It’s been awhile since my last trip to Asheville. This one was much shorter than the last (I learned last visit you do not need a whole week here) but if you want to look back at spots I visited before you can check out that old blog post here. There is only one spot I repeated on this trip that was worthy of a revisit.

Vivian

Our only sit-down breakfast of the trip was at the Vivian for Sunday brunch. Their menu had a lot of tempting items, but many looked like they’d put me in a coma for the rest of the day, so I opted for a standard breakfast plate. However, there was nothing standard about it (ok, maybe the egg), but the biscuit was terrific, and the ham was this incredibly thick, hearty piece that sat next to a small but flavorful sausage patty. The potatoes were also insane. We both agreed it was one of the best vacation breakfasts we’d had in a while, and it made me wish I had a dinner reservation.

LITTLE CHANGO

Little Chango was a highlight of this trip. It’s a casual Hispanic kitchen that serves up arepas and other Latin American-inspired dishes. We ordered three dishes that were arepas topped with meats; each was divine. My favorite was probably the Ropa Vieja and then the Pernil. Of course, you have to order the flan. I haven’t had flan this good since it was homemade by relatives.

TACO BILLY

Taco Billy was a quick stop after a hike, and we found the menu had breakfast and regular tacos. The options are a bit overwhelming so take your time. I got a lot of recommendations for this spot, and while it was good, I’m not sure I would say it's a must-visit: solid tacos, friendly, super quick service, and bonus points for the tacos being so huge. If you get to it great, but if not, you'll be ok.

CHAI PANI

My first time trying Chai Pani was five years ago, and I fell in love. I’ve thought about that meal frequently since that trip. Unfortunately, on this visit, overcast weather had shut the patio down, but thankfully the host informed us we could order takeout and eat it there anyways. We got the Okra fries (better than french fries if you ask me), the Sloppy Jai, and the Tomato and Cheese Uttapam. Everything was as excellent as I remembered it, well worth the wait, with the one disappointment being the confusingly weak chai tea.

Ukiah

Ukiah was recommended and is also on the Eater list of spots to visit for Asheville. We went for an early dinner on the patio and ordered the Crispy Baby Back Ribs, a bowl of Pork Belly to share (the price does not match the size of the bowl), and the Japanese Sweet Potato. Overall the food was pretty good but could have been better, considering the price point. The ribs were a tad dry, the bowl of ramen was described as big and sharable, and it was just a regular-sized bowl of ramen. The standout for me was the sweet potatoes. The cocktails were great, so it was a 7 out of 10 meal. Our server was also excellent, so I will leave it up to you whether or not you try this place.

HOLE DOUGHNUTS

In all my travels and glazed bouts of bloated euphoria, no one has been as good to me as Hole Doughnuts. They are deceptively “simple” looking, without crazy flavors or a bunch of toppings. Nothing is wrong with either of those types of doughnuts by the way, but the simplicity of these leaves you with nothing to expect but perfection. Hot, pillowy, sheer magnificence. I got a mix of glazed, Vanilla Glazed, Toasted Almond Sesame Cinnamon, and a seasonal pumpkin flavor on this visit. The order model has changed since my last visit; where you can now order online and choose your pickup time. Whereas last time we waited in a very long line. Hole Doughnuts is a MUST when visiting Asheville. We had a terrible dinner at Red Ginger Dimsum & Tapas the night before (do NOT go there), so this left our last taste of Asheville a good one.

ANTIDOTE

Antidote is a large bar in South Slope that is multi-level and has a lovely courtyard where we hung out before dinner on a gloomy evening. If you aren't a beer drinker, Antidote is precisely that, as it's nestled in between about 12 breweries. I ordered off their seasonal menu and tried the NEW PILGRIM (Ansac Cognac, Chemist Spirits Single Malt Pecan Cream Liqueur, Hoodo Chicory Liqueur, House-Made Pumpkin Syrup, Chill Wave Cold Brewed Cooperative Coffee, Flambeed Marshmallows) and the SATURDAY SATAN (Reyka Vodka, Becherovka, Apricot Liqueur, Plum, Lemon, Angostura Bitters, Alternative Egg White, Candy Rim)! Would recommend!

COFFEE

Rowan Coffee

Rowan Coffee was my favorite spot of this trip, so much so that I went twice in place of trying a new shop. I love the interior because it doesn’t remind me of other coffee shops, it has its own romantic aesthetic, and the coffee was perfect. They also had friendly baristas on both visits. There is a paid parking lot right next to it, which makes running in and grabbing a coffee easy.

Pollen

Pollen was so fresh and happy; it was such a cute little shop. It’s part floral design studio, part cafe. Grab flowers with your latte or a cute mug like I did. The coffee was good, and the espresso could have been a bit stronger, but I would go back overall.

Bad Manners

This cute little cart has a permanent spot inside of Provisions Mercantile, a West Asheville shop with enough space for seating as well. My mocha was great, and would definitely add to your list.

NATURE

Craggy Pinnacle

It was overwhelming deciding which hikes to do because there are beautiful scenes and overlooks to enjoy about an hour outside of Asheville in literally any direction. We decided to try a popular and easy hike - the Craggy Pinnacle trail. It’s a beautiful drive up the Blue Ridge Parkway until you get to the parking area where the 0.6-mile hike begins. It’s very rocky and has an incline to get to the overview. On our trip, the fog was incredibly dense, so once we were at the top, it felt like we were in the clouds with almost no visibility, but the hike was erie and fun nonetheless. The only bathrooms nearby are port-a-potty, so go before you make the trek and bring hand sanitizer.

Blue Ridge Parkway

If you aren’t interested in hiking, a drive down the parkway will get you in touch with nature in a less strenuous way. You’ll get some great overlooks and pull offs like Tanbark Ridge Overlook and Haw Creek Valley Overlook.

LOCAL ASHEVILLE SHOPS

MORGAN’S COMICS

Great little shop with a mix of collectibles, t-shirts, comics, apparel and gifts for the pop culture junkie.

L.O.F.T. of Asheville

A two-level gift shop in the heart of Asheville filled with more items than you will be able to take in.

Mr K's Used Books, Music and More

What Borders left behind, this book shop also has games, CDs, and more.

Level 256 Classic Arcade Bar

This bar has a cover charge that gives you unlimited play. The front room is mainly pin balls, and the back area has retro arcade cabinets, and more current consoles and you can check out games to play.

Orbit DVD

This local shop has DVDs, retro VHS tapes, and a whole back room of video games.

REVOLVE MERCANTILE

This resale shop leans toward vintage offerings from clothes to home decor. Not cheap, but you may find a bargain.

ASHEVILLE COMICS

Comic shop outside of the city with a really great selection of comics and beyond.

EXTRA INFO

Where I stayed: AirBnb

Parking in Asheville: Download the Park Mobile App, you’ll need it. Free parking is a scarcity.

Don’t waste your time:

• Grove Arcade - it’s a pretty building inside, but nothing much has evolved inside, and beyond a bathroom, it’s no really something you need to see.

• Biscuit Head - It’s not worth waiting in a line for, trust me.

• Red Ginger Dim Sum - This was truly one of the worst meals I’ve had in a long time. Don’t go.