A Can't-Miss Itinerary for Three Days in Asheville

Chai Pani

Start Day 1 the Right Way

Sunny Point Café is a West Asheville staple that sets the tone for your first morning. The menu blends Southern comfort with globally inspired play.

Wander and Shop 

Walkable blocks in downtown Asheville are filled with makers, galleries, and stories highlight the downtown shopping experience. Make a stop at the Grove Arcade or stroll down Lexington Avenue and discover a unique collection of locally owned boutique's, gift shops, restaurants and galleries.

Lunch at an Asheville Favorite

Head to Chai Pani, winner of the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant. It’s colorful, inventive, and alive with the spirit of Indian street food.

Sunset on the Terrace

Take in the sunset from the terrace at Omni Grove Park Inn and Spa, where the sky steals the show without asking permission. Order a cocktail, step onto the stone, and let the view kick off your evening.

Make Dinner a MICHELIN Star 

For dinner, make a reservation at Luminosa at the Flat Iron Hotel, one of Asheville’s standout restaurants recently recognized in the MICHELIN Guide for its elevated, season-driven cuisine. Expect artful plates that balance regional ingredients with refined technique — a dinner that feels special without feeling stiff. This is the kind of meal that anchors your first Asheville night in unforgettable style.

Craggy Gardens

Risk it for the Biscuit

Kick off your day in the River Arts District at Butterpunk, where breakfast biscuits are the star. Think airy, flaky buttermilk biscuits served warm and built into memorable sandwiches and bowls with perfect eggs and melty cheese, plus rotating seasonal toppings that make it worth talking about.

Roll Down Those Windows

This day is for long, purposeful detours along the historic Blue Ridge Parkway. Pull-offs that feel like breathwork, waterfalls like Looking Glass Falls, Moore Cove Falls, or Rainbow Falls, and hikes that leave you feeling connected to the land with your head in the clouds. 

Get Lost in Art

Head back to the River Arts District, where makers craft identity in glass, paint, clay, and metal. Stop by New Belgium Brewing for beers by the river — a craft pour rooted in community, sustainability, and a little bit of brag-worthy boldness.

Dinner and a Show  

End your day in the RAD at Crusco with its wood-fired, Italian-leaning plates and house-made pastas. Once you’ve had that last bite at Crusco, roll into The Grey Eagle for a show. This local stage pulls in touring acts and Asheville regulars alike

Biltmore Estate

The Best Part of Waking Up

Rowan Coffee Shop's scholarly, warm interior sets the tone for a day of exploration. Try a seasonal drink and settle into your final day.

Take a Walk Through History

Let the late morning and early afternoon belong to the Biltmore Estate, where historic architecture and intentionally designed landscapes meet a backdrop of layered mountain ridges. Tour the house at your pace, wander the gardens, and let the estate-scale quiet and scroll-stopping details ground the start of your day. A visit here isn’t a detour — it’s the anchor.

Late Lunch on the Corner

After your Biltmore wander, land in Biltmore Village for lunch at Corner Kitchen, where buttermilk-fried chicken, fresh salads, and wraparound-porch hospitality make for a midday beat change that feels more like flow than scheduling.

Beer City Break

For an afternoon pint, head to Highland Brewing, Asheville's oldest brewery, founded in 1994. Their taps lean craft and classic — Gaelic Ale, AVL IPA, and seasonal pours that nod to history without lecturing.

Bon Appetit

Head to West Asheville to dine at Neng Jr.’s, named one of Bon Appétit’s Best New Restaurants in America. It’s a jewel-box space where Filipino heritage meets mountain creativity.

Cap the Night

End your day (and your trip) with a downtown nightcap at Times Bar in downtown Asheville. Cocktails here are crafted, balanced, and unhurried — like Asheville itself.