Each of Asheville’s neighborhoods has its own personality—and you can explore many of them on foot or by bike.
Courtesy of Neng Jr’s (L), courtesy of Explore Asheville (R)
This story was originally published in 2023 and was updated with new information August 6, 2026.
They call it the “Paris of the South.” Quite a nickname for Asheville, North Carolina, though one can see the resemblance. Art museums and galleries are around every corner. The architecture is stately and varied, a mix of neoclassical, Romanesque revival, art deco, Beaux-Arts, Gothic, and Spanish Renaissance. Most of it went up during the 1920s building boom, then sat largely untouched for the next 50 years because the 1929 crash left the city so deep in debt that nobody could afford to tear anything down and build something newer. And the food scene, arguably the best in the state, is both award-winning and true to its Appalachian roots. All of this is visible across Asheville’s many neighborhoods, each with their own personality and vibe.
As a North Carolina native and longtime resident who recently moved to Italy, Asheville is still the place I dream about, and the first stop I make when I fly home. I meet friends at Leo’s House of Thirst or the Pink Moon bar, and go dancing to jam bands at One World.
Hurricane Helene hit hard in September 2024, and anyone who lived through it remembers exactly where they were. What’s stayed with me since is how the entire city rebuilt with heart and our distinctive creative personality, especially the resilient River Arts District, where studios filled back up one by one.
And that’s only one of Asheville’s must-visit enclaves. Here are seven of my favorite Asheville neighborhoods to explore and stay in on your next trip.
Downtown Asheville for restaurants
Go for: star-studded chefs and award-winning restaurants, city vibes, and Blue Ridge Mountain views
Post-Hurricane Helene, downtown has come back as the busiest part of the city. Groovy shops and hidden clubs still rule the neighborhood, including Hotel Eve, which is not a hotel but a speakeasy jazz club in a courtyard with live sets Wednesday through Sunday. Bookmark Blue Spiral 1 (Southeastern contemporary art) and Asheville Art Museum (American art from the 20th and 21st centuries). For something entirely unexpected, the Basilica of St. Lawrence holds the largest freestanding elliptical dome in North America, built without a single beam of wood or steel by Rafael Guastavino, the same architect who worked on parts of the Biltmore Estate (as well as New York’s Grand Central Terminal and Boston’s Central Library). Dip into Battery Park Book Exchange‘s champagne bar for a bubbly break and step into the world of Malaprop’s, a cherished independent bookstore and café.
Where to eat
Some of the region’s most celebrated chefs and restaurants sit within blocks of each other downtown. There’s Katie Button’s Cúrate, William Dissen’s the Market Place, and Addissae, the Ethiopian restaurant that’s become a downtown staple. On a Friday night when the weather’s warm, dance at the Drum Circle in Pritchard Park and you’ll understand the city’s appeal . . . and why it still runs on its unofficial slogan, “Keep Asheville Weird.”
Where to stay
Book the Kimpton Hotel Arras, the Flat Iron Hotel (a 71-room reboot of a 1920s office building and home to the Luminosa Italian restaurant), or a surprising newcomer, Embassy Suites by Hilton Asheville Downtown, now a locals’ favorite thanks to Soprana Rooftop Cucina.
Related: These Are the 13 Best Hotels in Asheville
River Arts District for artists
Clayspace Co-op is an open artist studio and gallery in the River Arts District.
Photo by Krista Rossow
Go for: artist studios, a converted warehouse market, and a river corridor rebuilding after Hurricane Helene
In the late 1800s, RAD (River Arts District) was Asheville’s industrial center filled with stockyards, the Hans Rees & Sons tanneries, Asheville Cotton Mills, and meat processing plants along the French Broad River. By then, the Western North Carolina Railroad had laid tracks along the river, and the area became a coveted waterfront destination. By the 1940s, after a series of floods, businesses and residents abandoned the area for higher ground.
During the 1970s, artists moved into the empty buildings for cheap rent, and the area slowly became a creative haven and a hub for artists, later attracting restaurants and breweries. In September 2024, Hurricane Helene flooded roughly 80 percent of the district’s buildings and displaced more than 500 artists. Recovery has been slow but steady.
Marquee, a 50,000-square-foot converted warehouse, reopened with around 300 art and antique vendors back. On the Second Saturday of each month, the district holds gallery walks with workshops, live music, and winetastings. Clayspace Co-op, one of the district’s studio spaces, is home to cool, independent artists like MAWA Ceramics and Julie Wiggins; and it’s a great place to find unique souvenirs.
Where to eat
French Broad Chocolate Factory & Cafe, on Riverside Drive, still offers its daily bean-to-bar tours. Bull and Beggar (the burger never disappoints), All Souls Pizza, Crusco, Piccolina, and Anoche (for all things tequila, mezcal, and agave spirits) round out the district’s must-eat-and-drink stops. Behind RAD Brewing Co., a local tip is to seek out the Master BBQ food truck. It serves the best Filipino bites in the city.
Where to stay
The Radical, a restored 1920s cereal factory turned 70-room hotel with a restaurant and rooftop bar overlooking the French Broad, and Artful Way Hotel, a new 27-room hotel built with the district’s own artists, are appealing options.
West Asheville for local vibes
Discover natural wines and tasty snacks at Leo’s House of Thirst.
Photo by Reggie Tidwell
Go for: good music, good eats, and blending in with the locals
This is where the locals actually hang. Haywood Road, the neighborhood’s main street since the 1880s, is packed with indie shops and restaurants, and locals love it for both its proximity to downtown and its density of independent everything.
At Fleetwood’s Chapel, get married, drink a beer, and dig for vintage finds (perhaps a wedding dress) all in one space. Down the street, One World Brewing pours live music alongside offbeat beers like the Legacy Lager and the Ashvegas Pale Ale.
Shop at Bagatelle Books (connected via French doors to the garden shop next door, Flora), Nice Time Glass, Provisions Mercantile, and Garden Party (say hi to owners Tarleton and Seth, they’re the coolest!). Then find the neighborhood’s not-so-secret anymore bar behind the Double Crown dive bar, a door with a glowing pink light called Pink Moon, entry code posted nightly on Instagram.
Where to eat
For dinner, there’s Neng Jr’s, an 18-seat restaurant from chef Silver Iocovozzi serving pork belly and hand-pulled noodles worth planning a trip around (book ahead), or Gan Shan, where chef Ray Hui keeps locals happy with dumplings, wings, and the occasional Japanese hot dog. Leo’s House of Thirst pairs natural wines, some on tap, with always-on-menu deviled eggs and chicken liver mousse (don’t miss $30-bottle Tap Tuesdays). When dessert calls, Potential New Boyfriend is a wine and vinyl listening bar built around house-made ice cream (order whatever sundae exists and thank us later), while Regina’s Westside is a retro-pink, brunch-only dining establishment filled with lots of feminine energy thanks to Lisa Wagner and Kat Fitzgerald. Here you’ll find an ever-changing menu with comfort food brunch staples, like made-from-scratch biscuits and gravy and fried chicken with Thai pepper hot honey.
Where to stay
You won’t find hotels here; West Asheville is that local. But Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins, 16 A-frame cabins on the French Broad River Greenway, is a five-minute drive away.
The Block for history
Go for: Asheville’s hub of Black culture, history, and creativity
In the east end of downtown, the predominantly Black neighborhood the Block prospered from the early 1900s through the Great Depression, attracting headliners like Louis Armstrong to the neighborhood’s juke joints. Thanks to a recent revival, the Block has transformed into more than just a business district. At its heart is the YMI Cultural Center, originally founded as the Young Men’s Institute in 1893 by businessman Isaac Dickson and educator Dr. Edward S. Stephens. It remains the neighborhood’s anchor.
The YMI stands as a resilient cultural center for Asheville’s Black community, offering a business incubation program that supports Black entrepreneurs. Check out Noir Collective AVL, a boutique and art gallery where owner Ajax Ravenel gives Black makers in the city a collective place to sell items like art, incense, and books. Take a “Hood Tour” with social entrepreneur, veteran, and visual and performing artist DeWayne Barton to view the past, present, and future of African Americans in Asheville.
Where to stay
The Foundry Hotel is an upscale hotel housed in the restored red-brick buildings of the historic Asheville Supply & Foundry Company. It’s within walking distance to many restaurants and shops, too.
Biltmore Village for grandeur
Biltmore Estate is still owned by the Vanderbilts’ descendants.
Photo by William Recinos/Unsplash
Go for: a step back into the Gilded Age
In 1888, George W. Vanderbilt arrived in Asheville and was captivated by its beauty. He bought 125,000 acres of land and started designing his dream country estate, the Biltmore. Architect Richard Morris Hunt (designer of the base of the Statue of Liberty) and Frederick Law Olmsted (designer of New York’s Central Park) labored together to conceive the 250-room château and grounds, which included a village at the estate’s entrance to accommodate all the staff working on the property.
The Biltmore Estate itself is worth the visit alone. With 178,926 square feet to explore, it’s still the largest privately owned home in the United States, and Vanderbilt’s descendants own it to this day. Give yourself plenty of time to explore Olmsted’s 75 acres of gardens outside the house, especially the Walled Garden and Italian Garden. And take advantage of private tours of the estate’s winery.
Biltmore Village came to life as one of the first known planned communities in the USA where residents could live and work, with essentials like a school, shops, and post office. It was officially incorporated into the City of Asheville in the early 20th century and is now a sought-after destination for its shops, restaurants, and old English village vibe. The village holds one of Asheville’s best-kept secrets, Eda Rhyne Distillery, making small-batch Appalachian fernet and nocino with locally foraged ingredients.
Where to stay
You can stay in Biltmore Village at the Grand Bohemian Asheville, Autograph Collection. It reopened after a nearly $20 million renovation following five feet of floodwater in the lobby and a seven-month closure. The rebuilt hotel has an expanded gallery featuring artists affected by the storm, and Red Stag Grill now pours from a 700-bottle wine vault. On the estate itself, choose from Village Hotel, the Inn, and private historic Cottages on Biltmore Estate.
South Slope for craft breweries
Chai Pani is one of South Slope’s standouts for food and drinks; try the thali meals or snacks like okra fries.
Courtesy of Explore Asheville/Savannah Bockus
Go for: a dive into some of North Carolina’s finest craft breweries
South Slope was once part of Southside, one of Asheville’s historically Black centers of commerce and culture. Urban renewal programs from the 1960s through the 1980s demolished most of the neighborhood and displaced its residents, a loss the city is still reckoning with today. By the early 1900s the area had also grown into an industrial hub, and in the past decade its old warehouses have been converted into what’s now known as Asheville’s “brewery district,” a concentrated stretch of craft breweries within walking distance of each other.
Do a self-guided tour among Burial Beer Co., Hi-Wire Brewing, Wicked Weed Funkatorium (famous for sours), Green Man Brewery, and Twin Leaf Brewing. Non-beer drinkers can appreciate Antidote at Chemist Spirits and Urban Orchard Cider Co.
Where to eat
Sop up the brews with Little Chango, a family-owned Cuban and Puerto Rican kitchen known for its arepas, and Good Hot Fish, chef Ashleigh Shanti’s Southern seafood counter serving fish camp classics like deviled crab, hush puppies, and some of the South’s most sought-after fried fish sandwiches. Chai Pani (one of the best restaurants in Asheville) also relocated here, into the old Buxton Hall Barbecue space on Banks Avenue, a move that tripled its seating and finally made the wait for a table bearable. And if you’re not familiar with Mother Bakery & Cafe, it’s wise to educate yourself with their insanely delicious sourdough by way of sandwiches, toasts, and more (the French toast and lamb burger are non-negotiable).
Where to stay
To make brewery hopping easier, check into Zelda Dearest, a newer property spanning three restored turn-of-the-century mansions on Biltmore Avenue with a nod to Zelda Fitzgerald, who spent her final years in Asheville.
East Asheville for adventure
Go for: the adventure seeker, with the Blue Ridge Parkway and trails at your fingertips
East Asheville starts at the “mountain cut” on Tunnel Road and runs all the way to Swannanoa, a straight shot to more parkway hiking and outdoor adventuring. It’s also only 15 minutes from downtown. There’s the Folk Art Center (home to the Southern Highland Craft Guild, which represents more than 900 artisans across nine Appalachian states). The WNC Nature Center is worth a stop too; here, you’ll learn about native wildlife in the southern Appalachian mountains such as red pandas, red wolves, and the Eastern hellbender, one of the world’s largest salamanders.
This area is also home to Highland Brewing, Asheville’s first craft brewery, which has been pouring since 1994 out of a 40-acre campus with live entertainment, food trucks, and its own disc golf course. Speaking of golf, the Asheville Municipal Golf Course was built in 1927 by Donald Ross and became the first municipal course in the Southeast to integrate, and it’s hosted the Skyview Open, one of the country’s oldest Black golf tournaments, since 1960 (currently only the back nine is open while the front recovers from Helene damage).
On Fridays from 3 to 6 p.m., the East Asheville Tailgate Market sets up at Groce United Methodist Church on Tunnel Road and is a favorite pastime for all.
Where to eat
Locals hit Copper Crown (American South, Italian, and New Orleans on one menu), RendezVous (French comfort food), and Cornerstone for breakfast—and many places to caffeinate like Dobra Tea East, BattleCat, and PennyCup’s Haw Creek outpost.
Where to stay
Firelight at Shope Creek, of course, where eight Scandinavian-inspired cabins spread across 22 wooded acres along the creek, with private hot tubs, a garden and chicken coop supplying breakfast. Say hi to Brownie, the resident rooster and enjoy the new outdoor sauna. It’s just enough distance from downtown to feel like an actual retreat.
