The Guidebook

Spencer's top pick in Black Mountain — the best brunch around, and a very cute local market too.

Australian eclectic cuisine.

Best smash burgers in Black Mountain.

Spectacular viewpoint and sunset. Outside Black Mountain. Pair with White Horse.

Up in the Black Mountain Icehouse with a rooftop patio and mountain views, out of the Foothills Local Meats crew. Come for the rooftop and small plates on a clear afternoon.

A tiny 1920s-styled speakeasy on Cherry Street, all antiques and classic cocktails, from the Goldfinch folks. Charcuterie, a good martini, and a mocktail list too.

Farm-to-table plates and craft cocktails in the heart of Black Mountain, reopened after Helene. Local sourcing, good vegetarian options, and a patio.

Ole and Elena's longtime Mexican spot on Flat Creek, rebuilt and reopened after Helene flooded it out. Same family, same guacamole.

A glassblowing studio and gallery on State Street where you can watch a live hot-shop demo or buy a piece straight from the makers. A great rainy-hour stop in town.

A network of forested trails climbing out of Montreat, reopened in 2025 after Helene. Graybeard is the big one, and most trails are back except Harry Bryan.

Wood-fired Oaxacan and honestly our favorite new spot in Asheville. Get the mole, and book well ahead because reservations here go fast.

The independent bookstore at the heart of downtown, with a strong local-author bent and a cafe to linger in. We can't walk past it without going in.

Katie Button's Spanish tapas bar in the old bus depot, and the dinner we book when we're celebrating something. Reserve well ahead, because the good tables go fast.

The mid-size room downtown where the touring act you actually want to see almost always plays. If you're checking a show while you're in town, start here.

A two-story used-book maze with a champagne bar tucked inside the Grove Arcade. It's the definitive Asheville little-world, and easy to lose an afternoon in.

Original AVL brewery. Upscale bar food.

Must get liquid truffle.

Creative, generous tacos worth the stop. The original River Arts District shop flooded in Helene — head to their downtown spot at 12 Biltmore Ave instead.

All you can play pinball.

Classic Indian street food.

Famous southern brunch. Check south location.

Hip cocktails and bites.

Personal favorite. Birthday macarons.

Live music, casual brews.

Rooftop dining. Cuban menu.

Cool setting, cocktails.

Favorite downtown gallery.

Our date-night favorite. Order a few sashimi and a few skewers to share and let the kitchen carry the night.

Hundreds of games, all-day access.

Art Deco cafeteria. Multiple micro-restaurants.

Quick bites for food tour.

Best chocolates in Asheville.

Best bakery. Picnic baskets available.

Mezcal and DJs. Half-off deals Mon-Thu.

Unique desserts, amazing presentation.

BIG FLAVOR barbecue.

Traditional. Long-time AVL family business.

Local vinyl record press. Bites and coffee.

Excellent coffee downtown.

Beignets and coffee downtown.

New Indian restaurant.

Best ciders anywhere.

The TRUE best wine selection in town — and we say that as wine snobs. Coolest bottle shop, natural wines, a slow-evening kind of place.

Favorite for massage.

Great sushi. Get deluxe.

Hector Diaz brought his Latin small plates back to the Grove Arcade in late 2025, and the room is as good as the food. Go for a slow evening of tapas and a cocktail.

A family Vietnamese spot on Patton with slow-simmered pho and grilled-pork vermicelli bowls. Simple, fresh, and just what we want on a cold day.

Hand-stretched New York-style pies by the slice or the whole pie, right downtown. Grab a corner of the Sicilian if they've got it.

A tiny downtown museum, the only one of its kind in the country, packed with 20th-century costume jewelry from Chanel to Dior. Odd, specific, and genuinely fun.

A Wall Street venue that wraps live music and DJs in nearly 360 degrees of projection-mapped visuals. Check the calendar before you go, since it's event-by-event.

Ninth-floor tapas and cocktails atop the AC Hotel, with two terraces and long views over the mountains and the skyline. Come for sunset and a drink.

Rooftop bar on the Moxy with 150-plus whiskeys, fire pits, and a Japanese-leaning small-plates menu. Our pick if you want to actually sit down and dig into a whiskey list.

A gorgeous 1929 landmark building downtown, now an indoor market of local shops and restaurants. A perfect rainy-day wander with lunch built in.

A well-curated museum of American and regional art right on Pack Square, with a rooftop cafe. Our default rainy-afternoon plan downtown.

A small interactive museum honoring Bob Moog and the science of sound, where you get to actually play the synths and theremins. Nerdy in the best way and a great rainy-day hour.

One of the originals of Asheville's farm-to-table scene, going strong on Wall Street since 1979. Where we'd take someone for a proper dinner out.

A purple bus, costumed performers, and real local history turned into a genuinely funny tour of town. Silly, yes, but we always send first-timers on it.

A downtown venue on Patton for indie, folk, soul, and jam bands, and our solid second option when nothing's on at the Orange Peel. Good sound, easy room.

A downtown salt-cave halotherapy room plus a hammam, a genuinely different way to slow down for an hour. It's a wellness world of its own, no sauna involved.