Why Visit Asheville, North Carolina?
Asheville, North Carolina has been on my radar for years, and after four nights here, I completely understand why it keeps showing up on every “best travel destination” list. Tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains, this city is a rare mix of world-class dining, breathtaking outdoor adventures, thriving arts, and one of the most magnificent historic estates in America. Whether you’re a hiker, a foodie, a wine and beer lover, or an art enthusiast, Asheville delivers.
Where to Stay in Asheville, NC
The Restoration Asheville
My husband and I stayed at The Restoration Asheville, which is a boutique hotel right in the heart of downtown, and it was the perfect home base for the trip. The property has an elevated design, a rooftop bar, and a location that makes it easy to walk to restaurants, boutiques, and nightlife.
Why we chose this hotel:
We chose The Restoration Asheville for a variety of reasons:
- It’s a super convenient location downtown, so restaurants, museums and other activities are all walkable. Plus, it has valet parking (really good valet parking btw) that adds to the convenience.
- It’s a 4-star hotel with luxury amenities and beautiful design. Since this was a special occasion trip for our one-year elopement day anniversary, this was something we had budgeted for.
- It has great reviews. I really care about having a nice experience on my vacations – travel is not my full-time job, so I have to make the most of it when I do go OOO. Staying in a well-reviewed, highly-regarded hotel contributes to a successful vacation.
In addition to beautiful hotel rooms, this hotel also has a restaurant next to the main lobby, a bar with games in the basement level, and a rooftop bar overlooking the city. The rooftop bar was fully booked with weddings while we were there (and I can understand why, it’s a beautiful venue), so we didn’t get to see it. We also had other dinner plans during our visit, so we didn’t eat at The Draftsman or The Watch Kitchen & Spirits, but they are definitely convenient options if you’re looking for a place to eat during your stay.
Other Asheville Hotel Options
Asheville has a strong lineup of places to stay across different styles and price points:
- Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins — for a more rustic, nature-immersed experience
- The Foundry Hotel — a Hilton property with historic character
- The Inn on Biltmore Estate — staying on the estate itself is a bucket-list experience
- The Flat Iron Hotel — a Marriott Design Hotel with a stylish downtown presence
- Kimpton Hotel Arras — a well-located boutique option downtown
- The Grand Bohemian — a Marriott Autograph Collection property with an arts-forward, mountain lodge aesthetic
Things to Do in Asheville, NC
A Full Day at The Biltmore
One of our four days was dedicated almost entirely to The Biltmore, which honestly does take at least a full day to explore. America’s largest private home, built by George Vanderbilt in the late 1800s, sits on 8,000 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains and is nothing short of extraordinary. We spent the day exploring the estate and I’d strongly encourage booking tickets in advance. The property offers an incredible range of activities, from birding and falconry to horseback riding, acres upon acres of gardens, and wine tastings at the Biltmore Winery.
Speaking of the winery — you get a complimentary wine tasting with your ticket and you get to choose which wines you want to try. There was a bottle of red we really liked, so after our tasting, we went over to the wine shop and gift store to pick some up to take home with us. We also stopped by the wine bar and had a glass with an appetizer and relaxed for an hour.
Before leaving the estate, we made our way to The Library Lounge for another round of appetizers and drinks in a very atmospheric setting. The Library Lounge is in The Inn at Biltmore Estate, but you can also go there with your ticket. It overlooks the mountains and the service is excellent.
If you want to take the dining experience further, The Dining Room at the Biltmore is the estate’s most formal restaurant. It’s great for a true special-occasion meal, and there is a dress code.
Hiking in Asheville, NC
We laced up our hiking boots and headed into Pisgah National Forest, which is part of the larger Appalachian mountain landscape surrounding Asheville. The forest is lush, green, and wild with waterfalls, ridge views, and lots of wildlife. We also hiked near the Blue Ridge Parkway for some epic views. We saw 6 black bears that day! The best sighting was a momma bear with her three little cubs.
We did a couple shorter hikes this trip, but you could easily spend a full week just hiking in Asheville. Be sure to download the AllTrails App before you go – phone service can be spotty. The two hikes we did were:
- Catawba Falls River & Ridge Loop: This is rated Moderate due to its steepness in some parts. It has many stunning waterfalls for photo opps! When we were there, it had rained 3-inches a couple days before, so the waterfalls were epic.
- Craggy Pinnacle Trail: This is rated Moderate on AllTrails, but I would consider it to be Easy because it’s short and really only a little bit steep in some parts. The views of the mountains from the pinnacle are stunning!
The River Arts District
The River Arts District was one of my favorite surprises of the trip. Spanning along the French Broad River, it’s a former industrial corridor that’s been transformed into a thriving creative neighborhood. Studios, galleries, breweries, and restaurants fill the old warehouse buildings, and you can wander in and out of working artists’ spaces. It’s casual, creative, and very Asheville.
We spent an hour or so just strolling through the galleries. We chatted with some of the artists and learned about their work. One artist told us a bit about the recovery efforts after the devastating flooding from Hurricane Helene. The gallery is fully operational now, but the flood left its mark on more than just the hiking trails and the scars on some of the mountain sides.
Downtown Exploration & Shopping
Asheville’s downtown is wonderfully walkable and packed with independently-owned boutiques, bookshops, and specialty stores. We spent time browsing the fancier boutiques and picking up a few things we couldn’t find anywhere else. There’s a strong “buy local” culture here that makes shopping feel good. There was one store that is entirely cat themed called The Love Cats that I bought a couple dresses in. If you like cats, you have to stop by that store.
Cocktails & Wine Bars
Asheville has a great cocktail and wine bar scene. We visited The Asheville Club one rainy afternoon for a cocktail. I had a lavender martini that was quite good. Twice during our trip we landed at 5 Walnut Wine Bar, which quickly became a favorite. It’s a cozy, intimate space with a great by-the-glass list.
Breweries
Asheville is truly known for its craft breweries. There are so many of them! We stopped by Burial Beer Co., which had tasty beers, a fun, funky outdoor space and several locations – we visited the South Slope location. We had a flight so we could try a variety and we liked them all.
While there are more breweries in Asheville than you could possible try in a week, and we only had time to just try Burial Beer Co., here are a few others that should be on your list (and keep in mind, some of these breweries have more than one location in Asheville):
Where to Eat in Asheville
Asheville punches well above its weight culinarily. It’s earned serious national recognition — you can browse the full Michelin list for Asheville to see just how many standout restaurants are packed into this mountain city.
Little Chango — This was our very first meal in Asheville, and what a way to kick off the trip. Little Chango is a Michelin-recommended spot known for its arepas, and they did not disappoint. My husband got a chicken arepa with a verde sauce and I had a beef arepa with plantains. We also got fresh juices, which were the perfect refresher after traveling. We sat outside, since they have such cute outdoor seating. I can tell this place gets busy — I’d recommend going either early or being prepared for a short wait. We were there at a random afternoon hour since we’d been traveling and it actually worked out perfectly because they were able to fit us in right away.
One of the most celebrated restaurants in Asheville, Cúrate Bar de Tapas is a Spanish tapas bar that has earned consistent national acclaim.
We had dinner here one evening and it delivered on every front: beautifully executed small plates, an excellent wine list, and a vibrant atmosphere.
Order a lot and share everything — they have a wide variety of options from charcuterie to lamb, shrimp, fish, macaroni and cheese and everything in between.
They also have an excellent wine list, with wines that pair nicely with your meal.
Be sure to order dessert, as they have some creative dessert options here as well!
If you add this restaurant to your list, make a reservation. They are very popular and fill up fast.
The Red Ribbon — The Red Ribbon is in the basement of The Flat Iron Hotel and it shares the pizza kitchen with Luminosa upstairs. It feels like you’re going into a prohibition era speakeasy with its almost secret location. It’s a beautiful restaurant with art-deco design elements. The pizza was excellent and the wine list was too! I didn’t try their cocktails, but I did see some being served and they looked creative and refined.
Luminosa — We chose Luminosa for our anniversary dinner, and it was absolutely the right call. The restaurant has an elegant, intimate atmosphere and a menu that includes many local ingredients. The service was also outstanding – our waiter was fabulous. It was one of the best meals of the trip and a truly memorable way to celebrate. I strongly suggest adding it to your list, but be sure to make a reservation, as this Michelin Bib Gourmand and Michelin Green Star restaurant is a popular destination.
Good Hot Fish — This one might’ve been my husband’s favorite meal of the entire trip. Good Hot Fish is a Michelin-recommended fish fry counter in the South Slope district, and we ordered the blackened trout along with what felt like every side on the menu. We had the baked mac and cheese, a sweet potato pancake with asian-fusion flavors, collards and more. The space has this wonderful 90s-era interior design, all nostalgia, that took me right back to being a kid. This place is absolutely worth the hype.
Mother — We popped into Mother for lunch after a hike, and it turned out to be one of the best surprises of the trip. Mother holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction, and after trying the falafel flatbread, it’s easy to see why. It was fresh, flavorful, and exactly what we needed after a morning on the trail.
Other Asheville Restaurants Worth Knowing
Whether you’re fueling up for a hike or settling in for a leisurely brunch, Asheville has no shortage of great options:
A Few Final Tips for Visiting Asheville
- Book the Biltmore in advance. Tickets sell out, especially on weekends and during peak season. Decide before you go which add-ons (stables, spa, etc.) are a priority.
- Wear comfortable shoes. Whether you’re hiking or just wandering downtown, you’ll be on your feet a lot — and the streets have character (read: hills and uneven pavers).
- Reservations matter. For places like Luminosa especially, plan ahead.
- Give yourself more than a weekend. Four nights felt like the right amount of time to start to understand Asheville, but we still left with a list of things we didn’t get to.
