Just 15 miles east of Asheville, Black Mountain is one of Western North Carolina’s most charming small towns, and one of our absolute favorite places to escape for a day trip or overnight getaway (we adore mountain staycations).
Tom and I have spent countless weekends enjoying the walkable downtown, and we keep coming back for good reason. We love booking a room at Peri Social House, celebrating special occasions over a romantic dinner at The Pure & Proper, then waking up to sparkling Lake Tomahawk with Dough House donuts in hand or settling in for a local brunch at family-run Cousins Cuban Café. The boutique shops like C.W. Moose Trading Company and Mountain’s Nest Gallery mean we never leave empty-handed, and we fuel up with artsy lattes from Dripolator before grabbing craft cocktails at Oak & Grist.
Whether you’re an Asheville local like us looking for a quick escape or a visitor with a free afternoon, Black Mountain will spark that mountain wanderlust. In this guide, Tom and I are sharing everything we recommend: where to stay, eat, drink, and shop, including the best things to do in Black Mountain, NC.
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P.S. The Cherokee lived here, and the region is best known for its Southern Appalachian arts and crafts scene. Be sure to visit the Black Mountain College Museum & Art Center in Downtown Asheville to learn more, which is free to the public. 📸 All photos are our own over the years. 💙 Christine
How To Spend One Day In Black Mountain
Are you visiting for a day or staying overnight in Black Mountain? Use this cheatsheet to plan your getaway, and keep scrolling for our in-depth recommendations. You might also enjoy these similarly charming mountain towns and easy day trips by car.
Morning
- Grab breakfast or brunch at Cousins Cuban Cafe or Dough House (vegan & GF donuts!)
- Stroll Lake Tomahawk
- If Wednesday to Saturday, head to the Swannanoa Valley Museum and History Center
Afternoon
- Eat lunch at Trailhead, Foothills Grange, or The Bush Farmhouse
- Shop at Sassafras on Sutton, North Carolina Glass Center, C. W. Moose Trading Company, and Mountain Nest Gallery
- Grab a coffee at Dripolator, Dynamine Roasting, or Peri Social House
- Drink craft beer at a local brewery like Lookout Brewing Company or Black Mountain Brewing
Late Afternoon & Evening
- Dinner at Berliner Kindl, The Pure & Proper, or Thai Basil
- Gin and whiskey taste at Oak & Grist
- Settle into a quaint Bed & Breakfast; we love Peri Social House
While In The Area
- Visit Downtown Old Fort
- Hike Catawba Falls
- Bike Old Fort’s Gateway Trails
- Enjoy Asheville like a first-timer
Best Things To Do In Black Mountain
These are just a few of the area’s attractions and activities that we enjoy.
Walk Lake Tomahawk Park
Spy baby ducks and geese, along with vibrant blooms and fall foliage-covered trees at Lake Tomahawk Park. Visitors and locals come here to relax, play, fish with a valid license, boat (no motors), and enjoy the 16.3-acre park with the lake at its center.
Around the park, find facilities, tennis courts, a children’s playground, and a .55-mile, flat and stroller-friendly perimeter trail with bridges. Hang out at the pavilion with picnic tables and play horseshoes.
Shop for souvenirs, local pottery, and new book releases
Do I need moose yoga pajama pants and screen-printed t-shirts with bears? Obviously! Peruse Black Mountain’s walkable downtown, casually dipping in and out of shops. My favorite stores in Black Mountain include:
- C. W. Moose Trading Company – Find mountain-themed t-shirts and souvenirs. Think bear ornaments, llama plant holders, and fox coffee mugs. I own far too many T-shirts and pajamas from them.
- Town Hardware & General Store – Buy some Kitty Piddle soda. Pretty much every WNC town has a general store, selling everything from local literature – Ron Rash and Jan Karon – to shovels. You never know what you’ll find.
- Sassafras On Sutton – This is an impressive book, toy, and coffee shop oasis filled with lit t-shirts, rainbow plush owls, botanical LEGOs, totes, board games, and the best new book releases. It’s one of my favorite area bookshops.
- Mountain Nest Gallery – Find local artists across the South. Even as I update this article, I’m drinking coffee from a mug I bought here, made by Pottery Chick. Shop for jewelry, home decor, paintings, pottery, and more.
- North Carolina Glass Center – I was so excited when the NC Glass Center opened a second location in Black Mountain. Along with glass blowing workshops (bucket list here!), shop for blown glass art like the gorgeous flower currently sitting on my desk. Find their other location in Asheville’s River Arts District.
Celebrate the area’s history & culture
For free things to do in Black Mountain, drop into the Swannanoa Valley Museum and History Center to learn more about Buncombe County’s history through its exhibits and collections.
Tom and I appreciated learning about the floods and Black Mountain’s role in WW2. Peer into an old jail cell, and spy a map of the surrounding mountain ranges. See a former hospital bed, chamber pot, and switchboard. Grab an indie-written history book while asking the helpful and friendly staff questions. The museum sits in the former firehouse.
If you are walking toward Que Sera and close to Sasafrass on Sutton, you’ll also come across The Old Depot. Learn more about the railroad, check out the red caboose, and visit The Old Depot Gallery, which is also free.
2026 Construction Updates:
Event Venue White Horse Black Mountain is currently under construction, with events temporarily at partner locations.
Delicious Restaurants In Black Mountain We Love
We have an entire guide to Black Mountain restaurants. Dine in a former gas station or a farm-like business. Just a few highlights:
🍳 Family-owned, Cousins Cuban Cafe is a must for an authentic Cuban breakfast, brunch, and lunch. We love their pork bowls, yucca fries, plantains, and Cuban sandwiches. They are closed on Wednesdays.
🥨 Closed Sundays and Mondays, don’t let this kitsch interior deter you. For lunch or dinner, devour German sausages and pork schnitzel at Berliner Kindl German Restaurant. Expect friendly service and cozy dining.
🐟 You might just catch Tom and I at The Bush Farmhouse (a great Helene comeback after completely flooding). This is one of our go-to restaurants. Open 7 days a week, we love sitting outside with the farm animals and a terrific South African wine. This unique restaurant has my favorite oxtail soup, burgers, and whole fish.
🥪 Open 7 days a week, Trailhead is a budget and family-friendly local staple for burgers, sandwiches, and brews. I love that their menu names dishes after local hiking areas.
🍔 Everyone knows Foothills Grange, a large part of the Black Mountain community. Open 7 days a week and dog and kid-friendly, this is one of the best casual restaurants in Black Mountain with plentiful outdoor seating. Order a burger, hot dog, sandwich, or salad.
💕 Closed Mondays, dine in a former gas station at The Pure and Proper. This restaurant has the most romantic ambiance and mouthwatering food, perfect for date night. They also serve lunch and Sunday brunch. I suggest making advanced reservations on Resy, especially for dinner.
Where To Get Coffee & Sweets In Black Mountain
For sweet things to do in Black Mountain, head to any of these delicious places for dessert or coffee:
- Dripolator Coffeehouse – One of our favorite places for coffee in Asheville and Black Mountain; grab a pastry or dessert
- The Hop Ice Cream Cafe – Dairy and vegan ice cream, including shakes, affogatos, and more
- Hey Hey Cupcake – Open Wednesday to Saturday, grab cupcakes with gluten-free and vegan options
- Kilwins – An old-fashioned confectionery shop and franchise that sells fudge, truffles, coconut clusters, and ice cream
- Dough House – A close drive to downtown, find unique made-to-order vegan and gluten-free donuts
- Dynamite Roasting Coffee Bar – One of our favorites just outside of Downtown for coffee; we stock up on coffee beans paired with to-go iced coffees
Must-Visit Bars & Breweries In Black Mountain (& More)
Like Asheville, find a great brewery, cidery, and distillery scene. Start in Downtown Black Mountain with Lookout Brewing Company and Black Mountain Brewing.
Or, head to The Station (with almost no online presence). We stumbled across them on the corner of Cherry Street. They serve delicious coffee, espresso, beer, and wine.
One of my favorites, drop into Peri Social House, featuring Prosecco on tap, coffee drinks, and delicious cocktails. Even build your own martini. Of course, overnight here, too.
A short drive outside of Historic Downtown Black Mountain, enjoy Pisgah Brewing, with a large outdoor space. Or, head to lesser-known Black Mountain Cider & Mead, located in an industrial warehouse area. We love their cherry and coffee flavors.
Nearby, Oak and Grist Distilling Company serves the best cocktails in Western North Carolina. Start with a gin and whiskey tasting followed by a seasonal cocktail. Sit outside with friends and enjoy. They host niche events. Tell Will “hi” for us!
If You Love Art & Music History
You’ll recognize Black Mountain Brewing by Nurkin’s Roberta Flack mural. Born in Black Mountain in 1937, Flack is considered one of the greatest musicians of all time. Does “Killing Me Softly with His Song” sound familiar? This mural is a part of Nurkin’s series of portraits depicting 23 North Carolinian musicians.
We have been vacationing in Black Mountain for the last 10 years or so. We fell in love with the quaintness and friendliness of the residents as well as the natural beauty of the surroundings. Since we live in Cary NC which is only a 3 hour or so drive, we go there several times a year. One day we would love to buy a house there 🤞
We love Black Mountain for the same reasons. Even as Asheville residents (25 minutes away), we love staying overnight and waking up in town. We still have to visit Cary! I hope you get to buy that house one day. We love those gorgeous Black Mountain bungalows. Thanks so much for sharing.
Been to Black Mountain in 2008 and brother it has changed and grown. After going back twice last year we fell in love with Lake Tomahawk so much that the wife and I bought a vacation house there with beautiful Mountain View’s from our back porch. At Montreat we met an older couple like us who told us not to wait to buy. We love to stroll through town, shop, eat and feel part of the community. Everyone is so friendly there! We did stay at Monte Vista Hotel it was nice and friendly beautiful at night but be sure you get one of their larger rooms. I understand it used to be a school and some of those rooms may have been for teachers.
Yes, I’ve heard Black Mountain has really grown and changed. I was recently in Florida near one of our old neighborhoods, and even in the time since we’ve been gone, we barely recognized the place – with amazing (and a few not-so-amazing) improvements. We also love Black Mountain; it’s just stunning, and you are right, people are so friendly and kind. The restaurants are delicious. Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful experience. We appreciate it and so do our readers.
I grew up in Black Mountain. I really enjoyed the article.
Thanks so much, Jack! We appreciate it.
Enjoyed two days in Black Mountain last week, a much needed break from the Florida heat. Loved Black Mountain Bistro, top notch! Burgers at Trailhead were great too. Avoid Black Mountain Golf Course at all costs…goat pasture and the worst course we played in NC in years. It’s a muni with a reasonable layout but the poor condition is beyond words.
The Trailhead is delicious. We love its casual vibes and agree with you on those burgers. Oh no; we are sorry to hear that you had a bad golfing experience.
If you’re black, female, or indigenous, or in any way neurotypical, know your rights before you visit. The police department will only serve you if you are white male and straight. Montreat is at the end of highway 9 in Black Mountain, very near to where I live currently, and cars speed up and down this road 20 miles over the speed limit with no regard for the noise ordinance, environmental pollution, or the safety of residents and the police will do nothing to stop them unless of course as I mentioned the driver is black, female, or indigenous.
A great place to visit is Trinity Pharms Hemp Company next to my father’s pizza. They are so friendly and educational in helping others with CBD and beyond. They are very great at listening to the needs of thier customers and find just the right product/s for them. They are knowledgeable beyond belief and the sweetest souls! I adore them! They deserve an article of thier own, really!
Yes, I know where you mean. Thanks for the recommendation and review.
I have lived here since middle school, late ’90s. I recommend looking up Monte Vista. It’s a historic hotel, in black mountain, that’s been recreated by new owner and has welcomed a great spot. Milton’s. History, amazing food and amazing people. They are all very helpful, great staff and. One of first things built here
Thank you so much for the information and great recommendation. We will definitely check it out soon; we visit Black Mountain frequently and enjoy finding more and more wonderful places. There is so much to do in Black Mountain –we love it! I appreciate it!
Hi Christine! I enjoyed your article about Black Mountain since we are considering staying there when we visit in May. How far is it exactly from downtown Asheville? I also appreciate your comments on restaurants that have gluten free options since I have an allergy to gluten! Would love more recommendations!
Hey Diane,
Thanks so much! We really love Black Mountain. Black Mountain is about a 25-minute drive from Asheville, give or take about 5 minutes.
We have a list of gluten-free Asheville restaurants here: https://www.uncorkedasheville.com/gluten-free-asheville/. Asheville is truly the best place to eat if you have food intolerances or allergies. I hope this list helps, and have a wonderful visit.
A little heavy on the beer scene. Many delicious restaurants and unique shops in town too. Liked the featuring of Lk. Tomahawk, it’s a beautiful spot. I did visit from Asheville on day and came back several times and did buy a vacation house. It’s a charming little town!
Hey Adrienne, This is true — I’m a boozy blogger, but I will definitely update the article soon to reflect more shopping and restaurants for our readers; that’s a great and extremely valid point; I appreciate it. Since you have a vacation home in Black Mountain (congrats!! I’m a little jealous here), would you mind sharing your favorite stores and restaurants with me and our readers in a reply comment? I’d love to hear what you enjoy since you are more local in Black Mountain than I am. Plus, I want to go check them out. We are always looking for new spots. Thanks so much! Have a great weekend.
Thank you for the article. Our son will be attending Montreat College, adjacent to Black Mountain, this fall. The town is attractive and very pleasant and I was really struck by the variety of restaurants in such a small town. You should do an article just on the distinctiveness of the restaurants in this small town. Ill give you 4 to start, Veranda (good variety) Cousins Cuban Cafe (as good as any great Cuban restaurant in Miami!) Black Mountain Bistro (great American bistro) and La Guingette (French/Argentinian)
Hey Jose. Absolutely! I was thinking about doing a Black Mountain restaurant post once we get to know them all better. I love a good Cuban and Argentinian restaurant. Thank you so much for the fabulous suggestions and starting point. I hope your son has a wonderful college experience — and that college will be back to ‘normal’ this fall. If you have some fun Black Mountain experiences while you are visiting (or across WNC), please let me know what you loved (and didn’t enjoy as much). Have a great weekend.