Eating and Drinking in Asheville, NC
Asheville, North Carolina is full of amazing restaurants and eateries. There are also many bars, breweries, and coffee shops. Here is just a short list of five favorite places to eat and drink in Asheville whether you’re looking for fine dining, something casual beers with friends, or your morning coffee and breakfast.
Bebette’s New Orleans Style Cafe
Bebette’s has a menu full of beignets with various toppings like chocolate or churro as well as Beignet sandwiches. They also have really good coffee, cappuccinos, espressos, etc. Because it is located inside the Grove Arcade you can enjoy your coffee and your breakfast or lunch at one of the tables inside the arcade. Dogs are welcome inside the Grove Arcade and many people sit and enjoy their coffee while they work or hang out with their friends or family. It is a really nice scene with super friendly service and the food and coffee are very good.
Chestnut – An Asheville Gem
Chestnut is a delightful experience of fresh, local ingredients featuring homemade menu items. It is one of my favorite places to eat and drink in Asheville. The menu changes monthly and there is a daily soup in addition to their famous made from scratch lobster bisque. The medium plates are just right for those with a smaller appetite, budget, or both. Or, pair a starter with one of the medium plates or with an entree. Make sure to take a peek at the dessert menu. Everything is made in-house, even the ice creams. Delicious!
Pictured below in the collage are the roasted red pepper and cauliflower soup (daily soup that day) and the scallops medium plate.
Storm Rhum Bar & Bistro
The rum drinks and the food at Storm really stand out. Whether you are in the mood for a burger, comfort food like Mac and Cheese, or something more eclectic like grilled duck nachos or quail and grits, you will find something here.
For drinks, rum is where it’s at. There are flights of rum and rum cocktails such as mai tais, dark and stormy, and my favorite, the sweet and spicy Nui Nui.
That delicious Nui Nui definitely makes Storm one of my favorite places to eat and drink in Asheville!
Wedge Brewing – Riverside Arts District – Asheville
There are two locations of Wedge Brewing and they are both in River Arts District. Take your pick! Both have a great vibe and plenty of patio space for meeting up with friends or making new ones. Beers on tap include their own IPAs, wheat beers, lagers, stouts, and sours plus a few guest taps like Ginger’s Revenge and Noble Cider. Be sure and check the beer lists because it might determine which location you want to visit. Thursday through Sunday you will find a food truck parked at each location and the schedule is noted on the website (although I do not find the exact times for the food trucks. Maybe all day?)
Little Pearl Asheville
This final place is not right in downtown but is well worth the short ride.
The menu is packed full of fresh seafood options (supplied by their connections in Key West) including octopus, oysters, Key West pink shrimp and so much more. There are also burgers, wings and salads to choose from.
The stand-out item though was the lobster PB&J bun (photo is in the collage below). It was divine! The two steamed buns were filled with large chunks of lobster, peanut sauce, and hoisin grape jelly. This little dish was perfect with a side of the sesame Brussels sprouts (also pictured below) which complemented the bun perfectly with their fermented black beans and umami sauce.
There are so many wonderful places to eat and drink in Asheville. For more options, plus ideas of things to do and see, be sure and visit the Asheville Guide.
Read about Things to Do in Charlotte, here.
Also check out these 3 Asheville breweries
Let me know your favorite places to eat and drink in Asheville in the comments.
