Things To Do
FOOD - Five Points Restaurant
Our favorite breakfast spot and solid all around diner. Also open for lunch. No outdoor seating unfortunately.
FOOD - Taqueria Muñoz
Best tacos in Asheville. They make their tortillas to order. Muñoz also has a food truck at the Zillicoah Beer Co. (870 Riverside Dr, Woodfin, NC 28804), which is much closer to our house. No outdoor seating at the Patton Avenue location.
FOOD - HomeGrown
Good food for hippies, vegans, and carnivores alike. There are one or two other locations, but this one is walking distance to our house. Outdoor seating is available.
FOOD - Cúrate
Amazing tapas and vermouth on tap. A bit pricey, but worth it. No outdoor seating last we checked.
FOOD - Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co
The Brew and View! Great pizza (HUGE slices), great beer, and a movie theater. Check online to see what movies are showing. There is also a location on the South Slope if you want to be downtown, but only the Merrimon location has the movie theater. Outdoor seating at both locations.
FOOD - Mamacita's Taqueria
Chipotle's got nothing on Mamacita's. Pro tip: they'll put fried plantains in your burrito if you ask. Right next to Wicked Weed. Limited outdoor seating, but order to go and walk to a brewery!
FOOD - Nine Mile
Funky Jamaican-themed restaurant. If you're into spicy food, this is it. There are two levels of off-menu heat. Ask for them, if you dare. Limited outdoor seating.
FOOD - Woolworth Walk
Lunch counter in the old Woolworth building downtown. The building also features tons of local art for sale. Worth checking out even if you don't want a Reuben or chili dog. No outdoor seating.
DRINK - The Omni Grove Park Inn
Have a cocktail or glass of wine outside at the Sunset Terrace for beautiful views of downtown and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
DRINK - Top of the Monk
Good cocktails and views of the mountains to the south of the city. Each drink comes with a key to a safe deposit box, which contains a secret snack. Outdoor balcony overlooking downtown.
DRINK - The Crow & Quill
It's easy to miss this speakeasy because they don't have a sign outside the door. Excellent cocktails, so do your best to find it! Limited outdoor seating.
DRINK - Little Jumbo
Our neighborhood cocktail bar in a cool old building. While they can make all the classics, you should trust their creativity and order something new off the menu. Outdoor seating available.
BEER - Catawba Brewing Company South Slope Asheville
We go here more than any other brewery. Probably because they sponsor the Asheville Rugby Football Club, but they also have great beer!
BEER - Twin Leaf Brewery
For some reason, tourists seem to overlook this gem. One of our favorites.
BEER - The Funkatorium
Hands down Jess's favorite. Best sours and barrel-aged beers outside of Belgium.
BEER - Green Man Brewery
The Green Mansion is the large brick building on the corner. The original Green Man brewery is right next door. The former has great views, the latter is a bit of a dive bar - but also keeps the original craft brewing spirit of Asheville alive.
BEER - New Belgium Brewing Company
Beautiful tap room on the French Broad River. They give free tours, but book early.
BEER - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
When Sierra Nevada built their east coast brewery, they spared no expense. It's about 20 minutes outside the city, but you won't be sorry you went. Fun fact: the brewery captures their carbon dioxide from fermentation (yeast + sugar --> ethanol + CO2) and reuses it in the facility.
FUN - LaZoom Tours
You can't visit Asheville without riding the purple school bus. BYOB. But, seriously. BYOB. Or buy it there. Whatever.
FUN - Asheville Pinball Museum
Right next to the beautiful Grove Arcade, the Pinball Museum has dozens of pinball machines and, of course, a bar. Pay the cover charge and leave your quarters at home.
FUN - The Biltmore Estate
Big ass house on a bad ass estate. Tour the house, walk the grounds, and taste the wine. The Biltmore is known for their spring gardens and impressive landscaping.
FUN - Craggy Gardens Visitor Center
There are some hiking trails near the Craggy Gardens visitor center. In fact, there are hiking trails all over the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Internets will find them for you. If you don't know what that means, ask someone younger than you.
FUN - Mt. Pisgah Trailhead, Asheville, NC
Mt. Pisgah is the most prominent peak visible from Asheville. The trailhead is accessible off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Give yourself a couple hours for the hike, roundtrip.