Asheville is known as the “Paris of the South” because of its natural beauty, vibrant culture, and great art scene!

What is something else that Asheville is known for? The food! If you are looking for some great places to stop in for a bite to eat while visiting Asheville, we are here to help!

Breakfast + Brunch:

Sunny Point Cafe ($$)

Sunny Point Cafe is a family-owned + operated restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner so you can stop in any time of the day! We recommend coming in for breakfast or brunch to try their locally inspired dishes that highlight the flavors of Asheville + Western North Carolina. When you come in at breakfast time you can choose between menu options like biscuits and gravy, stuffed french toast, or one of their 4-egg omelets. They also have a variety of gluten-free + vegetarian options for you to choose from! If you have to wait a bit for your table, check out their on-site garden! They grow a variety of produce + flowers giving a whole new meaning to the term farm-to-table!

Address: 626 Haywood Rd West Asheville, NC 28806

Hours: Sun + Mon: 8:30 AM-2 PM, Tue-Sat: 8:30 AM-8:30 PM

Hole ($$)

If you are looking for a quick bite to eat before you explore Asheville, stop at Hole. At Hole, your donuts are made to order + served hot! With a small menu, you can choose between one of four different flavors + watch as they fry your donut right in front of you! Grab a cup of coffee or tea while you are there to complete your meal!

Address: 168 Haywood Rd Asheville, NC 28806

Hours: Wed-Sun: 8 AM-1 PM

Early Girl Eatery ($$)

Early Girl Eatery provides farm-to-table Southern-style comfort food with breakfast that is served all day. In a friendly + charming venue, you will be sure to enjoy your meal! Local favorites include the sweet potato scramble made with local sausage but the menu changes periodically with the seasons so there is almost always something new to try. They also have several gluten-free options on the menu including house-baked gluten-free bread + they do not use peanut oil in the kitchen + have many nut-free options, making it possible for even people with dietary restrictions to enjoy a meal at Early Girl Eatery. With a convenient location in Downtown Asheville, Early Girl Eatery is a great place to stop in before you go out for a morning of exploring! 

Address: 8 Wall St Asheville, NC 28801

Open Daily: 8 AM-8 PM

Coffee

High Five Coffee Bar ($$)

High Five is one of the most popular coffee shops in Asheville. With knowledgeable baristas, you are in good hands if you choose to stop in for a cup of coffee or tea. Their coffee has a nutty flavor + they have four house-made syrups that are sweet but don’t cover the delicious taste of their coffee. Their location is intentionally small in order to make to create an intimate environment to enjoy your drink.

Address: 13 Rankin Ave Asheville, NC 28801

Open Daily: 7 AM-6 PM

Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe ($$)

At this independently owned bookstore, the books + the vibe are enough to bring you into Malaprop’s but you are going to want to grab some coffee while you are there too! They make a variety of specialty drinks with creative names (like a Wolf In Cheap Clothing - Malaprop’s honey vanilla latte). Pick out one of their drinks and then try their blind date with a book where you try to choose a book that you are going to love without seeing the title or cover!

Address: 55 Haywood St Asheville, NC

Hours: Mon+Tues: 10 AM-5 PM, Wed-Sat: 10 AM-6 PM, Sun: 11 AM-4 PM

Lunch

White Duck Taco ($)

White Duck Taco got its name from the nickname the chef earned when she would frequently get excited in the kitchen + talk too much and would end up distracting the staff. They called her “La Pata Blanca” which translates to the White Duck. The menu at White Duck changes frequently but regardless of when you go you are going to get to choose between a bunch of unique tacos with fillings you never would have thought to put together. Don’t be scared to try something you have never had before because the carefully paired flavors are made for delicious tacos no matter what you choose.

Address: 388 Riverside Dr. Asheville, NC 28801

Open Daily: 11:30 AM-9 PM

Rocky’s Hot Chicken ($$)

If you are craving some authentic southern food around lunchtime head over to Rocky’s Hot Chicken! Don’t let the name fool you, not all of the chicken at Rocky’s Hot Chicken has to be spicy! They make all of their fried chicken to order + all of it starts out plain until you tell them how hot you want it. You can either leave it plain or choose a spice option from mild to extra hot. Rocky’s is locally owned + sources local ingredients + naturally raised chicken that they use to make recipes from scratch daily!

Address: 1455 Patton Ave, Asheville, NC 28806

Hours: Sun-Thu: 11 AM-9 PM, Fri + Sat: 11 AM-10 PM

Dinner

Cúrate ($$$)

If you always have trouble just picking one thing when you go out to eat, Cúrate is the perfect place for you to go for dinner after a busy day of exploring downtown Asheville! Cúrate is an authentic Spanish Tapas Bar which means that you choose from a variety of small plates in order to make a complete meal! Tapas are ideal for sharing so it makes a great date-night spot! Cúrate has a unique venue (they are located in an old bus depot!) + they also have a great wine + cocktail menu so you can enjoy a drink with your meal. Reservations are highly recommended but walk-ins are welcome at the Vermouth Bar.  

Address: 13 Biltmore Ave Asheville, NC 28801

Hours: Tue-Thu: 4 PM-10:30 PM, Fri-Sun: 11 AM-10:30 PM

Rhubarb ($$$)

Rhubarb strives to serve unique cuisine that reflects the beauty of the North Carolina foothills. The menu features local ingredients + southern-inspired food in a warm but rustic atmosphere. While they do have a few tables reserved for walk-ins, Reservations are highly recommended. While they aren’t a vegetarian restaurant, they do have a whole portion of the menu dedicated to vegetables that both vegetarians + omnivores are bound to enjoy!

Address: 7 SW Pack Sq Asheville, NC 28801

Hours: Sun: 10:30 AM-2 PM + 5 PM-9:30 PM, Mon-Thu: 5 PM-9:30 PM, Fri + Sat: 5 PM-10 PM

Dessert

French Broad Chocolate

Located in the Mountains of Asheville, French Broad Chocolates makes all of their own chocolate starting with cocoa beans. They crack, roast, grind, conche, and temper their beans in small batches to make sweet and delicious chocolates with rich flavors. Although French Broad doesn’t grow their own cocoa beans, they do source directly from small farmers in order to create chocolate that is both delicious + ethical! French Broad Chocolates is an Asheville favorite so don’t be surprised if you see a line out the door if you decide to visit. Don’t let the wait discourage you though because you are definitely going to want to stop in for a box!

Address: 821 Riverside Dr. Asheville, NC 28801

Open Daily: 11 AM-7 PM

Sunshine Sammies ($)

Who doesn’t love an ice cream sandwich? If it has been a while since you enjoyed this childhood classic, it is time for you to make a stop at Sunshine Sammies! They started serving ice cream sandwiches out of a solar-powered push-cart before moving towards their brick + mortar location. Don’t worry though, the push-cart is still in operation today so you might stumble upon it while you are out exploring Asheville! Their treats are handcrafted + feature natural flavors. While they are known for their ice cream sandwiches, they have plenty of other treats to choose from besides ice cream!

Address: 99 S Lexington Ave Asheville, NC 28801

Hours: Sun-Thu: 1 PM-10 PM, Fri + Sat: 1 PM-11 PM

Thirsty?

Plēb Urban Winery

Plēb is a relatively new winery in Asheville that is dedicated to promoting local agriculture! They work alongside local farmers to source the grapes for their wines + look to local artists to help decorate their location. Make a visit to their taproom to enjoy a glass of wine or sample a flight! A few of their wines are also served in cans + they offer reusable growlers if you decide you want to take some home with you.

Address: 289 Lyman St Asheville, NC 28801

Hours: Mon-Thu: 2 PM-8 PM, Fri: 12 PM-9 PM, Sat: 12 PM-9 PM, Sun: 12 PM-7 PM

Highland Brewing ($)

Highland Brewing is the oldest craft brewery in downtown Asheville so if you are a beer lover you are definitely going to want to make time to stop in for a drink. Their spacious taproom makes for a great location to enjoy a beer or two with friends! While you can’t go wrong with any of their drinks they Highland Pilsner + Gaelic Ale are some of their most popular beers and are available year-round!

Address: 12 Old Charlotte Hwy Suite 200 Asheville, NC 28803

Hours: Mon-Thu: 2 PM-9 PM, Fri + Sat: 12 PM-10 PM, Sun: 12 PM-7 PM

Asheville's cuisine scene is a dynamic blend of Southern comfort, farm-to-table practices, international flavors, and creative culinary expressions. Whether you're a food enthusiast, beer lover, or someone seeking new and exciting taste experiences, Asheville's culinary offerings are sure to leave you satisfied.

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