This quaint café, nestled in the colorful collection of shops known as Little Rainbow Row, serves up organic and locally sourced breakfast standards and heavenly baked goods. For a hardy, protein-rich start to the day, try a  breakfast skillet like the smokehouse, which comes with brisket, pimento cheese, pulled pork, hash cake, all topped off with an egg. Or try a sweet or savory option from the toast bar, served on a thick-cut multigrain slice. B L $

Two favorite fried fares—chicken and doughnuts—are a harmonious pairing at this eatery. For breakfast, choose between traditional biscuit options like egg and cheese, country ham, and even pimento cheese, or branch out and try an original creation. The doughnut sandwich comes with American cheese, bacon, and sausage served between a glazed doughnut. The lunch menu is built around fried chicken with salads, sandwiches, and chicken by the piece. Or, you can pick up a whole dozen doughnuts any time. 

You don’t have to fly to Paris for a decadent macaron. Former Biltmore pastry demi-chef Lindsay Cromartie whips up seasonal and locally inspired éclairs, tarts, and petite sweets in her charming downtown bakery. Gȃteaux also creates custom cakes with a variety of flavors, fillings, icings, and toppings. 

Meaning “good karma” in Thai, this express eatery serves fresh and authentic northeastern and central Thai cuisine in a comfortable atmosphere. The noodles, stir-fry, and curry dishes come in two portion sizes: hungry and really hungry. Closed Sunday and Monday. 

Rutherford Thai offers an extensive fresh and authentic menu of Thai entrées. Go beyond the traditional pad thai for more adventurous fare offered on the chef’s special menu like the duck and lychee or the siam flaming beef. Closed Sunday.

Henderson County’s first large-batch coffee roaster lives by a “farm to mug” philosophy. Enjoy espresso drinks and pour overs made with beans including a Rwandan peaberry and an Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, plus loose-leaf teas and baked goods. Closed Saturday to Monday.

What was once a produce warehouse in Mills River now holds Bold Rock Hard Cider production facility and tasting room. It’s the second cidery to be opened by Bold Rock, which is headquartered in Virginia. A minimum of six ciders are on tap, including the flagship Carolina Apple, a crisp and refreshing Granny Smith-style cider. Check out the bottling action by taking a free tour of the facility or by peeking through the observation window while sipping a cider at the bar. The Bold Bites Mobile Kitchen food truck offers barbecue and southern fixings on-site.

This family diner serves up hearty breakfast and lunch options, with generous helpings of Southern hospitality. Try the sunrise sampler to get a taste of all the hits: french toast, pancakes, eggs, and sausage. For lunch, try a burger that’s cooked to perfection.

This casual eatery serves ethically and locally sourced farm-to-table meals. Breakfast offers many tempting options including creative renditions of eggs Benedict, omelettes, huevos rancheros, biscuits and gravy, and waffles, pancakes, and french toasts. For lunch, veggie-packed salads, meat and vegetarian tacos, and burgers won’t disappoint. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

This pub offers simple and satisfying Southern fare. Try the maple-bacon glazed meatloaf or the shrimp and grits for dinner, and polish off the meal with the banana pudding. Live music on Friday and Saturday nights makes this pub the place to be. Closed Monday.

Owner Suwana Cry has worked as a chef on three continents, and at serves up authentic Thai cuisine at this downtown restaurant. Choose a menu comprised of noodle dishes, rice bowls, classic stir fries and curries, spring rolls, dumplings, and more.

The wholesome, beautiful bites, cocktails and arched picture windows als vie for attention where both food and drink options are driven by local farmers and foragers. The post-noshing digestifs are exotic and numerous, and the coffee is excellent. Watch for special reservation-only Indian meals.

In a set of 19 modified shipping containers snuggled next to the French Broad River, Smoky Park Supper Club offers New American fare with unconventional touches. Wood-grilled entrées include a whole trout with lime and a grilled avocado vinaigrette, and a pork chop with smoked tomato gravy and sweet and sour onions. Plus, there are plenty of locally sourced bar snacks and sides to nibble on. Closed Monday.

Salvage Station’s expansive riverside location is a great spot to catch live music or sip beverages on the lawn. The counter service-style eatery dishes up satisfying appetizers, soups, salads, and sandwiches, and meat-and-three platters of pulled pork, baby back ribs, smoked turkey and more. Closed Monday.

A creative fusion of Mexican and Caribbean flavors makes up Salsa’s menu. This colorful downtown eatery offers heaping plates of fajitas, enchiladas, quesadillas, and empanadas, made with your choice of chicken, salmon, steak, pork, or vegetables.

Since 2002, this bohemian eatery has served fresh vegan and vegetarian fare. Diners enjoy healthful comfort foods such as iron-skillet corn bread or Tempelo Wings—fried beer-battered tempeh strips swimming in hot sauce and served with house-made vegan ranch dressing. A rotation of eclectic local art hangs on exposed brick walls. One dining area overlooks Lexington Avenue and the other, Broadway Street, which makes it a great place for people-watching with a local draft beer in hand.

The menu at Roman’s is proof that all sandwiches (and burgers, salads, soups, and sides) are not created equal. The delicious and creative paninis include pomegranate and goat cheese and turkey with cranberry pesto, both on French bread, or a savory chicken salad prepared with sun-dried tomatoes. The tropical coleslaw is a sought-after side, as is the spicy white bean chili. Downtown delivery makes this place a favorite among workaholics, but the friendly staff and spotless dining room will make you want to step away from your desk for a meal. Closed Sunday.

You don’t have to be a guest to dine for dinner at this 1896 Victorian mansion. The dinner menu offers seasonal, local fare in dishes such as smoked trout croquets and scallops with Goodnight Brothers country ham. Entrées include a premium pork chop with beer-cheddar mac and cheese, certified Angus beef pot roast, and a market-fresh catch, among other elevated dishes. An array of decadent homemade desserts, like hummingbird cake and blackberry cobbler, crown the meal. Closed Sunday.

The 1907 Hayes and Hopson building, which overlooks Pack Square Park and houses Pack’s Tavern, has history; during Prohibition, liquor was exchanged at this spot via underground tunnels. Today, more than 60 dishes create the menu, from the thick and hearty Mt. Mitchell burger, stacked with bacon, fried green tomato, and cheddar cheese, to the Carolina bison meatloaf. Local beers rotate through more than 30 taps.

Stepping into Old World Levain Bakery is like being transported to a European café, complete with marble countertops and an alluring pastry case. Autumn brings warm flavors like clove and anise, as well as pumpkin custard tarts to be savored under the maple trees in the secret garden out back. OWL started as a “speakeasy” café for neighbors and friends.

A shortened moniker for the owner’s first name, Audrie, Odd’s Cafe and coffee shop is cheery, with a wide garage door that opens up the West Asheville space for summer breezes and people-watching. While some coffee shops are known for their hip, grungy style, this one is all polish and comfort, with wood floors, lots of seating, and local art on the walls. The bar serves Counter Culture Coffee, loose-leaf teas, and specialty drinks. The pastry case is stocked with cakes, pies, and muffins from Home is where the Heart is Bakery. And Odd’s, like the neighborhood it occupies, stays up late (11 p.m. on weekends).  

This rooftop bar sits high atop the Hyatt Place hotel and offers panoramic westward views. The Montford Mule, a local take on the classic cocktail, features North Carolina sweet potato vodka and is served in a mug handcrafted by East Fork Pottery. Small bites include house-made tater tots with beet ketchup and boiled peanut hummus, while larger plates like cheese and meat boards, flatbreads, and elevated sandwiches are great for sharing.

The patio of this New Orleans-inspired restaurant opens onto Pritchard Park where the drum circle takes place on Friday nights. If you prefer to be further from the hubbub, a hidden back courtyard provides tranquility. The kitchen serves Southern food all day, from Brasstown flank steak and eggs in the morning to cornmeal-battered catfish or shrimp po’boy at night. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

If you like lemon bars, this small café serves the best in town at the best price. The soups and sandwiches make a comforting midday meal, and the space is sunny and open. Closed Sunday.

This bright, spacious counter-service café offers breakfast, lunch, and catering. A menu board of sandwiches and wraps, grab-and-go ready-made meals, and a display case of fresh, seasonal sides and salads allows for customization; the only hard part is deciding what to order. Closed Sunday.

From the owners of Asheville’s Cecilia’s Kitchen, this charming café serves up French and Argentinean fare . The menu focuses on sweet and savory crêpes, tamales, and empanadas, plus daily comfort-food specials such as coq au vin (chicken braised with wine). Closed Monday and Tuesday.

This small, eclectic West Asheville restaurant is a reason to deck to the nines and splurge on some the town’s most unique craft cocktails and equally creative dinner creations. The seasonal, continental cuisine includes items like elk meatballs, a braised Spanish octopus in a yummy bath of chorizo, fava beans, and sherry lobster butter, a seafood-packed gumbo, and beef tartar and bone marrow. You can catch live jazz music some nights and on Sundays during “Sunday Blunch.” A late night menu is served until midnight.

Located in a 1930s stone cottage, this café serves a full-service afternoon tea every Saturday, reservations required. Breakfast is served all day, while lunch offerings include paninis, salads, and a daily soup. For dinner, take in comfort classics like tomato pie with sharp cheddar or corn pudding crab cakes. Closed Sunday.

Fans of French cuisine will enjoy this bistro’s café-like setting in the Paris of the South. The dining room is elegant and the patio perfect for people-watching in downtown Asheville. Charcuterie and fine cheeses, beef tartare, and a rustic goat cheese and onion tart are among the starters. Entrée highlights include several steak cuts—served au poivre, in a béarnaise sauce, and with foie gras truffle butter—a salmon bouillabaisse, and duck confit and white bean cassoulet. The menu changes regularly to utilize fresh, local ingredients.

From the owners of Belly Up Food Truck, Haywood Common features globally inspired dishes comprised of many local and foraged ingredients. Lunch and dinner menu items change seasonally, and differ in flavor profile enough to appeal to an array of diners. But you’ll have to decide between a variety of small plates, like calamari bành mì sandwiches or pork belly bites, or larger entrées such as pan-seared rib eye over romesco, sautéed radishes, and potatoes or a tea-brined pork chop. Closed Monday.

This popular pizza spot, with locations in Black Mountain and Asheville, focuses on personal-size wood-fired pies. Toppings are generally Mediterranean, but a few global outliers give this restaurant signature flare. Try the Alaskan with dill and caper-cream sauce, mozzarella, red onions, and a smoked salmon topping.

Grandma would feel right at home at this new barbecue joint and reincarnation of David “Doc” Brown’s food truck. Inspired by beer culture, Brown dreamed up the idea of coleslaw flights—choose four of the many slaw options, including vinegar, jicama, and Lexington style. Pork is cooked in a wood-pellet smoker and served alongside local beer. Wooden booths keep it casual at this family spot. Closed Mondays.

This spot in Asheville’s River Arts District is part tasting room and part gallery, highlighting small, family-run vineyards and offering nibbles including locally sourced charcuterie boards. Wines by the glass include bubbles, rosés, whites, and a plethora of reds, all hand-picked by co-owners Lauri and Barrett Nichols, who promise “art in a glass and art on the wall.”

This pub on Biltmore Estate is the best place to try the estate’s signature brew, Cedric’s Brown Ale. Take in the grounds from the patio while dining on fish and chips, bison burger, or mountain trout with grilled vegetables.

Cecilia Marchesini has served Argentinian food to Asheville for many years from restaurants and food trucks. At her current post, Marchesini serves celebrated crêpes, tamales, and empanadas. She cooks from an open kitchen and chats with guests as she prepares the food. She also sells frozen empanadas to take home.

This bar and grill at the historic Grove Arcade offers American cuisine. Enjoy lunch on the patio at the corner of Battery Park and Page avenues. For dinner, make an appetizer of the 10-inch Brie pizza, followed by local Sunburst Trout or spicy jumbo lump crab cakes.

The new AC Hotel from Marriott collaborated with Asheville Chef Peter Pollay of Posana for its farm-to-table menu of European-inspired dishes. The rooftop restaurant and bar offers dishes like patatas with roasted vine tomatoes and flank steak with Spanish goat cheese and piquillo aioli.

Set in a former 1920s ice skating rink on Asheville’s South Slope is the much-anticipated Buxton Hall BBQ. Chef Elliott Moss, formerly of The Admiral in West Asheville, and Meherwan Irani, of Chai Pani in downtown, teamed up to create a 12-hour smoked whole hog barbecue basted in a simple vinegar and chili sauce. The setting allows diners to nosh on fall-apart barbecue and locally sourced sides while watching the chefs at work in the kitchen pit.

Like its upstairs neighbor, Rosetta’s Kitchen, The Buchi Bar is filled with artfully reclaimed elements, but it’s quite chic. The menu features cocktails, fresh juices, local beer, Noble Cider, Blue Blaze soda and, of course, Buchi Kombucha. Try the Spirit Chaser—made of Buchi Air, mint simple syrup, and premium gin. And if you’re hungry, The Buchi Bar serves eats from upstairs.

Located in the former location of King James Public House, Bone & Broth offers English pub-style dishes, including fish and chips and bangers. The meat-heavy menu highlights steak, chicken, and pork butchered next door at Chop Shop Butchery.

Bimberibon, the newest spot from chef Reza Setayesh (Rezaz and Baba Nahm) and local food entrepreneur Mitch Orland, prepares food from “ancient recipes,” according to Orland. Snacks, mains, and pastries, free of gluten and refined sugar, are available to grab and go, or customers can stay and sip on superfood lattes, fizzes, or wine and cider from the bar.

The newest spot from the folks behind Asheville’s popular Blind Pig Supper Club and the erstwhile King James Public House brings modern-American cuisine with Southern flair to Lexington Avenue. The menu features some of the co-chefs’ most beloved dishes (like duck wings and fried chicken and crumpets), as well as new offerings. Cocktails, featuring house-made shrubs, bitters, and sodas, are not to be missed.

For years, the Asheville dining crowd has longed for a place to eat thick spicy stews of lentils and lamb and spongy flatbread called injera. Now, those Ethiopian staples finally have a WNC home. Addissae opened in December with individual and traditional group platings, plus Ethiopian-style coffee service. Closed Tuesday.

Owner and chef Renzo Maietto serves authentic Italian cusine from his homeland in a stylish, upscale setting on historic Main Street. Appetizers include rustic dishes like minestrone soup, caprese salad, and an antipasto meat and cheese board that’s great for sharing. Entrées range from classic fish and seafood dishes to pastas to meat options like pork tenderloin or veal saltimbocca. An ample wine list (with many Italian options), plus creative cocktails, and beer are available.