Ed’s guidebook for South Asheville
Our favorite restaurants in the area
Asheville is like restaurant city USA and everyone has different tastes, so all we can do is tell you some of our favorites.
Our favorite Mexican restaurant. Better quality food than most other Mexican restaurants. Best frozen margaritas in town. Very close by.
8 locals recommend
La Carreta
1435 Merrimon AveOur favorite Mexican restaurant. Better quality food than most other Mexican restaurants. Best frozen margaritas in town. Very close by.
My favorite restaurant! You should know that it's a bit more expensive than most, but it's worth it in my opinion. The manager, Darian, is a personal friend and is truly an amazing individual. Try to meet him if you can and tell him I sent you.
43 locals recommend
131 MAIN Restaurant
308 Thetford StMy favorite restaurant! You should know that it's a bit more expensive than most, but it's worth it in my opinion. The manager, Darian, is a personal friend and is truly an amazing individual. Try to meet him if you can and tell him I sent you.
Sort of like urban Mexican. Amazing Jalapeno margarita! I like their avocado enchiladas and their Mexican street corn. Very popular.
8 locals recommend
Cantina Louie
2 Gerber RdSort of like urban Mexican. Amazing Jalapeno margarita! I like their avocado enchiladas and their Mexican street corn. Very popular.
This place is amazing in a bizarre sort of way. It's a bit of a drive, but it is worth it in our opinion. You have to see the decor to believe it. I won't describe it to you. Don't want to spoil the surprise. Really good food, generous mixed drinks, and good service.
194 locals recommend
Stoney Knob Cafe
337 Merrimon AveThis place is amazing in a bizarre sort of way. It's a bit of a drive, but it is worth it in our opinion. You have to see the decor to believe it. I won't describe it to you. Don't want to spoil the surprise. Really good food, generous mixed drinks, and good service.
First class fine dining. Pretty expensive but worth it. You will need a reservation, like maybe a week in advance. It's in the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Biltmore Village. Bartender Chip creates some amazing mixed drinks. Tell him I sent you. Pretty ritzy!
25 locals recommend
Red Stag Grill
11 Boston WayFirst class fine dining. Pretty expensive but worth it. You will need a reservation, like maybe a week in advance. It's in the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Biltmore Village. Bartender Chip creates some amazing mixed drinks. Tell him I sent you. Pretty ritzy!
French comfort food. IMHO, their steak au poivre is the best meal in town. They don't take reservations so go early.
145 locals recommend
Bouchon
62 N Lexington AveFrench comfort food. IMHO, their steak au poivre is the best meal in town. They don't take reservations so go early.
Very close, very popular and therefore usually very loud and crowded, great food. It's a happy place. No reservations, so we usually wind up eating at the bar rather than waiting for a table. Favorite drink - Manny's Grog.
9 locals recommend
Vinnie's Neighborhood Italian South Asheville
1981 Hendersonville RoadVery close, very popular and therefore usually very loud and crowded, great food. It's a happy place. No reservations, so we usually wind up eating at the bar rather than waiting for a table. Favorite drink - Manny's Grog.
This is our favorite Italian restaurant. Good food, good drinks, good service, nice ambiance.
77 locals recommend
Strada Italiano
27 Broadway StThis is our favorite Italian restaurant. Good food, good drinks, good service, nice ambiance.
Want to stay with the retro theme? check out Pop's, a 50s diner. pretty cool!
17 locals recommend
Pop's Diner
860 N Main StWant to stay with the retro theme? check out Pop's, a 50s diner. pretty cool!
Food scene
This place is incredibly popular. People come from out of town to go here. Now they have their own brewery.
91 locals recommend
12 Bones Smokehouse SOUTH
2350 Hendersonville RdThis place is incredibly popular. People come from out of town to go here. Now they have their own brewery.
Incredibly popular. I use the term, "incredibly", because I myself have had trouble learning to like it, but I definitely seem to be in the minority. Get reservations several days in advance.
305 locals recommend
Tupelo Honey
12 College StIncredibly popular. I use the term, "incredibly", because I myself have had trouble learning to like it, but I definitely seem to be in the minority. Get reservations several days in advance.
Delightful Spanish Tapas restaurant. Great ambiance and wonderful food. Get reservations several days in advance, though.
201 locals recommend
Zambra
85 W Walnut StDelightful Spanish Tapas restaurant. Great ambiance and wonderful food. Get reservations several days in advance, though.
Great place for breakfast or lunch! The staff refer to it as a "hidden gem", and they are right!
17 locals recommend
Ivory Road Cafe & Kitchen
1854 Brevard RdGreat place for breakfast or lunch! The staff refer to it as a "hidden gem", and they are right!
Sightseeing
What can I say? Everybody knows about the Biltmore Estate. Remember When is about as close to the estate as you can legally get for a vacation rental.
1485 locals recommend
Biltmore
1 Lodge StWhat can I say? Everybody knows about the Biltmore Estate. Remember When is about as close to the estate as you can legally get for a vacation rental.
Pisgah National Forest
Lots of nice waterfall hikes.
There are a lot of great waterfall hikes and bike trails around Brevard. Check out explorebrevard.com.
Explore Brevard
175 East Main StreetThere are a lot of great waterfall hikes and bike trails around Brevard. Check out explorebrevard.com.
Breweries
Hillman Beer
25 Sweeten Creek RdVery popular. I have been a few times and enjoyed it.
Amazing place with amazing beers. Their restaurant, "Taproom", is the most popular restaurant in NC. They don't take reservations, so you can expect a wait, but you can drink beer while you wait, and sometimes they have a live band with dancing (or at least they did before COVID). If you want to tour the brewery, you will need to make reservations well in advance.
726 locals recommend
Sierra Nevada Brewery
100 Sierra Nevada WayAmazing place with amazing beers. Their restaurant, "Taproom", is the most popular restaurant in NC. They don't take reservations, so you can expect a wait, but you can drink beer while you wait, and sometimes they have a live band with dancing (or at least they did before COVID). If you want to tour the brewery, you will need to make reservations well in advance.
Burning Blush Brewery
4891 Boylston HwyDelicious beers, nice ambiance, food truck.
Bold Rock Hard Cider
72 School House RdGood ciders, food truck.
We went recently and really liked it. In addition to lots of beers, they have wine and a full bar for cocktails. They have a food truck, but unlike most breweries, you don't have to go outside. You order inside at the bar and they bring the food to you.
74 locals recommend
Mills River Brewery
336 Banner Farm RoadWe went recently and really liked it. In addition to lots of beers, they have wine and a full bar for cocktails. They have a food truck, but unlike most breweries, you don't have to go outside. You order inside at the bar and they bring the food to you.