If you're going to Asheville

Updated June 2023

Heading to Asheville, North Carolina, one of the greatest places on earth? I am super jealous.

Over the years, my love of Asheville has gotten loud enough that whenever anyone I know heads that direction they ask me for recommendations. Instead of having to send all the links over and over again, I thought I would place them here, on my handy-dandy blog, to be referenced at your leisure! (And if you're coming to the area for our wedding this summer, I hope you make time to enjoy some of the best things western North Carolina has to offer).

Food

Well, we all know food is the key to my heart and that's what hooked me on Asheville first. Asheville's food scene is incredible. There is such a focus on on eating local, supporting local farmers and small business owners. Unfortunately, I haven't actually eaten at too many places, (nor have I had the opportunity to tour any of the breweries) But what I've experience has been amazing.  There are so many great places to go that you really can't go wrong. 

All that said, here are some of the places I keep coming back to.

Vortex Donuts

Breakfast/bunch/second breakfast snack

Early girl eatery, downtown (or check out the West Asheville location if downtown is too crowded)
Sunny Point, West Asheville
Biscuit Head, West Asheville
Vortex Donuts, South Slope

Hole Doughnuts - River Arts District

Coffee at Rhu

Coffee coffee coffee

There are a lot of coffee shops in the AVL area, most of them have amazing vibes. However, I have been generally disappointed with a lot of the actual coffee. I found out that a lot of shops here use coffee roasted from Counter Culture Coffee and, bless them, I really hate it. All that being said, my absolute fav coffee shop in Asheville (based on taste and vibe) is Summit Coffee, the River Arts District. A close second is Farewell in South Slope.

Lunch/Dinner

Early Girl Eatery, multi locations (grilled pimento cheese sandwich, please!)

Chai Pani, downtown, This is my favorite Indian restaurant, perhaps in the entire U.S. (They catered our rehearsal dinner there during our wedding weekend and it was so lovely). 

Gypsy Queen Cuisine , West Asheville: Let me say this loudly - This Place Is Worth The Drive. Now that makes it sound like it's far away, but people who come to visit Asheville really wanted to hang out downtown (I totally get that. It's so fun). But this Lebanese place is out of this world. (They catered our wedding reception dinner and our guests kept gushing how great the food was).

12 Bones, multi locations: If you're looking for BBQ, this is a good place to go. It's only open for lunch and the lines (pre-covid) can be long. This place is known for their blueberry chipotle BBQ sauce. My recommendation is to get the Blueberry Chipotle ribs, skip the mac and cheese (it's below average) and go for the "damn good corn pudding." It's in the name after all.

Luella's BBQ, multi locations. Another great place for BBQ. If you go during the peek dinner time, be prepared to wait in line.

Sweet treats

Ultimate ice cream, multi locations: Like many places in Asheville, this place is known for using seasonal and sometimes unusual-for-ice-cream ingredients. (Not to worry, they also have classics). As a family that loves us some ice cream, we usually make a stop to get some ultimate whenever I am in town. I love trying their different seasonal options and I am rarely disappointed. 

French Broad Chocolate Lounge: Downtown: This is a a must when you go to Asheville. You will have to wait in line especially during the holiday and summer seasons, but they are so efficient that it's never a very long wait. (Skip the standard chocolate cake though. It's fine but there are so many better things. including the chocolate olive oil cake. yum). This place catered the desserts at our wedding. Love them.

Old Europe Cafe: Downtown: I've only been here a few times but if you're looking for some French patisserie, this is the place to go. The desserts are delicious and it's so cute. (And small).

Sunshine Sammies - Downtown: The best ice cream sandwiches in the world

Drinks

Unfortunately my favorite bar closed (boo covid) and I haven't been back since to discovery my new favorite. But there are a TON of breweries in Asheville and lots of places to stop in for a cocktail.

Chemist Spirits: Downtown:  This is a gin distillery that I love. (Their gin is the best). They offer tastings, which is how we were introduced to it. The bar next door (Antidote) serves up cocktails featuring their spirts. It's got a dark academia vibe and is a lovely place for some day (or night) drinking.

Things to do

If you go to the Asheville in the warmer months, you are in for a real treat. Even if you're there when the weather is less than ideal, there is always something going on.

Things to look at/experience:

• Touring art galleries in the River Arts district
• Visit to the North Carolina Arboretum 
• Visit the Biltmore house and/or grounds
• Montford Park Players (Shakespeare in the Park in the summer months)
• Shindig on the Green (bluegrass jams on held in a green space down town
• Asheville Tailgate Market (aka farmers market. They call them tailgates because there is a large year-round farmers market too. The Tailgates are the smaller version and are what most people think of when they think of a local farmer's market. My favorite one is the one that is held at UNC Asheville).
• Friday Night Drum Circle Downtown: If you want to see Asheville's hippy culture, you will for sure find it here.

Things to buy/Where to window shop:

• Malaprop's Bookstore Downtown
• Minx Downtown: This is my absolutely favorite women's clothing boutique in Asheville.
• Moonlight Makers Downtown: This is a screen printing company with all kinds of swag with funny puns and prints.
• Chemist Spirits (See Drinks section)
• The Screen door - Oakley (East Asheville) - A great antique store, (which makes me grateful to live in the prairie where I can get significantly cheaper antique finds)

Things to get you moving: 

Asheville Community yoga (a nonprofit where classes are by donation)

There are so many incredible hikes around the Asheville area. (And so many waterfall!)  Most of the ones I've done have been kid-friendly, since I am usually there with a nephew or two, but there are tons of hikes for all different levels. Here are a few I've been too.

Dupont State Forrest (This is one of the spots where they filmed The Hunger Games)
Crabtree Falls
Catawba Falls 
Max Patch (Not in Asheville but a very cool 360 view and trails along the Appalachia trail)

A note about parking downtown: As Asheville continues to grow, so does the tourism. Summer especially is peak tourist season. There are several parking garages around downtown, which is where things get especially clogged during these peak times. If you go downtown during the summer, especially on weekend evening, my advice is to park in one of these garages. The last time I was there, the rates where still free for the first hour and then it's a dollar per hour after that. Downtown Asheville is very walkable too. So it's nice to just leave the car in one place.

And once you go, let me know the places you went! I love hearing about new restaurant recommendations and trails I should hike. Happy travels!