Asheville punches well above its weight for food. For a city of around 90,000 people, it has more James Beard Award nominees per capita than almost any city in the country, a craft brewery scene that puts much larger cities to shame, and a culture of independent restaurants that has resisted the chains. Whether you are here for a weekend or a week, eating well is not difficult. You just need to know where to go.
Best Restaurants in Asheville
Curate
Curate is the most celebrated restaurant in Asheville and it earns it. Chef Katie Button's Spanish tapas restaurant on Biltmore Avenue draws regulars and visitors alike for its precision and warmth. The jamón ibérico, pan con tomate, and the croquetas are essential orders. The wine list skews Spanish and knows what it is doing. Book ahead. This place fills up and the bar at Curate is not always enough of a fallback.
Piezaa, Asheville NC
Chai Pani
Chai Pani is the other heavy hitter. James Beard Award winning Indian street food in a casual, counter service setting on Banks Avenue on the South Slope. The samosa chaat is the signature dish. It is messy and layered and very good. The bhel puri, the kati rolls, and the sev puri are all worth ordering. It does not take reservations and the lines move. Show up before the rush.
Cúrate
If Chai Pani is casual, Cúrate is the city's most celebrated sit down table. Chef Katie Button's Spanish tapas restaurant on Biltmore Avenue is the most critically recognized restaurant in Asheville. The jamón ibérico, the croquetas, and the pan con tomate are essential orders. Reservations required on weekends.
Asheville Breakfast and Brunch
Hole Doughnuts
Hole Doughnuts is one of the most talked about food experiences in Asheville, and rightfully so. Sourdough based fried doughnuts made in small batches, served warm with creative toppings that rotate regularly, like brown butter glaze, local honey, and cream cheese with seasonal fruit. The line forms early and they sell out. Get there before 10am on weekends or plan on being disappointed. Worth planning your morning around.
Hole Doughnuts, Asheville NC
Early Girl Eatery
Early Girl has been a downtown Asheville institution for years. Southern breakfast done right, with biscuits, gravy, eggs, and local sausage. The lunch menu is equally solid. Expect a wait on weekend mornings but the line moves.
Button and Co Bagels
One of the best bagel shops in the South. Hand rolled, boiled, and baked the right way. The everything bagel with cream cheese is the move, but the smoked salmon and the breakfast sandwiches are both excellent. Get there early on weekends or the popular varieties run out.
Pizza
Piezaa
Piezaa is an Asheville pizza spot worth going out of your way for. Neapolitan inspired with a charred crust, quality toppings, and the careful sourcing the Asheville food scene is known for. The atmosphere is casual and easy going. Come hungry, order a whole pie, and stay for a second round. This is the kind of neighborhood pizza place every city wishes it had.
Asheville Breweries and Bars
River Arts District
The River Arts District is Asheville's brewery epicenter. New Belgium has a massive campus on the French Broad River with outdoor seating and kayak access. Wedge Brewing in the RAD has been around since the early days and has a great outdoor patio by the river. Over on the South Slope, Burial Beer Co. makes more experimental beers at their Shady Oak Road taproom. The Skillet Donut Stout and their rotating sours are excellent. Sierra Nevada's East Coast brewery is in Mills River, about 15 miles south of downtown, and does tours and tastings worth the short drive.
Downtown Asheville Bars
The rooftop at the AC Hotel gives you a solid view of downtown. Sovereign Remedies on Market Street does some of the best cocktails in the city. It is a serious craft bar with a thoughtful menu. The Orange Peel nearby is one of the best mid size music venues in the South and worth checking for shows during your visit.
Coffee in Asheville
City Bakery Cafe has multiple locations and is the most reliable coffee stop in the city. The Dripolator in Black Mountain (20 minutes east) is worth the short drive for a morning coffee and a walk around the small town.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Asheville NC known for food?
Asheville is known for its craft brewery scene, one of the best in the country, and a restaurant culture built around local farms and independent operators. The city has more James Beard nominees per capita than almost any city its size.
What are the must eat restaurants in Asheville?
Cúrate, Chai Pani, and Hole Doughnuts are the most celebrated. Hole Doughnuts is the most unique breakfast experience. Burial Beer on the South Slope and the River Arts District breweries are essential for craft beer.
Is Asheville expensive to eat?
It can be. Cúrate is a dinner out price. But there are great value options. Chai Pani is counter service and affordable. Hole Doughnuts is cheap. The food halls and brewery taprooms give you good food at reasonable prices.
The Asheville food scene rewards planning. The best spots fill up and the most popular breakfast places sell out. Look ahead, book in advance for dinner, and leave yourself time to wander. Some of the best meals in Asheville are the ones you find by accident on a slow afternoon.
