You Are Here: Asheville

You Are Here: Asheville

Accolades come as thick as black bears in Asheville, North Carolina. Some of the various this metropolis of 95,000 within the coronary heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains has racked up embrace #1 foodie metropolis — buoyed by a number of James Beard Awards — one among “21 Best Road Trips Destinations” and “10 Best Cities to Visit for Art,” and, after all, a prime metropolis for craft beer. 

It gained’t take you lengthy in Asheville to see why. Against a postcard mountain backdrop, Asheville sprawls casually throughout hill and dale alongside the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers, making a hodgepodge of distinct neighborhoods that all the time appear to be in full chillax mode. That fits the “hold Asheville bizarre” crowd simply positive; in actual fact, they encourage it, as is instantly obvious amid the bevy of quirky, laidback eating places, cafes, music venues, artwork studios, parks and extra. This, in flip, has created some of the sturdy and dynamic arts and tradition scenes within the nation that retains guests arriving by the busload. 

It additionally makes selecting one of the best of something in Asheville an actual problem, because the choices are many and high quality excessive. Indeed, every day of exploration solely appears to disclose extra implausible discoveries, together with these:

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What to Drink

Best Craft Brewery: Burial Beer Co.

With round 50 breweries within the metropolis and extra exterior, Asheville stays a beer-lover’s paradise. That additionally makes it almost unattainable to present your like to only one, however primarily based strictly on the beer, Burial Beer Co. could win it by a nostril tip, because of spectacular takes on nearly all the things they lay their fingers on, from Czech- and Vienna-style lagers to American Imperial stout to New England IPAs. The brewery within the South Slope neighborhood of Asheville — a flippantly transformed previous transmission store — is a good place to pattern the products, with a number of seating areas in and out. Fun is splashed throughout, too, be it a maybe unnatural devotion to Magnum P.I.-era Tom Selleck or the gutted automobiles exterior transformed into tables. The brewery additionally hosts a stay music venue, Eulogy, that hosts weekly — and infrequently every day — performances by touring indie bands. 

Honorable mentions: Wedge Brewing Co., New Belgium Brewing Company, Cellarest Beer Project, DSSOLVR

Best Cocktail Bar: Antidote

When bottles of Chemist gin appeared on the 2022 Daytime Emmy Awards because the official spirit, it represented another piece of plumage within the cap of this female-founded and -owned distillery in Asheville’s South Slope neighborhood. The hooked up bar absolutely embraces a Twenties, speakeasy spirit that elegantly echoes by way of the bottom flooring seating space, upstairs mezzanine and roof-deck “botanical bar,” because of the darkish wooden paneling, black-and-white tile flooring, Deco lights, turn-of-the-century antiques and a good-looking wooden staircase that makes you need to promenade down it. So it’s no shock that old-timey cocktails — significantly Gin and Tonics — are a serious focus, as are Gimlets, Martinis, Old Fashioneds, Sazaracs and the like. 

Honorable mentions: The Tiki Easy Bar, Crow and Quill, The Golden Pineapple

Best Dive Bar: Burger Bar

Named after the previous Bürger Beer from Cincinnati, this roadside dive bar sticks to booze by the can, bottle or cup — with nary a hamburger in website. The moniker additionally factors to how previous Burger Bar is, having opened inside a distressed, baby-blue, former service station in 1960 and been in steady operation ever since. Today, it strikes new clients as a veritable set from a Quentin Tarantino or David Lynch movie in the absolute best method. It’s darkish, low cost, cozy and festooned with sufficient knickknackery to maintain solo drinkers busy for an hour, from zebra-fabric couch (full with napping pooch), Christmas lights, Elvis shrine, skulls, a stuffed boar’s head, pink flamingos, stickers and posters galore, and, after all, an assortment of Bürger Beer swag. Despite the small dimension, the bar hosts common occasions, together with karaoke, stay music and comedians, pop-up fish fries and stitching lessons. In hotter climate, enjoyable spills out onto the garden. 

Honorable mentions: Fleetwoods, The Odd, Yacht Club

Best Hotel Bar: The Draftsman/Observatory at Restoration Hotel

One of Asheville’s latest accommodations splits its nightlife into two bars — Draftsman within the basement and Observatory on the roof. They are polar opposites in lots of respects, with the Observatory providing a cultured boutique ambiance marked by modern and stylish tables and chairs draped from above by dozens of inexperienced vegetation and wrap-around floor-to-ceiling home windows. An outside part provides contemporary air and clearer views of just about all the Asheville space. The Draftsman, then again, goals extra for enjoyable and video games, be it the big screens for sport matches or two-lane bowling alley, shuffleboard, Skee-Ball, billiards and a stay music stage.

Honorable mentions: Workshop Lounge at The Foundry Hotel, Capella on 9 at AC Hotel, Pillar Rooftop Bar at Hilton Garden Inn

You Are Here: The Twin Cities

All the sweetest elements of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan space, in accordance with somebody who lives there

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Where to Eat

Cheap Lunch: Tastee Diner

Personality oozes as a lot because the components within the breakfast, brunch and lunch dishes at this diner, largely because of the spectacular skills of proprietor and chef Steve Goff. That’s at the very least a part of why clients all the time appear to be pouring out and in of the entrance door throughout a lot of the morning and afternoon, too. Across two tight rooms — a bar and countertop in a single and most important eating space within the different — Tastee shows quite a lot of the quirk that so typifies Asheville, with oodles of native artwork, graffiti, skateboards and knickknacks galore atop 75 years of historical past as a basic American diner. While brunch maybe stays the star attraction, the lunch menu matches simply with dishes like spicy fried hen sandwich with apple kale slaw and tzatziki on a honey bun, smoked bologna wearing pimento cheese and tomato aioli and a sliced brisket po’ boy. 

Honorable mentions: Biscuit Head, Sunny Point Café, Haywood Common, Asheville Sandwich Company

Best Burger Spot: Baby Bull

This trackside burger joint within the River Arts District hits all the fitting notes in a pleasantly no-nonsense method. Simply step by way of the double doorways subsequent to the crimson bull head signal, slide as much as the slatted wooden panel counter and order the double cheese burger — the one burger on the menu usually. They come “all-in,” with American cheese, bread and butter pickles, Duke’s mayonnaise and caramelized onions. Substitutions not allowed however you may omit sure components of ask for all the things on the aspect. But you then won’t get the complete affect once you unwrap the basic black-checkered roadside diner paper in a crimson basket to disclose carnivorous culinary magnificence inside. Complement with the fries cooked in beef tallow, or for those who want, pork rinds and hushpuppies. 

Honorable mentions: Foothills in RAD, Rankin Vault

Nice Dinner: Chai Pani

Riding excessive on quite a few James Beard awards and nominations, together with “excellent restaurant,” and greatest chef, this Indian restaurant downtown affords spectacular culinary bang for a comparatively low cost buck. Inspired by Indian avenue meals, the menu delivers chaat — a type of Indian avenue meals. Examples embrace bhel puri, made with puffed rice and crunchy chickpea noodles; crispy Masala fish rolls; butter hen in a tomato cream sauce; and spicy potato dumplings fried in a curried chickpea batter. The truth that almost all dishes price lower than $15 makes it all of the extra wonderful. The inside, which features a full bar, is as colourful because the meals, making an excellent get-together spot with pals or an intimate tete-a-tete with a date. 

Honorable mentions: Rhubarb, White Duck Taco Shop, 12 Bones Smokehouse

Nicer Dinner: Cúrate

The awards racked up by Katie Button, chef and proprietor of Cúrate, are tumbling off the mantel at this level, together with 4 nominations and two James Beard Award wins and a bevy of citations among the many greatest cooks of the world, to not point out internet hosting duties the National Geographic Channel sequence, “The World’s Best Chefs.” In truth, her Spanish-flavored Asheville restaurant, Cúrate was named one of many “40 Most Important Restaurants of the Decade” by Esquire. The pedigree exhibits within the first chew of something you order, and the tapas method of the menu means you may spoil your palate with loads, from the Galacian-style octopus and charcoal-grilled Iberico pork with charred rosemary and thyme to Basque-style chorizo wrapped in potato chips and charcuterie of cured Spanish meats and cheese. Pair with virtually something on the wine record, acclaimed as one of many 100 greatest within the nation by Food & Wine. If attainable, seize a seat on the aspect with the open kitchen — and ideally on the marble, kitchen-side bar itself — so as to add an olfactory banquet to the one in your plate. 

Honorable mentions: Neng’s Jr.’s, Vivian, Benne on Eagle

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Where to Shop

Best Menswear Shop: Lex Twenty Menswear

Casual is usually the secret in ultra-laidback Asheville, so fancy menswear retailers are as few as the explanations to gussy up. That mentioned, this man cave-esque downstairs boutique downtown affords loads of methods to with its stock of shirts, jackets, sneakers, boots, hats and equipment “tailor-made to the fashionable man.” That would possibly embrace coats by Billy Reid, textured knit shirts by The Normal Brand, Case Fairisle Crew Neck Sweater from Barbour and Iron Ranger Traction Tread sneakers by Red Wing, in addition to a spread of baggage and masculine knickknacks, together with cocktail shakers, cologne and caps. Best of all, you may browse with beer in hand, because of a classic kegerator behind the counter meting out pints of Hillman Beer. 

Honorable point out: Gentlemen’s Gallery

Best Vintage Shop: Marquee

Taking up a transformed 50,000 square-foot former warehouse concerning the dimension of a soccer area within the River Arts District, Marquee affords an entire end-to-end expertise for any classic hunters. Starting with the bar simply contained in the north entrance, seize a beer, wine, cider or mead to accompany your perambulation among the many shows of greater than 100 artists, craftspeople and classic — and vintage-inspired — distributors promoting clothes, house items, art work, jewellery and handicrafts, and that’s solely scratching the floor. Even in case you are not trying to buy something, Marquee is a hoot to discover and enormous sufficient to require repeat visits to see all of it. It additionally captures the quirk and zing of Asheville life higher than most procuring experiences within the space. 

Honorable mentions: Honeypot Vintage, The Regeneration Station, House of Kismet

Best Record Store: Harvest Records

As a metropolis that takes its music severely. Asheville loves vinyl records and the report shops that promote them. Among all of them, Harvest Records lays the strongest declare to the crown. In half, it’s because they’ve been round for almost 20 years, however primarily it’s the big stock of recent and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes, stereo tools, books, DVDs and equipment alongside delivered with a dose of character. Seeing itself as a neighborhood hub, Harvest additionally hangs the work of native artists and hosts common in-store performances, listening events and different particular occasions. A DJ sales space in a single nook additionally supplies a soundtrack as you browse the 2 rooms of musical treasures and take a look at to withstand emptying your pockets. 

Honorable point outs: Records within the RAD, Voltage Records, Citizen Vinyl

Best Bookstore: Malaprop’s Bookstore

As a lot a neighborhood middle as a bookstore, thanks partly to its 40-plus years in enterprise, Malaprops devotes nearly all of its browse-friendly aisles to books for adults, kids and younger adults. But it provides a café, too, with native bakery treats and occasional. The constructing itself, initially a lodge inbuilt 1917 by Asheville’s first millionaire, provides a historic shine, whereas the activist edge comes from the bookstore founder’s escape from communist-era Hungary and keenness free of charge expression. The neighborhood aspect will get a serious enhance from the common occasions, together with e-book signings, creator conversations, e-book golf equipment and boards on neighborhood points. Also you’ll want to try their sister retailer, Downtown Book & News, a pair blocks away, which focuses on secondhand books.
 
Honorable Mentions: Firestorm Books, Bagatelle Books, Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar

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What to Do

Best Gallery: Wedge Studios

Asheville appreciates artwork a lot that it’s devoted a whole district to it. Stretching alongside the east financial institution of the French Broad River, the River Arts District takes up a former industrial zone that now groups with artwork studios, galleries and retailers supporting the greater than 280 artists that work there. Wedge Studios is the best place to start the exploration. Amid a labyrinth of studio areas throughout a number of flooring, guests can interact with the complete vary of mediums — portray, illustration, sculpture, metalwork, pottery and extra. When completed, pop round to the bottom of the constructing to relaxation your ft with a pint on the Wedge Brewing bar and flip by way of vinyl on the report retailer subsequent door. It’s the entire River Arts District expertise in a single constructing. 

Honorable Mentions: Momentum Gallery, Asheville Art Museum, Folk Art Center

Best Running/Hiking Trail: French Broad River Greenway

The Asheville space is nearly saturated with mountain climbing trails, a lot of which result in beautiful waterfalls and vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains. However, in Asheville itself, the French Broad River Greenway affords the longest paved working and biking trek attainable. Thanks to its location alongside the gently sloping riverbank, it’s additionally one of many flattest trails, perfect for all health ranges. The four-mile-ish greenway comes with charming views of the glowing river, canopies of bushes, nature-watching benches, picnic tables and lots of comfortable canine. On the east financial institution, discover a parallel paved path that runs alongside all the River Arts District, providing a large number of fast stop-offs for artwork, espresso, beer, meals and films. Otherwise, proceed the journey on the linked trails, together with the Wilma Dykeman Greenway on the north finish, which provides two extra miles, and the 1.4-mile Hominy Creek Greenway on the different. 

Honorable Mentions: Triple Falls in DuPont State Forest, The North Carolina Arboretum

Best Place for Live Music: The Grey Eagle

There’s an informal, homespun ambiance at this River Arts District music venue — one of many longest-running ones in Asheville. Much of it has to do with the intimacy of the principle room, which holds a max capability of 550 standing, however the in-house taqueria helps, as does its location considerably off the overwhelmed vacationer path that ensures a neighborhood crowd. Touring musicians of many genres have responded, gracing the stage with the likes of Ralph Stanley, Avett Brothers, Band of Horses, Richie Havens, Frank Black and Sharon Jones amongst many others since doorways opened in 1999. Grey Eagle additionally welcomes the spoken phrase, with month-to-month Moth story slams, watch events on the large display, burlesque and even toy expos. 

Honorable Mentions: The Orange Peel, Asheville Music Hall, Salvage Station

Tourist Spot That’s Actually Worth It: Asheville Pinball Museum

Perhaps extra arcade than museum, this assortment of 35 pinball machines — most of that are playable — affords not simply an hour or two of flipping enjoyable but in addition a survey of gaming historical past going again to the Forties. This additionally imbues every recreation with a heaping spoonful of nostalgia as you launch pinballs into the world of Star Trek, Evel Knievel, The Beatles, Jurassic Park, Twilight Zone and a lot extra. That’s simply the entrance room, too. Head into the again room to search out an virtually equal variety of ’70s, ’80s and ’90s arcade video games, from Q*bert to Frogger to Pac-Man. Gamer’s prize goes to the 1983 Star Wars in a sit-down cupboard, one among holy grails of gaming. Most are playable for an entry payment of $15 that lasts all day however a couple of machines, like Star Wars, price a couple of quarters further. 

Honorable Mentions: Moogseum, Moog Factory

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Where to Stay

Best Luxury Hotel: The Inn on Biltmore Estate

This inn affords extra than simply luxurious lodging, however a luxurious world. When the Vanderbilt household made their house in Asheville — the biggest non-public house within the nation on the time — they introduced luxurious on the highest ranges to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Today, the much-expanded property consists of this 210-room inn that immerses visitor on the earth of the Vanderbilt’s world with gilded-age impressed furnishings, full with four-poster mahogany beds and pillows bearing the “V” monogram of the Vanderbilt household amid a cream and beige colorscape. But you most likely gained’t spend a lot time in there as you discover the huge property choices, together with the mansion itself, a vineyard, equestrian middle, library, spa, mountain climbing trails and the 80 acres of landscaped gardens created by Frederick Law — and that’s simply to begin. 

Honorable Mentions: Omni Grove Park Inn

Best Boutique Hotel: The Radical

This freshly opened boutique lodge within the River Arts District works onerous to seize the enjoyable and quirk of Asheville and largely succeeds. Not solely does it observe the standard Asheville story of rehabilitating a beforehand vacant warehouse, it populates the 70 visitor rooms, two eating places and numerous widespread areas with “insurgent luxe” design that features colourful graffiti — some found and preserved throughout renovations — curtained headboards, temper lighting, tiger-print pillows, gold bogs and vivid, curvaceous furnishings. If it reminds you of a Wes Anderson film, that’s as a result of the design crew included one of many director’s set designers. Aiming for an entire boutique expertise, the Radical comes with an equally boutique restaurant, café and rooftop bar that appears west throughout the French Broad River and sunsets past. 

Honorable Mentions: The Restoration, The Windsor, Zelda Dearest

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May 28, 2024 at 05:44PM