Day-by-day eating plans for Asheville. weekend classics, family routes, vegan plans, on-a-budget editions.

Day-by-day plans

Asheville weekend: Appalachian classics and craft beer ★ 4.7

First-time visitor, two days2 days

A weekend built around the dishes Asheville helped define, the South Slope brewery district, and one Michelin Bib Gourmand Italian dinner.

  1. Day 1: Saturday: biscuits, market morning, Indian lunch, brewery hop, fine-dining dinner

    Morning
    Open at Biscuit Head on Haywood Road at 08:00 for a Mimosa Fried Chicken biscuit and a jam-bar plate. Drive over to North Asheville Tailgate Market at UNC Asheville Lot P34 on Edgewood Road for 08:00 opening, Mountain Air Roasting coffee and bakery counters.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Chai Pani on Banks Avenue (the 2024 South Slope move into the old Buxton Hall space) for the Sloppy Jai and kale pakoras, plus a stop at French Broad Chocolate Lounge on Pack Square for a liquid truffle.
    Evening
    Brewery hop on the South Slope: Burial Beer at 40 Collier Avenue (grab the Good Hot Fish sandwich, fried NC catfish on squishy white bread, from the counter upstairs), then Wicked Weed Funkatorium on Coxe Avenue. Dinner at Luminosa inside the Flat Iron Hotel on Battery Park Avenue, 20:30; whatever the wood-fired oven is running.

  2. Day 2: Sunday: brunch, Spanish tapas, mountain trout dinner

    Morning
    Brunch at Sunny Point Café on Haywood Road in West Asheville, 09:00. Huevos rancheros, a side of stone-ground grits and a sweet potato pancake to share.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Cúrate on Biltmore Avenue, 13:00, for jamón ibérico and the daily paella. Walk Pack Square; Old Europe Pastries on Broadway for a Dobos torte and espresso afterwards.
    Evening
    Dinner at Rhubarb on Pack Square, 19:00 (John Fleer runs the wood oven Thu-Mon). Sunburst trout from Canton or whatever the open hearth is running, plus a glass off the Carolina wine list. The Market Place on Wall Street is the Mon-Sat alternative.

Asheville brewery and River Arts day ★ 4.6

Craft beer fan, one day1 day

A single-day deep dive into the South Slope brewery district, the River Arts District post-Helene rebuild, and the city's two Michelin Bib Gourmand small-plate rooms.

  1. Day 1: Brewery walk and Bib Gourmand evening

    Morning
    PennyCup Coffee Co roastery on Depot Street in the River Arts District for a 09:00 pour-over. Wedge Brewing at Wedge Studios next door on Paynes Way opens at 13:00 for a Belgian-leaning pint and a food-truck lunch.
    Afternoon
    Cross the French Broad to the South Slope for the BREW-ed walking tour from 70 Woodfin Place; four South Slope breweries, including Burial Beer, Hi-Wire South Slope and Green Man. End at Mother on Short Coxe Avenue for a 16:00 sourdough sandwich.
    Evening
    Dinner at Little Chango on Coxe Avenue, 19:00, for the empanada flight and arepas. Late drinks at DSSOLVR on North Lexington Avenue until midnight.

Asheville on a budget: two days under $30 a meal ★ 4.4

Budget traveller, two days2 days

Biscuits, taco counters, vegan plates, brewery happy hours and late-night pizza. Two full days of Asheville eating with no dinner over $30 a head.

  1. Day 1: Day one: biscuits, tacos, brewery, pizza late

    Morning
    Biscuit Head on Haywood Road, $7 cathead biscuit with sausage gravy from the jam bar.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at White Duck Taco Shop on Biltmore Avenue, three globally inspired tacos for under $15. Coffee at High Five Coffee on Broadway Street.
    Evening
    Asheville Brewing Company on Coxe Avenue for a $15 brewpub pizza-and-IPA. Late slice at Pie.zaa Pizza on Millard Avenue until 01:00.

  2. Day 2: Day two: brunch, Indian snacks, vegan dinner

    Morning
    Early Girl Eatery on Wall Street, sweet potato hash with two eggs under $16.
    Afternoon
    Chai Pani snack-menu lunch on Banks Avenue (South Slope), three small chaat plates and a chai for under $20.
    Evening
    Rosetta's Kitchen on North Lexington Avenue for a vegan Peace Burger and mac, under $14. A pint at DSSOLVR's North Lexington taproom afterwards.
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