Asheville & Surrounding Area
Food scene
Odd's Cafe
800 Haywood RdGreat coffee
Dobra Tea West
707 Haywood RdQuaint tea house, great atmosphere
Chef Dan Silo’s menu at Sawhorse channels the family lore of his great-grandmother, who was a lumber camp cook, as well as his own memories of the country diner food of his youth in the Adirondack Mountains. With a focus on whole-animal butchery and in-house preservation, the kitchen cranks out masterful takes on stick-to-your-ribs French Canadian classics.
23 locals recommend
Sawhorse
101 New Leicester HwyChef Dan Silo’s menu at Sawhorse channels the family lore of his great-grandmother, who was a lumber camp cook, as well as his own memories of the country diner food of his youth in the Adirondack Mountains. With a focus on whole-animal butchery and in-house preservation, the kitchen cranks out masterful takes on stick-to-your-ribs French Canadian classics.
Vivian was born as a humble tabletop pop-up inside Burial Beer in 2015. But with its move four years ago to a River Arts District brick-and-mortar, it has matured into a celebrated anchor of Asheville’s restaurant scene. Owners Shannon and Josiah McGaughey offer an agile cross-pollination of European food traditions with Appalachian ingredients and flavors. Lyonnaise scallop quenelle and Nordic deviled eggs with smoked fish and caviar are signature dishes, but other options rotate with the seasons. Sunday brunch is a special treat, with recent offerings ranging from lobster parfait to a deep-fried chicken biscuit with sausage gravy and eggs.
62 locals recommend
Vivian
348 Depot StVivian was born as a humble tabletop pop-up inside Burial Beer in 2015. But with its move four years ago to a River Arts District brick-and-mortar, it has matured into a celebrated anchor of Asheville’s restaurant scene. Owners Shannon and Josiah McGaughey offer an agile cross-pollination of European food traditions with Appalachian ingredients and flavors. Lyonnaise scallop quenelle and Nordic deviled eggs with smoked fish and caviar are signature dishes, but other options rotate with the seasons. Sunday brunch is a special treat, with recent offerings ranging from lobster parfait to a deep-fried chicken biscuit with sausage gravy and eggs.
At its three Asheville locations (and one in Greenville, S.C.), this breakfast and lunch spot invites diners to “put some South in your mouth” with its huge, fluffy biscuits. Choose from the selection of house-made jams or gravies ranging from classic red-eye to vegan sweet potato-coconut, or pile the biscuits high with toppings like eggs, country ham, fried chicken, pulled pork, jalapeno pimento cheese, Sriracha slaw, and fried green tomatoes. Biscuits are available vegan and gluten-free as well.
472 locals recommend
Biscuit Head
733 Haywood RdAt its three Asheville locations (and one in Greenville, S.C.), this breakfast and lunch spot invites diners to “put some South in your mouth” with its huge, fluffy biscuits. Choose from the selection of house-made jams or gravies ranging from classic red-eye to vegan sweet potato-coconut, or pile the biscuits high with toppings like eggs, country ham, fried chicken, pulled pork, jalapeno pimento cheese, Sriracha slaw, and fried green tomatoes. Biscuits are available vegan and gluten-free as well.
One of the Asheville restaurants we live for, Plant is everything. Plant is food. We are not vegan, but Plant is truly for everyone.
Hands down one of the best vegan restaurants in Asheville.
176 locals recommend
Plant
165 Merrimon AveOne of the Asheville restaurants we live for, Plant is everything. Plant is food. We are not vegan, but Plant is truly for everyone.
Hands down one of the best vegan restaurants in Asheville.
One of the newer Thai food restaurants in Asheville (2020), Thai Pearl is gorgeously decorated and delicious. Thai Pearl is also a great choice if you are looking for more gluten-free options.
34 locals recommend
Thai Pearl Restaurant
747 Haywood RdOne of the newer Thai food restaurants in Asheville (2020), Thai Pearl is gorgeously decorated and delicious. Thai Pearl is also a great choice if you are looking for more gluten-free options.
Posana Restaurant
1 Biltmore AveOne of the first fancier restaurants in downtown Asheville
A Hawaiian restaurant, Rosabees cooks up delicious poke, rice, and noodle dishes. If you are lucky, you might catch an Indonesian-inspired dish or Filipino lumpia.
41 locals recommend
RosaBees
27 Foundy StA Hawaiian restaurant, Rosabees cooks up delicious poke, rice, and noodle dishes. If you are lucky, you might catch an Indonesian-inspired dish or Filipino lumpia.
Think falafels, hummus, salads, and gyros. They even serve brunch mimosas.
74 locals recommend
Jerusalem Garden Café
78 Patton AveThink falafels, hummus, salads, and gyros. They even serve brunch mimosas.
Laughing Seed Cafe is a delicious vegan and vegetarian downtown Asheville restaurant. They also have fantastic gluten-free options.
161 locals recommend
Laughing Seed Cafe
40 Wall StLaughing Seed Cafe is a delicious vegan and vegetarian downtown Asheville restaurant. They also have fantastic gluten-free options.
Although they make delicious meals, nothing beats charcuterie and drinks at the bar. In fact, they feature one of the best charcuterie boards in Asheville.
Chestnut also serves Southern dishes with large portions of the meats. They use fresh, locally sourced ingredients and their food is simple yet delicious.
149 locals recommend
Chestnut
48 Biltmore AveAlthough they make delicious meals, nothing beats charcuterie and drinks at the bar. In fact, they feature one of the best charcuterie boards in Asheville.
Chestnut also serves Southern dishes with large portions of the meats. They use fresh, locally sourced ingredients and their food is simple yet delicious.
One of the best downtown Indian restaurants in Asheville and also a popular tourist spot, don’t miss Chai Pani. Chai Pani is best known for its Indian street snacks.
311 locals recommend
Chai Pani Asheville
22 Battery Park AveOne of the best downtown Indian restaurants in Asheville and also a popular tourist spot, don’t miss Chai Pani. Chai Pani is best known for its Indian street snacks.
If you are looking for coffee shops and the best dessert restaurants in Asheville, French Broad Chocolate Lounge is a chocolate lover’s dream.
This is also a big tourist spot but well worth the line out the door.
Find desserts, hot cocoa, truffles, bonbons, cakes, custards, cookies, coffee, brownies, booze, and ice cream. The Chocolate Lounge has lactose-free, gluten-free, and vegan options, too.
363 locals recommend
French Broad Chocolate Lounge
10 S Pack SquareIf you are looking for coffee shops and the best dessert restaurants in Asheville, French Broad Chocolate Lounge is a chocolate lover’s dream.
This is also a big tourist spot but well worth the line out the door.
Find desserts, hot cocoa, truffles, bonbons, cakes, custards, cookies, coffee, brownies, booze, and ice cream. The Chocolate Lounge has lactose-free, gluten-free, and vegan options, too.
The Bull and Beggar is decidedly warehouse hip, with brick walls, old wood floors, and high ceilings. Its most popular feature is Burger Monday, when fabulous double-patty burgers with fries go for $10, and oysters and clams on the half shell are half-price. Other times, try the cold seafood towers
159 locals recommend
The Bull and Beggar
37 Paynes WayThe Bull and Beggar is decidedly warehouse hip, with brick walls, old wood floors, and high ceilings. Its most popular feature is Burger Monday, when fabulous double-patty burgers with fries go for $10, and oysters and clams on the half shell are half-price. Other times, try the cold seafood towers
Cúrate is a celebration of authentic Spanish cuisine. For those who have visited Spain, the Cúrate menu will bring back memories of the country’s best jamón Ibérico, vermuterías, and lively tapas culture. In recognition of the restaurant’s all-Spanish wine list, Cúrate was listed as one of America’s 50 Wine Restaurants We Love in 2021 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
518 locals recommend
Cúrate
13 Biltmore AveCúrate is a celebration of authentic Spanish cuisine. For those who have visited Spain, the Cúrate menu will bring back memories of the country’s best jamón Ibérico, vermuterías, and lively tapas culture. In recognition of the restaurant’s all-Spanish wine list, Cúrate was listed as one of America’s 50 Wine Restaurants We Love in 2021 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
Corner Kitchen
3 Boston WayGreat food, Best dessert I've ever had!! Blondie sundae
Healthy, organic, sustainable food! Wonderful, vegan, gluten sensitive options.
47 locals recommend
Green Sage Cafe Downtown
5 Broadway StHealthy, organic, sustainable food! Wonderful, vegan, gluten sensitive options.
Great restaurant with a view of the city. Winning creations of the Annual National Gingerbread competition on display Nov - Dec.
573 locals recommend
The Omni Grove Park Inn Spa
290 Macon AveGreat restaurant with a view of the city. Winning creations of the Annual National Gingerbread competition on display Nov - Dec.
Sovereign Remedies
29 N Market StThey have a new Leicester location just around the corner!
Tourist Spots/Sightseeing
Great scenic drive close to the city, amazing colors during the Fall.
757 locals recommend
Blue Ridge Parkway
3884 Blue Ridge ParkwayGreat scenic drive close to the city, amazing colors during the Fall.
America's Largest Home
Fun Fact: Frederick Law Olmsted designed Central Park as his first project and the Biltmore Estate as his last project. We heard from our shuttle driver that he put a lot of thought into the approach to the house. As you drive in, you never get a glimpse of the house so that when you finally enter the gates, there’s a moment of awe when it appears.
1485 locals recommend
Biltmore
1 Lodge StAmerica's Largest Home
Fun Fact: Frederick Law Olmsted designed Central Park as his first project and the Biltmore Estate as his last project. We heard from our shuttle driver that he put a lot of thought into the approach to the house. As you drive in, you never get a glimpse of the house so that when you finally enter the gates, there’s a moment of awe when it appears.
The North Carolina Arboretum
100 Frederick Law Olmsted WayBeautiful gardens and easy to moderate trails
The Botanical Gardens at Asheville is a 10-acre independent, non-profit botanical garden dedicated
to the study and promotion of the native plants and habitats of the Southern Appalachians.
Free Admission and parking - In order to operate they encourage donations.
194 locals recommend
Botanical Gardens at Asheville
151 W T. Weaver BoulevardThe Botanical Gardens at Asheville is a 10-acre independent, non-profit botanical garden dedicated
to the study and promotion of the native plants and habitats of the Southern Appalachians.
Free Admission and parking - In order to operate they encourage donations.
Shopping
Opened in 1929 by E.W. Grove, Grove Arcade was built to celebrate the city he loved so much. Its rich history, ornate architecture, and eclectic mix of shops and restaurants were designed to offer patrons a full-day immersion into Asheville lifestyle and culture. Learn the fascinating story behind its construction, government takeover, renovation, and finally its grand reopening in 2002.
203 locals recommend
Grove Arcade
1 Page AveOpened in 1929 by E.W. Grove, Grove Arcade was built to celebrate the city he loved so much. Its rich history, ornate architecture, and eclectic mix of shops and restaurants were designed to offer patrons a full-day immersion into Asheville lifestyle and culture. Learn the fascinating story behind its construction, government takeover, renovation, and finally its grand reopening in 2002.
Great outdoor store.
Retailer selling a broad selection of goods, including food, apparel & outdoor gear, since 1883.
72 locals recommend
Mast General Store
15 Biltmore AveGreat outdoor store.
Retailer selling a broad selection of goods, including food, apparel & outdoor gear, since 1883.
Asheville's Premiere Shopping District and a few great restaurants in the area too!
26 locals recommend
Historic Biltmore Village
10 Brook StAsheville's Premiere Shopping District and a few great restaurants in the area too!
Asheville Outlets
800 Brevard RdTypical Outlet mall
Art
The River Arts District, or RAD, is a creative hub along the French Broad River. Former warehouses and mills, many with colorful exterior murals, contain glassblowing, pottery, and other artisan studios, plus indie art galleries.
700 locals recommend
River Arts District
3 River Arts PlThe River Arts District, or RAD, is a creative hub along the French Broad River. Former warehouses and mills, many with colorful exterior murals, contain glassblowing, pottery, and other artisan studios, plus indie art galleries.
Spa/Self Care
Shoji Spa & Lodge
96 Avondale Heights RdSpa treatment
The heart of Hot Springs, North Carolina, is our 100 acre Resort & Spa. We feature jetted hot tubs, positioned outside along the tranquil banks of Spring Creek and the French Broad River; our tubs are supplied with a continuous flow of World Famous Natural Hot Mineral Water. We have a nationally certified & state licensed staff of massage therapists on hand to compliment your soaks or for separate service altogether
182 locals recommend
Hot Springs Resort And Spa
315 Bridge StThe heart of Hot Springs, North Carolina, is our 100 acre Resort & Spa. We feature jetted hot tubs, positioned outside along the tranquil banks of Spring Creek and the French Broad River; our tubs are supplied with a continuous flow of World Famous Natural Hot Mineral Water. We have a nationally certified & state licensed staff of massage therapists on hand to compliment your soaks or for separate service altogether