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With over 100 breweries, decadent farm-to-table eating places, and a surroundings scoured by the verdant Blue Ridge Mountains, it’s no marvel Asheville is changing into some of the up-and-coming locations within the East.
Asheville is just not shy about hiding its artsy and community-driven persona. It confidently shines it by way of its lovingly preserved historic landmarks, colourful artwork murals, and bustling vibrant streets.
In the event you’re on the lookout for a enjoyable metropolis break, then you definitely’re gonna need to take a look at downtown Asheville. This neighborhood is the place all of the enjoyable actions and sights are primarily based, and gives guests an opportunity to glimpse into the soul of this stylish metropolis and see what it’s all about.
On this information, we’re sharing the highest issues to do in Downtown Asheville. We spent two nights in Downtown Asheville and had been so blissful to do nothing else, however discover the marvel of it’s core streets. Right here’s what we received as much as…
1. Battery Park E-book Change + Champagne Bar
“What new world am I about to stroll into?” is the overall thrill that comes with selecting up a brand new ebook. On the Battery Park E-book Change + Champagne Bar that thrill comes with strolling within the entrance door into a brand new world: Champagne tasting inside a bookstore!
It’s a speakeasy vibe with a dusting of French sophistication. Situated in a historic constructing inside Grove Arcade, the primary mall in Asheville and one of many metropolis’s most iconic venues, that is the place to go to search out enjoyable finds within the pages and hidden gem literature.
Black curtains drape the home windows, reside bluegrass within the nook warms you up, and surrounding you is an unlimited array of latest and outdated books to peruse when you sip on a glass of high-quality champagne.
Tasting flights are the norm right here however be ready for the champagne price ticket. We opted for a glowing wine cocktail and Syrah as an alternative paired with a charceturie board with native goat’s cheese.
2. Buy groceries in Downtown Asheville
We’re not likely procuring folks, particularly in locations that don’t have a grounded, relatable spirit.
However since Asheville is brimming with impartial outlets, a grounded mountain vitality, and a spirit of enjoyable centered round leisure and good meals – I used to be blissful wandering up and down the streets for hours.
I used to be very stunned at how a lot the downtown Asheville procuring scene needed to supply.
There are a number of major streets in Asheville with an attention-grabbing retailer each couple of steps. There are literally 200+ regionally owned shops and boutiques.
It’s a very walkable downtown space with the principle procuring streets being Patton Avenue, Wall St, Battery Park Ave, Lexington, Broadway, and Biltmore Avenue.
What I beloved about procuring in Downtown Asheville was discovering the totally different vibes every road had. Certainly one of my favorites was Lexington Avenue the place yuppy hip crossed with punk grunge in a means that works.
Listed here are just a few of the shops I beloved.
Aspect Tree Necessities
Aspect Tree Necessities was my favourite retailer in Asheville.
I may have spent hours in right here and purchased one in every of every thing. As a substitute, I opted for his or her signature hand lotion candles and a creativity spell jar for Savannah’s Christmas current.
Asheville Bee Charmer
Do you’re keen on bees? Get buzzing over to the Asheville Bee Charmer retailer (2 areas downtown).
They work with beekeepers throughout Western North Carolina and the world to curate a collection of scrumptious 100% pure, uncooked honey.
Down the again is a honey tasting bar, the place Bee-ristas take you on a candy and spicy tasting journey world wide from native sourwood honey to firecracker sizzling. Your tastebuds might be buzzing Beelicious!
Do you know that it’s finest to buy native honey? Not solely does it help the native economic system, BUT it helps your individual physique.
Since bees are native pollinators, the uncooked honey produced from them will help your physique adapt to the setting, construct up immunity, and assist ease these seasonal allergic reactions!
Asheville Emporium
I do know generally you need to keep away from memento kind outlets for concern of getting into tacky-ville, however the Asheville Emporium has a shocking variety of cool native items.
The proper sort of journey souvenirs. In addition they have a piece on the again the place they print their very own T-shirts, so cool to see that arrange.
The Grove Arcade
The Grove Arcade, the place the aforementioned Battery Park E-book Change + Champagne Bar is positioned, is positioned in a sublime historic constructing and is Downtown Asheville’s hottest mall for procuring and consuming out.
It’s probably the most lovely constructing in Asheville, and is likely one of the explanation why town is usually referred to the “Paris of the South” as a result of it resembles one in every of Paris’s well-known coated passages.
You’ll discover a wide range of retail shops, eateries, our fave champagne bar talked about above, and a day by day artists marketplace for native crafters.
Asheville Chocolate & French Broad Chocolate Lounge
Swoon chocolate lovers. Asheville is filed with delicious native, hand crafted chocolate.
Try the next chocolate locations:
- Asheville Chocolate: providing small batch truffles and gelato made by hand in retailer. You’ll be able to even watch them make it when you wait!
- The Chocolate Fetish: Since 1986, they’ve been wowing Asheville with award profitable truffles and European type candies.
- French Broad Chocolate Lounge: Situated in an unmistakable celestial blue constructing, this extraordinarily standard emporium has artisanal, natural candies and pastries and signature sipping candies. Their manufacturing unit simply north of Asheville gives excursions of their bean-to-bar chocolate making course of
Malaprops Bookstore
One other bookstore price testing is Malaprops, an impartial bookstore and cafe that has a rigorously curated collection of books for adults, youngsters, and younger adults.
The café on the again has regionally roasted espresso and a few scrumptious pastries.
Asheville Metropolis Market
In the event you occur to be visiting on a weekend, don’t miss the weekly farmer’s market in Asheville. It’s open each Saturday morning from 9:00am – 12:00pm from April – December, and 10:00am – 1:00pm from January – March.
The market occupies North Market Road between Woodfin and Walnut streets, and options stalls from over 1,000 farms and growers within the Appalachian area.
DOWNTOWN TOURS:
1. Uncover Downtown Asheville’s noteworthy landmarks and architectural gems on this 2.5-hour guided tour of Asheville by electrical bike, together with downtown and greenways. Be taught extra right here, and here’s a 3 hour choice.
2. A guided strolling tour with a neighborhood information targeted on town’s historical past, structure, and tradition. See extra right here.
3. Take part in an Artwork Class
On a earlier go to, the women participated in an artwork class, which is a incredible factor to do in Asheville with youngsters. Not solely does this permit you to expertise artwork by way of a hands-on expertise, however you get to maintain your handmade craft as a souvenier.
Asheville is all in regards to the Arts, so it is a nice option to get to know the tradition on a deeper degree.
You’ll discover varied locations in Downtown Asheville for artwork lessons. The FiredUp Lounge has pottery/ceramics and portray lessons and workshops.
Searching for black owned companies in Asheville? Try this information from my good friend Nadeen from The Subtle Life.
4. Stroll over to the River Arts District
Talking of arts, why not discover Asheville’s artsy neighborhood? It took me awhile to heat as much as The River Arts District as a result of we’re not usually artwork museum kind of individuals.
However as we quickly found, this goes past the stuffy quiet halls of a museum. It is a residing respiratory native artwork house that invitations interplay, sparks curiosity, and feeds inventive inspiration.
Or no less than it was, till a lot of this neighborhood was destroyed by floods attributable to Hurricane Helene in January 2025. We hope that these inventive areas are capable of rebuild because the vibe right here was unbelievable – it was all about neighborhood, conserving it native, and celebrating artwork in all types. We all know it should return which is why we’re conserving this in our downtown Asheville information – some issues are open!
From regionally floor espresso outlets to city wine, farm to desk eating places and neighborhood constructed skate parks, creativity has all the time been the main focus of the River Arts District in Downtown Asheville.
In its varied mediums and type, artwork adorns the partitions, murals type the backsplashes to bars, and graffiti wraps across the revitalized warehouses and brick buildings of the area.
This isn’t only one or two buildings devoted to celebrating native artisans and a vibrant neighborhood spirit, however blocks of it that run alongside the French Broad River.
The district is split into hubs that take up a block or two. Every hub is recognized by a coloration, which is on the indicators (and map) for every corresponding space.
Inside every hub, you’ll discover studios, galleries, locations to eat and drink, and reside music venues.
The inexperienced and blue hubs have been badly broken by the storm, however the orange, purple and purple blocks nonetheless have companies working.
READ OUR FULL GUIDE to the River Arts District in Asheville
5. Go to the Asheville Museum of Science
On Patton Road in Downtown Asheville, you’ll discover the Asheville Museum of Science, a well-liked attraction to go to with youngsters.
We visited on a earlier journey and the women beloved feeling the total pressure of a wild storm within the Hurricane Simulator, and exploring the cool crystals on show.
Sufficiently small to not bore the dad and mom, and sufficiently big to entertain the youngsters, the Asheville Science Museum is an effective place to spend an hour or so – it’s extra suited to the youthful youngsters!
6. Asheville Artwork Museum
We didn’t go as we’re not massive artwork museum folks, however many individuals have advisable the Asheville Artwork Museum to us.
It incorporates a big assortment of American artwork from the twentieth & twenty first centuries.
7. Asheville Pinball Museum
One other enjoyable place in Asheville to go along with youngsters is the Pinball Museum, which is one other blast from the previous.
Upon getting into, you’ll uncover rows of over 70 classic pinball machines, each a colourful murals.
The museum is sort of like a youngsters’s museum, with an interactive and hands-on strategy, permitting you to truly play the machines, which makes it a success with each youngsters and adults.
8. Get pleasure from one of the best espresso in Asheville
So, our espresso tasting experiences weren’t as mind-blowing as we’d anticipated (as Aussies, we’re espresso snobs), and Asheville is usually extremely regarded for its espresso scene.
Till our final day, once we discovered two stellar cups of espresso that we thought had been price sharing.
Summit Espresso Co
Ah, an actual cup of espresso. I lingered over the primary sip because it stuffed me up with espresso love heat. Summit Espresso Co in Grove Arcade might be your go to espresso spot in Asheville.
You’ll be able to belief espresso that’s responsibly sourced, and roasted in small batches of their licensed natural facility.
We visited the funky location within the River Arts District, however this location was sadly demaged within the hurricane and now has a espresso truck there as an alternative.
Excessive 5 Espresso
Your first sip of Counter Tradition roasted espresso will let you know that Excessive 5 Espresso’s barista’s must move exams earlier than serving you up your favourite brew.
Thank goodness we discovered Excessive 5 Espresso earlier than leaving Asheville. You’ll discover three areas in Asheville.
9. Try the native craft beers of Asheville’s beer scene
It looks as if there are extra Asheville breweries than there are Dublin pubs! In reality, there’s one brewery for each 50,000 folks in Asheville!
Each couple of ft you’ll uncover one other one devoted to showcasing the flavors of the Appalachian area. The beer scene is actually the principle purpose to return right here.
The excellent news is lots of them are family-friendly. Extra excellent news – they’ve quite a lot of ciderie’s as nicely for these gluten free drinkers. We didn’t go to as many on this journey however have beforehand.
South Slope is a revitalized hip warehouse district and is the place you’ll discover lots of the downtown Asheville breweries in addition to a rising variety of eating places and outlets. Brewery crawls are simple right here! That is one in every of Asheville’s finest neighborhoods.
Asheville Brewing Firm
With a coated out of doors house and scrumptious pizzas, Asheville Brewing is an off-the-cuff place to drop in, particularly if touring with youngsters. The gluten free pizza right here was most likely one of the best we’ve had.
Burial Brewing Co. South Slope Taproom
A legend within the North Carolina brewing world, Burial Beer is a should cease in your Asheville brewery tour.
We love the Raleigh location – particularly their very cool Level Break mural. And right here they’ve one that includes Sloth from the Goonies.
Effectively, simply take a look at the Sloth mural they’ve of their Asheville location. You’ll discover an excellent out of doors house with heaters and a cool kombi van to sit down in.
Rent-Wire Brewing
One other one of many extra established breweries in Asheville is Rent-Wire Brewing who now has areas in Durham and Knoxville. They like to brew conventional types, and beer they need to drink!
Inexperienced Man Brewery
Inexperienced Man is only a contact exterior of downtown Asheville, however gives a terrific collection of beers which can be true to type in a cool constructing, stress-free ambiance, and nice arrange for out of doors seating (and indoors)!
BREWERY TOURS:
1. Uncover which breweries are well worth the hype on this Asheville brewery tour, which takes you to craft breweries with behind-the-scene entry and ample pours at every. Click on right here to be taught extra.
2. Cycle (on an e-bike) to 5 of Asheville’s hottest microbreweries, having fun with a drink (or two) at every location. Click on right here to be taught extra.
The Crow & Quill Speakeasy Bar
We walked by way of the non-descript inexperienced door of the Crow & Quill with the sunshine above it of what seemed like an deserted constructing.
It creaked open, and we had been greeted by a contemporary gothic trying bar tender.
I felt like I had stepped into the shadowy underworld of Ketterdam from Shadow and Bone.
The dimly lit room was full of vintage furnishings, artwork on the partitions and an elaborate array of whiskeys from world wide and different spirits similar to rums, mezcals, and gins (700 in whole).
They’re recognized for his or her expertly created craft cocktails. Proof of vaccination is required. The Crow and Quill is a uniquely cool Asheville Speakeasy Bar.
Jack of the Wooden
We walked previous the home windows of Jack of the Wooden and noticed the Irish band enjoying within the nook and knew it was a spot we wished to return again to. Something to present us a style of Dublin – our as soon as residence for a yr that we miss a lot!
Effectively, we returned the subsequent night on a Sunday when the amps had been turned off and town nearly empty! We pulled up a seat on the bar and loved a drink anyway. No Guinness for me as I’m avoiding gluten – however let’s face it, no bar on the planet can fairly do Guinness like they do in Dublin.
However we loved a neighborhood craft brew, a scrumptious cider from City Orchard Cidery that tasted similar to Thanksgiving, and a chat with the bartender.
10. Eat at among the finest eating places in Downtown Asheville
The high-quality eating and foodie scene in Asheville is one more reason to return right here. Lots of the eating places supply farm to desk delicacies, which after all you’d, when your produce is grown proper subsequent door within the Appalachians!
We love how Asheville has numerous impartial eating places too. It looks like each penny you spend right here goes to the local people and small companies who work exhausting to supply one thing distinctive and particular.
Listed here are a few of our favourite eating places…
The Rhu
Just like the meal I had solely days earlier than at The Native in Boone, NC, I wished full silence when consuming my gluten free biscuit in order that I may savor the scrumptious flavors.
The final time I had a biscuit so scrumptious was from Trustworthy Biscuits at Pike Place Market in Seattle (coincidentally based and owned by an outdated acquaintance in Raleigh).
The Rhu is aware of tips on how to make a fluffy, soften in your mouth biscuit. The is cafe, bakery and pantry even have sandwiches, bagels, chocolate croissants, pastries, and their very own loaves of bread.
Early Lady Eatery
Early Lady Eatery was our scrumptious brunch cease on the primary day. That is the Asheville farm-to-table expertise you’d count on from the realm with meals produced from scratch and elements sourced from the very best high quality within the area.
You’ll discover breakfast bowls, omelets, biscuits, and southern breakfasts. A lot of GF choices on the menu too!
To not be missed is the crisp-fried Heirloom Grit Cake Stack piled with mushrooms, purple pepper, squash and a southern tomato sauce. Kalyra loved a spicy hen sandwich.
Wonderful service as nicely. Our order ticket was misplaced within the kitchen and so our meals was delayed.
We perceive this occurs and so weren’t bothered by it.
However because it was less than the usual Early Lady desires, they discounted our verify. (They didn’t know who we had been both. Secret procuring is mostly how we do issues.) I used to be very impressed with this buyer care.
The Med
Searching for breakfast in downtown Asheville the locals love? Pull up a stool on the diner counter and luxuriate in watching the cooks expertly handle an limitless line of ready tickets of this iconic Asheville Diner, the Med. And apparently it was quiet!
I loved watching their staff work and straightforward going nature. I noticed plate after plate of omelets, French toast, pancakes, nation ham and eggs, do-it-yourself hash browns, and biscuits. They’ve fashionable breakfast gadgets like bowls and fancy grits.
I beloved my flavorful breakfast hash bowl: potatoes topped with sausage, parmesan, peppers, onions, tomatoes and over simple eggs.
The Med is open for lunch additionally. However take into accout it’s some of the standard downtown Asheville eating places.
Chai Pani
Chai Pani is the place you go to your scrumptious Indian Road meals that has been raved about from the Washington Put up to Fox Information!
The brightly coloured partitions and murals are the proper match to the colourful taste range of its dishes from thalis, to uttapam, road burgers and and snacks.
I’m not an Indian road meals skilled, however I’ve style buds sufficient to say its worthy of the accolades. My gluten free model of the sloppy jai was scrumptious.
Suwana’s Thai Orchid
Since we lived in Bangkok for six months, we will label a dish genuine Thai with one tantalizing style. Even the straightforward décor and restaurant house at Suwana’s Thai Orchid made me really feel like I used to be again in Thailand.
You’ll discover all of your Thai favorites on the menu: noodle dishes, rice bowls, traditional stir fries and curries, spring rolls, dumplings, and my favourite, mango sticky rice.
11. Stroll the City Path
In the event you solely have a short while in downtown Asheville, you possibly can soak up many of those sights by strolling the City Path, a 1.7 mile path by way of the streets of downtown that passes among the most historic landmarks.
There are about 30 stops on the path, in addition to public sculptures and artwork installations.
Try the City Path map right here.
The place to Keep: Lodge Indigo Asheville Downtown
In the event you’re on the lookout for resorts in downtown Asheville, Lodge Indigo Downtown Asheville is the place location meets beautiful mountain vibes.
Lodge Indigo is inside strolling distance to all of the Downtown Asheville eating places, outlets, music venues and experiences, together with the favored South Slope Brewing District for stylish breweries and native vibe.
It additionally retains Asheville’s artistry spirit in thoughts with its decor, and has native art work on the partitions of its communal areas.
We like lodging choices that assist to inform the story of the area we’re visiting, and this boutique Asheville lodge does that with its supreme location, participating service (with insider ideas), and native flavors in each artwork and meals.
You’ll be able to learn extra in our Lodge Indigo Downtown Asheville Overview.
Why we love Downtown Asheville
Asheville is the industrial hub of Western North Carolina and is surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Pisgah Nationwide Forests.
Downtown Asheville has a cool, bohemian vibe showcased in its native collection of outlets, eating places, rooftop bars, cafes, artwork galleries and road performers.
Being in Downtown Asheville felt like I had stepped into the world. Generally I felt like I used to be in Newtown (a suburb of Sydney, Australia), at different occasions in San Francisco, then in a second I used to be transported to London, Dublin, and Thailand.
How are you going to not love a metropolis that displays the cultural range of our planet and brings to the floor a few of your finest journey recollections? It wraps you up in a heat blanket of consolation, assurance, pleasure, and a sense that every thing is okay on the planet.
It’s now one in every of my favourite out of doors journey cities within the USA and, at solely 4 hours’ drive from our residence in Raleigh, I can’t wait to maintain returning.
Our daughters took to it immediately as nicely, which is a superb signal, particularly when you will have a teen within the household!
There aren’t any expectations in Asheville so that you can be something however your self. Though a laid-back spirit and love for all times will assist you really feel part of the neighborhood.
What I really like about Asheville is that it’s a vacation spot targeted on LOCAL. You received’t discover a chain anyplace within the metropolis middle.
Even higher is that Asheville’s native theme is concentrated on well being, wellness, connection to Mom Earth, farm to desk, and out of doors journey.
This makes it extremely distinctive. Lots of the experiences under I’ve not seen anyplace earlier than, and that’s why I’ll proceed to speak about this metropolis lengthy after I’ve gone. I’ll simply cease speaking now and present you.
Locations to Go to Close to Asheville
Try the next posts for extra inspiration and issues to do within the Asheville area.
Which of this stuff to do in Downtown Asheville are you most excited to do? Go away us a remark under!
