Note: the parkway is subject to seasonal closures: you can check the real-time closure status of all sections of the Parkway online.
757 locals recommend
Blue Ridge Parkway
3884 Blue Ridge Parkwaya historic national scenic parkway that passes just south of Asheville. Some of the most beautiful views along the parkway are within a 45-minute drive of Asheville. You can hop on the parkway near Waynesville (between Sylva and Asheville) and hop off just south of town. The Folk Art Center is an interesting attraction just off the parkway too. The North Carolina Arboretum is another beautiful spot just off the Parkway. Admission is $12 per vehicle, or you can park at Bent Creek Experimental Forest next door and walk in on the trails for free. Note: the parkway is subject to seasonal closures: you can check the real-time closure status of all sections of the Parkway online.
Features permanent and rotating exhibits featuring local, regional and national artists. A great option for a rainy day!
158 locals recommend
Asheville Art Museum
2 S Pack SquareFeatures permanent and rotating exhibits featuring local, regional and national artists. A great option for a rainy day!
Asheville Music Hall
31 Patton AveQuirky, offbeat, totally-Asheville.
Another really popular visitor staple. Admission is on the pricey end, but it’s a pretty unique experience to tour the house. Admission also allows you to access the entire property, including the gardens, and sometimes there are concerts at Antler Village (a retail area with shops and their winery on the property).
1485 locals recommend
Biltmore
1 Lodge StAnother really popular visitor staple. Admission is on the pricey end, but it’s a pretty unique experience to tour the house. Admission also allows you to access the entire property, including the gardens, and sometimes there are concerts at Antler Village (a retail area with shops and their winery on the property).
Kid-friendly (or for the kid in all of us)
Houses over 60 animal species of the Southern Appalachians and is a perennial favorite of many local families.
295 locals recommend
WNC Nature Center
75 Gashes Creek RdHouses over 60 animal species of the Southern Appalachians and is a perennial favorite of many local families.
Offers easy walks through beautiful gardens, educational classes for adults and kids, and more.
582 locals recommend
The North Carolina Arboretum
100 Frederick Law Olmsted WayOffers easy walks through beautiful gardens, educational classes for adults and kids, and more.
Offers easy walks through beautiful gardens, educational classes for adults and kids, and more.
194 locals recommend
Botanical Gardens at Asheville
151 W T. Weaver BoulevardOffers easy walks through beautiful gardens, educational classes for adults and kids, and more.
Another great rainy-day option downtown for kids and curious adults.
74 locals recommend
Asheville Museum of Science
43 Patton AveAnother great rainy-day option downtown for kids and curious adults.
Launch Trampoline Park Asheville
24 Walden DrA bit of a drive south of town, but lots of fun!
City advice
Don't miss
Check out the Asheville Food Truck Scene
Asheville also has a huge food truck scene. I have only tried a fraction of them, but from my own experience and what I’ve heard, some of the must-try ones are: El Kimchi, Belly Up, Gypsy Queen, Root Down, Sugar & Snow Gelato, Sunshine Sammies, and Vieux Carre. You can get to each of their websites and find a tracker at www.ashevillefoodtrucks.com. They often post up at breweries.
Don't miss
Check out the Asheville Beer Scene
Asheville’s beer scene is enormous and growing all the time. There are a lot of amazing breweries in the area, so if that fits with your dietary preferences you should definitely plan to sample some of the offerings. A fairly comprehensive list can be found by googling "Explore Asheville Beer." Some of my favorites are: The Wedge; Burial; Green Man; Twin Leaf; Catawba; Funkatorium; Wicked Weed; Ginger's Revenge (ginger beer); Highland Brewing Company; The Whale; Archetype; New Belgium; Sierra Nevada (in Mills River) and Oscar Blues (in Brevard).
Don't miss
Check out Romantic Asheville dot com
Check out Romantic Asheville dot com for other ideas of things to do in the area!
Don't miss
Don't miss the Asheville music scene
Asheville has a vibrant, eclectic music scene that includes everything from old timey bluegrass to electronic to a symphony and everything in between. If you are interested in checking out what music is playing while you’re in town, I recommend looking at the Mountain Xpress Clubland webpage--it's a pretty good comprehensive music calendar for the area. My favorite music venues are the Orange Peel, the Grey Eagle, and Isis.
Don't miss
Hiking options in the area
The hiking options in western North Carolina are almost endless, and depending on what you are looking for (easy dayhikes, overnight backpacking, good views, etc) I have lots of specific recommendations to share. The All Trails app is a great place to start, or let me know if you would like more specific ideas.