48 Hours in Downtown Asheville NC (Things To Do)

If you’re planning a weekend getaway to Asheville, then you’re in luck, because there’s plenty of things to do in downtown Asheville to make it the perfect weekend trip from Raleigh.

Located just a 4 hour drive away, downtown Asheville is the ultimate destination for a break in the North Carolina Mountains, famed for its location surrounded by the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and Pisgah National Forest, as well as being the commercial hub of Western North Carolina.

If you don’t know what to do in downtown Asheville, then keep reading to see what we got up to in Asheville over a 48-hour period during a weekend. We’ve also shared some of our favorite restaurants and places to stay, to help you plan your trip!

Key takeaways

Unmissable stops

• Go shopping in the Grove Arcade, full of independent shops and art galleries
• Explore the rebuilding River Arts District and visit the studios and support the artists
• Check out the Biltmore Estate (possible on another trip, it requires a full day)
• Discover Asheville’s craft beer scene

Restaurants and Bars

• 12 Bones Smokehouse and Brewing for amazing NC State BBQ – Obama visited there, twice!
• Summit Coffee Co a great place for a coffee and pastry!
• Early Girl Eatery is one of our top options for breakfast

Where to stay in Asheville

If you don’t know where to stay in Downtown Asheville, we were happy with our choice of Hotel Indigo Downtown Asheville with its gorgeous mountain views and walkable distance to downtown – definitely ask for a mountain view room!

Located within an easy walk to all the Downtown Asheville restaurants, shops, music venues and experiences, including the popular South Slope for trendy breweries and local vibe.

We prefer accommodation options that help to tell the story of the area we are visiting, and this boutique Asheville hotel does that with its ideal location, engaging service (with insider tips), and local flavors in both art and food. Read our full review.

Other downtown Asheville places to consider include:

• AC Hotel Asheville Downtown
• Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville
• Kimpton – Hotel Arras
• Award-winning artistic cabin just 10-minutes drive from downtown

Here are top places to stay in Asheville (to suit all budgets and styles)

Getting around

Downtown is compact and highly walkable, but if you plan on exploring farther afield, such as to the artsy River Arts District or Biltmore Estate, then you can either drive your own car or get rideshares like Uber, which are widely available. Asheville’s ART (Asheville Rides Transit) buses connect key neighborhoods and attractions, but if you prefer your own wheels, the city is relatively bike-friendly.

Itinerary

Day 1

8:00am: Breakfast at Early Girl Eatery

We enjoyed a delicious brunch at Early Girl Eatery on our first day and the kind of farm-to-table experience you expect from Asheville restaurants in the area with meals made from scratch and ingredients sourced from the highest quality in the region.

On the menu are breakfast bowls, omelets, biscuits, burgers and southern breakfasts plus lots of gluten free options too for those who are sensitive!

We recommend the Heirloom Organic Grit Cake Stack piled with mushrooms, red pepper, squash and a southern tomato sauce. Kalyra enjoyed her spicy chicken sandwich with bacon.

10:00am: Go Shopping in Asheville

One of the cool things to do in downtown Asheville is explore all the independent stores, including 200+ locally owned stores and boutiques. I’m not typically much of a shopping person, but Caroline and our kids are and there’s a certain mountain energy here that draws you in.

We were all content to wander up and down the streets, it’s all very walkable and I was quite impressed with the downtown Asheville shopping scene and all it had to offer.

There are several main streets, each with interesting stores and a different vibe. Lexington Avenue was a clear favorite for us, where yuppy hip crossed with punk grunge in a way that works and reminded me of some streets in Melbourne, Australia. Put the below downtown Asheville shops on your itinerary:

Grove Arcade

One of the most famous places to shop in Asheville is the Grove Arcade. This mall is located in an elegant historical building and here you’ll find a variety of retail stores, eateries, the Battery Park Book Exchange + Champagne Bar mentioned above and a daily artists market for local crafters.

Element Tree Essentials

Element Tree Essentials was Caroline’s favorite store in Asheville, and I literally had to drag her out of there after resisting buying all the things and settling for their signature hand lotion candles and a creativity spell jar for Savannah’s Christmas present.

Asheville Bee Charmer

If you love bees and honey, don’t miss the Asheville Bee Charmer store who have 2 locations in downtown Asheville. 

These guys work with beekeepers across Western North Carolina, and the world, to curate a selection of delicious 100% pure, raw honey.

They have a honey tasting bar at the back, where Bee-ristas take you on a honey tasting adventure around the world from local sourwood honey, to firecracker hot.

NOTE: it is always best to purchase local honey when you can. Not only does it support the local economy, but since bees are local pollinators the raw honey produced can help your body adapt to the environment, build up immunity, and help ease those seasonal allergies!

Asheville Emporium

Let’s face it, most souvenir type shops tend to be a little tacky, but the Asheville Emporium had a surprising number of cool local gifts and the perfect kind of travel souvenirs if that’s your thing? And they also have their own printing section for t-shirts you can check out and choose from.

If you’re looking for black owned businesses in Asheville, check out this guide from Caroline’s friend Nadeen from The Sophisticated Life.

Asheville Chocolate & French Broad Chocolate Lounge

Chocolate lovers rejoice. Downtown Asheville has more than its fair share of  local, hand crafted chocolate stores. Check out the following chocolate places:

• Asheville Chocolate offers small batch truffles and gelato made by hand in store. You can even watch them make it while you wait.

• The Chocolate Fetish: wowing Asheville since 1986 with award winning truffles and European style chocolates.
• French Broad Chocolate Lounge: Located in the unmissable celestial blue building, this very popular emporium has artisanal, organic chocolates and pastries and signature sipping chocolates. 

12:00pm: Lunch at Chai Pani

I’ve never been to India and had Indian street food, but after tasting several dishes at Chai Pani I think I’d enjoy eating my way through India  – we’ve already spent over one year in Southeast Asia and love Asian cuisine. 

Chai Pani has received accolades from the Washington Post to Fox News for its cuisine, and the brightly colored walls and murals are the perfect match to the vibrant flavor diversity of its dishes from thalis, to uttapam, street burgers and snacks.

1:30pm: Check Out Battery Park Book Exchange + Champagne Bar

What a cool concept this place is. If you fancy some champagne tasting with a charcuterie board inside a cool bookstore, step inside the Battery Park Book Exchange + Champagne Bar and experience a taste of French sophistication. As we entered, a live bluegrass band was playing in the corner, and visitors and locals were exploring the large selection of books on offer and tasting flights, the norm in here!

The ambiance is cozy and welcoming. Black curtains draped the windows, and we grabbed a spot on the comfy couch and opted for a sparkling wine cocktail and Syrah instead paired with a charcuterie board with local goat’s cheese.

2:00pm: Coffee at Ultra Coffee Bar

Located at the corner of the 5 points intersection in the heart of the River Arts District, Ultra Coffee Bar is a specialty coffeeshop and café with a full espresso bar who also serve Counter Culture Coffee from Durham. Cold brew is on tap and their Nitro Cold Brew is a specialty.

Their coffee was good, but I think I enjoyed the interior space and outside sitting area more than the coffee. The other highlight for us was the range of menu items including bagels, English muffins, wraps, paninis, house made baked goods and that they offer gluten free options!

3:00pm: Explore the River Arts District

Located just south of the main downtown Asheville area, the River Arts District is one of the top things to do in Asheville and well worth your time. It was devastated by Storm Helene back in 2024, but the artists and local community have been working hard to rebuild and recover, so it’s well worth your visit to help contribute to the restoration of this creative hub.

This district is divided into hubs that take up a block or two and each hub is identified by a color, which is on the signs (and map) for each corresponding area. 

Within each hub you’ll find art studios, galleries, places to eat and drink including BBQ joints, craft breweries and coffee shops, an abundance of cool murals, plus live music venues and a skate park. There’s something here for everyone and you could easily spend half a day here taking it all in.

Creativity is on full display here as you wander each block that runs alongside the French Broad River. A few of our favorite things include:

• NC Glass Center – you can take a glass blowing class if you have time.
• Summit Coffee – the best coffee in Asheville (see more about coffee shops below).
• Wedge Brewery – cool industrial feel of their location at (the red section). They also have one in the blue.

Read our full guide to the River Arts District over on our international travel blog.

4:00pm: Participate in an Art Class

Asheville is of course very artsy, and on a previous Asheville trip our two daughters participated in an art class which is one of the fun things to do in Asheville with kids and for them to get to know the culture on a deeper level. There are various places in Downtown Asheville for art classes. The FiredUp Lounge has pottery and painting classes.

6:00pm: Get Nostalgic at Asheville Pinball Museum

If you’re a fan of classic video games and nostalgic arcades, then you’ve got to head over to the Asheville Pinball Museum, which not only features 75+ antique pinball machines, but you can actually play them too! They also have some classic arcade games to play, too.

7:00pm: The Market Place

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On our visit to Downtown Asheville, we ate at the iconic 12 Bones Smokehouse (so good Obama went their twice!). It’s now moved to 15 minutes south of Asheville. After a bit of research, we found that They Market Place is another iconic Asheville restaurant you may want to experience.

For over 40 years this farm-to-table dining experience has been serving American cuisine with ingredients sourced from local producers. Combined with its chic decor, it’s the perfect meal choice for those wanting something a little more elevated that represents the Asheville spirit. It’s been a James Beard semifinalist twice: Outstanding Chef in America for 2025 and Outstanding Restaurant in America for 2024.

For something a little more casual – especially if you are visiting Asheville why kids – you may prefer the S&W Market, located in a historic Art Deco building. it’s a bustling food court with options to suit all palates from hot dogs to fri3ed chicken, Peruvian food and ice cream. We’ve eaten here before and really like its swanky vibes.

10:00pm: Drinks at a quirky pub

Finish the night with a night on the town, exploring Asheville’s nightlife scene. Some of our favorite pubs and bars are:

Olde London Road English Pub

Home of the Asheville City Soccer Club, the Olde London Road is a European Soccer Bar located in the River Arts District.

I stared longingly through the windows of this English pub as we walked by. Crowds of people sat with their team scarves draped over their shoulders eagerly watching their team on the screen.

Our kids wouldn’t have been happy if we stopped in to watch. But, if you’re a soccer (football) fan, this may be a place you want to stop, especially if there is a game on.

The Crow & Quill Speakeasy Bar

I felt like I had stepped into the shadowy underworld as we walked through the non-descript green door of the Crow & Quill with the light above it of what looked like an abandoned building. 

The dimly lit room was filled with antique furniture, art on the walls and an elaborate array of whiskeys from around the world and other spirits such as rums, mezcals, and gins (700 in total). 

Known for their expertly created craft cocktails, this is a cool Asheville Speakeasy Bar and, in a way, reminded us of Revival 1869 in Clayton, Johnston County. 

Jack of the Wood

Walking past the windows of Jack of the Wood seeing the Irish band playing in the corner I knew it was a bar we wanted to come back to. Anything to give us a taste of Ireland – our once home for a year that we miss so much!

Well, we did return the next evening on a Sunday, but the amps were turned off and the city almost empty (I guess because it was Thanksgiving weekend).

However, we pulled up a seat at the bar and enjoyed a local craft brew, a delicious cider from Urban Orchard Cidery that tasted just like Thanksgiving, and a chat with the bartender.

Day 2

8:30am: Breakfast at The Rhu

If you love Southern biscuits like me, be sure to head to The Rhu and order one of their fluffy, melt in your mouth biscuits. And gluten free folks you’re in luck as they have GF biscuits too! 

This popular cafe, bakery and pantry also offer sandwiches, bagels, chocolate croissants, pastries, and their own loaves of bread.

9:30am: Visit Asheville Museum of Science

On Patton Street in Downtown Asheville, you’ll find the Asheville Museum of Science, another of the popular Asheville attractions for kids. Small enough to not bore parents and big enough to entertain young kids, the Asheville Science Museum is a good place to spend an hour or so. 

10:00am: Visit the Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site

Check out the childhood home of Thomas Wolfe, an American author known for his novel “Look Homeward, Angel”, to which his boyhood home is vividly bought to life. The house has now been turned into a living museum dedicated to his life and legacy.

10:30am: Coffee at Summit Coffee Co

Another quality Asheville coffee spot is Summit Coffee Co and possibly my favorite in the city. We always appreciate coffee that is responsibly sourced and roasted in small batches in their certified organic facility. We visited their River Arts District location, but they also have a place in the Grove Arcade.

11:30am: Take a Tour of Downtown Asheville

If you like taking local tours to get a feel for a new destination, consider this Guided Walking Tour of downtown that focuses on the city’s history, architecture, and culture. Another option is this 2.5-hour guided tour by electric bike including downtown and greenways.

12:00pm: Lunch at The Med

If you’re looking for breakfast in downtown Asheville the locals love, pull up a stool like we did at the diner counter and enjoy watching the cooks expertly take care of an endless line of waiting orders at this iconic Asheville Diner.

The Med serves up plates of omelets, French toast, pancakes, country ham and eggs, homemade hash browns, and biscuits, plus modern breakfast items like bowls and fancy grits.

Open for breakfast and lunch. Keep in mind it’s one of the most popular downtown Asheville restaurants so plan your time accordingly!

1:30pm: Marvel at Biltmore Estate

Although not in downtown Asheville, it’s only a 2.5-mile drive to The Biltmore Estate and I can’t write about Asheville without mentioning one of my favorite attractions in North Carolina. America’s largest home sits on an 8,000-acre estate nestled in the NC mountains of Asheville, an estate we have visited three times, and we always take family when they visit from Australia.

You can just visit the magnificent 250 room, 175,000 square feet home on a 2-day itinerary, but this estate is a destination on its own and deserves more time including at the village, gorgeous gardens, 20+ miles of hiking trails, and its own Biltmore Estate winery. 

So why not linger a while. You can explore by bike, segway tours, paddle boarding, horse riding, and enjoy spa services and many other activities on offer on the estate grounds. Click to read our guide to visiting the Biltmore Estate.

And, if you want to make Biltmore the main focus when you visit Asheville, we previously stayed on site at The Inn on Biltmore Estate and highly recommend it as a way to enhance your Biltmore Estate experience! Read our full review here. Both Biltmore Estate and Asheville made our list of top spring vacation destinations from Raleigh.

7:00pm: Dinner at Suwana’s Thai Orchid

Having lived in Bangkok for six months and a year in total in Thailand, we are fussy with our Thai food and can pick an authentic dish with one mouthful.

While you’ll never get Thailand authentic in the US, Suwana’s Thai Orchid was a good substitute, and the simple décor and restaurant space brought back fond Thailand memories. 

On the menu are your Thai favorites including noodle dishes, rice bowls, classic stir fries, curries, spring rolls, dumplings, and my favorite, mango sticky rice!

8:00pm Explore Asheville’s craft beer scene

Asheville has a well known craft beer scene, so you must make sure to sample some of the home-grown brews while you’re visiting, if craft beer is your scene. Some of our favorite breweries are:

Burial Brewing

A legend in the North Carolina brewing world and originating out of Asheville, I love visiting the Burial Beer location here in Raleigh too but they are a must stop on your Asheville brewery tour.

Not only do they make excellent beer, but their brewery in Asheville is super cool with lots of outdoor space and cool artwork, you can’t miss the mural featuring Sloth from the Goonies.

Asheville Brewing

With a covered outdoor space and delicious pizzas, Asheville Brewing is a casual place to drop in, especially if you are traveling with kids like us, we’ve been here several times. And the gluten free pizza here was probably the best we’ve had.

Green Man Brewery

Just outside of downtown Asheville, Green Man offers a terrific selection of beers that are true to style in a cool building, relaxing atmosphere, with a great setup for outdoor seating (and indoors).

Hi-Wire Brewing

Another of the more established breweries in Asheville is Hi-Wire Brewing, who now has locations in Durham and Knoxville. The guys at Hire-Wire love to brew traditional styles, and beer they want to drink!

Wedge Brewing Company

Tucked away behind the art studios is an industrial railroad yard is the popular brewery and beer garden of Wedge Brewing Company.

While the vibe feels cluttered and thrown together it really works. I loved the industrial welding artistic style of the place with its tables, seats, and hanging art pieces made from salvaged iron and steel, possibly paying homage to Wedge Studios founder, metal artist John Payne.

They have regular rotating food trucks and patrons love their hoppy IPAs and stouts. Look for live music on Saturdays! They also have another location at the Foundy Section of the Arts District.

Catawba Brewery

Sports lovers will appreciate Catawba Brewery with its wide open, inside area and big screens. It also has an outside beer garden that hosts food trucks.

Brewery Tours

If you really want to get into the Asheville beer scene, here are a few guided tours to consider:

1. This Guided Walking Brewery Tour can help you discover which breweries are worth the hype and they take you behind-the-scenes with ample pours at each brewery.
2. How about an Electric Bike Brewery Crawl to five of Asheville’s most popular microbreweries, enjoying a drink (or two) at each location. 

Optional extra: Partake in a Friday Night Drum Circle

If you happen to be in Asheville on a Friday night, then be sure to head over to Pritchard Park for the weekly drum circle. This is a free event and anyone can take part. Bring a drum, or just come along for the experience. Join hundreds of musicians every Friday from around 6.00pm until 9.45pm. Just listen for the beat to find them!

Map of Attractions in Downtown Asheville

This interactive map shows some of the top attractions in downtown Asheville that we visited over this weekend getaway as well as the restaurants we recommended in this itinerary.

Final thoughts

We spent two days exploring the funky and artsy vibe of Asheville, along with the food, craft beer, arts and shopping scene. The good news is our kids loved it as much as we did, which always makes for a better family vacation. 

What I love about Asheville is that it’s a destination focused on LOCAL. From the arts scene to shopping to the fantastic Asheville restaurants and local breweries, you’ll barely find a chain anywhere in the city center.

And we really love how walkable the Asheville downtown area is. Simply park your car at your hotel and explore on foot – you will need a vehicle to explore nearby attractions though! We hope this guide helped you plan your trip and gave you some inspiration for what to do. Need more tips? Let us know any questions you have in the comments!

Places to visit near Asheville

If you’re looking for more ideas for a longer trip, check out the following posts for more inspiration and things to do in the Asheville region.

• Best Things to Do in Boone, NC
• Top Places To Go in the North Carolina Mountains (Western NC)
• Slip Into Serenity With These 8 Things To Do In Lake Lure, NC
• Lake Junaluska, North Carolina Mountains – a retreat for the spiritually minded
• Climb 499 Steps To The Top of Chimney Rock, NC for Incredible Views!
• 7 day road trip itinerary between Raleigh and Cherokee
• How to enjoy a weekend in the Great Smoky Mountains