Guidebook for Asheville
Food Scene
The best meals we have ever had in Asheville have been from Bull and Beggar, hands down. Great ambience, cocktails, and food, of course.
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The Bull and Beggar
37 Paynes WayThe best meals we have ever had in Asheville have been from Bull and Beggar, hands down. Great ambience, cocktails, and food, of course.
This is our "every morning" coffee stop. It's close enough to walk to in about 5 minutes and they have great coffee and a selection of baked goods (including gluten-free items) for a quick, no-nonsense breakfast.
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Izzy's Coffee House
976 Haywood RdThis is our "every morning" coffee stop. It's close enough to walk to in about 5 minutes and they have great coffee and a selection of baked goods (including gluten-free items) for a quick, no-nonsense breakfast.
We use to live right by the original Nine Mile in the Montford Neighborhood and we ate there all the time. It's got a Jamaican pasta theme, but that does it no justice. It's very fresh and delicious with a good vibe at a pretty good value, esp. for lunch.
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Nine Mile
233 Montford AveWe use to live right by the original Nine Mile in the Montford Neighborhood and we ate there all the time. It's got a Jamaican pasta theme, but that does it no justice. It's very fresh and delicious with a good vibe at a pretty good value, esp. for lunch.
Battle Cat is a little further from our home, but worth the hike. In addition to great coffee, they have a kitchen in the back that makes really good grab and go breakfast and lunch food. This a very "local-friendly" spot. Don't expect a smile when you are being served here, but expect quality coffee, food, and a cool atmosphere.
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BattleCat Coffee Bar
373 Haywood RdBattle Cat is a little further from our home, but worth the hike. In addition to great coffee, they have a kitchen in the back that makes really good grab and go breakfast and lunch food. This a very "local-friendly" spot. Don't expect a smile when you are being served here, but expect quality coffee, food, and a cool atmosphere.
Ok, so this place has a two hour wait for brunch most weekends, and it's worth it if you can wait that long. HOWEVER, you can get in basically whenever you want for dinner, and the options are just as delicious.
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Sunny Point Café
626 Haywood RdOk, so this place has a two hour wait for brunch most weekends, and it's worth it if you can wait that long. HOWEVER, you can get in basically whenever you want for dinner, and the options are just as delicious.
We don't go out of our way to eat sweets, unless Vortex is involved. Their doughnuts are made with great ingredients, so you don't have to feel as guilty for wanting another one. Great coffee, too!
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Vortex Doughnuts
32 Banks AveWe don't go out of our way to eat sweets, unless Vortex is involved. Their doughnuts are made with great ingredients, so you don't have to feel as guilty for wanting another one. Great coffee, too!
From the outside, this looks like a biker hangout where you might get in a fight, but don't be intimidated. It's great for eat-in or take-out, with cheap beer specials, depending on the day. The pulled pork, ribs, brussels sprouts, and hush puppies are about as good as I have had anywhere in AVL. AND they have pretty good vegan BBQ! I had a vegan friend in town and she loved it.
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Bonfire BBQ & Catering
1056 Patton AveFrom the outside, this looks like a biker hangout where you might get in a fight, but don't be intimidated. It's great for eat-in or take-out, with cheap beer specials, depending on the day. The pulled pork, ribs, brussels sprouts, and hush puppies are about as good as I have had anywhere in AVL. AND they have pretty good vegan BBQ! I had a vegan friend in town and she loved it.
Authentic Lebanese food, right down the street! When we first moved into our house, we lived on take-out from this place because it's close and convenient. Fun Fact: this used to be a food truck, but it was so popular that the owner was able to open up a brick and mortar.
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Gypsy Queen Market, Deli & Food Truck
807 Patton AveAuthentic Lebanese food, right down the street! When we first moved into our house, we lived on take-out from this place because it's close and convenient. Fun Fact: this used to be a food truck, but it was so popular that the owner was able to open up a brick and mortar.
A lot of people will call this the best pizza in AVL. We made it past the crowds once, and we wouldn't disagree.
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All Souls Pizza
175 Clingman AveA lot of people will call this the best pizza in AVL. We made it past the crowds once, and we wouldn't disagree.
So, you have to have a "Plan B" sometimes, and it might as well be good. Marco's deserves better than this, but it is our go-to when everywhere else is too busy. This happens a lot. If you are hangry and keep getting told you have an hour long wait, just come here and get awesome pizza or pasta. It feels like a very old-school Italian place without a lot of fuss or pretensions and the food has never disappointed.
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828 Family Pizzeria
946 Merrimon AveSo, you have to have a "Plan B" sometimes, and it might as well be good. Marco's deserves better than this, but it is our go-to when everywhere else is too busy. This happens a lot. If you are hangry and keep getting told you have an hour long wait, just come here and get awesome pizza or pasta. It feels like a very old-school Italian place without a lot of fuss or pretensions and the food has never disappointed.
Drinks & Nightlife
This a speakeasy style bar with no sign on the outside. It's a private club, so you will have to become a member, but you can do that at the door. You'll feel like a local knowing this secret spot!
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The Crow & Quill
106 N Lexington AveThis a speakeasy style bar with no sign on the outside. It's a private club, so you will have to become a member, but you can do that at the door. You'll feel like a local knowing this secret spot!
A dive bar that serves everything from PBR to local craft brews with Ping Pong in the back!
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Desoto Lounge
504 Haywood RdA dive bar that serves everything from PBR to local craft brews with Ping Pong in the back!
This is our favorite "big brewery." It's great for families, couples, and big groups. I recommend taking a romantic stroll by the river if you visit.
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New Belgium Brewing Company
21 Craven StThis is our favorite "big brewery." It's great for families, couples, and big groups. I recommend taking a romantic stroll by the river if you visit.
Sightseeing
The Grove Park feels very exclusive, but it's actually completely FREE to walk around (you just have to pay for parking). While this is a must-visit, I think Asheville has plenty of better restaurants for the price point, so I recommend hitting up the bar while you catch sunset.
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The Omni Grove Park Inn Spa
290 Macon AveThe Grove Park feels very exclusive, but it's actually completely FREE to walk around (you just have to pay for parking). While this is a must-visit, I think Asheville has plenty of better restaurants for the price point, so I recommend hitting up the bar while you catch sunset.
Shopping
If you need to pick up a few things, this place has it all, and it's just a few miles down Brevard road. West Elm is esp. great if you are looking for great deals on classy furniture.
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Asheville Outlets
800 Brevard RdIf you need to pick up a few things, this place has it all, and it's just a few miles down Brevard road. West Elm is esp. great if you are looking for great deals on classy furniture.
Mast General Store is sort of like Kilwin's ice cream...it's a chain that's in a lot of touristy mountain towns, but it's got all of this fun, nostalgia-inducing stuff to play with, so how can you go wrong? Sometimes they have nice clothes on sale, too!
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Mast General Store
15 Biltmore AveMast General Store is sort of like Kilwin's ice cream...it's a chain that's in a lot of touristy mountain towns, but it's got all of this fun, nostalgia-inducing stuff to play with, so how can you go wrong? Sometimes they have nice clothes on sale, too!
Entertainment & Activities
I jokingly call this the "zoo," but it's fairly quaint. That being said, it is a fun place to check out if you want to see some local wildlife. You will definitely see bears and foxes. The wolves can be a bit elusive.
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WNC Nature Center
75 Gashes Creek RdI jokingly call this the "zoo," but it's fairly quaint. That being said, it is a fun place to check out if you want to see some local wildlife. You will definitely see bears and foxes. The wolves can be a bit elusive.
We don't make it to Biltmore Park that often, with so much cool stuff on our side of town, but if you want to check out a movie while you are in town, this is going to give you the best cinematic experience.
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Regal Cinemas Biltmore Grande Stadium 15 & RPX
292 Thetford StWe don't make it to Biltmore Park that often, with so much cool stuff on our side of town, but if you want to check out a movie while you are in town, this is going to give you the best cinematic experience.
We have seen a lot of shows here, from The Flaming Lips to GWAR. Check out their upcoming shows on their site: http://theorangepeel.net/ I am always surprised to see the caliber of acts that come to Asheville.
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The Orange Peel
101 Biltmore AveWe have seen a lot of shows here, from The Flaming Lips to GWAR. Check out their upcoming shows on their site: http://theorangepeel.net/ I am always surprised to see the caliber of acts that come to Asheville.
I think every visit is better with a trip to the movies, especially when you can get food and beer at the same time. The Food is admittedly so-so, but the experience is really cool. I recommend this for colder weather when outdoor options are limited.
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Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co
675 Merrimon AveI think every visit is better with a trip to the movies, especially when you can get food and beer at the same time. The Food is admittedly so-so, but the experience is really cool. I recommend this for colder weather when outdoor options are limited.
Parks & Nature
This is a beautiful place to take a walk on the north side of town. We used to live close to here and it was a great neighborhood amenity. Park at the bird sanctuary down the street because it's hard to find a spot, otherwise.
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Beaver Lake
This is a beautiful place to take a walk on the north side of town. We used to live close to here and it was a great neighborhood amenity. Park at the bird sanctuary down the street because it's hard to find a spot, otherwise.
Less than an hour away, but the drive is so beautiful you'll never know it took you that long to get there. TONS of amazing scenic overlooks along the way.
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Iparke yaseMount Mitchell
2388 NC-128Less than an hour away, but the drive is so beautiful you'll never know it took you that long to get there. TONS of amazing scenic overlooks along the way.
Essentials
We hope you don't need this, but ya know what, if you do, it's about as close as you could ask for.
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Mercy Urgent Care West
1201 Patton AveWe hope you don't need this, but ya know what, if you do, it's about as close as you could ask for.
Everyone needs a drugstore for those forgotten items. This one is super close.
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Walgreens Pharmacy
1124 Patton AveEveryone needs a drugstore for those forgotten items. This one is super close.
Earth Fare is the local natural and organic grocery store and it's where we try to do most of our shopping. We try to eat as healthfully as possible and they make that pretty easy. Great breakfast, lunch, and dinner options on the hot bar or to grab and go, good beer and wine selection, as well.
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Earth Fare
66 Westgate PkwyEarth Fare is the local natural and organic grocery store and it's where we try to do most of our shopping. We try to eat as healthfully as possible and they make that pretty easy. Great breakfast, lunch, and dinner options on the hot bar or to grab and go, good beer and wine selection, as well.
If it's nice weather and you want to walk to WAVL and have a nice juice or smoothy, maybe pick up a few things, this is your place.
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West Village Market
771 Haywood RdIf it's nice weather and you want to walk to WAVL and have a nice juice or smoothy, maybe pick up a few things, this is your place.