Downtown Asheville might be small, but it has the city’s highest concentration of wonderful places to eat. Within a few walkable blocks, you can find James Beard award-winning restaurants, great spots for a quick yet excellent lunch, cozy cafes serving fabulous desserts, and eateries specializing in global flavors to satisfy every craving.

Despite the eclectic offerings, all these restaurants embody the laid-back atmosphere of Downtown Asheville. Here, historic buildings and Art Deco architectural gems host a spirited mix of independently owned shops, boutiques, and galleries, creating a lively scene where buskers and pedestrians (and their pet snakes, parrots, and dogs!) mingle on the streets. 

If you’re wondering where to eat, here is my list of the best restaurants in Downtown Asheville, with options for everyone. Of course, there are many more outstanding places to eat in Downtown Asheville and beyond, and there are new additions popping up all the time. 

Wherever you decide to go, have fun exploring Asheville’s bustling culinary scene. Be sure to share your findings with us, and don’t forget to make reservations for these popular restaurants!

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of our links we may earn a small commission (don’t worry, it’s at no extra cost to you).

The 15 Best Restaurants in Downtown Asheville

1. Try Indian Street Food at Chai Pani

If I could only eat at one restaurant for the rest of my life, it would be Chai Pani. It offers a variety of small plates, chaat (Indian street snacks), and traditional Indian dishes with a creative twist. 

Everything tastes so fresh and good! Chai Pani opened in 2009, and it’s been one of the best places to eat in Downtown Asheville since then.

You’ll love the colorful decor, festive ambiance, and outdoor seating. As I write this, they’re getting ready to move to a bigger location in the South Slope, a much-needed step because the lines and waiting times have only increased with all the national buzz since it received the 2019 James Beard Foundation Award for Best Restaurant!

Location: 22 Battery Park Ave, Asheville

2. Celebrate a Special Occasion at The Market Place

Well, you don’t actually need special occasions to check out one of the best restaurants in Downtown Asheville. However, The Market Place’s farm-to-table dining experience and chic decor provide the ideal set to make memories. You will be impressed from beginning to end.

It’s on historic Wall Street – one of downtown’s loveliest areas – and serves American food using only the highest-quality ingredients from local producers. This is The Market Place’s 45th year in business, and it just received the fantastic news that it was nominated for the 2024 James Beard Foundation as Outstanding Restaurant. 

Go check it out before the crowds arrive! 

Location: 20 Wall St, Asheville

3. Get Spanish Tapas at Cúrate and La Bodega

Cúrate is another Downtown Asheville restaurant recipient of a James Beard Award, this time for its outstanding hospitality (2022). It opened in 2011 and serves spectacular Spanish tapas made with the freshest ingredients. It holds the prestigious Restaurants from Spain Certification, supporting initiatives focused on authentic cuisine and produce from Spain. 

You’ll love the restaurant’s bustling ambiance, open kitchen, and communal seating. For parties of two or more, try “The Spanish Experience” with a wine pairing designed to highlight the best flavors. They also offer curated culinary trips to Spain, Morocco, Portugal, and Sicily! 

La Bodega, located upstairs, is its sibling business. It is a more casual Spanish restaurant, market, and bakery offering an extensive selection of wines and goods, as well as excellent breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner options with nothing to envy those in Spain. 

Locations:

Cúrate: 13 Biltmore Ave, Asheville

La Bodega: 32 S Lexington Ave, Asheville

4. Enjoy a Mediterranean Meal at Zambra

As one of the oldest Downtown Asheville restaurants, Zambra opened in 2001 and offers Mediterranean-inspired tapas in an intimate setting perfect for a date night or a celebration. 

The stone floor, dim lighting, rustic decor, and exposed brick walls adorned with local art and plants evoke the zambras, the festive gatherings of Southern Spain’s Moorish and Roma people.

The menu showcases an array of dishes inspired by Mediterranean culinary traditions, including the classic Spanish tapas but also Arabic food. The focus is on fresh, seasonal, and Appalachian-grown ingredients. If you’re looking for a place to have an intimate dinner with delicious food and cocktails, Zambra is your best bet!

Location: 85 W Walnut St, Asheville

5. Try Mexican-Caribbean Fusion at Salsa’s 

I had my first local dinner at Salsa’s 12 years ago when we first moved here, and it still is one of my favorite places to eat in Downtown Asheville. It opened in 1993 (“Before there was Google, there was Salsa’s”!) as a small takeout spot, and it’s still rocking. 

The food is always incredible and super fresh. The fusion they have created is nothing you have tasted before, and you’ll love how the innovative flavors of locally sourced produce and spices blend in your mouth. 

They have indoor and outdoor seating, making it an excellent spot for people-watching and a great place for dogs and kids. Also, the portions are enormous and allow you to share or take leftovers home.

Location: 6 Patton Ave, Asheville

6. Savor French Comfort Food at Bouchon

Bouchon has been another consistent inclusion to the list of the best restaurants in Downtown Asheville since it opened. It serves authentic French comfort food (the owner is French) in a cozy ambiance with soft lighting and bricked walls. The lovely outdoor patio is great for date nights.

It has all the French cuisine staples, including onion soup, escargot, and moules. The pommes frites with herbs de Provence and roasted red pepper mayo are some of the best in town. Like all traditional French bistros, the menu is based on seasonal produce sourced from local farms.

Although nothing can beat dining in Downtown Asheville, their sister restaurant, RendezVous, in East Asheville, serves the same menu and has plenty of parking and bigger outdoor spaces.

Location: 62 N Lexington Ave, Asheville

7. Taste Californian-Mexican Flavors at Limones

Limones has been offering delicious, creative food for two decades (it opened in 2004!), and it’s been consistently one of the best restaurants in Downtown Asheville. Everything is not only super fresh and tasty, but the combination of flavors is always surprising.

They have excellent ceviche and margaritas and the desserts are to die for (try the churros and the bread pudding!). You’ll love the modern, sophisticated, yet relaxed atmosphere, the excellent service, and the menu and ambiance celebrating the richness of Latino food and culture.

Location: 15 Eagle St, Asheville

8. Have a Fantastic Indian Meal at Laila

Asheville is quickly becoming an Indian food destination, and Laila is one of the newest and best additions. The food is authentic, fresh, and fabulous. There is an indoor seating area with an upscale vibe and an ample heated patio. On top of that, it offers an affordable lunch buffet, including on Sundays!

Laila offers all the staples of Indian cuisine, from flavorful and satisfying curries to desserts fragrant with cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon. It’s a sister restaurant to Andaaz in South Asheville, another fine-dining Indian restaurant. I love that the chai comes unsweetened with sugar and honey packets to add.

Location: 77 Biltmore Ave, Asheville

9. Dine at Ukiah Japanese Steakhouse

Ukiah is one of the most unique local restaurants and one of the best places to eat in Downtown Asheville. It was born “out of a true passion for Japanese soul food and southern BBQ (with a good cocktail on the side!),” so you can expect the unexpected. But don’t worry – you’ll love it!

The food is designed to be shared, and I recommend you try the tasting menu or go there for a different brunch experience. Fun fact: The name spells “haiku” backward, reflecting a little bit on their approach to food: “structure and balance turned upside down.” 

Location: 121 Biltmore Ave, Asheville

10. Indulge in Southern Comfort Food at Tupelo Honey

While you might hear some locals call Tupelo Honey a tourist trap, I disagree. I’ve had amazing meals there, and it’s one of the best places in Asheville to eat Southern comfort food. Although its prime location across from Pritchard Park, one of the most touristy areas in town, makes it very attractive to travelers, that doesn’t make it a bad place! 

The original restaurant opened in 2000 in Downtown Asheville, and it now has several locations across the country. You’ll love their grits made with wild-caught white Gulf shrimp and their biscuits and fried chicken are amazing! The location offers a prime view of the Asheville Drum Circle, which happens every Friday around sunset.

Location: 12 College St, Asheville

11. Enjoy Fine, Dog-Friendly Dining at Posana 

Posana’s dishes are based on locally sourced, seasonal produce, and it’s the only restaurant in Asheville that offers a 100 percent gluten-free menu. But don’t let that fool you – the food is loved by people who normally eat gluten as well! 

Established in 2009 and right across the street from the Asheville Art Museum, Posana features an elegant indoor dining space with a full bar, including an award-winning selection of international wines. The heated outdoor patio is perfect for people-watching and families with kids and dogs. 

Posana is one of the few restaurants in town offering a dog menu with starters, entrees, desserts, and beers for Fido!

Location: 1 Biltmore Ave, Asheville

12. Have a Family Pizza Night at Mellow Mushroom

Mellow Mushroom is one of the best kid-friendly restaurants in Downtown Asheville. It is ideal for families who want an alfresco dinner while enjoying a fantastic pizza and beer. The large fenced outdoor patio is ideal for people-watching and keeping kids entertained. Plus, you’ll love the psychedelic art!

This beloved pizza place has excellent salads, burgers, calzones, munchies, craft cocktails, and over 60 draft beers. Many of the pizzas can be made gluten-free or vegan, too. 

Location: 50 Broadway St, Asheville

13. Find Something for Everyone at S&W Market 

The S&W Market is located in the historic Art Deco building that was once home to a cafeteria. It’s now a bustling food court that’s home to some of the best places to eat in Downtown Asheville. From hot dogs made with grass-fed meat to fusion Peruvian food, artisan ice cream, fried chicken, and the oldest craft brewery in Asheville, you’ll find something for everyone.

I’ll recommend Bun Intended, offering fantastic Thai-inspired street food. The steamed buns are the best! They also have an award-winning food truck you can find at some local breweries, like New Belgium and Highland Brewery. 

The S&W Market is across the street from Pritchard Park, home to the Asheville Drum Circle and other weekend music events. The outdoor seating area is perfect for introverted solo travelers who want to people-watch and be close to the action without much involvement.

Location: 56 Patton Ave, Asheville

14. Have Afternoon Tea at Sweets and Seats

Sweets and Seats opened in the summer of 2023 and quickly became one of the favorite dessert spots for locals and visitors. They have French pastries, Hong Kong desserts (the owner was born there), Taiwanese shaved ice with homemade syrups, all-natural bubble teas, and recently added a top-notch English afternoon tea service.

The afternoon tea is available Monday through Friday (Wednesday excluded) from 1 pm to 4 pm. It offers a rotating menu of sweet and savory staples and five different kinds of tea. You’ll love how roomy this place is, offering super comfy places to eat and inviting long, serene conversations.

Location: 71,81 Patton Ave, Asheville

15. Get the Best Pastries at Old Europe Pastries

Old Europe Pastries has been around since 1995 and is one of Asheville’s best (if not the best) dessert spots. I love that you can have a quick lunch, like a savory croissant or a piece of quiche, and then indulge in a European-inspired cake or macarons accompanied by a delicious beverage. Or, if you are an adult, you can start with the cake!

They have fun seasonal treats for Halloween, Christmas, Easter, and Valentine’s Day, and choosing only a couple of things to order can be a real challenge – they have the most tempting display! 

You’ll love how inviting the space is. There are a couple of adorable tables outdoors, and the stools by the window are perfect for solo travelers or those wanting to set up their laptops and work. They close at 11 pm.

Location: 18 Broadway St, Asheville

There you have it! The 15 best restaurants in Downtown Asheville. Did we miss any? Let us know so we can add them to the list!

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