How to Spend a Perfect Day in West Asheville
Welcome to West Asheville! Spending a perfect day in West Asheville is a delightful experience. This vibrant neighborhood is known for its eclectic atmosphere, unique shops, excellent dining options, and charming local community. I may be a little biased because I live in West Asheville, but I think once you spend some time here, you’ll love it too!
Here’s a suggested itinerary for a perfect day in West Asheville, filled with some of my favorite local haunts:
Morning:
Start your day with a delicious breakfast at one of West Asheville’s popular brunch spots. Biscuit Head or Sunny Point Café are excellent choices known for their tasty dishes and friendly service. Start early if you can, because both restaurants are known to bring in a crowd. At Sunny Point Café, I recommend the avocado toast. You can’t beat the crispy bacon and balsamic reduction drizzled on top. If you’re craving something sweet, head over to Hole Doughnuts. “Hole” was recently awarded Yelp’s second highest rating for “Top 100 Donuts”. Their doughnuts are fried to order right in front of you and come out hot!
After breakfast, take a leisurely stroll along Haywood Road, the main street in West Asheville. Explore the various shops, boutiques, and galleries that line the street. You’ll find a wide range of locally made crafts, vintage clothing stores, and independent bookshops to browse. A few of my personal favorites are: Ware – a zero waste home goods store, Provisions Mercantile – a beautifully curated assortment of gifts, home goods, locally made artisan food products, accessories and apparel, Sparky’s Toys & Gifts – a toy store guaranteed to delight children and adults alike, and Flora – a floral design studio and retail plant shop. Really, there are too many great shops to list here. Follow your curiosity and see what you discover!
Afternoon:
For lunch, indulge in West Asheville’s diverse culinary scene. There are numerous options catering to different tastes and dietary preferences. Try Nine Mile for delicious Caribbean-inspired dishes, Haywood Common for a seasonal New American menu with an outdoor dining patio, or Taco Boy for tacos with innovative fillings. If you do find yourself at Haywood Common or Taco Boy, be sure to stop by The Whale Craft Beer Collective next door. The Whale pours brews from around the world plus wine, cider, mead & sake. Their menu changes regularly and I have never had a bad beer there! Don’t forget to stop by the infamous mural of Dolly Parton and RuPaul on the corner of Haywood Road and Mildred Avenue, and snap an Instagram worthy photo of yourself to commemorate your experience.
After lunch, head to Carrier Park, a beautiful green space along the French Broad River. Enjoy a leisurely walk or rent a bike to explore the park’s paved trails. You can follow the French Broad River Greenway all the way to the River Arts District, or you can find a shady spot to sit and relax by the river.
Evening:
For dinner, savor the flavors of West Asheville by dining at one of its renowned restaurants. Leo’s House of Thirst is a fantastic choice for an eclectic dining experience in a low-key wine bar. If you’re in the mood for pizza, check out Pizza Mind. Feel free to take your pie next door to Archetype Brewing West and enjoy your dinner in the tap room. Jargon and The Admiral are other great date-night worthy dining options.
End your perfect day in West Asheville by catching a live music performance. You can find live music any day of the week by visiting www.livemusicasheville.com for a schedule of local performances. If live music is not your thing, head over to the Asheville Retrocade, a hangout offering a vast range of vintage and modern video and arcade games and play to your heart’s content. If somehow after all of that, you have room for dessert, saunter over to Moo Cookie Company and buy one of their delicious giant cookies.
Whatever you decide to do in West Asheville, it’s best to approach the neighborhood with the spirit of spontaneity. Allow yourself to be curious and explore places you might not normally explore. Asheville locals are known to be friendly and welcoming. Connect with folks you cross paths with and you are guaranteed to have an unforgettable experience in this special Asheville neighborhood.
—Contact Lauren for more information and referrals on how to get started.