Things To Do
Restaurants: Cúrate
One of the best restaurants in Asheville. Spanish Tapas and wine. Reservations can be hard to get, so make sure you book in advance!
Restaurants: Chai Pani
This is an excellent restaurant specializing in Indian Street food. It won the James Beard 2022 Outstanding Restaurant Award, and doesn't take reservations. We highly recommend going, but be ready to wait in a line. It's right across the street from the Cambria rooftop bar, so we like to grab a drink and look at the blue ridge mountains while we wait for our seat.
Restaurants: Dilbar
If you don't want to wait in line at Chai Pani for awesome Indian street food, this is a great alternative. Mark actually likes this option more (portions are bigger, kitchen is appropriately chaotic). We'd recommend the Keema Dosa (lamb dosa) or the chicken frankie. Go hungry.
Restaurants: Modesto (for lunch)
Great lunch spot right across the street from the Cambria. We love the "sandwiches"....which are sneakily not actually sandwiches. You'll have to try them if you want to find out. I'd recommend trying for lunch because the menu is much more down to earth in the afternoon.
Restaurants: Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse
Great restaurant right at the end of downtown Asheville. It's a unique fusion of Japanese + Southern Soul Food. It may sound strange, but it is SO GOOD!
Restaurants: Itto Ramen Bar & Tapas
Great Ramen! One of our regular stops on colder afternoons.
Bars / Restaurants: The Omni Grove Park Inn
This hotel is a quick drive from downtown. It has amazing views and a few bars and restaurants on site. It's a great way to spend a couple hours and enjoy views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, drink in hand!
Bars / Restaurants: Hemingway's
We love this rooftop bar! It's in the Cambria hotel, where many of our guests are staying.
Bars: Off The Wagon Dueling Piano Bar
Bring your best singing voice and some spare cash. This dueling piano bar is an absolute riot and open til 2am.
Bars: Ben's Tune Up
This is probably our favorite bar in Asheville. It's an old converted auto shop, with house made sake, Japanese fusion food, and an outdoor "beer garden" in back. If you're looking for something nice and polished, look elsewhere.
Bars: Antidote at Chemist Spirits
Great bar / distillery right next to Funkatorium
Breweries: Green Man Brewery
Try the Trickster IPA if they have it.
Breweries: Dirty Jack’s
This is actually Green Man’s original (and Asheville's first) taproom. They also brew specialty and taproom exclusive beer. The bar is laid into the brewery so you can enjoy a pint while observing the legendary Green Man brewers in action. Also right across the street from Urban Orchard
Breweries: One World Brewing
Downtown location for One World Brewing. Go down the alley, through the door on the right, then down a bunch of stairs.
Breweries: Wicked Weed Brewing Pub
This brewery is on a main street downtown, and can have a line out the door during peak tourist season. The upstairs is nice, especially if you wear polos and khakis on the weekend. Personally, I prefer the basement...
Breweries: The Funkatorium
This is affiliated with Wicked Weed, except they specialize in sours. It's on the same street as our welcome party, and right next to some great new food / drinking spots.
Breweries: Burial Beer Co. Asheville Taproom
This is a smaller brewery with a great beer lineup. Worth a stop if you're checking out the local beer scene.
Breweries: White Labs Brewing Co - Asheville Kitchen & Tap
This is a little off the beaten path in downtown Asheville. It's technically a yeast factory that supplies other breweries and homebrewers all over the US. They use their yeast to make some killer in-house beers and pizza. It's right across the street from the Airbnb we stayed in our first 5 months living in Asheville. I haven't found a better pizza in Asheville.... yet...
Culture: Biltmore Estate
Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C. George Vanderbilt's 250-room castle is America's Largest Home and a top attraction in Asheville. If you go, expect to be there at least 4 hours. We recommend the audio tour of the house, and save time for a wine tasting after!
Group Chaos: Breakout Games - Asheville
Love solving difficult puzzles under stressful conditions in a dark room with your friends and family? Look no further! The escape puzzles take 1 hour...so far Robia and I are 0/2. There's a cocktail bar right next door if you want to up the stakes.
Hiking
For those of you looking to get your fix of nature, check out the website link below for a great list of trails near Asheville. Reach out to Mark or Robia if you need help picking one!
Music: The One Stop at Asheville Music Hall
Great indoor venue for local artists. The vibe is Grateful Dead meets grunge. It's in the basement of Asheville Music Hall. It's a smaller space where people dance in Birkenstocks and vintage T-shirts. Leave your pleated khakis at home!
Music: Asheville Guitar Bar
This is a quick drive from downtown, right in the River Arts District. This is by far my favorite music venue in Asheville. It's a small space with a lot of personality. The venue is run by some very talented local musicians who play mostly classic rock and blues. There's also a kick ass Cuban food truck outside if you need a snack
Music: Asheville Music Hall
Indoor venue. I'll update this with the weekend's artist lineup when available
Music: The Orange Peel
Indoor venue that hosts local bands and big names! Thursday night has an "I Love Space” dance party. I'm not sure what that means but it sounds fun.