Guidebook for Asheville
Food Scene
Funky, eclectic, and delicious, we've been enjoying the Stoney Knob for years. It gets busy, so you'll need reservations on weekends. It's a great place for an early lunch. And it's five minutes away.
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Stoney Knob Cafe
337 Merrimon AveFunky, eclectic, and delicious, we've been enjoying the Stoney Knob for years. It gets busy, so you'll need reservations on weekends. It's a great place for an early lunch. And it's five minutes away.
Fine Indian food, about fifteen minutes away. They've never disappointed. The lunch buffet is excellent, and the a la carte dinner menu is even better. Veggie friendly, but carnivores will be delighted too. Warning, the vindaloo is hot, hot, hot (and delicious!).
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Mela Indian Restaurant
70 N Lexington AveFine Indian food, about fifteen minutes away. They've never disappointed. The lunch buffet is excellent, and the a la carte dinner menu is even better. Veggie friendly, but carnivores will be delighted too. Warning, the vindaloo is hot, hot, hot (and delicious!).
Ambiance, not so much, but delicious, oh yeah! The menu is limited. We usually get takeout, a red or green curry, and a pad thai. Possibly my favorite local restaurant.
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Little Bee Thai
45 S French Broad AveAmbiance, not so much, but delicious, oh yeah! The menu is limited. We usually get takeout, a red or green curry, and a pad thai. Possibly my favorite local restaurant.
My favorite local pizza (except maybe Asheville Brewing), about 10 minutes away.
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828 Family Pizzeria
946 Merrimon AveMy favorite local pizza (except maybe Asheville Brewing), about 10 minutes away.
Chai Pani Asheville
22 Battery Park AveIndian street food with funky southern twists, yum!
Soba Sushi and Noodles
76 N Main StCheap and tasty, it can get busy on weekends.
Well-Bred Bakery & Cafe
232 Reems Creek RdBecause awesome pastries
I drop by on my daily walks just to admire their gorgeous selection of the baker's arts.
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Old Europe Pastries
18 Broadway StI drop by on my daily walks just to admire their gorgeous selection of the baker's arts.
City Bakery
88 Charlotte StConvenient, good food
Caribbean, with a twist. Everything is tasty, but the Fire Roasted Chicken Paquete is my favorite. Hector has a farm just outside of town, so much of the food is farm-to-table.
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Salsa's
6 Patton AveCaribbean, with a twist. Everything is tasty, but the Fire Roasted Chicken Paquete is my favorite. Hector has a farm just outside of town, so much of the food is farm-to-table.
You like hot? They got hot! It's nothing fancy, but it's a local favorite.
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Rocky's Hot Chicken Shack
1455 Patton AvenueYou like hot? They got hot! It's nothing fancy, but it's a local favorite.
Of the four chocolate shops downtown, this is my hands down favorite.
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The Chocolate Fetish
36 Haywood StOf the four chocolate shops downtown, this is my hands down favorite.
An eclectic selection of curries from around the world, right downtown. Great people, great food.
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Blue Dream Curry House
81 Patton AveAn eclectic selection of curries from around the world, right downtown. Great people, great food.
Wasabi Japanese Restaurant
19 Broadway StSushi. Downtown. Good.
Mamacita's Taqueria
77-A Biltmore AveFast, friendly, tasty.
OMG, so good! Katie Button stodged at El Bulli, arguably the finest restaurant in the world at the time, before coming home to Asheville to open Curate. This restaurant has LONG lead times, so make your reservations early. I recommend the veggie paella with a shrimp side, honeyed fried eggplant, and the tomato toasts. In the shoulder seasons, try booking first thing after they open.
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Cúrate
13 Biltmore AveOMG, so good! Katie Button stodged at El Bulli, arguably the finest restaurant in the world at the time, before coming home to Asheville to open Curate. This restaurant has LONG lead times, so make your reservations early. I recommend the veggie paella with a shrimp side, honeyed fried eggplant, and the tomato toasts. In the shoulder seasons, try booking first thing after they open.
Strada Italiano
27 Broadway StFavorite Italian food in town, always great service.
Pizza, eclectic and tasty. This is a go-to for eat-in lunches at work.
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Mellow Mushroom
50 Broadway StPizza, eclectic and tasty. This is a go-to for eat-in lunches at work.
Casual, Carribbean, veggie friendly, fun and funky, this place is much loved by locals. Easy walking distance from downtown, but it gets busy later in the evening.
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Nine Mile
233 Montford AveCasual, Carribbean, veggie friendly, fun and funky, this place is much loved by locals. Easy walking distance from downtown, but it gets busy later in the evening.
Baba Nahm
1 Page AveMediterranean fast food, grab a pita to go.
The best Mexican-Californian food in town, and right down town.
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Limones Restaurant
15 Eagle StThe best Mexican-Californian food in town, and right down town.
Should you find yourself stranded in the wastelands south of town, Cinnamon Kitchen has great Indian food to ease your travails.
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Cinnamon Kitchen Indian Cuisine
1838 Hendersonville RdShould you find yourself stranded in the wastelands south of town, Cinnamon Kitchen has great Indian food to ease your travails.
Delicious farm-to-table fare, conveniently located between us and downtown. Fresh, local, well prepared and imaginative, what's not to like?
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HomeGrown
371 Merrimon AveDelicious farm-to-table fare, conveniently located between us and downtown. Fresh, local, well prepared and imaginative, what's not to like?
Great pizza in a main street saloon. Expect it to be busy during dinner hours, but it's a fun place for a group, with live music every night. Their Greek pizza is my favorite. Downtown Weaverville is surprisingly alive at night.
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Blue Mountain Pizza
55 N Main StGreat pizza in a main street saloon. Expect it to be busy during dinner hours, but it's a fun place for a group, with live music every night. Their Greek pizza is my favorite. Downtown Weaverville is surprisingly alive at night.
Tasty Indian food in a nice atmosphere near the big box stores on the east side of town.
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India Garden Restaurant
80 S Tunnel RdTasty Indian food in a nice atmosphere near the big box stores on the east side of town.
Parks & Nature
This one is more of a kayaker thing. If there's water, this is an excellent play spot. But it's also a plenty nice place to hang out by the river for a bit. There are grills for barbecuing, and some folks use it as a swimming hole when there's plenty of water.
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Ledges Whitewater River Park
1080 Old Marshall HwyThis one is more of a kayaker thing. If there's water, this is an excellent play spot. But it's also a plenty nice place to hang out by the river for a bit. There are grills for barbecuing, and some folks use it as a swimming hole when there's plenty of water.
The arboretum has a great bonsai collection, some wonderful gardens, a selection of rotating exhibits, and nice hiking trails. This is a fun and easy way to get a taste of the WNC outdoors.
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North Carolina Arboretum
100 Frederick Law Olmsted WayThe arboretum has a great bonsai collection, some wonderful gardens, a selection of rotating exhibits, and nice hiking trails. This is a fun and easy way to get a taste of the WNC outdoors.
Bent Creek is a mountain bike mecca! There's lots of fun trails, but it can be a bit bewildering without a map. Grind up to 5 Points and you'll feel like you've done something, and get a heck of a ride down in reward. It's also a great place for hikers and dog walkers. Enjoy your national forests, after all, they ARE yours.
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Bent Creek Experimental Forest
Bent Creek is a mountain bike mecca! There's lots of fun trails, but it can be a bit bewildering without a map. Grind up to 5 Points and you'll feel like you've done something, and get a heck of a ride down in reward. It's also a great place for hikers and dog walkers. Enjoy your national forests, after all, they ARE yours.
Oh why not? It's the highest point east of the Rockies! It's about an hour and a half away, but the ride is pretty spectacular most of the way. If you have the time, it's worth it. Take the Secret Back Way via Reems Creek to Ox Creek to the Blue Ridge Parkway to get there a bit quicker.
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Mount Mitchell State Park
2388 NC-128Oh why not? It's the highest point east of the Rockies! It's about an hour and a half away, but the ride is pretty spectacular most of the way. If you have the time, it's worth it. Take the Secret Back Way via Reems Creek to Ox Creek to the Blue Ridge Parkway to get there a bit quicker.
Drinks & Nightlife
Green Man Brewery
27 Buxton AveThe Green Mansion! It's a fun part of the South Slope scene.
Catawba built such a nice tasting room that it gets busy at peak hours. But it's a fun place, often with live music. The tasting menu has gotten huge. Their barrel aged brews lately have impressed.
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Hi-Wire Brewing - South Slope
197 Hilliard AvenueCatawba built such a nice tasting room that it gets busy at peak hours. But it's a fun place, often with live music. The tasting menu has gotten huge. Their barrel aged brews lately have impressed.
Twin Leaf Brewery
144 Coxe AveSmall and friendly, with some excellent brews.
Burial Beer Co
40 Collier AveBurial is a gritty little place with consistently great brews.
The Bed of Nails Brown is a favorite, but they always have some fun surprises.
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Hi-Wire Brewing - South Slope
197 Hilliard AvenueThe Bed of Nails Brown is a favorite, but they always have some fun surprises.
Pizza and beer, what could possibly go wrong? The Greek Pizza is a favorite (spinach and feta), try it with a Ninja Porter.
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Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co
675 Merrimon AvePizza and beer, what could possibly go wrong? The Greek Pizza is a favorite (spinach and feta), try it with a Ninja Porter.
A great place to hang out and people watch, it's in the Grove Arcade, which is a classic piece of architecture in its own right.
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Santé Wine Bar and Tap Room
1 Page AveA great place to hang out and people watch, it's in the Grove Arcade, which is a classic piece of architecture in its own right.
Sightseeing
The parkway on a good day is simply fabulous. The Secret Back Way from our house is to take Reems Creek Road to Ox Creek Road to the parkway, which takes just over 20 minutes. You can park there to hike the Mountains to the Sea Trail to Rattlesnake Lodge (2.8 miles round trip, 550 ft elevation gain) or drive on up to Craggy Gardens for some top of the world views. Another 30 minutes and you're on top of Mount Mitchell, the highest spot east of the Mississippi, and one of the southernmost outposts of the Canadian spruce-fir ecosystem.
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Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge ParkwayThe parkway on a good day is simply fabulous. The Secret Back Way from our house is to take Reems Creek Road to Ox Creek Road to the parkway, which takes just over 20 minutes. You can park there to hike the Mountains to the Sea Trail to Rattlesnake Lodge (2.8 miles round trip, 550 ft elevation gain) or drive on up to Craggy Gardens for some top of the world views. Another 30 minutes and you're on top of Mount Mitchell, the highest spot east of the Mississippi, and one of the southernmost outposts of the Canadian spruce-fir ecosystem.
The Elephant In The Room! It's not everyone's cup of tea, but the Biltmore has made fans of us. The Azalea Garden is a thing of wonder a few weeks of the year. The walled garden is a fine place to wind down a day, and enjoying the river on a summer morning is a joy. During winter, the conservatory is a breath of summer. There's a winery, and concerts on weekend nights. Oh yes, and there's a big house, too.
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Biltmore
1 Lodge StThe Elephant In The Room! It's not everyone's cup of tea, but the Biltmore has made fans of us. The Azalea Garden is a thing of wonder a few weeks of the year. The walled garden is a fine place to wind down a day, and enjoying the river on a summer morning is a joy. During winter, the conservatory is a breath of summer. There's a winery, and concerts on weekend nights. Oh yes, and there's a big house, too.
Excellent place to enjoy and learn a bit about the Blue Ridge Parkway.
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Blue ridge Parkway Visitor Center
195 Hemphill Knob RdExcellent place to enjoy and learn a bit about the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Shopping
Upscale grocery store, don't miss their Sunburst Farms Trout Dip!
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The Fresh Market
944 Merrimon AveUpscale grocery store, don't miss their Sunburst Farms Trout Dip!
Arguably the first indoor shopping mall in the US, the Grove is tiny compared to your average sprawling mall. But it's a beautiful piece of architecture, and there are a lot of fun and interesting shops.
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Grove Arcade
1 Page AveArguably the first indoor shopping mall in the US, the Grove is tiny compared to your average sprawling mall. But it's a beautiful piece of architecture, and there are a lot of fun and interesting shops.
An independent bookstore downtown? Yes! Nice folks, great selection.
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Malaprop's Bookstore / Cafe
55 Haywood StAn independent bookstore downtown? Yes! Nice folks, great selection.
A funky bar that thinks it's a bookstore? A bookstore that wants to be a bar? Find a comfy chair, grab a beverage, and meet some great books.
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Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar
1 Page AveA funky bar that thinks it's a bookstore? A bookstore that wants to be a bar? Find a comfy chair, grab a beverage, and meet some great books.
I thought I knew a lot about herbs til I went in here. It's fascinating just to poke your head in and see what they have to offer. They've always been knowledgable and helpful.
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Herbiary
29 N Market StI thought I knew a lot about herbs til I went in here. It's fascinating just to poke your head in and see what they have to offer. They've always been knowledgable and helpful.
Arts & Culture
Reputed to be the largest, freestanding, elliptical dome in North America, it is certainly a place of peace and beauty.
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Basilica of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr
97 Haywood StReputed to be the largest, freestanding, elliptical dome in North America, it is certainly a place of peace and beauty.
Asheville has a ton of galleries, Blue Spiral is one of my favorites.
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Blue Spiral 1
38 Biltmore AveAsheville has a ton of galleries, Blue Spiral is one of my favorites.
Showcasing lots of local artists, with a very retro soda fountain that makes great sandwiches.
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Woolworth Walk
25 Haywood StShowcasing lots of local artists, with a very retro soda fountain that makes great sandwiches.
The Haen Gallery
52 Biltmore AveAnother favorite gallery
Jim's favorite local artist! Located in the heart of the River Arts District, so even though her studio is small, there's lots of other stuff to see there.
Olga Dorenko Studio
170 Lyman StJim's favorite local artist! Located in the heart of the River Arts District, so even though her studio is small, there's lots of other stuff to see there.
Not your typical Asheville art gallery, the Folk Art Center showcases local and regional artists, both traditional and contemporary.
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The Folk Art Center (Southern Highland Craft Guild)
382 Blue Ridge PkwyNot your typical Asheville art gallery, the Folk Art Center showcases local and regional artists, both traditional and contemporary.
Cause, like, free Shakespeare? Under the stars? Well executed? Yes, count me in! The MPP never disappoint, they just keep getting better and better. Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night when the weather is warm.
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The Montford Park Players
92 Gay StCause, like, free Shakespeare? Under the stars? Well executed? Yes, count me in! The MPP never disappoint, they just keep getting better and better. Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night when the weather is warm.
Entertainment & Activities
Fine Arts Theater
36 Biltmore AveA nice art-house theater very much downtown, heck yeah!
Care for a float on the Mighty French Broad (or as we locals call it, The Mother of All Waters)? If you didn't bring your boat, and it's warm and there's water, Zen Tubing will set you up.
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Zen Tubing
608 Riverside DrCare for a float on the Mighty French Broad (or as we locals call it, The Mother of All Waters)? If you didn't bring your boat, and it's warm and there's water, Zen Tubing will set you up.
It's a killer 18 hole disc golf course, about 12 minutes away. Mind the trees! There's also some decent mountain biking and hiking trails.
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Richmond Hill Disc Golf Course
300 Richmond Hill DrIt's a killer 18 hole disc golf course, about 12 minutes away. Mind the trees! There's also some decent mountain biking and hiking trails.