Guidebook for Asheville

Ann
Guidebook for Asheville

Food Scene

The most delicious pizza we have had this side of Italy. If you like Salmon, then you must try the Alaskan. Everything here is delicious! In the River Arts District so you can also stroll galleries in the area.
17 locals recommend
Fresh Wood Fired Pizza West
342 Depot St
17 locals recommend
The most delicious pizza we have had this side of Italy. If you like Salmon, then you must try the Alaskan. Everything here is delicious! In the River Arts District so you can also stroll galleries in the area.
If you want absolutely delicious vegetarian and vegan cuisine, this is the place to go! Even carnivores would enjoy it. Try the cornbread and greens with gravy.
114 locals recommend
Rosetta's Kitchen
68 N Lexington Ave
114 locals recommend
If you want absolutely delicious vegetarian and vegan cuisine, this is the place to go! Even carnivores would enjoy it. Try the cornbread and greens with gravy.
There's usually a line but it moves quickly. Huge biscuits, in-house made jams and jellies, unique gravies. A must try for anyone visiting Asheville. The coconut collards are one of my favorite things. There is also a location in West Asheville but parking is better at the Biltmore location.
472 locals recommend
Biscuit Head
733 Haywood Rd
472 locals recommend
There's usually a line but it moves quickly. Huge biscuits, in-house made jams and jellies, unique gravies. A must try for anyone visiting Asheville. The coconut collards are one of my favorite things. There is also a location in West Asheville but parking is better at the Biltmore location.
If you're craving Indian food, Mela's Buffet is delicious. Lots of vegetarian options and each item is described above the buffet so if you have food allergies or intolerance it makes life easier.
191 locals recommend
Mela Indian Restaurant
70 N Lexington Ave
191 locals recommend
If you're craving Indian food, Mela's Buffet is delicious. Lots of vegetarian options and each item is described above the buffet so if you have food allergies or intolerance it makes life easier.
Not far from our house and has a good selection of bakery items.
195 locals recommend
Well-Bred Bakery & Cafe
232 Reems Creek Rd
195 locals recommend
Not far from our house and has a good selection of bakery items.
Everything we have bought from there has been very good.
19 locals recommend
Geraldine's Bakery
840 Merrimon Ave
19 locals recommend
Everything we have bought from there has been very good.
Great pizza and salads from a local place nearby. The owner is Italian and lived in New York. The photo doesn't do it justice.
36 locals recommend
828 Family Pizzeria
946 Merrimon Ave
36 locals recommend
Great pizza and salads from a local place nearby. The owner is Italian and lived in New York. The photo doesn't do it justice.
Very popular with both locals and tourists. Really good. The shrimp and grits are as good as what you would find in NOLA.
587 locals recommend
Sunny Point Café
626 Haywood Rd
587 locals recommend
Very popular with both locals and tourists. Really good. The shrimp and grits are as good as what you would find in NOLA.
Extremely popular lunch spot with the locals and there’s a good reason. Service and food are great. If you’re vegetarian they have a Beyond Burger that’s really good. The Greek Salad is my favorite item. Hours 11-3 Monday-Saturday
9 locals recommend
Centreville Luncheonette
204 Weaverville Rd
9 locals recommend
Extremely popular lunch spot with the locals and there’s a good reason. Service and food are great. If you’re vegetarian they have a Beyond Burger that’s really good. The Greek Salad is my favorite item. Hours 11-3 Monday-Saturday
Great menu items and very friendly and helpful staff. After enjoying your tea or coffee, stroll down Main St for locally owned shops.
50 locals recommend
Yellow Mug Coffee Lounge
113 N Main St
50 locals recommend
Great menu items and very friendly and helpful staff. After enjoying your tea or coffee, stroll down Main St for locally owned shops.
Very Authentic Thai food. Always fresh and delicious. Just minutes from our location. Check hours online.
12 locals recommend
Siam Thai Restaurant
100 Stone Ridge Blvd
12 locals recommend
Very Authentic Thai food. Always fresh and delicious. Just minutes from our location. Check hours online.
74 locals recommend
Jerusalem Garden Café
78 Patton Ave
74 locals recommend
61 locals recommend
Gypsy Queen Market, Deli & Food Truck
807 Patton Ave
61 locals recommend
Everything we’ve had here is consistently good. Highly recommend the fried mushrooms.
10 locals recommend
Charlotte Street Grill & Pub
157 Charlotte St
10 locals recommend
Everything we’ve had here is consistently good. Highly recommend the fried mushrooms.
Amazing vegan Impossible burgers, the BEST fries, soy curls, non-chicken sandwiches and weekly specials. Bar with beer, wine, and specialty drinks. You just can’t go wrong eating here. The space is small but super easy for take out too. Hours are 3-8pm Friday -Tuesday. Check them out on social media (IG) for weekly specials.
The Trashy Vegan
697 Haywood Road
Amazing vegan Impossible burgers, the BEST fries, soy curls, non-chicken sandwiches and weekly specials. Bar with beer, wine, and specialty drinks. You just can’t go wrong eating here. The space is small but super easy for take out too. Hours are 3-8pm Friday -Tuesday. Check them out on social media (IG) for weekly specials.
Yummy food and great prices in the River Arts District. Really good vegan options too.
71 locals recommend
Ultra Coffeebar
242 Clingman Ave Ext
71 locals recommend
Yummy food and great prices in the River Arts District. Really good vegan options too.
Montford Deli
Great Greek Salad and pita wraps
9 locals recommend
Bellagio Bistro
133 Weaverville Rd
9 locals recommend
Great Greek Salad and pita wraps

Arts & Culture

The River Arts District and the South Slope downtown have so many wonderful art galleries with affordable arts and crafts. Take home something handmade from our incredibly talented artists and crafts folks.
904 locals recommend
Asheville
904 locals recommend
The River Arts District and the South Slope downtown have so many wonderful art galleries with affordable arts and crafts. Take home something handmade from our incredibly talented artists and crafts folks.
103 locals recommend
Woolworth Walk
25 Haywood St
103 locals recommend
Marquee
25 locals recommend
East Fork
15 W Walnut St
25 locals recommend

Essentials

248 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
120 Merrimon Ave
248 locals recommend
The name has changed to Blue Ridge Market. A great local place for produce, beautiful baskets at a fraction of the price as downtown, local honey, jams/jellies, candles. Shop like a local :)
Farside Farms Market
83 Weaverville Rd
The name has changed to Blue Ridge Market. A great local place for produce, beautiful baskets at a fraction of the price as downtown, local honey, jams/jellies, candles. Shop like a local :)

Shopping

While you're strolling downtown, check out these local artist booths.
103 locals recommend
Woolworth Walk
25 Haywood St
103 locals recommend
While you're strolling downtown, check out these local artist booths.
One of my favorite consignment stores. They are very particular about what the consign and it shows. Good prices and just a cool place to visit.
Enchanted Forrest
235 Merrimon Ave
One of my favorite consignment stores. They are very particular about what the consign and it shows. Good prices and just a cool place to visit.
This is where I buy the tapestries that I use in the apt.
Indo Apparel & Gifts
9 Biltmore Ave
This is where I buy the tapestries that I use in the apt.
340 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
70 Merrimon Ave
340 locals recommend

Sightseeing

The first hour of parking is free at most of the downtown parking garages. Park, walk, and enjoy the shops, restaurants, bars, and art galleries that make Asheville so unique. From May-October you will come upon outdoor festivals and entertainment.
339 locals recommend
Downtown
339 locals recommend
The first hour of parking is free at most of the downtown parking garages. Park, walk, and enjoy the shops, restaurants, bars, and art galleries that make Asheville so unique. From May-October you will come upon outdoor festivals and entertainment.

Parks & Nature

The gardens are a quiet, lovely place to stroll, dip your toes in the stream, or have a picnic. Very close by and adjacent to UNCA campus. The flowers are best in late spring and summer.
194 locals recommend
Botanical Gardens at Asheville
151 W T. Weaver Boulevard
194 locals recommend
The gardens are a quiet, lovely place to stroll, dip your toes in the stream, or have a picnic. Very close by and adjacent to UNCA campus. The flowers are best in late spring and summer.
Nice walking trail around the lake. There's a tailgate market on Wednesdays from late spring to late fall where you can find local produce, art, jewelry, and even have a neck massage by a licensed massage therapist.
51 locals recommend
Lake Louise Park
Lake Louise Drive
51 locals recommend
Nice walking trail around the lake. There's a tailgate market on Wednesdays from late spring to late fall where you can find local produce, art, jewelry, and even have a neck massage by a licensed massage therapist.
If you don't mind the drive, this is one of our favorite hikes. It's near Brevard, NC. Scenes from the Hunger Games was filmed here. There are lovely waterfalls and easy trails. Brevard has a very nice downtown area for shopping and dining. Try Square Root for lunch and stroll through the nearby shops for a relaxing day. Transylvania County is known as the Land of Waterfalls and there are many to see if you want a day surrounded by nature.
624 locals recommend
Dupont State Forest
Staton Road
624 locals recommend
If you don't mind the drive, this is one of our favorite hikes. It's near Brevard, NC. Scenes from the Hunger Games was filmed here. There are lovely waterfalls and easy trails. Brevard has a very nice downtown area for shopping and dining. Try Square Root for lunch and stroll through the nearby shops for a relaxing day. Transylvania County is known as the Land of Waterfalls and there are many to see if you want a day surrounded by nature.
It's a little over an hour drive but well worth it if you love a good waterfall and gorge hike. You can also visit Linville Caverns but be sure the specify either the Caverns or the falls for your GPS. Our favorite place to stop and eat on the way back to AVL is the Tropical Grill in Spruce Pine. Delicious with options for both meat eaters and vegetarians. The quatro leche cake is amazing.
436 locals recommend
Linville Falls
436 locals recommend
It's a little over an hour drive but well worth it if you love a good waterfall and gorge hike. You can also visit Linville Caverns but be sure the specify either the Caverns or the falls for your GPS. Our favorite place to stop and eat on the way back to AVL is the Tropical Grill in Spruce Pine. Delicious with options for both meat eaters and vegetarians. The quatro leche cake is amazing.
Beautiful gardens and gorgeous holiday lights display.
582 locals recommend
The North Carolina Arboretum
100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way
582 locals recommend
Beautiful gardens and gorgeous holiday lights display.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS HIKE Will BE CLOSED FROM MAY 2, 2022 until spring of 2023 for improvements.
216 locals recommend
Catawba Falls
530 Warren Mountain Dr
216 locals recommend
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS HIKE Will BE CLOSED FROM MAY 2, 2022 until spring of 2023 for improvements.
123 locals recommend
Skinny Dip Falls
Blue Ridge Parkway
123 locals recommend
36 locals recommend
Bent Creek trailhead
2-1298 491
36 locals recommend
155 locals recommend
Crabtree Falls
39000 Blue Ridge Pkwy
155 locals recommend

Drinks & Nightlife

The entrance is through what looks like a loading dock. I'm not much of a beer drinker but I love Ginger's Revenge so much I have my own growler. The flavors are so creative and delicious. If you aren't sure about the taste, order a flight and see for yourself. Check their website for the entertainment and event listings. They also have bar food on the menu.
75 locals recommend
Ginger's Revenge
829 Riverside Dr
75 locals recommend
The entrance is through what looks like a loading dock. I'm not much of a beer drinker but I love Ginger's Revenge so much I have my own growler. The flavors are so creative and delicious. If you aren't sure about the taste, order a flight and see for yourself. Check their website for the entertainment and event listings. They also have bar food on the menu.
Funky bar with vintage clothing and a wedding chapel. Check them out on social media to get the latest info for live music and food trucks.
20 locals recommend
Fleetwood's
496 Haywood Rd
20 locals recommend
Funky bar with vintage clothing and a wedding chapel. Check them out on social media to get the latest info for live music and food trucks.
Monday evenings is open mic night plus local food truck. Cool outdoor dining/drinking area while you enjoy the talents of the locals.
259 locals recommend
Hi-Wire Brewing - South Slope
197 Hilliard Avenue
259 locals recommend
Monday evenings is open mic night plus local food truck. Cool outdoor dining/drinking area while you enjoy the talents of the locals.
106 locals recommend
Archetype Brewing
265 Haywood Rd
106 locals recommend
11 locals recommend
Cascade Lounge
219 Amboy Rd
11 locals recommend
49 locals recommend
Barley's Taproom
42 Biltmore Ave
49 locals recommend
Bold Rock Asheville