Across the French Broad River: Wedge Brewing at Wedge Studios, Hi-Wire RAD Beer Garden (reopened May 2025 after Helene), All Souls Pizza, Crusco and The Bull and Beggar. Working artist studios meet warehouse-conversion brewpubs.
Crusco in the River Arts District opened in summer 2025 from Kat Kearney and former Cucina 24 staff.
Signature: Hand-rolled pastas, Wood-grilled meats, Seasonal antipasti
Order: Whatever pasta the kitchen is running, plus a glass off the food-friendly wine list.
Tip: Book on the restaurant's site. Dinner runs Wednesday through Sunday from 17:00. Bar walk-ins for cocktails.
The Bull and Beggar at Wedge Studios in the River Arts District has run a French-American kitchen with raw bar since 2013. Tuesday burger night is the local.
Signature: Steak frites, Raw bar plateau, Burger Tuesday
Order: The steak frites with bone-marrow butter, or the burger if you can land a Tuesday seat.
Tip: Book Tuesday burger night three weeks ahead on the operator site. Walk-in raw bar seats open at 17:00.
All Souls Pizza in the River Arts District has run wood-fired pies on Clingman Avenue since 2013. Daily-changing seasonal pies, a large patio with kitchen.
Signature: Wood-fired pies, Daily salads, Soft serve
Order: Whatever the seasonal pie of the week is, plus the soft serve for dessert.
Tip: Walk-in only; arrive at opening or after 20:30 for the easiest seats. Closed Mondays.
Crusco in the River Arts District opened in summer 2025 from Kat Kearney and former Cucina 24 staff.
Order: Whatever pasta the kitchen is running, plus a glass off the food-friendly wine list.
Tip: Book on the restaurant's site. Dinner Wednesday through Sunday from 17:00. Bar walk-ins.
The Bull and Beggar at Wedge Studios in the River Arts District has run French-American fine dining with raw bar plateau since 2013. The Tuesday burger night.
Order: The steak frites with bone-marrow butter, or the burger if you can land a Tuesday seat.
Tip: Tuesday burger night books out 3 weeks ahead. Raw bar walk-ins open at 17:00.
All Souls Pizza in the River Arts District has run wood-fired pies on Clingman Avenue since 2013. Daily-changing seasonal pies, a large patio with kitchen.
Signature: Seasonal pies, Daily salads, Soft serve
Order: Whatever the seasonal pie of the week is, plus the soft serve for dessert.
Tip: Walk-in only; arrive at opening or after 20:30 for the easiest seats. Closed Mondays.
PennyCup Coffee Co on Depot Street in the River Arts District is the roastery and flagship cafe of the small-batch Asheville roaster. Editor pick.
Signature drink: Single-origin pour-over
Tip: Mon-Fri 07:00-18:00, Sat-Sun 09:00-15:00. Bagels and bagel sandwiches from a local baker; gluten-free pastries.
PennyCup Coffee Co's roastery on Depot Street in the River Arts District is the home of the small-batch Asheville roaster.
Tip: The roastery cafe runs cupping sessions monthly; book on the operator site for the public Friday cuppings.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Colombia, Guatemala, Burundi
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail, Wholesale
Ultra Coffeebar at the Five Points corner in the River Arts District pours a rotating bench of guest-roaster espresso and a tight in-house bean line.
Tip: Outdoor patio takes the morning sun. The Five Points corner takes both River Arts and downtown foot traffic.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Brazil, Colombia, Burundi
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail
Hi-Wire's RAD Beer Garden on Lyman Street is the third Asheville location, an outdoor beer garden built from up-cycled shipping containers covered in murals.
Tip: Outdoor-first; rainy days move under the container roof. Food trucks rotate weekends.
Wedge Brewing's Wedge Studios taproom on Paynes Way in the River Arts District opened in 2008. Beers travel through Belgian, German and American ale.
Tip: The Foundy Street brewing space, destroyed by Helene 2024, reopened October 2025 with a rebuilt beer garden.
New Belgium Brewing's Asheville campus on Craven Street opened in 2016 as the Colorado Fat Tire brewery's second campus, 18 acres on the French Broad.
Tip: 90-minute brewery tours run free with reservation; tours leave every half hour from the Liquid Center.
Zillicoah Beer Company on Riverside Drive in Woodfin, just north of Asheville, opened in 2018 as the first brewery in Woodfin. Open-fermented farmhouse ales.
Tip: Riverside outdoor seating with a great sunset view. Food truck rotation Wed-Sun; bring a dog.
The River Arts District Farmers Market sets up Wednesday afternoons at New Belgium Brewing on Craven Street, the mid-week year-round ASAP market post-Helene.
Tip: Wednesdays 15:00-18:00 year-round, the only weekday tailgate in Asheville. EBT/SNAP accepted with Double SNAP matching; free on-site parking.
French Broad Chocolates' Bean-to-Bar tour at their Riverside Drive factory walks the full chocolate process: cacao bean arrival, roasting, grinding, molding.
Tip: Reserve on operator site or email [email protected]. Arrive 10 minutes early; late arrivals not admitted. Ticket carries a 10% same-day discount.