Dec 9, 2025 - Things to Do

How to spend 12 hours in Asheville: A mini guide for food, art and views

McKenzie Rankin

sunset Downtown Asheville — A November sunset along Downtown Asheville's Patton Avenue . Photo: McKenzie Rankin/Axios

If the holiday rush comes with a pocket of downtime, that's all you need for a quick day trip to Asheville.

Why it matters: After Hurricane Helene, many Asheville businesses have reopened, but plenty are still recovering, and even small boosts in tourism help.

Context: I drove up on a recent Saturday to go leaf-peeping and found that, even with just 12 hours, you can pack in plenty of eating, shopping and exploring.

Of note: Before we dive in, this isn't a lodging guide, and I skipped the heavy hitters — Christmas at Biltmore, brewery hopping or hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway.

What you'll find instead is a doable, actually realistic day trip. And if you want more, I added a section at the bottom with my longtime Asheville favorites and suggestions from readers who chimed in before I went.

Here's how I spent 12 hours on a solo day trip to Asheville:

Stop in Black Mountain along the way

If you're driving from Charlotte, Black Mountain shows up just as you start wondering whether you need another coffee. It's just under two hours away and has an easy, walkable downtown.

Zoom in: I stopped first at The Laundry Collective, a zero-waste refillery and essentials shop with its own coffee bar. Then, I ducked into the General Store, Black Mountain Vintage, and a couple of shops before heading into Asheville — about another 10-15 minutes.

Grab lunch at Chai Pani

Once I was hungry, I headed to Chai Pani in South Slope (aka the brewery district) for lunch.

Context: Chai Pani is one of the area's favorites for Indian street food and was named an Outstanding Restaurant by the James Beard Foundation in 2022.

Its sister restaurant, Botiwalla, also has a location in Optimist Hall.

My thought bubble: If you're solo, sit at the bar. Groups should expect a wait without a reservation, but it seemed to move fast.

Stop by: 32 Banks Ave.

Bright restaurant interior with wooden floors, green booths, red floral ceiling decor, large windows, and customers dining at wooden tables. — Chai Pani relocated from its original space downtown to the former Buxton BBQ spot in South Slope. This is my POV from the bar, where I cleaned my plate of Aloo Tikka Chaat. Photo: McKenzie Rankin/Axios

Afternoon detour: Potential New Boyfriend

I stopped into Potential New Boyfriend next — a wine-and-dessert listening bar in West Asheville that's racked up awards recently, including Eater Carolinas' "Best New North Carolina Bar of the Year" and "Best Third Place" in Eater's national best restaurants guide.

The vibe: A low-key spot to hang out and defrost on a chilly day, whether you're after a glass or a sweet treat — they've got everything from black sesame ice cream sundaes to tiramisu, plus dessert and wine flights.

Stop by: 647 Haywood Road

Glass carafe and drinking glass on a dark table with a tray holding three wine glasses with different red wines, an ice-filled glass, and a small bowl with orange peels in a cozy lounge. — I cozied up in a corner with a book and a vermouth flight — it came with three vermouths of your choice for $15. Photo: McKenzie Rankin

Shop local artwork in the River Arts District

I spent the last bit of daylight in the River Arts District, Asheville's creative hub, which took a major hit during Helene and is gradually rebuilding.

Context: Also called RAD, it's home to more than 700 artists and dozens of artist-owned studios and galleries, plus plenty of restaurants, coffee shops and breweries to hit while you're there.

Context: I happened to be there during RAD Fest, so it was extra buzzy, with tons of artists and lots of foot traffic. But even on a regular weekend, it's still worth a wander. Studios are open, artists are around to chat and you can see a lot quickly.

Check out upcoming events here.

Outdoor market with people walking among white tents and colorful stalls on a cloudy day. Trees with autumn leaves and modern buildings visible in the background. — RAD Fest brought two days of local art, music and a huge outdoor market to the River Arts District. Photo: McKenzie Rankin/Axios

Catch the sunset at The Radical Hotel

By late afternoon, the sun was dropping fast. Instead of racing back downtown, a local artist suggested I catch the sunset from the rooftop at The Radical, a newer Hilton boutique hotel in the River Arts District that reopened last January.

If you go: The rooftop is open to guests, even if you're not staying at the hotel. In addition to seating facing the river, there are additional lounge areas with a fire pit, a full bar and a menu of small bites.

Stop by: 95 Roberts St.

Left side shows people walking inside a room with blue lighting, red curtains, and a patterned rug near green seating. Right side shows a sunset over a river and road with cars. — The lobby of the Radical, paired with my view of the sunset from the top. Photo: McKenzie Rankin/Axios

Fill up on tapas and wine at Cúrate

I saved my drive into downtown last because I knew I wanted to try my luck at Cúrate for dinner.

Context: This Spanish tapas restaurant came highly recommended, and it had just landed a spot in the South's Michelin Guide a few days earlier.

Dig in: With lots of helpful input from the bartenders (I, per usual on solo trips, grabbed a seat at the bar), I ordered a full spread: croquettes, sautéed shrimp, a beet salad, patatas bravas, a plate of their popular jamón and, of course, the Basque cheesecake for dessert.

It was just what was needed to fuel up before the drive home. I rolled out around 9 and was back in Charlotte by 11. A full Asheville day, start to finish, in about 12 hours.

Stop by: 13 Biltmore Ave.

Two images of food at a bar: left shows shrimp in broth, bread, croquettes, and a beet salad; right shows a slice of cheesecake with jelly and flower petals on a beige plate. Bar menus and drinks visible. — I knew walking in without a reservation was a gamble. But being a party of one paid off: I only waited 30minutes for a bar seat (and strolled the downtown shops to pass the time). Photo: McKenzie Rankin/Axios

Other Asheville recs from past trips

If you've got more time, here are a few Asheville favorites I keep coming back to:

The Orange Peel + Asheville Yards: Both great for live music, and you might even catch an artist who didn't swing through Charlotte.
Lexington Park Antiques: Great for plundering for unique and retro finds.
Antidote Cocktail Lounge: Solid craft cocktails, and it's walkable from Chai Pani in South Slope.
Rowan and Farewell: Two of my go-to local coffee shops.
Sauna House: A communal contrast-therapy studio. (Full transparency: I've only been to the Charlotte location, but Asheville is the flagship, and I'd recommend it to anyone wanting a more wellness-centric trip.)

Recs from our readers

So many of you shared your Asheville go-tos with me (I've saved them all for future trips).

Highlights include: Biscuits at Butter Punk, baked-to-order sandwiches at Piccolina, and dinner at Crusco in the River Arts District.

Leo's House of Thirst in West Asheville, Navitat Adventure Ziplining, and downtown staples like Malaprop's Bookstore, Limones, and Top of the Monk for cocktails.
Sunny Point Café, Asheville Pizza & Brewing for $2 movies, and a sunset cocktail at the Grove Park Inn.

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