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Plan Your Trip to Asheville: Best of Asheville Tourism

About Asheville
If you’re into eating locally and supporting sustainable agriculture, go to Ashville—and eat, eat, eat. This town of less than 100,000 people has 17 farmers’ markets, and the local restaurant scene is all about taking advantage of the seasonal produce sold there. And don’t miss the area’s microbreweries.

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Essential Asheville

A food crawl in Asheville

A booming craft brewery scene and an all-star restaurant lineup make Asheville a hotspot for food lovers. Even as someone who lives two hours away in Winston-Salem, it's easy for me to zip up the mountain to this boho town. But if you ask me to pick the number one restaurant? Impossible. Instead, here are eight favourites where I often return for mouthwatering meals, warm hospitality, and the eclectic vibe that Asheville is known for.
Nikki Miller-Ka, Winston Salem, NC
  • Red Ginger DimSum & Tapas
    680
    A wave of bamboo steamers on the statement wall nods to the fantastic dim sum served at this popular downtown restaurant. Every time I walk in, I find myself diving into classic Cantonese dishes such as Shanghai soup dumplings, shu mai, and stir-fried string beans (add shrimp for a boost of umami).
  • Tastee Diner
    101
    I always feel trendy snagging a table at this beloved greasy spoon in West Asheville. Revamped and reopened in 2022, Tastee applies high-brow techniques to traditional diner dishes. Picture this: Extra thick-cut smoked bologna sandwiches served on griddled honey buns or belly-busting cheesesteaks served with a 40-ounce King Cobra.
  • Sunny Point Cafe
    2,884
    What this West Asheville brunch spot lacks in size, it makes up for with its big, bold, veggie-forward dishes. Be prepared for a lengthy wait, as bookings are not an option. My go-to is the breakfast sandwich, which is such a large portion, you’ll need a fork and knife to eat it. The toasted croissant is piled high with roasted tomatoes, pepper-crusted bacon, an omelet, and chipotle aioli.
  • Leo's House of Thirst
    0 reviews
    The intimacy of this local watering hole is why it's my favourite place to pregame with friends before dinner downtown. Leo’s is cosy inside—but when the weather is nice, I always sit out on the dog-friendly patio beneath the trees. The menu changes seasonally, if not monthly, with a focus on hyperlocal produce. Tip: Try the weekend-only prix-fixe lunch (the pasta special is always a winner, as is the chicken liver mousse with blackberry jam).
  • RosaBees
    36
    Inspired by a trip to Hawaii, owner and pastry chef Melissa Grey brought aloha spirit home to the River Arts District in 2019. Fill up on savory dishes like Loco Moco topped with a fried egg and mushroom gravy; teriyaki-glazed Spam musubi (a tofu version is available too); and okonomiyaki drizzled with kewpie mayo. Don’t forget to save room for dessert. The Island Hopper trio—cake, pie and butter mochi—is the shining star.
  • Hole Doughnuts
    339
    You can’t miss the baby blue vintage ice cream truck parked outside. The shop itself is equally charming with a mountain cabin aesthetic (think: rustic exposed wood). I have a sweet tooth, so I love the hand-rolled, dipped, glazed, and fried doughnuts, made in the open kitchen. The menu features three core flavour varieties (vanilla, toasted almond sesame, and cinnamon sugar) and a rotating weekly flavour.
  • Chai Pani
    1,138
    Riding high from a recent James Beard Award, this newly minted Asheville institution is now on a national stage. Indian street food is at the heart of the small plates. Order the sloppy jai (a play on the finger-licking sandwich), okra matchstick fries, and rose water-soaked gulab jamun for dessert. Don’t be deterred by the long line snaking down the sidewalk. It’s worth the wait.
  • La Bodega By Cúrate
    38
    Want a quick trip to Spain? La Bodega makes you feel like you’re strolling down Barcelona’s La Rambla and perusing the produce at La Boqueria. As it’s part market part wine bar, you can browse the shelves for imported and Curate-branded products. The croissant bikini bocadillo is irresistible: Serrano ham, sherry mushrooms, caramelized onions, manchego cheese, and a Spanish omelette layered on a toasty, flaky croissant.

Asheville Is Great For

Pulsating arts community