Last Updated on June 15, 2023
It’s undeniable. The Asheville area has one of the best per capita independent restaurant scenes in the country, if not the world. And that’s not just the locals bragging. Yelp named Asheville the #1 U.S. foodie destination of 2020.
Asheville residents have nearly every option imaginable, from delivery to small plates to fine dining to fast casual. And enough different ethnic cuisines to fill in a surprising portion of a world map for a city this size. Whether you’re thinking about walking to your nearest brewery for a pint and a nosh or driving across town to meet friends at your favorite dinner spot, you’re never short on options.
But, as Asheville locals, do you ever think to have your dinner in hotel restaurants?
Over the last few decades, Asheville’s renaissance has made it a key destination for lovers of local food, local beer, local art, local music, local businesses…. You get the idea. And for good or ill, the growth of the tourism industry has led to a boom in hotel construction and expansion. While on the surface it’s easy to write of these spaces as “for tourists only,” they are, in fact, anything but.
Whether independent locations or members of large, recognizable chains, hotels across the city have striking and innovative food and drink options. Here is a list of just nine of our favorite Asheville hotel bars and restaurants.
Blackbird (Aloft Hotel)
Originally located in Black Mountain, Blackbird can now be found along Biltmore Avenue under the Aloft Hotel. The award-winning restaurant’s menu features produce from local farms and seafood from the Carolina coast. Among their local food vendors are GreenToe Ground Farm, Dripolator Coffeehouse, and Myco Rhizing Mushrooms. Their Modern Southern menu changes seasonally to reflect the bounty of the area and the creativity of Executive Chef Michael Reppert. The result is fresh food reflective of Western North Carolina traditions.
47 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville | (828) 254-2502 | theblackbirdrestaurant.com
Benne on Eagle (The Foundry Hotel)
Benne on Eagle is one of the newest and biggest jewels in Asheville’s culinary crown. Both the hotel and restaurant are located on The Block, Asheville’s historic African American business district. The restaurant celebrates this history, as well as the African American culinary traditions of our region, with authentic Appalachian soul food. In just over two years, initial Chef de Cuisine Ashleigh Shanti garnered great local and national acclaim for the restaurant. Time magazine even named it among the “World’s Greatest Places” in 2019.
35 Eagle Street, Asheville | (828) 552-8833 | benneoneagle.com
Capella on 9 (AC Hotel)
This is one of our favorite Asheville hotel restaurants for dining with a view. The best of Asheville serves as both the backdrop and inspiration for their tapas-style menu. Signature cocktails and craft beer are offset by small and large plates. Early risers can also enjoy a breakfast buffet service* for dine-in or take-out. The space also makes the perfect venue for group and private events. So, slow down, let the time pass, and savor the food, the scenery, and the moment.
10 Broadway, Asheville | (828) 258-2522 | capellaon9.com
*temporarily suspended
EDISON, craft ales + kitchen (Omni Grove Park Inn)
If you want to pair the food culture of downtown with expansive views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this is the spot. Named for Thomas Edison’s frequent visits to the hotel upon its opening, EDISON craft ales + kitchen offers a regionally inspired menu in a contemporary setting. In addition to being a member of AIR (Asheville Independent Restaurants), the restaurant also showcases local artists in their indoor dining area. Local farms and purveyors currently on the menu include Carolina Bison, Gaining Ground Farm, Lusty Monk, and more.
290 Macon Avenue, Asheville | (800) 438-5800 | omnihotels.com
Fork Lore (Hilton Asheville)
Located in the lobby of the luxurious Hilton Asheville in Biltmore Park, Fork Lore aims to offer food guests can enjoy while sharing stories with each other. The locally-owned, independent restaurant features made-from-scratch cuisine sourced from local purveyors whenever possible. Thus, the stories of these products start and in Asheville and end on your plate. The restaurant has put other local stories front and center as well, including guests’ anecdotes and those that run in the owner’s Vanderbilt legacy.
43 Town Square Boulevard, Asheville | (828) 209-2715 | forkloreasheville.com
Hemingway’s Cuba (Cambria Hotel)
There are longtime rumors that Ernest Hemingway spent time in Asheville and WNC. While we have direct proof that his pal F. Scott Fitzgerald visited often, no evidence exists of Papa’s presence. Nonetheless, Havana native and restaurateur Tony Fraga grew up enjoying exquisite meals with his father at La Floridita. The Havana-based restaurant was not only known to be a favorite of Papa Hemingway, but he bestowed upon it the moniker of serving “The Best Daiquiri in the World.” Come to enjoy the best of traditional Cuban cuisine (with Asheville flair) for an experience that will keep you coming back for more. Oh, and try a daiquiri while you’re there!
15 Page Avenue, 4th Floor, Asheville | (828) 417-6866 | hemingwayscuba.com
oneFIFTYone Boutique Bar & Kitchen (Hotel Indigo)
The oneFIFTYone Boutique Bar & Kitchen is committed to providing quality breakfast and dinner by emphasizing local ingredients and local flavors. In the morning, guests wake up with fresh-brewed coffee from Dynamite Roasting Co. in Black Mountain. For dinner, hotel guests and local diners can enjoy fresh, organic, and seasonal ingredients that support local farms and businesses. Just walking around downtown? A limited selection of “Grab N’ Go” baked goods, sandwiches, and beverages are available 24 hours a day.
151 Haywood Street, Asheville | (828) 239-0239 | ashevilleindigo.com
Pillar Rooftop Bar & Kitchen (Hilton Garden Inn)
Enjoy warm Appalachian sunsets and well-crafted cocktails from a rooftop overlooking downtown. Breakfast is available daily in the Pillar Kitchen, located in the hotel lobby. But at the end of the day, head to the sixth floor to enjoy live local music, a cozy firepit, and an experience to remember. A dinner menu is available in the rooftop bar, including small plates, salads, flatbreads, and a variety of upscale entrees. Pillar’s free shuttle will pick you up and take you back anywhere downtown!
309 College Street, 6th Floor, Asheville | (828) 575-1188 | pillaravl.com
Writer’s Bistro (Renaissance Asheville Hotel)
Located adjacent to the front entrance of the Renaissance Asheville Hotel, the Writer’s Bistro is inspired by Asheville’s rich literary history. Diners will find quotes from Asheville’s native son Thomas Wolfe on the wall and cocktails inspired by frequent Asheville visitor F. Scott Fitzgerald on the menu. The menu is inspired by the local movement for farm-to-table dining and features a number of locally grown and raised ingredients. After your meal, enjoy a stroll next door to the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Home.
31 Woodfin Street, Asheville | (828) 252-8211 | marriott.com
