Old Europe Pastries is a bakery in Downtown, Asheville.
Old Europe Pastries on Broadway Street since 1994 is the city's Hungarian-Austrian patisserie, run by Esztergom-born head pastry chef Melinda Vetro.
Tip: Open late, 22:00-23:00 nightly. Coffee from Dynamite Roasting alongside scratch-made pastries.
Address: 18 Broadway St, Asheville, NC 28801
French Broad Chocolate Lounge on Pack Square in downtown Asheville opened in 2008 as the bean-to-bar chocolate maker's customer-facing room.
Tip: The factory and cafe at 821 Riverside Drive runs bean-to-bar tours daily; book on the operator site.
Worth the queue: Liquid truffle drinking chocolate
The West End Bakery and Café on Haywood Road in West Asheville scratch-bakes pastries and breads, serves breakfast all day and lunch seven days, plus Fri-Sat.
Tip: Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Friday-Saturday evenings shift to small plates, beer and wine.
Worth the queue: Morning bun
Short Street Cakes on Haywood Road in West Asheville is the family-owned cake shop running 100 percent natural Southern-style scratch cakes and cupcakes.
Tip: Whole celebration cakes need a 48-hour pre-order; the walk-in cupcake case rotates daily.
Worth the queue: Caramel cake
Jason and Carolyn Roy's Biscuit Head on Haywood Road since 2013 is the cathead biscuit benchmark for West Asheville. Editor pick on TableJourney with hours.
Tip: Walk-in counter service. Arrive before 09:30 on weekends to beat the line spilling out the door.
Worth the queue: Mimosa Fried Chicken biscuit
French Broad Chocolate Lounge on Pack Square in downtown Asheville opened in 2008 as the bean-to-bar chocolate maker's customer-facing room.
Tip: The factory and cafe at 821 Riverside Drive runs bean-to-bar tours daily; book on the operator site.
Worth the queue: Liquid truffle drinking chocolate
Baked Pie Company in Arden, just south of Asheville, runs daily-changing whole pies and by-the-slice service. The signature pecan and chocolate-chess pies.
Tip: Whole pies need 48 hours' pre-order for guarantee; the slice case typically holds 12-15 varieties daily.
Worth the queue: Pecan pie
OWL Bakery (Old World Levain) on Haywood Road in West Asheville is the city's flagship sourdough and laminated pastry bakery. Editor pick on TableJourney.
Tip: Pastries land first, breads come out by 11:00. The Charlotte Street second location handles cake orders Thu-Sun.
Worth the queue: Old World sourdough loaf
