Guidebook for Asheville
Food Scene
The Admiral
400 Haywood RdGourmet food, often written about in a former dive bar.
Great BBQ and southern sides on the South Slope of downtown.
144 locals recommend
Buxton Hall Barbecue
32 Banks AveGreat BBQ and southern sides on the South Slope of downtown.
Fantastic Mexican fusion food. Delicious brunch. Best margaritas in town!
279 locals recommend
Limones Restaurant
15 Eagle StFantastic Mexican fusion food. Delicious brunch. Best margaritas in town!
Conveniently located beside Wicked Weed brewing and also very close to all other downtown attractions. I would suggest showing up Friday's. Nothing beats starting a night out with Mexican food and 2 dollar craft drafts. That's right 2 dollar 16oz local beer.
88 locals recommend
Mamacita's Taqueria
77-A Biltmore AveConveniently located beside Wicked Weed brewing and also very close to all other downtown attractions. I would suggest showing up Friday's. Nothing beats starting a night out with Mexican food and 2 dollar craft drafts. That's right 2 dollar 16oz local beer.
Top restaurant - Rhubarb is a must do for every visitor to Asheville. The seasonal menu is beautifully balanced.
116 locals recommend
Rhubarb
7 N Pack SquareTop restaurant - Rhubarb is a must do for every visitor to Asheville. The seasonal menu is beautifully balanced.
If you love award-winning, locally-brewed with love, craft beer, you've come to the right place. After all, we've been keeping Asheville hoppy since 1998!
123 locals recommend
Asheville Brewing Company
77 Coxe AveIf you love award-winning, locally-brewed with love, craft beer, you've come to the right place. After all, we've been keeping Asheville hoppy since 1998!
Strada Italiano
27 Broadway StBest traditional Italian fare downtown.
One of the most popular places in downtown. Definitely try one of their liquid truffles.
363 locals recommend
French Broad Chocolate Lounge
10 S Pack SquareOne of the most popular places in downtown. Definitely try one of their liquid truffles.
Consistently voted Asheville's most romantic restaurant! Inventive tapas. Wonderful atmosphere
201 locals recommend
Zambra
85 W Walnut StConsistently voted Asheville's most romantic restaurant! Inventive tapas. Wonderful atmosphere
Focus on farm-to-table, hyper-seasonal fare. Great wine list. James beard nominated chef.
73 locals recommend
Eating Asheville
18 N Lexington AveFocus on farm-to-table, hyper-seasonal fare. Great wine list. James beard nominated chef.
Drinks & Nightlife
Roof top bar a half a block away. Outdoor deck and gorgeous indoor space, huge windows so beautiful views any time of day or year.
109 locals recommend
The Montford Rooftop Bar
199 Haywood StRoof top bar a half a block away. Outdoor deck and gorgeous indoor space, huge windows so beautiful views any time of day or year.
New Mountain Asheville
38 N French Broad AveGreat live music most nights of the week
Jack of the Wood
95 Patton AveIrish Pub, often with live music and Celtic jams
The Bier Garden
46 Haywood StFun local sports bar. Largest selection of draft beer in WNC
Best craft cocktails in Asheville. Super knowledgeable and friendly staff. ( Also try the charcuterie board...best in town.)
35 locals recommend
The Imperial Life
48 College StBest craft cocktails in Asheville. Super knowledgeable and friendly staff. ( Also try the charcuterie board...best in town.)
5 Walnut Wine Bar
5 W Walnut StGreat wine bar with live music almost every night
Great Greek restaurant during the day, and fun dance parties on the weekends.
39 locals recommend
Daphne at Twisted Laurel
130 College StGreat Greek restaurant during the day, and fun dance parties on the weekends.
Lexington Park Antiques
65 W Walnut StGreat brewery right downtown. Good food as well.
Social Lounge
29 Broadway Stcraft cocktail bar with great rooftop patio.
Great local dive bar. Consistently voted Asheville's best burger.
70 locals recommend
Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge
7 Rankin AveGreat local dive bar. Consistently voted Asheville's best burger.
Parks & Nature
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty.
226 locals recommend
Blue ridge Parkway Visitor Center
195 Hemphill Knob RdThe Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty.
A short drive (20 miles) from downtown Asheville takes you up, up, up on the Blue Ridge Parkway to Craggy Gardens. As you approach the area, you will first see a sign for the Craggy Picnic Area to the left, a short drive up the mountain to many picnic tables and gorgeous hike across the bald. If you continue straight on the Parkway a few more miles, you will reach the Visitor Center for panoramic mile-high views east and west. Enjoy the crisp air, summer rhododendron, and super scenic trails. Since this location is more than 3,500 feet higher in elevation than Asheville, temperatures 10-20 degrees cooler than the city. If you are greeted by low clouds and fog, wait a bit.
224 locals recommend
Craggy Gardens Visitor Center
364 Blue Ridge PkwyA short drive (20 miles) from downtown Asheville takes you up, up, up on the Blue Ridge Parkway to Craggy Gardens. As you approach the area, you will first see a sign for the Craggy Picnic Area to the left, a short drive up the mountain to many picnic tables and gorgeous hike across the bald. If you continue straight on the Parkway a few more miles, you will reach the Visitor Center for panoramic mile-high views east and west. Enjoy the crisp air, summer rhododendron, and super scenic trails. Since this location is more than 3,500 feet higher in elevation than Asheville, temperatures 10-20 degrees cooler than the city. If you are greeted by low clouds and fog, wait a bit.
Pack Square
80 Court PlazaDowntown park- with outdoor amphitheater
French Broad River Park
508 Riverview DrGreat paved and dirt trails along river.
WNC Nature Center
75 Gashes Creek Rdgreat for families.
Lots of great waterfall hikes. Near the cute town of Brevard- a great place to stop for lunch.
624 locals recommend
Dupont State Forest
Staton RoadLots of great waterfall hikes. Near the cute town of Brevard- a great place to stop for lunch.
Sightseeing
One of America's largest homes. Beautiful grounds, amazing enormous house and plenty to explore for an entire day
1485 locals recommend
Biltmore
1 Lodge StOne of America's largest homes. Beautiful grounds, amazing enormous house and plenty to explore for an entire day
Asheville Visitor Center
36 Montford AveMake sure to spend a few hours wandering aimlessly through the streets of downtown... plenty of unique shops, great eats/drinks and lively street music.
339 locals recommend
Downtown
Make sure to spend a few hours wandering aimlessly through the streets of downtown... plenty of unique shops, great eats/drinks and lively street music.
Great to take a scenic drive or stop for a hike at one of the many trail heads
16 locals recommend
Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge ParkwayGreat to take a scenic drive or stop for a hike at one of the many trail heads
Arts & Culture
Watch live glassblowing or make your own original glass art! The North Carolina Glass Center is a non-profit, public access glass studio providing daily educational offerings & demonstrations. We are proud to represent the work of our artists and instructors in the NCGC glass gallery.
36 locals recommend
North Carolina Glass Center
140 c Roberts StWatch live glassblowing or make your own original glass art! The North Carolina Glass Center is a non-profit, public access glass studio providing daily educational offerings & demonstrations. We are proud to represent the work of our artists and instructors in the NCGC glass gallery.
The famous Asheville native and author of "Look Homeward Angel" childhood home. Much of Asheville seems to emulate the words of Thomas Wolfe.
110 locals recommend
Thomas Wolfe Memorial
52 N Market StThe famous Asheville native and author of "Look Homeward Angel" childhood home. Much of Asheville seems to emulate the words of Thomas Wolfe.
Blue Spiral 1
38 Biltmore AveAsheville's premier art gallery.
River Arts District
3 River Arts PlArtists' studios and galleries - open most day
Downtown Library with bottom floor dedicated to the history of Asheville.
13 locals recommend
Pack Memorial Library
67 Haywood StDowntown Library with bottom floor dedicated to the history of Asheville.
Flat Rock Playhouse
2661 Greenville HwyPopular professional theater
Shopping
Désirant
34 Broadway StFine home goods, clothes, furniture
Hip Replacements
72 N Lexington AveHoneypot
86 N Lexington AveVintage Clothing Store
Malaprop's Bookstore / Cafe
55 Haywood StGreat local bookstore plus cafe
Old North
Tops for Shoes
27 N Lexington AveL.O.F.T. of Asheville
53 Broadway StUniquely Asheville boutique shop
Asheville Bee Charmer
32 Broadway StFun store with a wide range of locally-made honey
Eclectic store with Asheville gifts, art installations and a fun photo booth
45 locals recommend
Asheville Emporium
35 Wall StEclectic store with Asheville gifts, art installations and a fun photo booth
Woolworth Walk
25 Haywood StLots of local art vendors in a beautiful historic building.
Beautiful used book store with a maze of bookshelves and a champagne bar. A must-see.
191 locals recommend
Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar
1 Page AveBeautiful used book store with a maze of bookshelves and a champagne bar. A must-see.
Essentials
Harris Teeter
136 Chestnut StFrench Broad Food Co-Op
90 Biltmore AveWhole Foods Market
70 Merrimon AveTrader Joe's
120 Merrimon AveWelcome to Hopey & Co. We are an artisan and discount food and beverage shop with locations in Asheville and Black Mountain. Known for our vast selection of beer & wine, jams, jellies, honey, olive oils, and discount products.
25 locals recommend
Hopey & Company
45 S French Broad AveWelcome to Hopey & Co. We are an artisan and discount food and beverage shop with locations in Asheville and Black Mountain. Known for our vast selection of beer & wine, jams, jellies, honey, olive oils, and discount products.