Jessica’s guidebook
Favorite Restaurants
There are simply TOO many to name, but I will do my best to narrow it down here!
Some of the best Latin food EVER and probably one of best/if not THE BEST restaurant in town. Be sure to make a reservation before your trip! Hot Tip: There's a wonderful craft cocktail and tapas bar by the same owners next door, called En La Calle. If you forget to make a reservation, you can pop in here for a drink and snack while you wait for a seat at Limones.
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Limones Restaurant
15 Eagle StSome of the best Latin food EVER and probably one of best/if not THE BEST restaurant in town. Be sure to make a reservation before your trip! Hot Tip: There's a wonderful craft cocktail and tapas bar by the same owners next door, called En La Calle. If you forget to make a reservation, you can pop in here for a drink and snack while you wait for a seat at Limones.
Great for dinner or brunch. Creative food that never disappoints. Hot Tip: There's a great craft cocktail bar upstairs, owned by the same folks, called Imperial Life. Grab drinks there before or after dinner.
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Eating Asheville
18 N Lexington AveGreat for dinner or brunch. Creative food that never disappoints. Hot Tip: There's a great craft cocktail bar upstairs, owned by the same folks, called Imperial Life. Grab drinks there before or after dinner.
In the sweet neighborhood of Montford, just outside of downtown, Chiesa offers incredible Italian food in a cozy, old church.
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chiesa
152 Montford AveIn the sweet neighborhood of Montford, just outside of downtown, Chiesa offers incredible Italian food in a cozy, old church.
Asheville's original, classic tapas restaurant. They don't get as much credit as our other Spanish Tapas joint, but this place is just cozier, more romantic and delicious than that other place (who shall remain nameless).. Amazing food, drinks and atmosphere! Try the Sangria!
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Zambra
85 W Walnut StAsheville's original, classic tapas restaurant. They don't get as much credit as our other Spanish Tapas joint, but this place is just cozier, more romantic and delicious than that other place (who shall remain nameless).. Amazing food, drinks and atmosphere! Try the Sangria!
The new tapas restaurant in town. They have a few larger plates as well. Located in West Asheville. Try the deviled eggs!
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Jargon
715 Haywood RdThe new tapas restaurant in town. They have a few larger plates as well. Located in West Asheville. Try the deviled eggs!
The quintessential Farm to Table experience. You hear Pizza, and your mind goes one place, but this is something else altogether. The ingredients are carefully sourced locally, so everything is amazingly fresh. Try the bread with olive oil and ferments to start. I can't get enough of it!
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All Souls Pizza
175 Clingman AveThe quintessential Farm to Table experience. You hear Pizza, and your mind goes one place, but this is something else altogether. The ingredients are carefully sourced locally, so everything is amazingly fresh. Try the bread with olive oil and ferments to start. I can't get enough of it!
Absolutely the best (traditional) Indian food I have ever had.. anywhere! Their lunch buffet exceeds your expectations of what is possible from a buffet. It's a local favorite.
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Mela Indian Restaurant
70 N Lexington AveAbsolutely the best (traditional) Indian food I have ever had.. anywhere! Their lunch buffet exceeds your expectations of what is possible from a buffet. It's a local favorite.
Also one of the best Indian restaurants I've ever been to, but this one is all about celebrating Indian Street Food, so it's a completely different experience from our other prized Indian restaurant. You must try the kale pakoras! Even those that are afraid to eat kale will love them!
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Chai Pani Asheville
22 Battery Park AveAlso one of the best Indian restaurants I've ever been to, but this one is all about celebrating Indian Street Food, so it's a completely different experience from our other prized Indian restaurant. You must try the kale pakoras! Even those that are afraid to eat kale will love them!
Great for lunch or dinner. They've called it Asian Soul Food and that's certainly fitting. I could eat this stuff just about every day! BONUS: You can hang out at neighboring Archetype Brewing and they will bring the food to you!
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Gan Shan West
285 Haywood RdGreat for lunch or dinner. They've called it Asian Soul Food and that's certainly fitting. I could eat this stuff just about every day! BONUS: You can hang out at neighboring Archetype Brewing and they will bring the food to you!
Favorite Breweries
With so many breweries in town, I'll try to narrow it down to my top favorites.
Cozy space and some of the most creative beer in town, in my opinion.
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Twin Leaf Brewery
144 Coxe AveCozy space and some of the most creative beer in town, in my opinion.
Great beer, a lot of which is Belgian-inspired. They have a second brewery closer to downtown on Broadway Street that just recently opened.
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Archetype Brewing
265 Haywood RdGreat beer, a lot of which is Belgian-inspired. They have a second brewery closer to downtown on Broadway Street that just recently opened.
Hillman Beer
25 Sweeten Creek RdGreat beer and grub, all under one roof!
Also one of the most creative breweries that started from the most humble beginnings. I haven't checked out the new in-house food, but this place is at the top of my list for good beer!
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Burial Beer Co
40 Collier AveAlso one of the most creative breweries that started from the most humble beginnings. I haven't checked out the new in-house food, but this place is at the top of my list for good beer!
Fun space and located right outside of Biltmore Village. They also have a spot in the South Slope on Hilliard Avenue downtown, which is focused on their sour program.
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Hi-Wire Brewing - Big Top
2A Huntsman PlFun space and located right outside of Biltmore Village. They also have a spot in the South Slope on Hilliard Avenue downtown, which is focused on their sour program.
Awesome beer, on the river! There's lots of space for lawn games or to hang out by the river. Also, there's a taco truck on-site full time!
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Zillicoah Beer Co.
870 Riverside DrAwesome beer, on the river! There's lots of space for lawn games or to hang out by the river. Also, there's a taco truck on-site full time!
Ginger Beer is a great gluten free alternative to regular beer. Their flavor combinations are creative and delicious!
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Ginger's Revenge
829 Riverside DrGinger Beer is a great gluten free alternative to regular beer. Their flavor combinations are creative and delicious!
Cideries
With all the beer in town, I had to give some love to the awesome, local cider.
They have my favorite cider in town.. but I also love the bartenders and the different spaces to hang out and play games. You can often find a good food truck on-site as well.
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Noble Taproom & Cidery
356 New Leicester HwyThey have my favorite cider in town.. but I also love the bartenders and the different spaces to hang out and play games. You can often find a good food truck on-site as well.
Another great cidery that recently expanded to the South Slope too. This spot is their flagship location and it's nice and cozy, with great outdoor space.
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Urban Orchard Cider Co. - West
210 Haywood RdAnother great cidery that recently expanded to the South Slope too. This spot is their flagship location and it's nice and cozy, with great outdoor space.
Beer & Wine Shops
These are my go-to places to grab a nice bottle or 6-pack.
There is no reason to buy wine anywhere else in town. Period. You won't find better prices (even at the grocery store) and you won't find better service anywhere else in town. They always have a bottle (or a few) open, so you can try before you buy!
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Metro Wines
169 Charlotte StThere is no reason to buy wine anywhere else in town. Period. You won't find better prices (even at the grocery store) and you won't find better service anywhere else in town. They always have a bottle (or a few) open, so you can try before you buy!
They have a large, curated selection of beer, cider, mead, and even a small selection of wine. They also have a few taps, so you can relax and have a drink and take your time as you peruse the selection. That's how I like to shop!
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Botanist and Barrel Tasting Bar + Bottle Shop Asheville
32 Broadway StreetThey have a large, curated selection of beer, cider, mead, and even a small selection of wine. They also have a few taps, so you can relax and have a drink and take your time as you peruse the selection. That's how I like to shop!
Offering a wide selection of craft beer in West Asheville.
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Local 604 Bottle Shop
604 Haywood RdOffering a wide selection of craft beer in West Asheville.
Family Friendly Activities
While most of our breweries are pretty family friendly, you can't just hang out in breweries the whole time... right?
It's not just a museum! You get to PLAY some really cool, old pinball machines and some newer ones too. They also have a retro-arcade in the back, with all of the classics. They even have a TV set up where you can play the classic Nintendo or Sega Genesis.
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Asheville Music Hall
31 Patton AveIt's not just a museum! You get to PLAY some really cool, old pinball machines and some newer ones too. They also have a retro-arcade in the back, with all of the classics. They even have a TV set up where you can play the classic Nintendo or Sega Genesis.
I must admit that I haven't been here, but I have heard great things. Also, we have red pandas!!
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WNC Nature Center
75 Gashes Creek RdI must admit that I haven't been here, but I have heard great things. Also, we have red pandas!!
We have a few places in the area where you can zip line, but I really enjoyed this one.
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Navitat Canopy Adventures
242 Poverty Branch RdWe have a few places in the area where you can zip line, but I really enjoyed this one.
Kayak and tube rentals for the river. A float down the river is the perfect way to spend a hot, summer day!
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Asheville Outdoor Center
521 Amboy RdKayak and tube rentals for the river. A float down the river is the perfect way to spend a hot, summer day!
So, you pay to park and it's $14, but I swear it's worth it! They have an incredible collection of plants on display (with rotating exhibitions too), but they also have some awesome walking trails. You could spend a whole day here!
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The North Carolina Arboretum
100 Frederick Law Olmsted WaySo, you pay to park and it's $14, but I swear it's worth it! They have an incredible collection of plants on display (with rotating exhibitions too), but they also have some awesome walking trails. You could spend a whole day here!
OK, so it's an obvious one. But there's just so much space for the kiddos to run around, and to picnic, bike, hike, and SO much more. My favorite place on the estate is at the gardens. I really like the gift shop at the gardens as well.
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Biltmore
1 Lodge StOK, so it's an obvious one. But there's just so much space for the kiddos to run around, and to picnic, bike, hike, and SO much more. My favorite place on the estate is at the gardens. I really like the gift shop at the gardens as well.
What's right outside your door...
Here are a few of the gems that are a short walk down the hill in Reynolds Village.
This place seems unassuming from the outside, but it's got excellent Latin food! I could eat her every week! (And sometimes I do!)
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Chupacabra Latin Café
50 N Merrimon AveThis place seems unassuming from the outside, but it's got excellent Latin food! I could eat her every week! (And sometimes I do!)
You can get a flight of pie and relax in their super quaint cafe. You would never know from the outside that this place could be so cozy!
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Baked Pie Company - Woodfin
50 N Merrimon AveYou can get a flight of pie and relax in their super quaint cafe. You would never know from the outside that this place could be so cozy!
If you're a member of a YMCA that's within the national network of YMCA's you can work out here for free.
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Woodfin YMCA
40 N Merrimon AveIf you're a member of a YMCA that's within the national network of YMCA's you can work out here for free.
OK, so it's not technically in Reynolds Village, but it's across the street. Great BBQ and sides!
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Moe's Original BBQ - Woodfin
72 Weaverville RdOK, so it's not technically in Reynolds Village, but it's across the street. Great BBQ and sides!
Bread & Sweet Treats
I have a sweet tooth, so these places would be at the very top of my list of things to do in Asheville (out of everything there is to do here)!
The lines get kind of crazy here, but I promise, they move fast and it's worth the wait. (I need that long to decide what I want to get). Their factory on Riverside Drive has an abbreviated menu, but it's a little more laid back if you want to beat the crowds. They also have a new Cookies & Creamery in the South Slope.
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French Broad Chocolate Lounge
10 S Pack SquareThe lines get kind of crazy here, but I promise, they move fast and it's worth the wait. (I need that long to decide what I want to get). Their factory on Riverside Drive has an abbreviated menu, but it's a little more laid back if you want to beat the crowds. They also have a new Cookies & Creamery in the South Slope.
Probably the best pastries and bread in town.. Honestly, I kind of want to keep this a secret (so don't tell your friends!), because this place is so small and cozy... And I want all the baguettes to myself! They have turned me into a certifiable bread snob. (And, I'm OK with that!)
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OWL Bakery
295 Haywood RdProbably the best pastries and bread in town.. Honestly, I kind of want to keep this a secret (so don't tell your friends!), because this place is so small and cozy... And I want all the baguettes to myself! They have turned me into a certifiable bread snob. (And, I'm OK with that!)
They have a location in Biltmore Village too, but I prefer the original location in Weaverville. It's closer to the house too! If you ever wanted an eclair the size of your face, this is your place! I also love the lunch items like the kale salad and curry chicken salad. If you go for brunch, definitely try the french toast casserole!
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Well-Bred Bakery & Cafe
232 Reems Creek RdThey have a location in Biltmore Village too, but I prefer the original location in Weaverville. It's closer to the house too! If you ever wanted an eclair the size of your face, this is your place! I also love the lunch items like the kale salad and curry chicken salad. If you go for brunch, definitely try the french toast casserole!
There's a bigger shop in town that's pretty great too, but these guys are probably my favorite.
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Ultimate Ice Cream Company
195 Charlotte StThere's a bigger shop in town that's pretty great too, but these guys are probably my favorite.
They are made to order, so yes, they are the best donuts EVER! They are worth the wait!
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Hole Doughnuts
168 Haywood RdThey are made to order, so yes, they are the best donuts EVER! They are worth the wait!
Sunshine Sammies
99 S Lexington AveIce cream Sandwiches in very unique flavors.