Asheville is the perfect destination for any food, beer, or nature lover. You know how some cities have a Starbucks on every corner? Asheville is like that, except with craft breweries instead of Starbucks. Pair those drinking options with the amazing hikes, and you’re bound to have an unforgettable visit.
Huevos Rancheros at Sunny Point Cafe
Where to Eat
While you may go to Asheville for the breweries and the outdoors, you don’t want to overlook the incredible dining options the town has to offer. Brunch, in particular, is the highlight. Below are some of our favorite restaurant options in Asheville.
Sunny Point Cafe: This famous brunch spot has been featured on Good Morning America for its incredible huevos rancheros. You also can’t go wrong with the biscuits, which are some of the best we’ve had. The only downside here is that great acclaim leads to great crowds, so expect a wait. Arriving on the early side (close to 9am) should help you get a table quickly.
Biscuit Head: This counter-service brunch spot is delicious. In the back of the restaurant are dozens of homemade jams and sauces for you to try with your biscuits, so be sure to take advantage. Our favorite dish here is absolutely the Fried Green Tomato Biscuit. Once again, expect a wait unless you arrive early.
Rhubarb: The award-winning chef at this restaurant offers a number of delicious small plates that are great for sharing. Try to not fill up on the Goat Cheese Burrata, though, because the desserts are the highlights of this meal, especially the underrated seasonal ice cream trio.
Cúrate: This Spanish-style tapas restaurant is our favorite dinner spot in Asheville. The place is always packed, so either make a reservation or stop by early in the evening to put your name on the list. You can always kill time at one of the nearby breweries. Once you’re seated and picking your plates, don’t pass on the Jamón Ibérico de Bellota, which is absolutely fantastic.
Where to Drink – Breweries!
Without further ado, the moment we’ve all been waiting for. Bring your wallet and your tolerance to try as many of the breweries as you can while in Asheville. Here are some of our favorites.
New Belgium Brewing: Even though New Belgium is a bit outside the heart of Asheville, it is not to be missed. The brewery offers free tours that include 3 or 4 beers, and it was honestly one of the most interesting brewery tours we’ve done too. You just need to make a reservation in advance.
Sierra Nevada Brewing: Okay, so this brewery is more than just a bit outside the heart of Asheville. But, it is right next to the airport, so it is a great way to start or end your trip if you’re flying into town. Sierra Nevada offers a number of tours, including a self-guided option that lets visitors observe the different stages of the brewing and bottling processes as well as learn about some of the brewery’s history. The tap room is also worth a visit, as there are a number of beers to try and games to play.
Wicked Weed Brewing / Funkatorium: This brewery is the king or queen of sour beers. One thing to note is that Wicked Weed is split into two buildings: one larger location that offers the majority of the brewery’s beers along with a full food menu, and one smaller location that offers more experimental brews and a smaller food menu. Both are well worth a visit, but if you have to choose only one, we recommend going with your preferred taste. The Funkatorium will have more sours and interesting beers, and the main brewery will have a wider variety and some more traditional beers.
Bhramari Brewing: This brewery competes with the Funkatorium for the funkiest beers in Asheville. Bhramari is smaller and not as well known, but its beers are great. They also have a full food menu, including probably the best cheese fries in Asheville. The brewery is also great for groups with its large picnic-style tables and interesting selection of board games.
Catawba Brewing: Out of all the breweries in Asheville, this is the one we chose for a couple take-home six packs. The White Zombie and Twisp Seltzer are just two of the great options here. This brewery also has a large, open, well-lit space that is great for bigger groups and indoor day drinking.
Catawba Falls
What to Do
We know it’s a long shot, but if you get tired of eating and drinking, there are still plenty of things to do in and around Asheville.
Hiking: Admittedly, we have only done one hike in Asheville so far because of bad luck with weather and because we tend to eat or drink too much whenever we visit. It was a great hike, though, and we know from friends that there are many more like it. We chose to do the Catawba Falls hike because it is only ~30 minutes from the city, relatively short, and absolutely gorgeous. The view you get of the waterfall is incredible, and you’re bound to meet plenty of dogs along the trip.
Christmas at the Biltmore
The Biltmore Estate: This historic building is actually America’s largest home, which was built by George Vanderbilt. Needless to say, the grounds are incredibly impressive. Tours – while expensive – offer visitors a glimpse of this lavish lifestyle, and they especially stand out around the holidays when the entire estate is covered in festive decorations. The Biltmore winery is also worth a visit if you need a break from beer, and access is included in the cost of admission.
Where to Stay
We have been to Asheville three times now, and we stayed in a different location for each visit. All of the below are great options. Note that we are partial towards Marriott properties that allow us to book rooms with points.
Aloft Asheville Downtown: This hotel has a great central location and is perfect if you plan to spend your time at the breweries and restaurants downtown.
Four Points by Sheraton Asheville Downtown: This hotel is not quite as central as the Aloft, but it is still within walking distance of the city center. It also offers a slightly cheaper option if you’re traveling on a budget.
West Asheville: We booked an Airbnb with some friends for our most recent trip to Asheville, and we stayed in the West Asheville neighborhood. It is a bit more residential, but you will have easy access to some of the best restaurants in the city (Sunny Point Cafe and Biscuit Head), and you will likely save quite a bit on accommodations.