Asheville Recs
ALRIGHTTT y’all ready for this?? I am so pumped to finally be sitting down to write about this absolute gem in the south. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina lives a small town known for it’s artsy vibe, insane brewery scene, and of course the magical views that only mother nature herself could have created.Â
We lived in Asheville for 9 months & have done numerous weekend visits prior to living there, so I feel very equipped to write this post. You like visiting quirky towns with lots of character? You like craft beer? You like amazing food? You like to hike to work off the craft beer and amazing food? Go to Asheville– you will never be disappointed. The weekend after I turned 21, I went straight to Asheville, and there began my love for breweries & quaint mountain towns.
Things to do:
Blueridge Parkway: If you have a car on your trip & you’re down to travel about 15 minutes outside of the city, you have to hit the BRP. It’s most enjoyable as a passenger because the views are absolutely breathtaking, but it is very windy– where my passenger princesses at?!
Okay so if you’re unfamiliar, the Blue Ridge mountains, only located in NC and VA are a relatively small segment of the Appalachian mountains, which expand over 13 eastern states. These mountains from a distance appear all shades of blue, which is crazy, because they are not actually blue, it’s just how we perceive them. Nerd alert!! The trees, particularly the native oak trees, release an organic compound known as isoprene, in order to protect themselves from the intense southern heat. After released, isoprene interacts with other particles in the atmosphere, creating the unique blue hazeee–Â see what I am saying about the MAGIC!!Â
You could spend an hour just driving it or all day exploring the hikes on the parkway. Speaking of hikes, these are my recs:
   –Craggy Gardens: only 2.2 miles roundtrip, not difficult, panoramic views, pretty wildflowers.
   –Fryingpan Lookout Tower: This is where I took the post’s home page photo! It’s not realllly a hike unless you take the long way from Mt. Pisgah trail (which I did, but it can be confusing if you’re not familiar with the parkway.) If you do it like most people, you just park at the pull off & walk uphill 0.75 miles on a gravel path & up the lookout tower. **seems obvious, but you cannot do this if you’re even remotely scared of heights** P.s the tower lowkey moves, especially on a windy day lol, but I loved it & the views are really incredible due to the height. Also, it will be colder up there, so bring a layer.
   –Pink Beds Loop: I like this one a lot because it’s flat, but does have protruding tree roots throughout & will be muddy if it rained recently. Also, you can do the full loop option which is over 5 miles, or opt for the shorter loop, which is 3 ish miles. The trail gets it’s name from the pink wildflowers, Mountain Laurel and Rhododendron, which you’ll only get to enjoy if you visit in the late spring.
   –Black Balsam: Home to different balds, allowing more 360 views. In the summer you’ll find wild blueberries. I, on the other hand, went in the dead of winter & it was still so blue & beautiful, but very cold due to the elevation. You can also camp in this area!
  –Looking Glass Rock: This huge a** volcanic rock face is visible from the parkway & you should hike it if you’re looking for a challenge!! This was my most rewarding hike I did here. It’s over 6 miles round trip, and becomes steeper and steeper the farther you go, but MAN, the views of the forrest are ahhhmazing (5th photo in the carousel at the top). Again, not a hike for those scared of heights– you will be living life on the edge up here!!
The Biltmore Estate: Confession– I have not made it to the Biltmore… yikes I feel like that make me a fraud for writing Asheville recs, but good thing there is a ton of info online about the largest house in America!! If you’re willing to spend more on your ticket, go during the holidays to see all the Christmas decor.Â
Omni Grove Park Inn: This gorgeous, historic hotel has a bar, restaurant, and incredible spa, which if you’re in town celebrating, you should definitely check it out! If I was going to Asheville with a bach party, I would do a nice lunch here one day!
Look at the concerts going on! There are a ton of quirky venues in Asheville: The Orange Peel, Grey Eagle, Rabbit Rabbit, & O’Harahs Cherokee Center where big names come to preform.Â
Take a food tour! I bought this as a gift for Garrett for Christmas, & it was a treat! Do it on your first day in town to get a feel for the area & the different food options!
South slope: This is where you’re going to do most of your brewery hoping. At the bottom of the slope in downtown lies a couple of blocks of straight breweries & restaurants.Â
On that note, let’s talk BEER!
Okay so I Mentioned the South Slope area, so geographically I’ll start there
  –Funkatorium: Home of the FUNK! A branch of Wicked Weed, this taphouse specializes in sour beers & flights, they also serve greattt food too (love starting here so I can eat first!)
  –Burial: This place is as Asheville as it gets- it’s intentionally grungy & mostly outside. They serve amazinggg beer, in particular, their IPAs & stouts are top notch. In 2021 and 2022, Burial was crowned Craft Beer & Brewing’s Readers Choice #1 Small Brewery in the World — um what a flex!!
  –Greenman: more great beer, with a rooftop!!
  –Hi Wire: They have multiple locations & 2 in just Asheville, I prefer the one in the River Art District (RAD), but either way they’re a goodie!
Breweries located outside of the slope:
  –Wicked Weed: A short walk up the slope is the big Wicked Weed, as I call it. There is a reason this became the most popular brewery in Asheville & caught the attention of Anheuser-Busch, In-Bev, who purchased them in 2017. I bring that up to let you know, you would never know it is owned by a corporate company, as the food, beer, & vibes are stellar! I recommend just going down the ramp on the left to the downstairs bar, which is first come first serve seating & still full service, so you don’t have to wait for a table.
  –Bold Rock: Favorite place for a cider (located in town)!
  –New Belgium Brewery: honestly mighttt be my favorite to rec because it’s on the river, but it does stand alone, so you can start here then Uber to south slope or do this on a separate day/ later that night. They do brewery tours & fun events too!
  –Ginger’s Revenge: Their location is a short drive from downtown, but they make delicious ginger beer (GF) & I always had these in my house 🙂
  –Zillacoah: This is an if ya know, ya know kinda place, and probably the brewery I ended up most once I found it, because I love a locals joint. Also a very short drive from the city & on the river, is this sweet, relaxed brewery with food trucks, occasional blue grass music, and a huge lawn for families & dogs.Â
  –Highland: A drive from downtown, but damn I love this place! My favorite beer they sell is the Cold Mountain, the most perfect winter brew– they have an annual 4-day release party dedicated to this beer & all the spins they have put on it. G and I went last year– a freaking blast!! This year it takes place November 9-12, & I would go to Asheville just for this lol. ** Also they have a tap house in the Asheville food hall in the center of town!
  –Sierra Nevada: SV is located in Mills River, 20 minutes south of the city, but it’s worth the experience if you have a car! Start here one day, grab lunch (get the chicken wings) & that way you can go back into town after & not have to worry about driving anymore that day.Â
  –Whistle Hop: One year Garrett & I stayed in a tiny home in Fairview (city next to Asheville) & we went to this adorable brewery, built like a train. Great place if you have kids, as they have a playground, many games, & a 6 hole mini golf! Again, fire beer, is that implied yet?
All the breweries in the area are very non-beer drinker friendly and will always have a cider, seltzer, wine, cocktail or NA beverage option for you!
Bars & other watering holes
  -*Asheville Sports Club: I am blown away by this place! It’s sport bar meets upscale bar, which is the perfect place for me and my sports loving bf. They’re best known for their pickleball courts outside, which you can reserve, but they also have about 15 huge TVs, all in gold frames, while decorating with Persian rugs & hanging plants. It’s located in a prime spot in the South Slope, so when I made my way up the slope after brewery hopping, I loved to stop here for an afternoon pick-me-up, as they serve their espresso martini on draft!!
  -*The Thirsty Monk: this place is small, but has three levels with all different vibes. The main level is eh, but I love both the rooftop & the basement. Rooftop serves fancy cocktails with a bit of a view. Basement is giving more grunge/late night— they’re known for serving the Belgian beer company, Delirium Tremens. Tell the bouncer at the door that you’re going to the rooftop if you are because it’s a separate entrance.
  –Capella on 9: located on top of the AC hotel is a boujee bar & restaurant, thats way high for great views (as long as it’s daylight.)
  –The Restoration Hotel: this brand new gorgeous boutique hotel has multiple spaces to drink & dine. I have gone up to their bright & airy rooftop to drink while looking at their mountain views. Right after I left, they opened their basement bar, the Draftsman, that has a vintage bowling alley & I will be checking this out next time I am in town!Â
  –Battery Park Book Exchange: okay book girlies, this is a really cute bookshop with a champagne bar 🙂
  -*Antidote: Located in the South Slope, is a 1900s apothecary styled craft cocktail bar– the style of this place is incredible & it also has a seasonally open rooftop, but the whole place is always packed and is first come first serve.
  –The Times Bar: both a coffee house & a craft cocktail bar, this place is heaven for those that appreciate a boozy coffee drink!
  –Pleb Urban Winery: Located in the River Arts District is this sustainable winery serving wines from local grapes & as far as NC wine goes, they are very tasty!
  -*Crave Dessert Bar: Y’all just go here omggg it is so fun & yummy, if you save room for dessert or want a night cap!! Usually they have a wait, but they always tell you longer than it ends up being. They also have a separate area for hooka!
Late Night: Asheville is a pretty sleepy town after 10, but I’ve found a few recs for those interested!
  – *Rankin Vault: This one is for my more mature crowd that likes to stay out. The vault has a casual speak easy-esque vibe with a full menu serving food until 2 am on the weekends!! P.s. they serve the best burger in town!Â
  -*Ben’s Tune-up: Open until midnight, make their own sake (be obnoxious & do a sake bomb), usually have live music, in an old auto body shop, it’s cool! They serve Asian fusion during the day, making them cooler.
  -Bank’s Ave: This is for those trying to party & dance, open till 2, has DJs!
FOOD
Claiming the name, “Foodtopia,” Asheville is definitely the food capital of NC, and was voted a Top 10 Foodie City in the USA. With over 700 restaurants & a number of James Beard Foundation Award nominees & winners, it is very difficult for me to narrow down my favorites, but here it goes. *= super favorite!
Breakfast/brunch options:
  –The Med: I thought this place was new when we lived there, because it appears that way from the outside, but they have been operating since 1969. They are a cozy diner in the middle of downtown, serving traditional breakfast food & classic greek food for lunch. Everything here tastes fresh & locally sourced.Â
  -*The Rhu: If you’re just looking to grab a coffee & a quick bite to get on with your day (or get out of town), this is the place to do it. We hit this place on our food tour & found that they serve the best sausage biscuit on the planet. Period. Just order a sausage biscuit with pimento cheese & thank me later.
  –Sunny Point Cafe: Okay I have to mention this place because they are so highly rated (well deserved– it is super good & fresh), but you will WAIT to be seated here for breakfast. It’s located in West Asheville, which unless you’re staying in the area, or you’re an early riser, I wouldn’t recommend this option just due to how much traffic goes through here.
  –Buiscuit Head: Located in west Asheville, BH has been featured in The New York Times, Food & Wine, and USA Today, for their take on southern comfort breakfast food. There is typically a long line, but it moves fast!
  –Cafe Bomba: with a sweet location in dt, this cafe makes you feel like you’re in Europe! They have a ton of amazing, fresh options outside of your typical eggs & bacon breakfast.
  -*Vivian: A cozy, European style restaurant located in RAD with a James Beard nominated chef. They’re mostly a dinner restaurant, but G and I had Easter brunch here and it was incredible.
  -*Taco Billy: I consider myself a taco connoisseur, and this place is IT y’all. You can eat here for any meal of the day, but I am going to mention it under breakfast because they serve breakfast tacos all day, it’s a if-ya-know-ya-know joint, and it’s super easy to get in & out of. If you go for lunch or dinner, I must add the best taco on the menu is the Morita (pork) and my second fav is the support group (vegan). They also have a full bar & serve a mean margarita.Â
Casual Lunch/ Dinner
  -*White Duck Taco Shop: On the subject of tacos, White Duck Taco is famous in these parts. With multiple locations, but the most convient being in the heart of downtown, WDTS is very worth the visit as it has about 20 different tacos to choose from at a time, every single one being delicious! They are very vegetarian friendly, as you can sub any meat taco for jackfruit, & I did regularly. Their margarita is also a chef’s kiss!
  –Wicked Weed Funkatorium or Main Wicked Weed: I mentioned these above in the brewery section, but I mean it, their food is so good!
  –La Bodega: Tucked away behind the famous mother restaurant, Curaté, is this sweet Spanish market, restaurant, & bakery that really makes you feel like you’re in Europe. If you’re a wine drinker or pastry lover, you should def check this place out.
  –Farm Burger: great burgers made from local sourced grass fed beef!
  -*Mehfil: So I am a bit of an Indian food snob because it’s my favorite comfort food & this place is the bomb! They have an all you can eat lunch buffet for like 14$?! There’s a reason they were voted “Best Indian Restaurant in Asheville“ AND “Best Downtown Asheville Restaurant,” this year…Wow!
  –Pack’s Tavern: Sports bar serving really good pub food. We went here a lot for consistent casual dining. On the weekends they don’t close until 11, great for those of us that stay up late.
  -*Shanghai Dumpling House: Y’all I love this place! They serve great traditional Chinese cuisine at a great price in a primo location. Starting with their soup dumplings is a must! I am a sucker for a lychee martini, and they serve a huge one, made with Tito’s for maybe $10!
  –Itto Ramen Bar & Tapas: If you go during the cold months, I especially recommend this place because their ramen is sooo comforting– I order their deluxe ramen with black garlic oil, worth it!!
  –Miyako House: I doubt you’re coming to Asheville for sushi, but if you are, this place is super casual, affordable, & yummy!
  -*Luella’s BBQ: Oh Western Carolina BBQ, you have my heart!! There are a few options in Asheville for killer BBQ, but honestly I can only truly recommend Luella’s as it’s the only one Garrett and I went to, because we were hooked after the first visit & didn’t feel the need to explore our other options. The Ribs! The Wings! The Sides! Oh my. It is located a very short drive north of the city, but word on the street for other great options for BBQ: Bear’s, Buxton, and 12 Bones.Â
Nicer Dinner
  –Curate: A 2022 James Beard Award winner for a reason y’all! A Spanish tapas restaurant located in the heart of Asheville. You will need to make a reso at least a month in advance, so plan accordingly!
  -*Zambra: NO worries if you’re looking for incredible tapas & can’t get a reso for Curate, Zambra is your girl! Honestlyyy I might low key prefer Zambra because they have decent sized portions, are a bit more reasonably priced & feel less pretentious because you can actually get into the restaurant lol. Â
  -*Strada Italiano: An incredible Italian restaurant reflecting a traditional neighborhood trattoria, serving pastas all made in-house, great cocktails, in a warm, romantic ambiance. I recommend this restaurant to everyone that visits Asheville because it’s the perfect combination of casual and fine dining, while being in a great location. Everything here is very rich, so split apps & an entree if you plan on continuing around town after dinner. Just saw they do brunch too!
  –Limones: Upscale Mexi-Cali restaurant with incredible flavors & cocktails!Â
  -*The Bull and Beggar: Guys this is the best dining experience I have ever had. Yes, I just said that. If you’re trying to absolutely ball on a meal, they serve a 34 oz bone-in ribeye, dry aged for 30 days, cooked perfectly medium rare (picture above) and holy freaking moly I’m convinced it’s the best steak out there. We ordered this with my parents and it was enough for four people to split with a few apps before. Also, don’t skip dessert!Â
Coffee, etc.
Just like any other hipster town, Asheville is serving up a mean cup of Joe!
High Five Coffee: With multiple locations at this point, my favorite being the shack in Woodfin on the river, more a location for the locals or those staying north of the city, this was my happy place when I lived here.Â
Odd’s Cafe: located in west Asheville, I loved Odd’s, this was my favorite place to get work done with their matcha dream latte.
Penny Cup Coffee: Hot Take!! I think Penny cup serves the best coffee in Asheville; they’ve got the beans!Â
Double D’s Coffee Bus: an absolute staple in town is this double decker bus turned coffee shop, you should check it out! It’s cash only. **
Ultra Coffeebar: In RAD, this is a great place to get a coffee, a bite & walk around RAD
Hole Doughnuts: in West Asheville, omg omg omg– my kind of doughnut– yeast and fried hot to order & glazed/sugared simply.
Bee charmer: cute store with all flavors of locally made honey where you can do a honey tasting- I love their firecracker & lavender!
French broad chocolate: Yummy local chocolate store where you can do a tour & tasting!
Knowing how to dress: just as other mountain towns, people dress pretty casually & outdoorsy. Unless you go in the summer, it’s always a good idea to have some sort of layers because you can be sweating during the day & shivering later. Just an FYI, ladies, I do not recommend high heels in Asheville, as you can walk the whole downtown every day, and there are a lot of hills. I have been known to wear a short heeled booty & be fine, just wouldn’t pack anything more heeled than that.