Best New Restaurants in Downtown Asheville—A Local’s Perspective
- Ian W.
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
If you’re anything like me, then you’re always on the lookout for a great new restaurant. Variety is the spice of life, after all. Here in Asheville, every year more and more restauranteurs decide to set up shop, contributing their talents to a milieu that many have dubbed a foodie’s paradise.
This phenomenon is especially true downtown. But with all the openings, the sheer number of these new culinary opportunities, it can get a little overwhelming.
So here I thought I’d break down some of the latest-and-greatest restaurants in downtown Asheville, perfect for switching up your weekly purview, as well as for first-time visitors, to see what dining in downtown Asheville is all about.
Starting off in the South Slope brewing district, this new addition to Asheville’s thriving bar-culture rounds out our repertoire with its sports bar trappings and menu of no-fuss comfort meals.
Come to think of it, I don’t know if we had a dedicated sports bar on the South Slope before now. But now that we’ve got one, I can tell you it’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy the game, or to grab a casual bite before heading out to the Orange Peel and beyond.
Their one-page menu gets straight to the point, with its wings, poutine, pork confit nachos, burgers with poivre sauce, and chicken katsu. In effect: everything you need to start your night on the South Slope out right.
Better yet, the kitchen’s open late, until midnight to be exact, making this stop just as convenient towards the end of your night as the beginning.
Hours: 5pm to midnight on Mondays and Thursdays. 5pm to 1am on Fridays. Noon to 1am on Saturdays. Noon to midnight on Sundays. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
With our late-night wanderings out of the way, it's time to focus on breakfast. This newfound downtown café opens bright-and-early at 8am, and through their farm-to-table focus and collaborations with local bakeries and coffee roasters, they’ve rapidly integrated themselves into downtown’s excellent suite of brunch spots.
All your early-bird favorites can be found right here, each combined with a little signature Asheville twist: avocado toast with chili crunch, baked eggs with cheddar, chives, and cottage cheese, plus pancake tacos loaded with prosciutto.
And with as much care as they’ve poured into these entrees, you can bet their coffee menu’s just as good, featuring a slew of signature creations including a caramel toffee cappuccino, toasted marshmallow macchiato, and ice-cream espresso floats for dessert.
Combine all this with their killer location, right across the street from the Asheville Art Museum, and you’ve got yourself a breakfast-spot perfect for starting off your day before exploring the rest of downtown.
Hours: 8am to 4pm. Closed Tuesdays.
I’m proud to say downtown Asheville’s got a restaurant for every occasion, no matter the time of day, no matter the level of fancy dress. This here Luminosa, located within downtown’s recently-renovated Flat Iron Hotel, has got your date-night or birthday dinner covered to a T, serving a menu of innovative Appalachian-Italian fusion which has won them a Michelin Green Star and Bib Gourmand.
Talk about fan-cee. Everything from their antipasti to wood-fired nduja pizza-pies breathes sophistication, while their bright interior keeps the ambience friendly and hospitable. Plus, this new restaurant is the only place in town where you can sample Italian classics infused with locally sourced ingredients in the vein of sunburst trout, collard greens, and the all-important cornbread.
It's truly a one-of-a-kind restaurant. And if you’re looking for an after-dinner drink, be sure to check out their exclusive Red Ribbon speakeasy, hidden away in a renovated boiler-room.
Hours: 5pm to 9pm, Sunday through Thursday. Open until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Serves Sunday brunch from 11am to 2pm.
Back down on the South Slope, Xico brings the flavors of Veracruz and beyond straight to downtown’s doorstep. And like Luminosa, they’re not afraid to add a little Asheville twist.
The star here is the bounty of their custom-built charcoal ovens and wood-fired grilles. At Xico you’ll be dining on familiar Mexican dishes, enriched by locally-sourced ingredients and the chef’s expertise. That means seared duck breast with mole, whole roasted snapper (served traditional-style with jalapeno and ancho-chile butter), roasted lamb with mint salsa, chicken tinga enchiladas, and even cecina huaraches.
You can trust that all the masa is fresh-ground with heirloom corn, of course. Overall, I’d say this newfound downtown eatery is a great place to try something new, and like Easy Tiger, it’s a great place to start a night on the South Slope.
Hours: 5pm to 11pm. Closed Tuesdays.
Now we fly far from downtown’s center, off into the River Arts District. Not technically in the zone of discussion, but it's only about a ten-minute drive away. More importantly, I simply couldn’t help but find a spot on the blog for this great new café, bringing a fusion of old-world and NYC-style Italian to the heart of Asheville’s arts-scene.
For lunch here at Piccolina, you can enjoy a laid-back prosciutto or mortadella sandwich, the iced latte of the day, or a margarita with fresh mozzarella. It very much puts one in mind of a relaxing afternoon in Naples or Bologna, which pairs perfectly with a visit to the RAD.
Now for dinner, they kick things up a notch, switching to a seasonal four-course prixe-fixe menu. Ooh-la-la. As of the time of my writing, they’re serving up minestrone soup, malfadina alfredo, and chicken marsala, all rounded out by Brooklyn blackout cake, and even an optional wine pairing.
To sum it up: Piccolina’s a top choice both for a relaxing afternoon bite in the River Arts District, as well as for an elevated dinner. It’s not often you find both of these kinds of meals served at the same spot, but here in Asheville, the new restaurants have got it all.
Hours: 11am to 3pm, Thursday through Sunday. Open for dinner 5pm to 9pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.
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Asheville Cottages luxury cabins offers top-of-the-line private accommodations, featuring full kitchens, hot tubs, grilles, and even heated bathroom floors, all while lying just a fifteen minute drive away from all the great new downtown restaurants.
Book a stay yourself and see just why Asheville Cottages is rated number one on trip advisor, with plenty of five-star reviews.
Businesses Mentioned
Easy Tiger
(828)-412-3636
125 S Lexington Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
Bru
(828)-412-3364
5 Biltmore Ave Suite A, Asheville, NC 28801
Luminosa
(828)-271-9808
20 Battery Park Ave Floor 1, Asheville, NC 28801
Xico
(828)-412-5180
175 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
Piccolina
(828)-505-0029
375 Depot St #101, Asheville, NC 28801
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