With more than 100 restaurants and breweries with outdoor dining in and around Asheville, there’s always an opportunity to have a side of fresh mountain air with your meal. Come dine al fresco in Foodtopia.
On any warm evening in downtown Asheville, you’ll find friends seated at sidewalk tables, tucked into courtyards, and gathered around fire pits, savoring our mild mountain climate while experiencing the very best of our food culture.
Our fans on social media have graciously gathered a list of their favorite patios, so here’s a collection with majestic mountain views, cozy outdoor vibes, and everything in-between.
Popular Outdoor Patios in Downtown Asheville
Head into the heart of Downtown Asheville and find a patio vibe for any occasion. In Pack Square, some fan favorites include Rhubarb, Posana, Bomba, The Noodle Shop, and Farm Burger (just around the corner). Walk down any street for prime people watching or the chance to come face-to-face with a live performance from a busker. On the other side of Pack Square, bring your furry family member to Twisted Laurel’s dog-friendly patio and even order a treat off their menu just for dogs.
Explore one of our landmarks, the Grove Arcade, an architectural gem in downtown. Claim a table under a shady umbrella at the corner location of Carmel's Kitchen and Bar where choosing which classic southern dish to eat will be the hardest decision of your day. Sip champagne on the cozy patio at Battery Park Book Exchange before heading inside to peruse the stacks. Or head nearby to Isa's Bistro for a French meal with an Asheville twist.
Decorated with bowling balls, a pretty psychedelic sculpture that was once Ronald McDonald and plenty of other conversation pieces, Mellow Mushroom on Broadway Street is a great place to soak in the Asheville vibe as you bite into a fresh slice of pizza.
Across the street from Pritchard Park, where the Friday night Drum Circle is held, take refuge in Mayfel's covered front patio and their almost hidden back patio where they serve Louisiana-style brunch and lunch Friday to Monday. Other fan favorites downtown include: Tupelo Honey, Laughing Seed Cafe and Mountain Madre Mexican Kitchen and Agave Bar.
Pick up your coffee from Double D's, a coffee shop housed in a double-decker bus, then enjoy your brew in the cozy courtyard
Outdoor Dining in the River Arts District
The patios at Foundation Studios in the River Arts District earned high remarks from our fans. Here, you can connect with friends and the creatives who call Asheville home. Pair your plate of BBQ with a side of inspiration at 12 Bones Barbecue as you dine beside creative and colorful street art and murals painted by local artists (also check out the patio at 12 Bones' South Asheville location). Before or after your BBQ feast, share a beer together at The Wedge brewery’s extensive patio area, which shares the Foundation building with 12 Bones.
Drive up the road just a couple miles to find extensive outdoor seating at White Duck Taco, located right alongside the French Broad River. With a large patio and ample parking, it's definitely a local and visitor favorite.
Patio Dining in Other Asheville Neighborhoods
For casual, community vibe, check out these top patios in Asheville's surrounding neighborhoods:
Stroll down tree-lined Montford Avenue, just blocks from downtown in the historic Montford District, and enjoy an afternoon on All Day Darling’s beautiful patio. The restaurant is also within walking distance of the Asheville Visitor Center (36 Montford Avenue). On Charlotte Street, nosh on fresh oysters, sharable seafood towers, po' boys, gumbo, and more coastal-inspired meals in Jettie Rae's Oyster House’s covered outdoor space.
In West Asheville, discover hip, laid-back vibes when dining outside. Popular in the mornings, start your day with coffee and breakfast at Sunny Point or Early Girl Eatery West. Nearby, Haywood Common, The Whale craft beer collective, and Taco Boy West Asheville all have adjacent outdoor patio seating, and further down Haywood Road, Universal Joint has a great patio attached to a renovated 1930s-era gas station.
Heading to Biltmore? Just outside of the estate in Biltmore Village, The Cantina and The Village Wayside, located in the original train depot, are among our fans' favorite patios.
In the peaceful Reynold's Village neighborhood in Woodfin, The Village Porch lives up to its name with tables and chairs outside of its brick facade.
And, just to the east of downtown Asheville in the Haw Creek area, dine al fresco at Creekside Taphouse, where the kiddos can can tire out on the playground, or RendezVous, where you can indulge in French comfort food while you play pétanque, a French sport similar to bocce.
Patios in Surrounding Towns
Asheville's neighboring towns, such as Black Mountain and Weaverville, box above their weight when it comes to outdoor dining options.
In Black Mountain, social media buzzed over patios at Foothills Grange, Black Mountain Bistro, My Father's Pizza, Black Mountain Kitchen and Ale House, and The Trailhead. Weaverville's nods include Main Street staples Twisted Laurel, Soba, and Blue Mountain Pizza.
Brewery Patios
According to our fans, Wicked Weed Brewing takes the title for two of the best patios around. The space in front of the brewery and restaurant features a large fire pit and high-top tables. Head downstairs to the back of the building to hang out at picnic tables while munching on complimentary pretzels and playing cornhole. If you’re a sour beer lover, The Funkatorium, their other location on the South Slope entirely devoted to sour beers, also has a great covered patio.
In fact, go to any one of our 50+ craft breweries and you’ll discover most offer outdoor seating areas, as do our popular craft beer bars.
Stop by the visiting food truck on your way to Highland Brewing Company's Meadow or rooftop bar, which features cornhole and a clear view of Cold Mountain. Or, pedal your way over to the deck at New Belgium Brewing's tasting room, which overlooks the French Broad River. Enjoy a cold beer at French Broad Outfitters' Riverside Bar at their Hominy Creek Outpost. It's the launch site for their river adventures, but also a refreshing reward for those who walk or bike the Hominy Creek Greenway.
Just blocks from downtown in the South Slope District, enjoy Burial Beer's outdoor space complete with a vintage VW bus and a notable mural of Sloth and Tom Selleck. Or, lounge on a hammock or one of the picnic tables at Catawba Brewing.
Hillman Beer, a neighborhood brewery in Biltmore Village, and Lookout Brewing in Black Mountain are also great places to have on your radar.
Date Night Patios
Sip on a glass of wine or cut into a piece of decadent chocolate cake as you soak in the cool mountain breeze with a special someone.
Feel the warmth of the tabletop firepits at Bottle Riot, a wine bar in the River Arts District, located on the lower level of the century-old Wedge Studios building. For another picturesque spot, Biltmore Village's historic buildings are all lit up at night with lights, making the patio at Corner Kitchen even more romantic when the sun goes down.
Take in the view of the green space at Pack Square Park and the art deco City and County buildings at Pack's Tavern in downtown Asheville. There are also several restaurants with patios on charming Wall Street, a cozy tucked-away downtown street with strings of cafe lights. Grab an elevated vegetarian meal at Laughing Seed, American farm-to-table fare at The Market Place, or refined Italian at Cucina 24.
And, treat yourself to a delicious dessert and great people-watching at the outdoor space at Crave Dessert Bar.
Patios with a View
No place quite captures the view of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains like the Sunset Terrace at The Omni Grove Park Inn. Stop in for an inspired lunch or a leisurely dinner featuring chop house cuisine, or step on over to Edison for comfy couches, fireplaces, and an open-air table set with creative pub fare.
Downtown, Hemingway's Cuba at the Cambria Hotel pairs incredible skyline views with Cuban comfort food, while The Montford provides a scenic backdrop for seasonally-inspired cocktails and small bites.
The Roof at The Radical in the River Arts District is another must-visit for craft cocktails and unforgettable sunsets over the French Broad River. Or check out Flat Iron Rooftop for Italian small plates and a stunning Blue Ridge view. Soprana, atop Embassy Suites, combines Appalachia-meets-Alps dining with sweeping mountain vistas.
For more great rooftop bars, check out our guide to the best rooftop bars in Asheville.
