Angela's Guide to Asheville
Breakfast
great breakfast spot. There is always a line but it moves fast, and it's worth it. It’s all about the Biscuit. They have a jelly and butter bar with unique blends.
472 locals recommend
Biscuit Head
733 Haywood Rdgreat breakfast spot. There is always a line but it moves fast, and it's worth it. It’s all about the Biscuit. They have a jelly and butter bar with unique blends.
expect a long wait on the weekend, but much of the veggies they serve are grown in their large garden behind. Fun to let the kids run around in while you wait.
587 locals recommend
Sunny Point Café
626 Haywood Rdexpect a long wait on the weekend, but much of the veggies they serve are grown in their large garden behind. Fun to let the kids run around in while you wait.
In the opposite direction of Asheville, but located in Black Mountain, a great little mountain town that offers lots to do (hikes, playgrounds, splashpad downtown area, etc. to make a day out of it.
88 locals recommend
Blue Ridge Biscuit Company
601 W State StIn the opposite direction of Asheville, but located in Black Mountain, a great little mountain town that offers lots to do (hikes, playgrounds, splashpad downtown area, etc. to make a day out of it.
The Local Joint
1185B Charlotte Hwya local diner near home
Lunch
amazing bbq. Try the ribs, brisket and for god's sake, do not miss the corn pudding. Right next to the Foundry Brewery. a nice little scene. Check hours because some locations closed on sat/sun. It's that good that they can do that.
330 locals recommend
12 Bones Smokehouse RIVER
5 Foundy Stamazing bbq. Try the ribs, brisket and for god's sake, do not miss the corn pudding. Right next to the Foundry Brewery. a nice little scene. Check hours because some locations closed on sat/sun. It's that good that they can do that.
HomeGrown
371 Merrimon Avegreat southern food. the fried chicken is perfectly crispy and juicy.
great tacos. Really nice selection of breakfast tacos too. great for breakfast or lunch. My fav is their plantain taco
183 locals recommend
Taco Billy
201 Haywood Rdgreat tacos. Really nice selection of breakfast tacos too. great for breakfast or lunch. My fav is their plantain taco
Chai Pani Asheville
22 Battery Park Aveindian street food with a twist
great burgers with a nice kids plate option, located in the heart of downtown
151 locals recommend
Farm Burger Asheville
10 Patton Avegreat burgers with a nice kids plate option, located in the heart of downtown
Laughing Seed Cafe
40 Wall StVegan & vegetarian food
Little Chango
Delicious Latin food + arepas
Great, quick sandwiches, grab and go. Also breakfast burritos!
41 locals recommend
Trout Lily Deli*Market
1297 Charlotte HwyGreat, quick sandwiches, grab and go. Also breakfast burritos!
Excellent and easy barbecue. Outdoor space and bar located in south slope brewery district. Fantastic for family style dinner.
Bear's Smokehouse Barbecue
Excellent and easy barbecue. Outdoor space and bar located in south slope brewery district. Fantastic for family style dinner.
Diner style fish shop. The hot fish sandwich is a solid choice. Located in south slope district. Lots of breweries around it.
Good Hot Fish
Diner style fish shop. The hot fish sandwich is a solid choice. Located in south slope district. Lots of breweries around it.
Dinner
You need a reservation. nice date night. A pretty unassuming place in that you would drive past it 10 times and not notice it.
316 locals recommend
The Admiral
400 Haywood RdYou need a reservation. nice date night. A pretty unassuming place in that you would drive past it 10 times and not notice it.
Rhubarb
7 N Pack SquareThis place is large and usually can accommodate large parties.
Cúrate
13 Biltmore Avedelicious tapas. You need a reservation.
heart of downtown. great beers on tap + delicious food (something for everyone). lunch or dinner
478 locals recommend
Wicked Weed Brewing Pub
91 Biltmore Aveheart of downtown. great beers on tap + delicious food (something for everyone). lunch or dinner
Leo's House of Thirst
1055 Haywood RdFantastic food and wine bar
Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse
Great date night. Loved the chef’s tasting
RosaBees
27 Foundy StPolynesian with a twist
West Asheville hot new restaurant. Philippine food with a fun twist. Very cool spot off the beaten path. Only seats 18 ppl so must have a reservation. You might need to dine at 9:30pm to get in, and it’s worth it, in my opinion.
Neng Jr.'s
West Asheville hot new restaurant. Philippine food with a fun twist. Very cool spot off the beaten path. Only seats 18 ppl so must have a reservation. You might need to dine at 9:30pm to get in, and it’s worth it, in my opinion.
A pretty new Asheville Restaurant located in a swanky hotel called The Radical, located in the River Arts District. The hotel is really cool, art-centric. Delicious food at the restaurant. The seafood beignets are not to be missed.
Golden Hour
A pretty new Asheville Restaurant located in a swanky hotel called The Radical, located in the River Arts District. The hotel is really cool, art-centric. Delicious food at the restaurant. The seafood beignets are not to be missed.
Sovereign Remedies
29 N Market StGreat dinner and cocktails downtown
Treats
The Hop Ice Creamery
167 Haywood RdThe salted caramel ice cream keeps me coming back
Sunshine Sammies
99 S Lexington Avebuild your own ice cream sandwiches
close to home, Fairview favorite, interesting flavors- check hours first, only open in season
23 locals recommend
Hilltop Ice Cream Shop
520 Old US Hwy 74close to home, Fairview favorite, interesting flavors- check hours first, only open in season
cocktails and amazing desserts, upscale, intimate, perfect for a date night or ladies night
24 locals recommend
Crave Dessert Bar
41 N Lexington Avecocktails and amazing desserts, upscale, intimate, perfect for a date night or ladies night
Beer/Breweries
a nice little area downtown that is dense with breweries. To name a few- the Funkatorium, Burial, Catawba, Green Man.
75 locals recommend
South Slope Brewing District
a nice little area downtown that is dense with breweries. To name a few- the Funkatorium, Burial, Catawba, Green Man.
Located 25 min away by the airport but I’d say its worth the drive. Super impressive facility, great food, and amazing outdoor setup to spend the day, with live music, cornhole, fire pits, and kid-friendly with room to run around the gardens + sand play area.
726 locals recommend
Sierra Nevada Brewery
100 Sierra Nevada WayLocated 25 min away by the airport but I’d say its worth the drive. Super impressive facility, great food, and amazing outdoor setup to spend the day, with live music, cornhole, fire pits, and kid-friendly with room to run around the gardens + sand play area.
recently built, located along the French Broad River, this is also a very impressive facility
450 locals recommend
New Belgium Brewing Company
21 Craven Strecently built, located along the French Broad River, this is also a very impressive facility
close to home; has a great rooftop area and meadow with live shows & food trucks (check schedule)
349 locals recommend
Highland Brewing Company
12 Old Charlotte Hwyclose to home; has a great rooftop area and meadow with live shows & food trucks (check schedule)
close to Home, Fairview favorite, fun for kids with trains, a big slide and free putt putt
106 locals recommend
Whistle Hop Brewing Company
1288 Charlotte Hwyclose to Home, Fairview favorite, fun for kids with trains, a big slide and free putt putt
a cool brewery in River Arts District with outdoor seating, cornhole, food truck and often has live music.
285 locals recommend
Wedge Brewing Company
37 Paynes Waya cool brewery in River Arts District with outdoor seating, cornhole, food truck and often has live music.
Forestry Camp Bar & Restaurant
10 Shady Oak DrSalt Face Mule Brewing Co.
Sunday brunch is excellent. Space for the kids. Mini golf ⛳️
Cocktail
A maze of bookstore with a champagne and wine bar. Very picturesque. This is one for the ladies night. Or day.
191 locals recommend
Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar
1 Page AveA maze of bookstore with a champagne and wine bar. Very picturesque. This is one for the ladies night. Or day.
Speakeasy style, you’d miss it if you don’t know what your looking for. Dark, steam punk atmosphere. Very Asheville. Nice cocktails
86 locals recommend
The Crow & Quill
106 N Lexington AveSpeakeasy style, you’d miss it if you don’t know what your looking for. Dark, steam punk atmosphere. Very Asheville. Nice cocktails
Gorgeous hotel with beautiful mountain views, GRAND fireplaces, and an excellent place to grab a drink at the very least.
573 locals recommend
The Omni Grove Park Inn Spa
290 Macon AveGorgeous hotel with beautiful mountain views, GRAND fireplaces, and an excellent place to grab a drink at the very least.
Cultivated Cocktails
25 Page AveNeighborhood craft cocktail bar
Cool Mezcal cocktail bar in River Arts District. Very cool vibe inside with lovely outdoor space to make it a day or night outing.
Anoche Asheville
Cool Mezcal cocktail bar in River Arts District. Very cool vibe inside with lovely outdoor space to make it a day or night outing.
The Golden Pineapple
503 Haywood RdWest Asheville location with great, fun cocktails
Things To Do
One of my favorite things to do is to walk around Downtown. There is plenty to take in there- live street performers locals called “buskers,” great restaurants, bars, and coffee shops (some of my favs listed below), & shopping. Nearly every weekend there is some kind of festival in Pack Square (google Asheville weekend events for details) and there is a drum circle on Friday nights in Pritchard Park (seasonal, so please double check).
339 locals recommend
Downtown
One of my favorite things to do is to walk around Downtown. There is plenty to take in there- live street performers locals called “buskers,” great restaurants, bars, and coffee shops (some of my favs listed below), & shopping. Nearly every weekend there is some kind of festival in Pack Square (google Asheville weekend events for details) and there is a drum circle on Friday nights in Pritchard Park (seasonal, so please double check).
a tourist favorite. it is beautiful, and the grounds are beautiful. Its a great place to spend the day, especially with kids. they have a playground and petting zoo on the property as well.
174 locals recommend
Biltmore Estate
1 Approach Roada tourist favorite. it is beautiful, and the grounds are beautiful. Its a great place to spend the day, especially with kids. they have a playground and petting zoo on the property as well.
float the French Broad on a hot day. Zen tubing has a nice service for tube rental and shuttle back to car.
164 locals recommend
Zen Tubing
608 Riverside Drfloat the French Broad on a hot day. Zen tubing has a nice service for tube rental and shuttle back to car.
great live music venue. check the lineup in advance and grab tickets for a show.
408 locals recommend
The Orange Peel
101 Biltmore Avegreat live music venue. check the lineup in advance and grab tickets for a show.
enjoy long range mountain views from this grand hotel’s tiered balcony seating. Go there for drinks or dinner, enjoy the sunset, sit by their larger than life stone fireplace, or get a day pass to use their pool and spa facilities (the coolest part is their pool plays classical music UNDER THE WATER)
573 locals recommend
The Omni Grove Park Inn Spa
290 Macon Aveenjoy long range mountain views from this grand hotel’s tiered balcony seating. Go there for drinks or dinner, enjoy the sunset, sit by their larger than life stone fireplace, or get a day pass to use their pool and spa facilities (the coolest part is their pool plays classical music UNDER THE WATER)
Take a drive- long range mountain views at every turn. lots of outlooks and trails along the way to stop at. pack a picnic and beers. Craggy Gardens is a good trail thats not too far down the parkway and offers a nice, easy trail with nice picnic areas.
757 locals recommend
Blue Ridge Parkway
3884 Blue Ridge ParkwayTake a drive- long range mountain views at every turn. lots of outlooks and trails along the way to stop at. pack a picnic and beers. Craggy Gardens is a good trail thats not too far down the parkway and offers a nice, easy trail with nice picnic areas.
45 minutes away and a great way to spend the day. Lake surrounded by beautiful mountain views, a beach complete with water slides and kids splash pad. Awesome place to take the kids. Not to mention, the movie Dirty Dancing was filmed there. Along the way to Lake Lure is also Chimney Rock National Park and the Flowering Bridge. All cool things to see!
327 locals recommend
Lake Lure
45 minutes away and a great way to spend the day. Lake surrounded by beautiful mountain views, a beach complete with water slides and kids splash pad. Awesome place to take the kids. Not to mention, the movie Dirty Dancing was filmed there. Along the way to Lake Lure is also Chimney Rock National Park and the Flowering Bridge. All cool things to see!
an quick, moderately easy waterfall hike. about 30 min away. make a day of it in Black Mountain.
216 locals recommend
Catawba Falls
530 Warren Mountain Dran quick, moderately easy waterfall hike. about 30 min away. make a day of it in Black Mountain.
Black Balsam Knob
Art Loeb Traila beautiful hike you can make as long or as short as you want.
small scale zoo, less than 10 min away; low cost admission. fun place to take little ones
295 locals recommend
WNC Nature Center
75 Gashes Creek Rdsmall scale zoo, less than 10 min away; low cost admission. fun place to take little ones
Climbing, biking, beer, kid area. Right next to Sierra Nevada to make a day of it!
49 locals recommend
The Riveter
701 Old Fanning Bridge RdClimbing, biking, beer, kid area. Right next to Sierra Nevada to make a day of it!
So many board games! Fun for a cold or rainy day with the kids. Also in south slope area so lots of food and beer walkable around
27 locals recommend
Well Played Board Game Café
162 Coxe AveSo many board games! Fun for a cold or rainy day with the kids. Also in south slope area so lots of food and beer walkable around
Pickle ball courts you can rent by the hour (reserve your court in advance if you can) with a great courtyard and bar. Great selection of beers and other drinks. No food, but Little Change across the street will deliver (and is Delicious and also recommended)
Asheville Sports Club
Pickle ball courts you can rent by the hour (reserve your court in advance if you can) with a great courtyard and bar. Great selection of beers and other drinks. No food, but Little Change across the street will deliver (and is Delicious and also recommended)