Having brunch in Asheville, North Carolina has forced me to reconsider my self-proclaimed “non-foodie” ways. To be clear, it’s not that I don’t appreciate good food, it’s just not typically a priority for me while traveling. You’re more likely to find me photographing fairytale architecture for Instagram, hiking quaint European villages, or gushing over beautiful beaches.
That said, I’m dedicating an entire post to breakfast and brunch in Asheville because the food was truly a highlight of the trip. Apparently, Charleston isn’t the only one who has Southern cooking down to a science!
In any case, I’ll let you be the judge. Here are my top recommendations for mouthwatering places to enjoy breakfast and brunch in Asheville.
In a rush? Pin this post for later!
Where to Get the Best Breakfast & Brunch in Asheville
Chestnut
Chestnut had me at live music.
If you hit just one spot for brunch in Asheville, please let it be here.
My husband and I originally planned to eat at one of their outdoor tables, but once we requested a table for two, it was too late. I was enamored with the live musicians inside. (Plus, the interior was super pretty.)
I’m not sure if they have live music exclusively on weekends or more regularly, but it definitely added to the brunch experience.
Brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 – 3. I love that they offer it on both weekend days, a rarity with most restaurants. Sleep in one day, pig out the other, am I right?
Although we didn’t have a reservation, we were seated right away. However, you may want to call ahead if you have a larger group looking to brunch Asheville style.
FUN FACT: Every month, Chestnut changes their dinner menu while keeping a few crowd favorites, such as the Bisque, Charcuterie, and Petite Filet. An ever-changing menu keeps their Chef on his toes and keeps things fresh!
Although we only came for brunch, I’m willing to bet this is one of the best restaurants in Asheville regardless of meal.
Chestnut Brunch in Asheville: What to Order
In this guide, I’m including everything my husband and I ate for breakfast and brunch in Asheville and recommend. Please take everything with a grain of salt (no pun intended) if it doesn’t suit your dietary needs/preferences.
I ordered the seasonal vegetable frittata and cheesy grits. I never tried grits with cheese before, but I certainly wasn’t complaining after the first bite!
My husband ordered the fried green tomato benedict and we both went to town on it. The plate includes a buttermilk biscuit, smoked gouda pimento cheese, poached eggs, hollandaise, and fried collard greens.
Did I mention it comes with sweet potato fries and that I ate more of them than him? (Sorry, not sorry.) Asheville makes a mean fried green tomato. Trust me when I say he ate more than his fair share on this trip.
How to Get Here:
You’ll find Chestnut at 48 Biltmore Avenue in downtown Asheville. The lively downtown area has plenty of restaurants, museums, and street performers. You’ll find Biltmore Ave right in the heart of it all. GPS coordinates are 35.5932° N, 82.5509° W.
Biscuit Head
It’s hard for me to resist a good biscuit, so when I see a biscuit place nearby, I need to get my hands on them.
To be perfectly honest, I had a somewhat underwhelming biscuit experience in Charleston last year at Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit. While the biscuits were massive, I found them to be a bit bland.
Biscuit Head in Asheville was a totally different experience. I’m basically biscuit spoiled for life now.
FUN FACT: We went to Biscuit Head in West Asheville, but there are also locations in Asheville, South Asheville, and Greenville, NC.
What to Order:
I got the “Classic Sandwich” biscuit which comes with egg, cheddar cheese, and a choice of one side. My side was the fried chicken. OMG, you guys. Did I mention all of this goodness is available for just $6?
Husband got his biscuit adorned with fried green tomatoes – because of course he did.
How to Get Here:
Head here to pick your Biscuit Head location and select the dropdown under the “Menus” tab.
Vortex Doughnuts
I first discovered Vortex Doughnuts on Pinterest and I was sold. While I’m not a Dunkin’ person, I do enjoy a good gourmet doughnut from time to time. What can I say? If I’m going to go for the calories, I want to do it right!
Vortex Doughnuts has a ton of tempting toppings (from vanilla glazed to salted caramel glaze). They also offer more untraditional options like blackberry cream. You can view their full list of doughnut offerings here. (I can’t guarantee you won’t drool.)
However, I wished the doughnuts were a bit more…moist. I know, I know, the word is cringe-worthy, but I like it when there’s a little grease left over on my plate.
That said, my husband’s convinced the doughnuts would’ve been greasier if they were heated up. I’m not sure if they’ll heat them for you on the spot, but it can’t hurt to ask!
I really loved the industrial-style design here, too. I could totally imagine myself working remotely from here if I was a local.
FUN FACT: Vortex also offers a menu of espresso drinks as well as drip & pour over coffees.
What to Order:
It really comes down to personal preference on this one, as there are so many varieties. That said, I can attest to the chocolate glazed. Stef got the cinnamon sugar with a dark chocolate swirl.
How to Get Here:
Vortex Doughnuts is located on 32 Banks Avenue, Suite 106. It’s on more of an industrial street than the other places on this list, so don’t let that throw you!
Double D's Coffee & Desserts
Have you ever enjoyed your morning coffee…on a stationary bus? Well, now’s your chance!
Double D’s Coffee & Desserts may be an untraditional place to get your caffeine fix – but it’s perfect for capturing those Insta-worthy city shots!
I don’t want to lead you astray here, though. This is not the place for a legit sit-down breakfast or brunch in Asheville. However, it gets an A+ for uniqueness, so I felt it deserved a place on this list.
You can get a sweet treat (cookies/brownies/muffins) with your coffee, but there are no hot meals served here.
PRO TIP: The bus is a bit cramped, so be mindful of other patrons when placing your order. Also, you may want to use a bathroom in advance, as there isn’t one here. Otherwise, you can stop in one of the nearby businesses. Apparently, there’s a bathroom across the street in the parking garage, but I never found it!
You can enjoy breakfast on the upper deck or at one of the outside tables, weather permitting.
What to Order:
We each had an iced coffee because it was hot out. The brew was pretty strong, I must say! It was flavorful, but I’m generally more of a dark roast girl.
How to Get Here:
Double D’s Coffee & Desserts is located at 41 Biltmore Ave in Asheville. It’s right by Chestnut!
This fun city has definitely won me over in the food department and there are so many delicious ways to start the day. That said, it’s best that I’m not a local because I would definitely put on a few pounds!
Do you have any other recommendations for breakfast or brunch in Asheville? Let me know in the comments below!
Did you find this post useful? Pin it to your boards!
Having brunch in Asheville, North Carolina has forced me to reconsider my self-proclaimed “non-foodie” ways. To be clear, it’s not that I don’t appreciate good food, it’s just not typically a priority for me while traveling. You’re more likely to find me photographing fairytale architecture for Instagram, hiking quaint European villages, or gushing over beautiful beaches.
That said, I’m dedicating an entire post to breakfast and brunch in Asheville because the food was truly a highlight of the trip. Apparently, Charleston isn’t the only one who has Southern cooking down to a science!
In any case, I’ll let you be the judge. Here are my top recommendations for mouthwatering places to enjoy breakfast and brunch in Asheville.
In a rush? Pin this post for later!
Where to Get the Best Breakfast & Brunch in Asheville
Chestnut
Chestnut had me at live music.
If you hit just one spot for brunch in Asheville, please let it be here.
My husband and I originally planned to eat at one of their outdoor tables, but once we requested a table for two, it was too late. I was enamored with the live musicians inside. (Plus, the interior was super pretty.)
I’m not sure if they have live music exclusively on weekends or more regularly, but it definitely added to the brunch experience.
Brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 – 3. I love that they offer it on both weekend days, a rarity with most restaurants. Sleep in one day, pig out the other, am I right?
Although we didn’t have a reservation, we were seated right away. However, you may want to call ahead if you have a larger group looking to brunch Asheville style.
FUN FACT: Every month, Chestnut changes their dinner menu while keeping a few crowd favorites, such as the Bisque, Charcuterie, and Petite Filet. An ever-changing menu keeps their Chef on his toes and keeps things fresh!
Although we only came for brunch, I’m willing to bet this is one of the best restaurants in Asheville regardless of meal.
Chestnut Brunch in Asheville: What to Order
In this guide, I’m including everything my husband and I ate for breakfast and brunch in Asheville and recommend. Please take everything with a grain of salt (no pun intended) if it doesn’t suit your dietary needs/preferences.
I ordered the seasonal vegetable frittata and cheesy grits. I never tried grits with cheese before, but I certainly wasn’t complaining after the first bite!
My husband ordered the fried green tomato benedict and we both went to town on it. The plate includes a buttermilk biscuit, smoked gouda pimento cheese, poached eggs, hollandaise, and fried collard greens.
Did I mention it comes with sweet potato fries and that I ate more of them than him? (Sorry, not sorry.) Asheville makes a mean fried green tomato. Trust me when I say he ate more than his fair share on this trip.
How to Get Here:
You’ll find Chestnut at 48 Biltmore Avenue in downtown Asheville. The lively downtown area has plenty of restaurants, museums, and street performers. You’ll find Biltmore Ave right in the heart of it all. GPS coordinates are 35.5932° N, 82.5509° W.
Biscuit Head
It’s hard for me to resist a good biscuit, so when I see a biscuit place nearby, I need to get my hands on them.
To be perfectly honest, I had a somewhat underwhelming biscuit experience in Charleston last year at Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit. While the biscuits were massive, I found them to be a bit bland.
Biscuit Head in Asheville was a totally different experience. I’m basically biscuit spoiled for life now.
FUN FACT: We went to Biscuit Head in West Asheville, but there are also locations in Asheville, South Asheville, and Greenville, NC.
What to Order:
I got the “Classic Sandwich” biscuit which comes with egg, cheddar cheese, and a choice of one side. My side was the fried chicken. OMG, you guys. Did I mention all of this goodness is available for just $6?
Husband got his biscuit adorned with fried green tomatoes – because of course he did.
How to Get Here:
Head here to pick your Biscuit Head location and select the dropdown under the “Menus” tab.
Vortex Doughnuts
I first discovered Vortex Doughnuts on Pinterest and I was sold. While I’m not a Dunkin’ person, I do enjoy a good gourmet doughnut from time to time. What can I say? If I’m going to go for the calories, I want to do it right!
Vortex Doughnuts has a ton of tempting toppings (from vanilla glazed to salted caramel glaze). They also offer more untraditional options like blackberry cream. You can view their full list of doughnut offerings here. (I can’t guarantee you won’t drool.)
However, I wished the doughnuts were a bit more…moist. I know, I know, the word is cringe-worthy, but I like it when there’s a little grease left over on my plate.
That said, my husband’s convinced the doughnuts would’ve been greasier if they were heated up. I’m not sure if they’ll heat them for you on the spot, but it can’t hurt to ask!
I really loved the industrial-style design here, too. I could totally imagine myself working remotely from here if I was a local.
FUN FACT: Vortex also offers a menu of espresso drinks as well as drip & pour over coffees.
What to Order:
It really comes down to personal preference on this one, as there are so many varieties. That said, I can attest to the chocolate glazed. Stef got the cinnamon sugar with a dark chocolate swirl.
How to Get Here:
Vortex Doughnuts is located on 32 Banks Avenue, Suite 106. It’s on more of an industrial street than the other places on this list, so don’t let that throw you!
Double D's Coffee & Desserts
Have you ever enjoyed your morning coffee…on a stationary bus? Well, now’s your chance!
Double D’s Coffee & Desserts may be an untraditional place to get your caffeine fix – but it’s perfect for capturing those Insta-worthy city shots!
I don’t want to lead you astray here, though. This is not the place for a legit sit-down breakfast or brunch in Asheville. However, it gets an A+ for uniqueness, so I felt it deserved a place on this list.
You can get a sweet treat (cookies/brownies/muffins) with your coffee, but there are no hot meals served here.
PRO TIP: The bus is a bit cramped, so be mindful of other patrons when placing your order. Also, you may want to use a bathroom in advance, as there isn’t one here. Otherwise, you can stop in one of the nearby businesses. Apparently, there’s a bathroom across the street in the parking garage, but I never found it!
You can enjoy breakfast on the upper deck or at one of the outside tables, weather permitting.
What to Order:
We each had an iced coffee because it was hot out. The brew was pretty strong, I must say! It was flavorful, but I’m generally more of a dark roast girl.
How to Get Here:
Double D’s Coffee & Desserts is located at 41 Biltmore Ave in Asheville. It’s right by Chestnut!
This fun city has definitely won me over in the food department and there are so many delicious ways to start the day. That said, it’s best that I’m not a local because I would definitely put on a few pounds!
Do you have any other recommendations for breakfast or brunch in Asheville? Let me know in the comments below!
Did you find this post useful? Pin it to your boards!