Looking for a fun, romantic evening… or an entire weekend? Look no further than Asheville, NC! Whatever you and your sweetheart love to do together, you are bound to find it here. Below are a few ideas.
Dining
Asheville is called “Foodtopia” for a reason. Here are some examples of delicious places to eat, and the list should give you an idea of the astounding variety the city possesses:
- Cúrate — Spanish tapas, 2022 James Beard Award for Outstanding Hospitality winner
- Limones — Mexican food influenced by French and Californian cuisine
- Jettie Raes Oyster House — fresh oysters and other seafood inspired by Gullah Geechee, French, Native American, and Spanish culinary traditions
- Rosetta’s Kitchen and The Buchi Bar — vegan soul food
- Chai Pani — Indian street food
- Buxton Hall BBQ — Carolina barbecue
Do some research so that you can make reservations in advance, or stroll down one of our streets to find out what looks good to you. Whatever your approach, our restaurant scene will not disappoint!
Desserts
No dinner is complete without dessert. Asheville has so many options that you will want to save room. Or skip the meal entirely and have only dessert.
French Broad Chocolate Lounge is the most famous stop for chocolate lovers, as you’ll recognize if you hit it at a busy time when the line goes down the street. Other delicious chocolate destinations include The Chocolate Fetish, Kilwins, and Asheville Chocolate.
If you’d like a bit more variety, check out Crave Dessert Bar, which offers delicious desserts in addition to cocktails, hookah, tea, and coffee. Old World Pastries is an excellent option if you’re looking for a coffee shop that offers desserts. City Bakery provides artisanal loaves of bread and pastries as well as coffee. For ice cream, you have a lot of options. We love The Hop Ice Cream Cafe and Ultimate Ice Cream. And if doughnuts are your thing, we recommend Hole Doughnuts and Vortex Doughnuts.
If your sweet tooth isn’t satisfied in Asheville, it won’t be satisfied anywhere!
Drinks
Thirsty? Asheville overflows with choices. Obviously, many of our favorite restaurants and dessert destinations also offer drinks. But Asheville also has a plethora of establishments dedicated to certain kinds of drinks. For example, Golden Pineapple Bar in West Asheville and Top of the Monk in downtown Asheville offer fantastic craft cocktails. The Crow and Quill is an ideal spot for whiskey lovers. 5 Walnut Wine Bar is a popular place for wine, while Highland Brewing Company is Asheville’s original craft brewery. But don’t limit yourself to these suggestions. Take a walk around wherever you eat or stay to find out what’s available.
Tours
The classic romantic tour of Asheville is, of course, at the Biltmore. This 8,000-acre historical estate offers tours and experiences focusing on history, architecture, gardens and grounds, cuisine, wine, and more. For something more zany and fun, try LaZoom’s purple bus tours. Or choose a specific tour that matches your interests — art, history, food, drinks, the outdoors, and more! Explore Asheville has an entire section of its website dedicated to tours, so search until you find the perfect one.
Classes
Are you and your +1 into learning? Asheville boasts a variety of interesting classes. Make your own jewelry with Ignite Jewelry Studios. Learn about the Asheville Art Museum’s architectural drawing collection. Take a foraging tour with No Taste Like Home. Learn to make the perfect cocktail with Oak and Grist Distilling Company. These are just a few options available this month. Check Explore Asheville’s calendar for more ideas for additional dates.
Turn Your Stay into a Lifestyle
We hope these ideas make you a hero! If you and your partner decide you love Asheville so much you want to stay, let’s talk! Get insider advice from our team, made up of experts about the area so that you can make the best decisions for the easiest move possible. We would love to help.