So many people had recommended we visit Asheville that we were concerned it might be overhyped. That was far from the case, however, as we discovered on our two visits two the city.

Whether you like craft beer, local arts, Southern cuisine, or outdoor activities, Asheville has something for you. Read on to learn about our favorite places to eat, drink, and see in this North Carolina mountain town.

Where to Eat

• Hole Doughnuts – Freshly fried doughnuts with great toppings and a small, curated menu.
• Vortex Doughnuts – Great doughnuts that are a bit more traditional, plus great coffee.
• Geraldine’s Bakery – An old school bakery serving classic doughnuts and other baked goods.
• White Duck Taco Shop – Gourmet tacos and cheap margaritas.
• Tupelo Honey Cafe – Southern food served all day, worth a visit just for the biscuits.
• Early Girl Eatery – Good Southern food, not as good as Tupelo Honey (though that may have just been the dishes we got).
• All Souls Pizza – Brick oven pizza, plus other great Italian bites.
• 12 Bones Barbeque – Old fashioned, unpretentious BBQ with all of the Southern sides.
• Buxton Hall Barbeque – Decent BBQ, a bit more hipster than 12 Bones.
• Chai Pani – An Indian street lunch restaurant, great if you need a quick bite or want a break from the Southern food.
• Biscuit Head – Huge biscuits, tasty breakfast sandwiches, and a jam bar.

Where to Drink

• Wicked Weed Brewing – A 2-level brewery with great bar bites and superb beers (we love the Pernicious IPA).
• Burial Beer Co. – A funky brewery built into a rambling old building with a constantly rotating selection of beers.
• New Belgium Brewery – Though their beer isn’t as “craft” as many of the other breweries in Asheville, their gorgeous facility on the river is still worth a visit.
• Sierra Nevada Brewery – They’re an old name in the craft beer industry, but their Asheville facility has some interesting, experimental brews on tap.
• The Funkatorium – Wicked Weed’s sour beer-only facility. They have great charcuterie to pair with your beer.
• One World Brewing – A decent brewery with live music.

Asheville Activities

• Lexington Glassworks – Our friends own this glass gallery, studio, and bar.
• The Biltmore – A humongous estate with gardens, wineries, restaurants, mansion, and much more. The tickets are expensive, but it’s worth seeing if you like historic homes.
• River Arts District – Located to the west of downtown Asheville, this area of town has lots of galleries, plus a pinball museum.
• The Blue Ridge Parkway – A scenic drive with many hikes and other outdoor activities along the way.
• Explore Asheville Website – A great resource for learning about all of the different activities available in Asheville.

Destination Map

Want to see all of our favorite Asheville destinations on a map that you can access from your phone? We’ve pinned each location mentioned in this guide on the Google Map below:

Final Thoughts

Asheville is a wonderful spot for a long weekend trip, and we’d gladly return any time. We hope this guide has inspired you to take the Asheville trip you’ve been dreaming of, and we’re excited to see what you discover!

If you’re traveling to Asheville, we HIGHLY recommend getting travel insurance. We’ve used World Nomads since 2013 and love it. Click here to get World Nomads travel insurance – don’t leave home without it!

Prefer listening to reading? Check out the accompanying podcast episode.