Why North Asheville: Friendliest neighborhood with hidden gem dining
Why visit or live in North Asheville? Less than 10 minutes from Downtown, this Asheville neighborhood is full of local love. Enjoy a secret garden, a beautiful lake for bird watching, and one of the best sunset rooftop bars. Gain easy access to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and dine at lesser-known restaurants. As locals (not realtors), this is one of our most-frequented and favorite neighborhoods. Use this guide if you find yourself north of Downtown Asheville around Chestnut Street, Merrimon Avenue, and Charlotte Street.
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What You'll Find In This Guide
North Asheville Neighborhood Highlights
All photos are our own, of the food we’ve ordered/eaten and places we’ve visited.
Things To Do In North Asheville
There is so much to do for all budgets, ages, and interests in this active neighborhood. What we most think is worth your time:
- North Asheville Tailgate Market (our guide) – Every Saturday morning, shop for carnivorous plants, crispy kale, and cinnamon coconut pops. Stock up on delicious salmon, GF baked treats, and vegan chocolate.
- The Omni Grove Park Inn’s Annual National Gingerbread House Competition – November through January, spy unique gingerbread creations while sipping hot chocolate and drinking seasonal craft cocktails.
- Grovewood Village – Home to one of our favorite museums, The Estes-Winn Antique Car Museum, see a rare 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham and Asheville’s 1922 American LaFrance fire truck. Shop for local art in Grovewood Gallery.
- Beaver Lake – Free to the public, walk the 2.1 mile perimeter trail or visit the Bird Sanctuary. Leave a donation in the parking lot. There are no facilities. Beaver Lake makes for a great stop before or after dining at the area’s great restaurants.
- Botanical Gardens at Asheville – Head here for nature walks and picnics. This free botanical garden boasts a visitor center, wildflowers, and charming bridges.
- Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) Access – We hop on the back road to the BRP to access Craven Gap, Craggy Gardens, Craggy Pinnacle, Little Butt & Big Butt, and Mount Mitchell hikes.
- Fall Pumpkin Patch At Grace Episcopal Church – You know fall has arrived when you see this fundraiser pumpkin patch pop up on the hill. We go every year to grab our pumpkins. Bring your camera; it’s beautiful.
- Nearby Weaverville – It’s northern neighbor with a small and walkable downtown area, find good food, a dog park bar, and Lake Louise.
- Guided E-bike Tour – Take a likely-to-sell-out, guided electric bike tour of Downtown Asheville that goes to the Grove Park Inn.
North Asheville Restaurants
The restaurants in this area stay quieter than Downtown Asheville’s most well-known establishments. Most do not require advanced reservations. We have a guide dedicated to dining in North Asheville, but these are just a few of our favorite places to grab a bite to eat:
Casual Spots
- Zen Sushi – Our go-to, no-frills sushi spot with lunch specials.
- Romeo’s Vegan Burgers – In the same plaza as Zen, delicious vegan burgers and shakes. I love their Oreo milkshake.
- ELDR – Located in a fairytale-like cottage, I frequent ELDR for lunch and coffee with friends.
- Rye Knot – A neighborhood brewery and distillery with pub grub eats. Get a burger or fish and chips; tell Bob we say “hello.”
- Asheville Pizza & Brewing – A local brewery with beer and a movie theater perfect for the entire family. This is just one of their locations.
- Taco Temple – A local hot spot for tacos with a cool “temple” like interior.
- Montford Deli – Our favorite low-key, family-run business for sandwiches.
- 828 Family Pizzeria – A terrific family spot for pizza with all the nostalgia.
- Jettie Rae’s Oyster House – New England-style seafood with plentiful covered outdoor seating. I always need those fried clams. They also own North Asheville’s Vinnie’s Italian restaurant.
- Pulp & Sprout – A casual vegan cafe for bowls, smoothies, and GF options in Asheville’s Wellness District next to Liberty House Cafe.
On The Fancier Side
We suggest making reservations for these slightly more upscale restaurants:
- Little D’s – From the owners of Asheville Proper, enjoy casual neighborhood fine dining. I love the beets, seafood dishes, and wine list. The blue and green decor is beautiful.
- Bone & Broth – We champion this local Chestnut area tavern for bone broth, mussels, meats, and seafood.
- Plant – One of our all-time top Asheville restaurants for delicious vegan cuisine, I always order the cheese plate with dessert.
- Edison at the Grove Park Inn – We love Edison for those sunsets over the Blue Ridge Mountains. Get a burger, salad with salmon, Thai lettuce wraps, charcuterie, and more.
For Coffee, Drinks, and Desserts
- The Hop Ice – The Hop is hands down our favorite place for ice cream in Asheville, and as a lactose intolerant household, we appreciate their large vegan selection. They have multiple locations.
- Zillicoah Beer Company – On the edge of North Asheville and Woodfin, grab a beer next to the French Broad River. This local favorite boasts Filipino food from permanent food truck, Master BBQ. I usually order a Helles paired with tofu skewers and the ube dessert.
- PennyCup Coffee Co. – A great coffeeshop with strong brews perfect for digital nomads. They have multiple area locations.
- Geraldine’s Bakery – Think coffee, donuts, Italian cookies, and more!
Neighborhood Amenities, Services, & More
If you are considering living in North Asheville or spending a lot of time here, this section is for you.
Housing Information
The competitive housing market has driven up the price of homes in North Asheville. What once sold for $200,000 may go for $500,000 to $1.2 million+. Along with multi-million-dollar mansions, find starter (and slightly dated homes) in gorgeous and well-established neighborhoods. Spanish-style villas, craftsman bungalows, Colonials, contemporary homes, and Tudor houses line the streets.
This area of the city is home to retirees, UNC-Asheville college students, young families, and professionals. You’ll also see wildlife, including black bears, deer, wild turkeys, and bobcats. Along with its close access to Downtown AVL, North Asheville sits against Weaverville, Woodfin, and the River Arts District.
Specialty & Grocery Stores
North Asheville has the most specialty stores in one area. Along with Ingles, find:
- EarthFare (border of West Asheville)
- Harris Teeter
- Trader Joe’s
- Fresh Market
- Whole Foods
Other Attractions, Top-Notch Services, & Places To Stay
The area is also home to:
- Animal Hospital of North Asheville
- Charlotte Street Animal Hospital (they are great)
- North Asheville Library
- Country Club of Asheville (golf course)
- Novant Health-GoHealth Urgent Care (with virtual visits)
- Asheville Yoga Center
- Blind Tiger Asheville (gorgeous boutique inn)
- The Omni Grove Park Inn (luxury property with great restaurants)
More Great Neighborhoods In Asheville To Check Out
Christine Frascarelli
Christine (pronouns: she/her) is the owner and lead writer of Uncorked Asheville. After falling in love with those gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains, Christine and her husband Tom decided to call Asheville, North Carolina home. When her pointy Italian nose isn’t stuck in a book, Christine is adopting all of the kitties, getting lost in the forest, and drinking an ESB. She has a BA in English and History from Smith College, her MLIS from USF-Tampa, and is a former U.S. Fulbright Scholar - Indonesia. Christine also owns The Uncorked Librarian LLC with books and movies to inspire travel.