Moogfest 2012 travel planner: Where to eat, stay, play in Asheville

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Making plans for Moogfest2012? Ashvegas has you covered.

Where to EAT (suggestions from Creative Allies and Music Allies)

BRUNCH and BREAKFAST

Early Girl Eatery (on Wall Street), Limones (off of Biltmore on Eagle Street)  and Over Easy Cafe (on Broadway) are a few downtown restaurants well worth the wait.

Sunny Point Cafe in West Asheville has the best breakfast in town.  Located on Haywood Road in West Asheville (not Haywood Street in downtown), it’s a short drive and a great reason to get out and explore West Asheville’s shops and boutiques.

LUNCH and DINNER

Good ones near the Orange Peel: Mamacita’s is one of the best deals in town. Delicious Cal-Mex burritos, tacos and salads on a budget. Limones is delicious nouveau Mexican on Eagle Street (also a great brunch), and Doc Chey’s on Biltmore Ave. is Asian fusion.

Near the U.S. Cellular/Civic Center, try the Twisted Crepe on Haywood and pricey-but-worth-it tapas at Zambra (dinner only). Another great tapas spot: Curate on Biltmore Ave.

Also worth checking out:

  • Chai Pani (Battery Park Ave) and Mela (Lexington, great lunch buffet), are two great Indian restaurants. Cucina 24 is fantastic Italian dining on Wall Street.
  • Vincenzo’s (dinner only, Italian, Market St.) is one of Asheville’s best restaurants.
  • Two great sushi places: Heiwa (on Lexington) and Wasabi, which has has repeatedly won a ‘best of Asheville’ award for fantastic sushi.  It’s also on the festival route (Broadway).
  • Check out Sazerac for great rooftop dining & a great brunch, and Bouchon for crepes at lunch or amazing French fare for dinner (Lexington Ave.).
  • 12 Bones BBQ is only open from 11 am – 4 pm weekdays ONLY and is a MUST if you can make it. Their BBQ is some of the best around–President Obama makes this his first stop when he visits Asheville, and the restaurant has been featured on Good Morning America. A short drive away in the River Arts District.

LATE-NIGHT DINING (suggestions courtesy of BlogAsheville)

The Lexington Aveneue Brewery (downtown): Great food, great beer brewed in-house.
Mon.-Sat. 11:30 a.m —2 a.m.
Sunday 12:00 p.m —2 a.m.
Late Night Menu 11 p.m.—1:30 a.m.

Curate (downtown): Tapas bar with an El Bulli-trained chef. Open until they close Tue-Sun, taking reservations until 11:30 p.m. Reservations not required.

Rise N Shine Cafe (North Asheville): “Healthy homestyle breakfast and lunch” served Thu-Sat  10 p.m. until 3 a.m. Late-night dining may be available in summer months only.

Barley’s Taproom (downtown): Good pizza, salads, calzones and beer. Mon-Sat 11:30am-2pm; Sun 12pm-12am.

The Southern Kitchen and Bar (downtown): Slightly upscale Southern comfort food and beer. Open every day, 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.

French Broad Chocolate Lounge (downtown): Handmade chocolate, cookies, cakes, brownies, fudge, creme brulee, pots de creme… Beer, wine, and coffee, too. See you there.

Open Sun-Thu, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Fri & Sat: 11 a.m. – 12 a.m.

Hannah Flanagan’s Pub (downtown): Irish pub with bar food & good outdoor seating. Open Mon-Sat 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sun 12 p.m.-2 a.m.

Rosetta’s Kitchen (downtown): Vegan and vegetarian comfort food: salads, wraps, soups, rice, veggies, amazing desserts.

Mon. – Thu. 11 a.m. -11 p.m.; Fri-Sat 11 a.m. – 3 a.m.

Sunday brunch 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

One Stop Deli & Bar (downtown, former location of Stella Blue): Sandwiches, burgers, onion rings, beer. Tues – Sat, 11 a.m. – 2p.m.

Storm Rhum Bar (downtown): Upscale sandwiches and burgers, huevos rancheros, great cocktails. Late night menu available Sun – Weds 10 p.m. – 1 a.m.; Thu–Sat 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The Vault (downtown): Salads, , soups, tacos, burgers and more. Last call is around 1:30 a.m. The Rankin Vault is open 7 days a week.

Where to STAY

Convenient:
Cheap:

Where to PLAY(suggestions from Creative Allies and Music Allies)

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a great place to take a drive and see the changing leaves in autumn. Park and hike, or just drive and pack a lunch.

Walking or jogging Montford or downtown is great for people-watching and seeing fall color and charming old homes or downtown’s Art Deco buildings. Downtown’s also great to just walk and explore–just ask Brian Eno, who made a morning walk downtown a habit during his 2011 stay.

Bent Creek is a good place to hike, mountain bike and check out the Arboretum (Blue Ridge Parkway past Biltmore Square Mall).

Grove Park Inn: Evening drinks on the Sunset Terrace is a classic way to wind down.

Shop: Just explore downtown. We like the funky Lexington Ave. shops. (Looking for a costume, makeup or accessories? Try The Costume Shoppe or one of the shops on this list.)

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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4 Comments

  1. Kipper August 6, 2012

    Oh! And the vault too. Really got to recommend those vault tacos. But that’s it for late night.

    Reply
  2. Eamon August 6, 2012

    Hey! Thanks for recommending the Rankin Vault! Gotta correct your description though. There are salads for sure, and soups are seasonal…but everything else is incorrect. None of the remaining items listed are on the current menu (no pizza, wraps, desserts). But what IS on the menu these days is worth checking out (amazing tacos, great burgers, and a Vietnamese hoagie that is out of this world, to name a few things): http://www.rankinvault.com/customize

    Reply
    1. Jennifer Saylor August 6, 2012

      Hey Eamon, I updated the post. Thanks!

      Reply
  3. Kipper August 6, 2012

    As much as I adore the LAB their late night menu has become extremely truncated. As far as food goes after ten thirty PM your best options downtown are The Southern and The One Stop.

    Reply

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