May & Jon's Guidebook to Asheville
Food scene
Tiny mountain town, huge food scene!
A must! Exquisite upscale tapas restaurant in the heart of Downtown Asheville. Reserve early!
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Cúrate
13 Biltmore AveA must! Exquisite upscale tapas restaurant in the heart of Downtown Asheville. Reserve early!
Beautiful small Contemporary American restaurant featuring locally sourced ingredients, owed and run by a husband/wife team. In the trendy River Arts District on Asheville's south side - tour a few indie galleries while you're in the neighborhood!
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Vivian
348 Depot StBeautiful small Contemporary American restaurant featuring locally sourced ingredients, owed and run by a husband/wife team. In the trendy River Arts District on Asheville's south side - tour a few indie galleries while you're in the neighborhood!
Just down the mountain from us! Copper Crown is our fav nearby restaurant. Southern food with modern flair, excellent, locally-sourced ingredients, reasonable prices, lovely indoor-outdoor dining spaces. Collard greens and crispy brussels sprouts are must-eats!
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Copper Crown
1011 Tunnel RdJust down the mountain from us! Copper Crown is our fav nearby restaurant. Southern food with modern flair, excellent, locally-sourced ingredients, reasonable prices, lovely indoor-outdoor dining spaces. Collard greens and crispy brussels sprouts are must-eats!
The #1 top-ranked restaurant on Yelp in Asheville! Tupelo Honey is renowned for their modern revival of Southern food and traditions rooted in the Carolina Mountains. Sriracha honey fried chicken and waffles? Cast iron pork shoulder? Bourbon peppercorn glazed meatloaf? Umm, YES PLEASE!!
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Tupelo Honey
12 College StThe #1 top-ranked restaurant on Yelp in Asheville! Tupelo Honey is renowned for their modern revival of Southern food and traditions rooted in the Carolina Mountains. Sriracha honey fried chicken and waffles? Cast iron pork shoulder? Bourbon peppercorn glazed meatloaf? Umm, YES PLEASE!!
We can't get enough of their creative tacos and gorgeous setting! Duck with Mexican mole, Bangkok shrimp, lamb gyro... tacos to die for. They have several outposts around the area, but the flagship waterfront restaurant is our fav, right on the banks of the French Broad River. Huge outdoor dining space, huge converted-funky-barn-style indoor restaurant are both amazing places to spend an afternoon.
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White Duck Taco Shop
388 Riverside DrWe can't get enough of their creative tacos and gorgeous setting! Duck with Mexican mole, Bangkok shrimp, lamb gyro... tacos to die for. They have several outposts around the area, but the flagship waterfront restaurant is our fav, right on the banks of the French Broad River. Huge outdoor dining space, huge converted-funky-barn-style indoor restaurant are both amazing places to spend an afternoon.
Okay, okay, we're suckers for tacos. This funky little outdoor spot makes amazing tacos with thick, handmade, fresh milled corn tortillas. If that's too heavy for you, their salads are our personal favs. Romaine, arugula, avocado, jicama, pickled veggies, and beautiful pistachio crema. We love to top the salads with a side of tangerine-pasilla chile shrimp or ancho chile-brown sugar rubbed steak. Nom nom
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Taco Temple
132 Charlotte StOkay, okay, we're suckers for tacos. This funky little outdoor spot makes amazing tacos with thick, handmade, fresh milled corn tortillas. If that's too heavy for you, their salads are our personal favs. Romaine, arugula, avocado, jicama, pickled veggies, and beautiful pistachio crema. We love to top the salads with a side of tangerine-pasilla chile shrimp or ancho chile-brown sugar rubbed steak. Nom nom
These folks just won a James Beard award for their groundbreaking, fun, affordable, and “mindblasting” Indian street food, and neither location accepts reservations. So come early, come often!
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Chai Pani Asheville
22 Battery Park AveThese folks just won a James Beard award for their groundbreaking, fun, affordable, and “mindblasting” Indian street food, and neither location accepts reservations. So come early, come often!
Biscuits! Lots and lots of delicious, fluffy, satisfyingly-fattening biscuits. With five different kinds of gravy offerings like Espresso Red Eye and Sweet Potato Coconut, or get them stuffed with yummies like Mimosa Fried Chicken and Jalapeno Maple Pulled Pork. Several locations in the area, including next to the Biltmore. Definitely an Asheville staple. Go early to beat the lines!
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Biscuit Head
733 Haywood RdBiscuits! Lots and lots of delicious, fluffy, satisfyingly-fattening biscuits. With five different kinds of gravy offerings like Espresso Red Eye and Sweet Potato Coconut, or get them stuffed with yummies like Mimosa Fried Chicken and Jalapeno Maple Pulled Pork. Several locations in the area, including next to the Biltmore. Definitely an Asheville staple. Go early to beat the lines!
West Asheville's first and fav full-service fine dining restaurant with creative, changing weekly menu featuring carefully curated local ingredients prepared in modern Southern style. Like this dessert: Cornbread with creme anglaise, candied hominy, brown butter. Excellent wine list and cocktails!
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The Admiral
400 Haywood RdWest Asheville's first and fav full-service fine dining restaurant with creative, changing weekly menu featuring carefully curated local ingredients prepared in modern Southern style. Like this dessert: Cornbread with creme anglaise, candied hominy, brown butter. Excellent wine list and cocktails!
Southern style specializing in pasture-raised whole hog BBQ prepared in-house - you can smell it halfway across town! Plus Vortex Donuts right next door...
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Buxton Hall Barbecue
32 Banks AveSouthern style specializing in pasture-raised whole hog BBQ prepared in-house - you can smell it halfway across town! Plus Vortex Donuts right next door...
Old Europe Pastries
18 Broadway StConsistently great pastries
Looking for a gift to take home? Look no further than these gorgeous local chocolates
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French Broad Chocolate Lounge
10 S Pack SquareLooking for a gift to take home? Look no further than these gorgeous local chocolates
Laughing Seed Cafe
40 Wall StTerrific vegetarian and vegan meals
Amazing BBQ with all the fixings. Loved so much by the Obamas that they had to return on their second trip to Asheville. Two locations; South Asheville one has brewery attached and evening hours.
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12 Bones Smokehouse RIVER
5 Foundy StAmazing BBQ with all the fixings. Loved so much by the Obamas that they had to return on their second trip to Asheville. Two locations; South Asheville one has brewery attached and evening hours.
Vegan/vegetarian comfort food in a great location for people watching downtown. Check out the seahorses at the Buchi Bar downstairs!
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Rosetta's Kitchen
68 N Lexington AveVegan/vegetarian comfort food in a great location for people watching downtown. Check out the seahorses at the Buchi Bar downstairs!
Creative coffee drink specials and ridiculously delicious apple fritters. Most donuts have a vegan option and a choice of yeast or cake style!
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Vortex Doughnuts
32 Banks AveCreative coffee drink specials and ridiculously delicious apple fritters. Most donuts have a vegan option and a choice of yeast or cake style!
Their whole food menu is excellent, but the burger is out of this world!
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Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge
7 Rankin AveTheir whole food menu is excellent, but the burger is out of this world!
Rhubarb
7 N Pack SquareDivinely delicious veggie-heavy local-driven craft food
The West Village Market has killer grab-and-go breakfast burritos (including a vegan option!) and a variety of local organic prepared foods, snacks, smoothies and treats - perfect for packing a picnic lunch and driving out to a nearby waterfall hike.
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West Village Market
771 Haywood RdThe West Village Market has killer grab-and-go breakfast burritos (including a vegan option!) and a variety of local organic prepared foods, snacks, smoothies and treats - perfect for packing a picnic lunch and driving out to a nearby waterfall hike.
If you have any food sensitivities we highly recommend checking out the vibrant healthy menu at Bimberibon for any meal of the day. Everything is gluten free and made without refined sugar. Their nightly specials are a great deal!
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BimBeriBon
697 Haywood RdIf you have any food sensitivities we highly recommend checking out the vibrant healthy menu at Bimberibon for any meal of the day. Everything is gluten free and made without refined sugar. Their nightly specials are a great deal!
OWL Bakery
295 Haywood RdThis place always has a line around the block, and for good reason
Thai Pearl Restaurant
747 Haywood RdBest Thai in town, hands down
Sightseeing
Iconic local hotel that's a great place for a drink at sunset! Valet parking or free parking in side garage
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The Omni Grove Park Inn Spa
290 Macon AveIconic local hotel that's a great place for a drink at sunset! Valet parking or free parking in side garage
8000-acre estate built by George Vanderbilt, America's largest home and Asheville's #1 tourist destination. Tickets may be purchased online. Stop by Biltmore Village next door, a charming, Tudor-style leafy enclave originally created to house employees of the estate, now housing jewelry stores, galleries, and upscale boutiques.
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Biltmore
1 Lodge St8000-acre estate built by George Vanderbilt, America's largest home and Asheville's #1 tourist destination. Tickets may be purchased online. Stop by Biltmore Village next door, a charming, Tudor-style leafy enclave originally created to house employees of the estate, now housing jewelry stores, galleries, and upscale boutiques.
A fun way to spend the day - at this creative hub along the French Broad River. Over 200 local artists inhabit former warehouses and mills, many with colorful exterior murals. Visit glassblowing, pottery, and other artisan studios, plus indie art galleries. The buzzing dining and nightlife scene encompasses hip cafes, BBQ restaurants, craft breweries, and cozy, chilled-out music venues. The Second Saturday of every month features free trolly rides, open gallery walks, workshops, live music, wine tastings, yummy eats and more. Wear good walking shoes, because the studio locations are spread out.
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River Arts District
3 River Arts PlA fun way to spend the day - at this creative hub along the French Broad River. Over 200 local artists inhabit former warehouses and mills, many with colorful exterior murals. Visit glassblowing, pottery, and other artisan studios, plus indie art galleries. The buzzing dining and nightlife scene encompasses hip cafes, BBQ restaurants, craft breweries, and cozy, chilled-out music venues. The Second Saturday of every month features free trolly rides, open gallery walks, workshops, live music, wine tastings, yummy eats and more. Wear good walking shoes, because the studio locations are spread out.
A wonderful place to walk, with something always in bloom 3 seasons of the year. You can walk the mile there on the Reed Creek Greenway at the bottom of the hill or take a very short drive. There is *no* admission fee.
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Botanical Gardens at Asheville
151 W T. Weaver BoulevardA wonderful place to walk, with something always in bloom 3 seasons of the year. You can walk the mile there on the Reed Creek Greenway at the bottom of the hill or take a very short drive. There is *no* admission fee.
Wonderful walks outdoors where you can view formal gardens or into the woods to see natural flora of the mountains. There are indoor exhibits to check out. There is an entry fee
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North Carolina Arboretum
100 Frederick Law Olmsted WayWonderful walks outdoors where you can view formal gardens or into the woods to see natural flora of the mountains. There are indoor exhibits to check out. There is an entry fee
A great way to get to learn some history about Asheville walking around downtown. Divided into 5 historic periods from the Frontier period (1784) to the age of cultural diversity (mid to late 1900's. Check the website for an audio tour, some videos and an interactive map
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Urban Trail
11 Biltmore AveA great way to get to learn some history about Asheville walking around downtown. Divided into 5 historic periods from the Frontier period (1784) to the age of cultural diversity (mid to late 1900's. Check the website for an audio tour, some videos and an interactive map
From the Blueridge Parkway, the Southern Highland Craft Guild, Folk Art Center is located at Milepost 382. It includes a shop for the Southern Highland Craft Guild - an organization composed of juried contemporary craftspeople. The Arts Center has contains a permanent collection of craft objects dating back many generations. There you will also find a visitor center hosted by the National Forest Service with books and maps of the area and a Ranger to answer your questions. And the Mountain to Sea Trail runs through the parking lot
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The Folk Art Center (Southern Highland Craft Guild)
382 Blue Ridge PkwyFrom the Blueridge Parkway, the Southern Highland Craft Guild, Folk Art Center is located at Milepost 382. It includes a shop for the Southern Highland Craft Guild - an organization composed of juried contemporary craftspeople. The Arts Center has contains a permanent collection of craft objects dating back many generations. There you will also find a visitor center hosted by the National Forest Service with books and maps of the area and a Ranger to answer your questions. And the Mountain to Sea Trail runs through the parking lot
The most beautiful sunset spot. Bring an extra warm layer even in summer, it’s windy!
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Max Patch
Max Patch RoadThe most beautiful sunset spot. Bring an extra warm layer even in summer, it’s windy!
Epic Hikes
These are a few summer favs, accessible from the Blue Ridge Parkway. To find them, turn right off the gravel on Little Stoney Fork, drive 1/2 mile to a stop sign, turn left. Follow the winding road to the top, turn right onto the Parkway. See mileposts numbers under each description.
This breathtaking and otherworldly hike is my first choice, going early on weekday mornings to avoid crowds. After turning up the short drive, park on the side of the road at the top of the hill. The trail starts out as gravel on the right side of this road, in a fairytale grove of black balsams. A short way up the trail breaks out of the woods to a heathery tree-less terrain reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands. Up further is Black Balsam Knob, offering panoramic views to the horizon in every direction.
Elevation 6214 ft
Milepost: 420
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Black Balsam Knob
Art Loeb TrailThis breathtaking and otherworldly hike is my first choice, going early on weekday mornings to avoid crowds. After turning up the short drive, park on the side of the road at the top of the hill. The trail starts out as gravel on the right side of this road, in a fairytale grove of black balsams. A short way up the trail breaks out of the woods to a heathery tree-less terrain reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands. Up further is Black Balsam Knob, offering panoramic views to the horizon in every direction.
Elevation 6214 ft
Milepost: 420
Distinguishable by a metal tower often shrouded in cloud cover, Mt Pisgah is easily viewed from your living area during your stay and is an easy drive. The destination is not far from the one choice for dining on the Parkway: the Pisgah Inn. The 1.5 mile trail goes up into the clouds to the bottom of the tower where a railed viewing platform has been erected. This is a solid choice for a nearby romantic hike.
Elevation: 5722 ft
Milepost: 408
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Mount Pisgah Trail
Mount Pisgah TrailDistinguishable by a metal tower often shrouded in cloud cover, Mt Pisgah is easily viewed from your living area during your stay and is an easy drive. The destination is not far from the one choice for dining on the Parkway: the Pisgah Inn. The 1.5 mile trail goes up into the clouds to the bottom of the tower where a railed viewing platform has been erected. This is a solid choice for a nearby romantic hike.
Elevation: 5722 ft
Milepost: 408
A must-see spot for autumn foliage that’s a relaxed <1 hour drive on the parkway. A rushing waterfall compliments breathtaking views of mountains below you, and in late summer there are also wild blueberries. Bring a swimsuit if you enjoy an ice cold waterfall dip!
From the large pull off, head down from the parkway to a high meadow on moderate, well-kept trails. This is a prevailing favorite among locals, so avoid weekends because of packed parking. Elevation: 5120 ft Milepost: 418.8
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Graveyard Fields Loop Trail
Blue Ridge ParkwayA must-see spot for autumn foliage that’s a relaxed <1 hour drive on the parkway. A rushing waterfall compliments breathtaking views of mountains below you, and in late summer there are also wild blueberries. Bring a swimsuit if you enjoy an ice cold waterfall dip!
From the large pull off, head down from the parkway to a high meadow on moderate, well-kept trails. This is a prevailing favorite among locals, so avoid weekends because of packed parking. Elevation: 5120 ft Milepost: 418.8
USFS #114 Strenuous to the top of Looking Glass rock for fantastic views of the southern escarpment
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Looking Glass Rock Trailhead
USFS #114 Strenuous to the top of Looking Glass rock for fantastic views of the southern escarpment
Snowball Trailhead
Unnamed RoadUSFS #170 Moderate hike with good views toward Barnardsville. 6 miles round trip
Light hike with epic views so close to town! From Craggy Dome overlook, follow the signs. While you are there, visit the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway going north from Asheville.
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Craggy Pinnacle vandring
3641 Blue Ridge PkwyLight hike with epic views so close to town! From Craggy Dome overlook, follow the signs. While you are there, visit the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway going north from Asheville.
Out of Black Mountain follow the road signs to Montreat (NC 9). Take the road to the end where you will find parking and the trail head. There are some short hikes or the longer strenuous hike to the top of Graybeard Mountain, elevation 5360 ft.
Greybeard Trail
Greybeard TrailOut of Black Mountain follow the road signs to Montreat (NC 9). Take the road to the end where you will find parking and the trail head. There are some short hikes or the longer strenuous hike to the top of Graybeard Mountain, elevation 5360 ft.
Easy, rewarding hike that ends at a gorgeous waterfall. Gets busy on weekends! Try going early or late to beat the crowds. If you like cold water, bring a swimsuit for a refreshing dip in the pool at the base of the falls :)
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Catawba Falls
530 Warren Mountain DrEasy, rewarding hike that ends at a gorgeous waterfall. Gets busy on weekends! Try going early or late to beat the crowds. If you like cold water, bring a swimsuit for a refreshing dip in the pool at the base of the falls :)
This hike is super customizable - easy, moderate, or strenuous - and pays off with incredible views and/or swimming whichever you choose! Go early or late in the day to beat the crowds.
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Triple Falls Trail
This hike is super customizable - easy, moderate, or strenuous - and pays off with incredible views and/or swimming whichever you choose! Go early or late in the day to beat the crowds.
Beautiful, accessible waterfall with swimming hole. Gets busy on weekends - you may have to park and hike to the trailhead!
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Looking Glass Falls
U.S. 276Beautiful, accessible waterfall with swimming hole. Gets busy on weekends - you may have to park and hike to the trailhead!