8 Best Restaurants in Asheville, North Carolina

Breakfast is the champ at this bright and airy in-demand spot for biscuits, smashed avocado toast, and frittatas, but it's also worth a visit later in the day for delicious bites like fried halloumi with honey and capers.

Set in the ground floor of the historic Asheville Citizen Times Building, Citizen Vinyl is one of the South's foremost vinyl record producers. It's also a lounge, bar, coffee shop, and an excellent café, Session. Opt for a chicken salad melt, a breakfast sandwich with fried eggs and chili crisp, or sip a negroni and enjoy the classic playlist. 

BattleCat Coffee Bar is one of the funkiest local coffeehouses in Asheville, in a boldly painted, old wood house with a porch and ample picnic tables that draws those who like the relaxed ambience, free Wi-Fi, and Counter Culture coffee. Tiger Bay Cafe shares the space and kitchen here, serving generous bagel sandwiches and breakfast burritos.

With exposed brick walls and antique wood floors, this is a staple haunt for fresh-brewed coffees and teas, plus pastries and free Wi-Fi. There are also locations in North Asheville and Woodfin.

The perfect stop for chic picnic provisions, a memorable lunch, or a lively pintxos (small bar snacks) dinner with friends, fans of Cúrate are thrilled to find many of its specialties available at this sister establishment, including cured meats, cheeses, sangria—even paella. The "La Bodega Experience" is one of the best prix-fixe menus in town.

Old Europe's Hungarian owner creates authentic European pastries, all made fresh daily and complemented by Mountain City coffee (including the city's best cold-brewed iced coffee), owned by an MIT grad who brings a scientific approach to coffee roasting. Asheville's oldest, but arguably most peripatetic, coffeehouse opens early and stays busy until late. Its current location, just north of Pack Square, is close to several new hotels.