Best of the Best in Asheville, NC
Use this guide to eat and drink like a local while avoiding tourist traps. As always, use the map feature to see what spots are nearby one another!
21 Places • 4 Saves • ago
Free

Coffee Shops

cafe
cafe
Rowan Coffee
This new kid in town is not joking around!! Coffee snobs rejoice.
Details
cafe
cafe
Grind AVL
A cafe I admire for its commitment to support Black businesses in AVL
Details
cafe
cafe
BattleCat Coffee Bar
Perfectly grungy.
Details

Bakeries

eat
eat
OWL Bakery
Voted best in Western North Carolina and nominated for a James beard— get ready to wait in line!
Details
eat
eat
mother | bread + wine
The lines move quickly at this new spot in town. Don’t miss the malted chocolate babka.
Details
eat
eat
Whisk Avl
This drive through only gem is worth the 12 min drive west of the city. Hit this on your way to a hike off the Blue Ridge Parkway! Just be warned, they’re closed on Sundays.
Details

Brunch Spots

eat
eat
HomeGrown
Just note that this cozy, casual spot opens at 11!
Details
eat
eat
Taco Billy
True Austin style breakfast tacos. Order the migas!!
Details
eat
eat
Vivian
This James Beard award nominated spot throws down for weekend brunch.
Details
eat
eat
Tall John's
Everything at Tall John’s is reliably delicious.
Details

Breweries

I have a whole guide built around my favorite spots! Linked here:

Free
Where to Actually Drink Beer (and wine) in Western North Carolina
Among the 50+ breweries in and around Beer City, USA, these are my top picks. Click into each place for tips on what to order while you’re there! Let’s let no great beer go unsipped. Asheville, WNC, North Carolina
Curated by Gab Bonfiglio
13 Places • 1 Save • ago
Details

Dinner Spots

eat
eat
Nine Mile
An Asheville institution with incredible Caribbean food. Go early because they don’t take reservations. You can grab a drink at tall John’s down the street if you have to wait for a table.
Details
eat
eat
Baby Bull
Unanimously regarded as the best burger in town. A great casual option.
Details
drink
drink
White Labs Brewing Co - Asheville Kitchen & Tap
White Labs is one of the world’s leading producers of brewers’ yeasts. And Asheville houses one of their three brick and mortar locations! At this one, they make delicious pizzas using their own yeast in the crust.
Details
eat
eat
Jettie Rae's Oyster House
I doubted that seafood could be good in the mountains until I tried Jetti Rae’s.
Details
eat
eat
Mehfil
We love an Indian-owned and run Indian restaurant. Skip the line at Chai Pani for this spot, or for the more casual sister restaurant next store, Dilbar.
Details

Wine and Cocktail Bars

drink
drink
Leo's House of Thirst
I’m obsessed with this place— delicious natural wine and scrumptious yet light food accompaniment options.
Details
drink
drink
The Golden Pineapple
A whimsical cocktail list with delicious and creative bar snacks to match.
Details
drink
drink
Little Jumbo
Unbelievable cocktails, dance parties every Saturday and jazz on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Details
drink
drink
Crucible
If they ask if you’re a member, don’t be alarmed. You can sign up for $1! Catch me here at least once a week drinking a Negroni with mezcal. Or a high life.
Details
drink
drink
Anoche Asheville
A vibey yet education mezcal bar with delicious house cocktails.
Details
drink
drink
Imperiál
Asheville’s older mezcal bar, with a dj every night :)
Details

As always, thanks for reading, and please do leave a tip if you found this helpful! For further recommendations, check out my complete Asheville shop page.

Free
Asheville, North Carolina Travel Shop
I live here, so I know :) My guides reliably and consistently steer you away from the tourist attractions. That isn’t to say you should not go to the Biltmore! But use the guides below to experience Asheville like a local.
Curated by Gab Bonfiglio
3 Saves • ago
Details

Send A Tip
Send Gab Bonfiglio some gratitude.
Select your tip amount
$3
$5
$10
$20
Or type in other amount
$
Best of the Best in Asheville, NC
Use this guide to eat and drink like a local while avoiding tourist traps. As always, use the map feature to see what spots are nearby one another!
21 Places • 4 Saves • ago
Free

Coffee Shops

cafe
cafe
Rowan Coffee
This new kid in town is not joking around!! Coffee snobs rejoice.
Details
cafe
cafe
Grind AVL
A cafe I admire for its commitment to support Black businesses in AVL
Details
cafe
cafe
BattleCat Coffee Bar
Perfectly grungy.
Details

Bakeries

eat
eat
OWL Bakery
Voted best in Western North Carolina and nominated for a James beard— get ready to wait in line!
Details
eat
eat
mother | bread + wine
The lines move quickly at this new spot in town. Don’t miss the malted chocolate babka.
Details
eat
eat
Whisk Avl
This drive through only gem is worth the 12 min drive west of the city. Hit this on your way to a hike off the Blue Ridge Parkway! Just be warned, they’re closed on Sundays.
Details

Brunch Spots

eat
eat
HomeGrown
Just note that this cozy, casual spot opens at 11!
Details
eat
eat
Taco Billy
True Austin style breakfast tacos. Order the migas!!
Details
eat
eat
Vivian
This James Beard award nominated spot throws down for weekend brunch.
Details
eat
eat
Tall John's
Everything at Tall John’s is reliably delicious.
Details

Breweries

I have a whole guide built around my favorite spots! Linked here:

Free
Where to Actually Drink Beer (and wine) in Western North Carolina
Among the 50+ breweries in and around Beer City, USA, these are my top picks. Click into each place for tips on what to order while you’re there! Let’s let no great beer go unsipped. Asheville, WNC, North Carolina
Curated by Gab Bonfiglio
13 Places • 1 Save • ago
Details

Dinner Spots

eat
eat
Nine Mile
An Asheville institution with incredible Caribbean food. Go early because they don’t take reservations. You can grab a drink at tall John’s down the street if you have to wait for a table.
Details
eat
eat
Baby Bull
Unanimously regarded as the best burger in town. A great casual option.
Details
drink
drink
White Labs Brewing Co - Asheville Kitchen & Tap
White Labs is one of the world’s leading producers of brewers’ yeasts. And Asheville houses one of their three brick and mortar locations! At this one, they make delicious pizzas using their own yeast in the crust.
Details
eat
eat
Jettie Rae's Oyster House
I doubted that seafood could be good in the mountains until I tried Jetti Rae’s.
Details
eat
eat
Mehfil
We love an Indian-owned and run Indian restaurant. Skip the line at Chai Pani for this spot, or for the more casual sister restaurant next store, Dilbar.
Details

Wine and Cocktail Bars

drink
drink
Leo's House of Thirst
I’m obsessed with this place— delicious natural wine and scrumptious yet light food accompaniment options.
Details
drink
drink
The Golden Pineapple
A whimsical cocktail list with delicious and creative bar snacks to match.
Details
drink
drink
Little Jumbo
Unbelievable cocktails, dance parties every Saturday and jazz on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Details
drink
drink
Crucible
If they ask if you’re a member, don’t be alarmed. You can sign up for $1! Catch me here at least once a week drinking a Negroni with mezcal. Or a high life.
Details
drink
drink
Anoche Asheville
A vibey yet education mezcal bar with delicious house cocktails.
Details
drink
drink
Imperiál
Asheville’s older mezcal bar, with a dj every night :)
Details

As always, thanks for reading, and please do leave a tip if you found this helpful! For further recommendations, check out my complete Asheville shop page.

Free
Asheville, North Carolina Travel Shop
I live here, so I know :) My guides reliably and consistently steer you away from the tourist attractions. That isn’t to say you should not go to the Biltmore! But use the guides below to experience Asheville like a local.
Curated by Gab Bonfiglio
3 Saves • ago
Details

Send A Tip
Send Gab Bonfiglio some gratitude.
Select your tip amount
$3
$5
$10
$20
Or type in other amount
$