In a country as big and as populated as the USA, it’s easy for cities to become a perfectly planned replica of each other, forcing you, as a traveler, to dig deep to uncover its unique story. That’s not Asheville!
Asheville, North Carolina is not afraid to show its personality. It shines brightly from the surrounding mountains to the bustling, vibrant streets of the valley.
In this post, we’re sharing the Top Things to Do In Downtown AshevilleNot the surrounding areas. We’ll have future posts on things to do in the Asheville region.
We spent two nights in Downtown Asheville and were so happy to do nothing else but explore the wonder of it’s core streets. (We still have so much to do in Asheville.
Why we love Unique Downtown Asheville
Downtown Asheville felt as if I had stepped into another dimension. Sometimes I felt I was in Newtown, Australia. Other times, I was in San Francisco. In a flash, I was transported to London or Dublin.
You can’t not love a city that reflects your values. The cultural diversity of the planetYou bring to the surface some of your most treasured travel memories. It wraps your body in comfort, assurance and joy, giving you the sense that everything is okay.
It’s now one of my favorite outdoor adventure towns in the USA and, at only four hours’ drive from Raleigh, I can’t wait to keep returning.
It was a great sign that our daughters also liked it, especially when we have a teenager in the family.
About Downtown Asheville
Asheville is the commercial center of Western North Carolina. It is surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, Pisgah National Forest, and Asheville.
Downtown Asheville is known for its bohemian vibe and variety of shops, restaurants, cafes and art galleries.
Asheville has no expectations for you to be anything other than what you are. You. You will feel part of the community if you have a laid-back attitude and a love for life.
After spending 6 nights in Boone, a mountain cabin, we returned to Asheville over the Thanksgiving weekend. It was bustling with activity on Saturday but it settled down to quieter streets by Sunday.
What I love about Asheville is that it’s a destination focused on LOCAL. You won’t find a chain anywhere.
Even better is that Asheville’s local theme is focused on health, wellness, connection to Mother Earth, farm to table, and outdoor adventure.
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Cool coffee shop in Downtown Asheville North Carolina -
This makes it truly unique. Many of the experiences below I have not seen anywhere before, and that’s why I’ll continue to talk about this city long after I’ve gone. I’ll just stop talking now and show you.
Battery Park Book Exchange + Champagne Bar
What new world am I about to walk into?’ is the general thrill that comes with picking up a new book.
The Battery Park Book Exchange + Champagne Bar is where the thrill lies: walking through the front door into a new realm: Champagne tasting in a bookstore!
It’s a speakeasy vibe with a dusting of French sophistication.
Black curtains cover the windows. The corner of the room has live bluegrass playing. There are many books around you to peruse while you enjoy a glass of champagne.
Although tasting flights are common in this area, be aware of the high price tag. We opted for a sparkling wine cocktail and Syrah instead paired with a charceturie board with local goat’s cheese.
River Arts District
It took me some time to get used to The River Arts District. I’m not sure why. I guess we’re not typically art museum type of people.
This goes beyond the museum’s dull, sterile halls. This is a living space that encourages interaction, sparks curiosity and inspires creativity.
The River Arts District in Downtown Asheville is home to everything creative, including coffee, urban wine, restaurants, and skate parks.
Art in all its forms and media is everywhere. Murals decorate the bars and backsplashes, and graffiti wraps around the warehouses and brick buildings that have been revitalized.
It is not just a few buildings that celebrate local artisans and a vibrant spirit of the community, but blocks. They run alongside the French Broad River.
The district is divided into hubs, each taking up a block. Each hub is identified with a color. This color is shown on the map and signs for each area. Within each hub, you’ll find studios, galleries, places to eat and drink, and live music venues.
We’ll have a full post on the River Arts District with more information soon. Subscribe now so you don’t miss our helpful guide on one of the best things to do in Asheville.
Here are a few of the favorites we like:
- NC Glass Center – take a glass blowing class if you have time
- Blue Foundry St was my favorite district with its wild graffiti art and skate park.
- Plebb Urban Winery – fantastic space for wine tasting. All made on-site.
- Summit Coffee – definitely the best coffee in Asheville (we tasted quite a few)
- Wedge Brewery – we did not stop for a drink here, but it looks cool. Craig liked the industrial feel of their location in (the red section). They also have one available in the blue.
- 12 Bones Smokehouse – So good Obama went back twice for some Carolina BBQ
This is great news. The district was loved by our children, including Kalyra, a teen. If a place grabs the attention of your teenager, you know it is good.
Downtown Asheville: Shopping
We’re not really shopping people, especially on famous streets like Saks Fifth Avenue that doesn’t have much of a grounded, relatable spirit.
Asheville is filled with independent shops, a strong mountain energy, and a spirit that revolves around entertainment and good food, I found myself happily wandering the streets for hours. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of downtown Asheville’s shopping scene had to provide.
There are many main streets in Asheville, with interesting stores every few steps. There are many. 200+ boutiques and shops locally owned.
It’s a Very walkable downtownThere are three main streets: Patton Avenue, Wall St. Battery Park Ave. Lexington, Broadway, Biltmore.
One of my favorite things about Downtown Asheville was the diversity of street vibes. One of my favourites was Lexington AvenueWhere yuppy hip meets punk grunge in an approach that works.
These are just a few of my favorite stores. (I didn’t get to see all of them, so please leave your suggestions in the comments for my next Asheville trip).
Essential Tree Elements
Essential Tree Elements was my favorite Asheville shop.
I could have spent hours here and bought every item. Instead, I opted for their signature hand lotion candles and a creativity spell jar for Savannah’s Christmas present.
Asheville Bee Charmer
Do you love bees! You can get your buzz on to the Asheville Bee Charmer store (two locations downtown).
They collaborate with beekeepers around the world to produce a variety of delicious, pure honey.
The honey tasting bar is located down the back. Here Bee-ristas will take you on a sweet and spicy taste adventure around the globe, from local sourwood honeys to firecracker hots. Your tastebuds are sure to be buzzing Beelicious!
Did you know that it’s best to purchase local honey?It supports the local economy as well as your body. The honey made from bees is local pollinators. It can help your body adapt to the natural environment, build immunity and alleviate seasonal allergies.
Earth Magick
I loved the feeling of walking through the Lexington Street door to find a room filled with crystals, mandala tapestries and tarot cards.
Earth Magick is a sacred space that supports local artisans by selling their handcrafted tools and empowerment pieces.
It’s truly Magickal.
Asheville Emporium
You may be tempted to avoid souvenir shops out of fear of getting into tacky-ville. But the Asheville Emporium sells a surprising amount of local gifts. They also have a section where they can print their own Tshirts. That is really cool.
The Grove Arcade
The Grove Arcade is located in an elegant historical building and is Downtown Asheville’s most popular mall for shopping and eating out. You’ll find a variety of retail stores, eateries, our fave champagne bar mentioned above, and a daily artists market for local crafters.
Asheville Chocolate & French Broad Chocolate Lounge
Swoon chocolate lovers Asheville is home to delicious, handcrafted chocolate.
The following chocolate shops are worth a look:
- Asheville Chocolate: Gelato and truffles made in small batches are available in-store. You can even watch them make it as you wait!
- The Chocolate Fetish: Since 1986 they have delighted Asheville with their award-winning truffles and European-style chocolates.
- French Broad Chocolate Lounge is a popular cafe that serves organic, artisanal and tasty pastries, as well as their signature sipping chocolates. The factory is located north of Asheville and offers tours of the bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturing process
DOWNTOWN TRAVELS:
1. Discover Downtown Asheville’s noteworthy landmarks and architectural gems on this 2.5-hour guided tour of Asheville by electric bike, including downtown and greenways. You can learn more here and there is also a 3-hour option.
2. A guided walking tour with a local guide focused on the city’s history, architecture, and culture. Learn more.
Participate in an Art Class
The girls had participated in an art class on a previous visit. This class is a great way of getting to know Asheville and its culture.
There are many places to take art classes in Downtown Asheville. Hummingbird Candle Co offers candle making classes. The FiredUp Lounge offers pottery or painting classes.
Visit the Asheville Museum of Science
On Patton Street in Downtown Asheville, you’ll find the Asheville Museum of Science, a popular Asheville attraction with kids.
The girls loved exploring the cool crystals and feeling the power of a storm in the Hurricane Simulator.
Small enough to not bore the parents, and big enough to entertain the kids, the Asheville Science Museum is a good place to spend an hour or so – it’s more suited to the younger children!
Best Coffee in Asheville
So, our coffee tasting experiences weren’t as mind-blowing as we’d expected (as Aussies, we are coffee snobs). We had two excellent cups of coffee up until the end, when we finally gave up. (We didn’t have the chance to sample all of the Asheville coffee shops but we gave it a try. We’d love to hear about your favorite coffee shops in the comments.
Summit Coffee Co
Ah, a cup of real coffee. I sipped every drop until the last, and it was a delicious cup of coffee that filled me with love and warmth. Summit Coffee Co is your favorite coffee spot in Asheville. Coffee that is responsibly sourced and roasted in small batches at their organic certified facility can be trusted.
We visited the funky River Arts District location. They also have a Grove Arcade location.
High Five Coffee
Your first sip of Counter Culture roasted coffee will tell you that High Five Coffee’s barista’s have to pass tests before serving you up your favorite brew.
We are so thankful that we discovered High Five Coffee before leaving Asheville. You’ll find three locations in Asheville.
Downtown Asheville: Breweries and bars
It seems like there are more Asheville beers than Dublin pubs. Every couple of feet you’ll discover another one dedicated to showcasing the flavors of the Appalachian region.
The good news? Many of them can be used with families.. More good news – they have a lot of ciderie’s as well for those gluten free drinkers. We didn’t visit as many on this trip but have previously.
South Slope is a revitalized hip warehouse district and is where you’ll find many of the downtown Asheville breweries as well as a growing number of restaurants and shops. It’s easy to do brewery crawls here!
Asheville Brewing
Asheville Brewing offers a covered outdoor area and delicious pizzas. It’s a great place to stop by, especially if you are traveling with children. The gluten free pizza here was probably the best we’ve had.
Burial Brewing
Burial Beer, a North Carolina brewing legend, is a must-see on any Asheville brewery tour. We love the Raleigh location – especially their very cool Point Break mural. They also have one featuring Sloth the Goonies.
Look at the Sloth mural in their Asheville store. You’ll find a great outdoor space with heaters and a cool kombi van to sit in.
Hire-Wire Beer
Hire-Wire Brewing is another well-known Asheville brewery. They now have locations in Durham, Knoxville, and other areas. They love to brew traditional styles of beer, and they also enjoy making beer they like to drink!
Green Man Brewery
Green Man is located just outside of downtown Asheville and offers a great selection of beers in a cool, relaxed atmosphere.
Catawba Brewery
Catawba Brewery is the perfect brewery for sports lovers with its wide open, inside area and big screens. There is also an outside beer garden where food trucks can be found.
BREWERY TOURS
1. This brewery tour takes you to Asheville’s craft breweries, giving you behind-the scenes access and plenty of pours. Click here to find out more.
2. Cycle (on an e-bike) to five of Asheville’s most popular microbreweries, enjoying a drink (or two) at each location. Click here to find out more.
The Crow & Quill Speakeasy Bar
We walked through the non-descript green door of the Crow & Quill with the light above it of what looked like an abandoned building. The door creaked open and we were greeted with a bartender who was modern and gothic-looking.
I felt as if I was in the shadowy underworld Ketterdam from Shadow and Bone.
The dimly lit room was filled antique furniture, art on walls, and an extensive array of whiskeys from around world as well as other spirits such rums, mezcals or gins (700). They are well-known for their ability to make a good cocktail. Craft cocktails expertly made. You must provide proof of vaccination. The Crow and Quill is an Asheville Speakeasy Bar.
Jack of the Wood
We saw the Irish band playing in the corner as we walked past Jack of the Wood’s windows. We knew this was the place we wanted to return to. Anything to give us a taste of Dublin – our once home for a year that we miss so much!
We returned the next night on a Sunday, when the amps were off and the city was almost empty! We sat down at the bar and enjoyed a beer. No Guinness for me as I’m avoiding gluten – but let’s face it, no bar in the world can quite do Guinness like they do in Dublin.
We did enjoy a local craft beer, however. Urban Orchard Cidery makes a delicious ciderIt was just like Thanksgiving. There was also a chat with the bartender.
Downtown Asheville: Where to Eat
The Rhu
As with the delicious meal I had at The Local in Boone NC days prior, I wanted to eat my gluten-free biscuit in complete silence so I could enjoy the delicious flavors.
I was last able to enjoy a delicious biscuit from Honest Biscuits in Seattle’s Pike Place Market (which was founded by an old Raleigh acquaintance).
The Rhu is a master at making fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth biscuits. You can also find pastries, bagels, chocolate croissants and sandwiches at the bakery, pantry, and cafe.
Early Girl Eating
Early Girl Eatery was our first stop for brunch. This is the Asheville farm-to-table experience you’d expect from the area with meals made from scratch and ingredients sourced from the highest quality in the region.
You’ll find breakfast bowls, omelets, biscuits, and southern breakfasts. You’ll also find many GF options!
The crisp-fried Heirloom Grit Cake Stack is a must-try, piled with mushrooms and red pepper, squash, and topped with a southern tomato sauce. Kalyra enjoyed a spicy Chicken Sandwich.
Excellent service.Our order was not received in time and our food was delayed because it was lost in the kitchen. We understand this happens and so weren’t bothered by it. However, it wasn’t up-to-standard for Early Girl so they declined our check. (They also didn’t know who they were. Secret shopping is a way we do things. I was impressed by the customer care.
The Med
Are you looking for breakfast downtown Asheville locals love to eat? You can sit at the counter and watch the cooks meticulously handle the endless lines of customers who have waited for their turn at the iconic Asheville Diner. And it was quiet!
Their teamwork and friendly nature was a joy to watch. I was able to see plates upon plates of omelets and French toast, as well as pancakes, French toast, French Toast, French Toast, and homemade hash browns. There are also fancy grits and bowls.
My breakfast hash bowl tasted delicious: potatoes, sausage, parmesan, peppers and onions, tomatoes, and overeasy eggs.
The Med is open for lunch as well. But keep in mind it’s one of the most popular downtown Asheville restaurants.
Chai Pani
Chai Pani has the best fusion of delicious food and great service. Indian Street foodIt has been praised from Fox News to Washington Post!
The vibrantly colored murals and walls are the perfect complement to the vibrant flavors of the dishes, including street burgers, uttapam, and street burgers.
I’m not an Indian street food expert, but I have taste buds enough to say its worthy of the accolades. My gluten-free version of the sloppyjai was delicious.
Suwana’s Thai Orchid
We can identify a dish as authentic Thai Thai because we lived in Bangkok for six month. Even the simple décor and restaurant space at Suwana’s Thai Orchid made me feel like I was back in Thailand.
You’ll find all your Thai favorites on the menu: noodle dishes, rice bowls, classic stir fries and curries, spring rolls, dumplings, and my favorite, mango sticky rice.
Hotel Indigo Asheville Downtown
If you’re looking for hotels in downtown Asheville, Hotel Indigo Downtown Asheville is where location meets gorgeous mountain views
Hotel Indigo is Within walking distanceYou will find all the Downtown Asheville shops, restaurants, music venues, and experiences. The popular South Slope is home to trendy breweries, local vibes, and more.
We love accommodation options that offer a variety of services. Tell the story of the region we are visiting, and this boutique Asheville hotel does that with its ideal location, engaging service (with insider tips), and local flavors in both art and food.
Read more in our Hotel Indigo Downtown Asheville Review.
Places to See Near Asheville
You can find inspiration and things you can do in Asheville by looking at the following posts.
Do you have questions or suggestions for Downtown Asheville’s best attractions? Leave a comment below
Source: Breaking Travel News
