Explore the best River Arts District restaurants in Asheville, NC.
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Stay tuned for more updates post-Helene: Tom and I need to try out the newer RAD restaurants like ButterPunk and Golden Hour, but I am very behind on updating some of these articles (there were SO many devastating changes with Helene, so please bear with me). I’m getting my stomach ready, though.
Baby Bull – Burgers & Sandwiches
Centrally located for all of your River Arts District exploring, fight that burger craving. Baby Bull is casual, local, and family & budget-friendly.
Curated by The Bull and Beggar, start by looking for the Asheville silo. Enjoy a no-frills establishment serving one of the best burgers in all of Asheville. Their sandwich specials rotate daily and seasonally. Catch a lobster roll or fried fish, pork cutlet, or pressed pork sandwich along with your beef burger. Sides include pork rinds, fries, and hushpuppies.
A local favorite, Baby Bull hosts “Burger Monday,” featuring a burger, fries, and beer or soda. This RAD spot is great for the warmer months, especially in the evening by the river.
Baby Bull | 1 Roberts St, Asheville, NC 28801
The Bull And Beggar – Fine Dining For Meat Lovers
Nothing beats a delicious fine dining restaurant, especially for meat lovers. The Bull and Beggar promises rich cuisine in a romantic setting.
With a small but extravagant (and impressive!) dinner menu, find anything from beef tartare, oysters, and ribeye to duck, pork belly, and pasta. Not to mention that The Bull And Beggar also makes one of the classiest charcuterie boards in the city.
We highly suggest making advanced dinner reservations. Read about even more of Asheville’s cozy date night restaurants.
The Bull And Beggar | 37 Paynes Way #007, Asheville, NC 28801
All Souls Pizza – Artisanal Pizza
Craving delicious pizza in Asheville? All Souls Pizza is a popular RAD joint for its indoor and outdoor seating and budget-friendly prices.
On the edge of RAD, across from The Grey Eagle Music Hall, think all things artisanal pizza. Or, enjoy mouthwatering seasonal plates like monkfish, clams, fried okra, and cauliflower along with heaping salads, sandwiches, soups, and olives.
This is another one of the best Asheville River Arts District restaurants with outdoor dining. Pull up at a picnic table.
All Souls Pizza | 75 Clingman Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
New Belgium Brewing Company – Brewery With Food Trucks
Located between the River Arts District and West Asheville, this nationally recognized brewery is a great stop for a beer tour. And, you know AVL is famous for its breweries. Catch a rotating food truck with your delicious hoppy brew while looking out over the French Broad River.
Plus, New Belgium Brewing Company is one of Asheville’s top sightseeing attractions that locals also enjoy. Take a brewery tour before settling in at an outdoor picnic table or the indoor taproom.
There is plenty of space, and we most love that this brewery connects to the French Broad River Greenway and RAD Riverwalk.
Just a few of the rotating food trucks you might see at New Belgium include:
- Cecilia’s Kitchen – With a brick-and-mortar North Asheville restaurant, enjoy sweet and savory crepes, empanadas, salads, and more.
- The Smokin’ Onion – A dedicated vegan food truck with loads of gluten-free options, including GF fried onion rings and pickles, veggie burgers, and gyros.
For beverages, it’s safe to say that most beer drinkers probably have heard of Fat Tire or Voodoo Ranger IPA. That’s New Belgium. Their beers tend to run a bit hoppy – for my taste – but I crave that seasonal Oktoberfest. New Belgium also has hard teas, seltzers, and juices, as well as sour ales.
New Belgium Brewing Company | 21 Craven St, Asheville, NC 28806
River Arts District Breweries
All of these breweries in the River Arts District have reopened since Helene:
- Wedge At Wedge Studios (37 Paynes Way, Suite 001)
- Wedge At Foundation (5 Foundy St, Ste 10)
- Ginger’s Revenge (829 Riverside Dr, Suite 100) – GF beer
- Hi-Wire Brewing RAD Beer Garden (284 Lyman St)
- River Arts District Brewing (13 Mystery Street)
- Zillicoah Beer Co. (870 Riverside Dr, Woodfin)