Favorites
Cocktail Bars
0.7 miles | Truly spectacular craft cocktails. Every soda and mixer is crafted in house. Not a drinker? Order the ginger beer. They make it to order and it's fabulous.
43 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Top of the Monk
92 Patton Ave0.7 miles | Truly spectacular craft cocktails. Every soda and mixer is crafted in house. Not a drinker? Order the ginger beer. They make it to order and it's fabulous.
Thoughtful and inventive cocktails that taste amazing. Pretentious, but in a fun way. Say hi to August, the lead bartender.
78 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Little Jumbo
241 Broadway StThoughtful and inventive cocktails that taste amazing. Pretentious, but in a fun way. Say hi to August, the lead bartender.
The bar staff is dressed to the nines and the place is decorated to match. If you like what you get you can take a bottle home from the distillery next door.
Antidote
The bar staff is dressed to the nines and the place is decorated to match. If you like what you get you can take a bottle home from the distillery next door.
Quick stops
.6 miles | My favorite no-frills place to grab a solid cup of coffee and a bag of freshly roasted beans.
41 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
PennyCup Coffee
857 Merrimon Ave.6 miles | My favorite no-frills place to grab a solid cup of coffee and a bag of freshly roasted beans.
0.8 miles | You've never had a donut like this. They're fried to order and are perfect despite looking anything but. Order in advance or at the window. Coming here when it's still a little chilly outside is the best way to wake up.
The little blue truck is cute as heck, too.
231 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Hole Doughnuts
168 Haywood Rd0.8 miles | You've never had a donut like this. They're fried to order and are perfect despite looking anything but. Order in advance or at the window. Coming here when it's still a little chilly outside is the best way to wake up.
The little blue truck is cute as heck, too.
1.3 miles | If you know, you know. This is where the locals go for a cheap, quick, and good breakfast to nurse a hangover.
35 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Five Points Restaurant
258 Broadway St1.3 miles | If you know, you know. This is where the locals go for a cheap, quick, and good breakfast to nurse a hangover.
1 mile | Another great greasy spoon diner - and now they're open late til 2PM! Great red-eye gravy, fresh-from-the-oven biscuits.
16 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Med Asheville
57 College St1 mile | Another great greasy spoon diner - and now they're open late til 2PM! Great red-eye gravy, fresh-from-the-oven biscuits.
Neighborhoods
0.8 miles | If you're looking for a night out on the town, this is where you go. Tons of breweries, live music, restaurants, karaoke. Just walk and you'll find something to do. See my South Slope Neighborhood Tour guidebook for more.
The best part is this is a 15 minute walk, so leave the car behind.
75 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
South Slope Brewing District
0.8 miles | If you're looking for a night out on the town, this is where you go. Tons of breweries, live music, restaurants, karaoke. Just walk and you'll find something to do. See my South Slope Neighborhood Tour guidebook for more.
The best part is this is a 15 minute walk, so leave the car behind.
1.4 miles | This neighborhood is great for if you've got five minutes, five hours, or five days. There's so much to do, eat, and see on Haywood. See my West Asheville Neighborhood Tour guidebook for more.
214 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
West Asheville
1.4 miles | This neighborhood is great for if you've got five minutes, five hours, or five days. There's so much to do, eat, and see on Haywood. See my West Asheville Neighborhood Tour guidebook for more.
0.5 miles | It's got everything. Food, bars, art studios and galleries, antique shops, an urban wine bar, a brewery or two, a gelato shop, a greenway, and some of the best people watching in Asheville.
A quick five minute walk from my place gets you to the heart of River Arts. Spend a few hours or a few days. This place is absolutely hopping on Saturdays. See my River Arts District (RAD) Neighborhood Tour guidebook for more.
700 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Isithili saseRiver Arts
3 River Arts Pl0.5 miles | It's got everything. Food, bars, art studios and galleries, antique shops, an urban wine bar, a brewery or two, a gelato shop, a greenway, and some of the best people watching in Asheville.
A quick five minute walk from my place gets you to the heart of River Arts. Spend a few hours or a few days. This place is absolutely hopping on Saturdays. See my River Arts District (RAD) Neighborhood Tour guidebook for more.
0.7 miles | If you're not looking for it, you'll walk by and miss it. Pop into this charming twisty street for great restaurants, shops, and if you're lucky, street performers.
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Wall Street
Wall Street0.7 miles | If you're not looking for it, you'll walk by and miss it. Pop into this charming twisty street for great restaurants, shops, and if you're lucky, street performers.
Something to do
Just wander around. My favorite stop is the "blind date" book wall.
133 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Malaprop's Bookstore / Cafe
55 Haywood StJust wander around. My favorite stop is the "blind date" book wall.
3.3 miles | A great "do it just once" experience. Self-parking is free, valet is $25. The sunset and view from the balcony is spectacular. Seating on the balcony is first come first serve. Skip if it's raining.
36 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Omni Grove Park Inn - Country Club
290 Macon Ave3.3 miles | A great "do it just once" experience. Self-parking is free, valet is $25. The sunset and view from the balcony is spectacular. Seating on the balcony is first come first serve. Skip if it's raining.
4.8 miles | A trip to the Biltmore is a must-do at least once. If you've never gone, carve out an entire day to tackle this visit. The grounds are large enough that you can show up whenever and be fine, but the house is limited occupancy, and time slots go fast.
Protip: The day of your visit, you will get a QR code to reserve time at the Winery for a tasting. The earlier you get there and get that code, the more time slots you have to choose from.
https://www.biltmore.com/visit/tickets-pricing/
1485 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Biltmore
1 Lodge St4.8 miles | A trip to the Biltmore is a must-do at least once. If you've never gone, carve out an entire day to tackle this visit. The grounds are large enough that you can show up whenever and be fine, but the house is limited occupancy, and time slots go fast.
Protip: The day of your visit, you will get a QR code to reserve time at the Winery for a tasting. The earlier you get there and get that code, the more time slots you have to choose from.
https://www.biltmore.com/visit/tickets-pricing/
FREE Shakespeare in the park. Bring a bottle of wine, a blanket, and a picnic and make an evening of it. Friday-Sunday in the summer.
36 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Montford Park Players
92 Gay StFREE Shakespeare in the park. Bring a bottle of wine, a blanket, and a picnic and make an evening of it. Friday-Sunday in the summer.
Sightseeing
Hiking, little towns named after European villages, views for days.
757 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Blue Ridge Parkway
3884 Blue Ridge ParkwayHiking, little towns named after European villages, views for days.
Food Scene
This is NOT a sushi place. This is where I do my birthday dinner. The food is just so good, so unique, and I always leave feeling like I went on an adventure.
Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse
This is NOT a sushi place. This is where I do my birthday dinner. The food is just so good, so unique, and I always leave feeling like I went on an adventure.
Wildly pretentious but unfortunately just as incredible pastries, breads, and coffee drinks.
156 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
OWL Bakery
295 Haywood RdWildly pretentious but unfortunately just as incredible pastries, breads, and coffee drinks.
If you come to Asheville and you enjoy classic French-style patisserie and you DON'T come here, you're missing out.
102 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Old Europe Pastries
18 Broadway StIf you come to Asheville and you enjoy classic French-style patisserie and you DON'T come here, you're missing out.
If I'm up at the Grove Arcade, this is where I go for dinner. The service is top notch, the food is great, the cocktails are delightful - it's just a great experience all around.
Huli Sue's BBQ and Grill
If I'm up at the Grove Arcade, this is where I go for dinner. The service is top notch, the food is great, the cocktails are delightful - it's just a great experience all around.
Amacebiso ngesixeko
Ungaphoswa
Fine Dining
We may be a mountain town, but we've got some incredible restaurants at all price points. Best of all, we don't do dress-codes.