In western North Carolina lies a beautiful city within the Blue Ridge Mountains – Asheville, NC! A city that we have traveled to often, Asheville is by far one of my favorite cities to visit. With its down to earth vibe, tourists flock for endless outdoor hiking and to find a bit of serenity.
In addition to being incredibly peaceful, tranquil, and artsy, it is also a HUGE foodie town. Our latest visit to Asheville consisted of exceptional eclectic eateries worth sharing as well as a relaxing spa getaway hidden in the Pisgah National Forest.
Itto Ramen Bar
Walking through the downtown streets of Asheville, you will come across different types of restaurants and cuisines. This Japanese Tapas spot caught our eye, so we decided to give it a try.
From the ITTO shumai to the fried zucchini katsu, the items were ordered were all so delicious. Our favorites were the dynamite shrimp and beef jalapeno tataki. This place makes a great lunch stop, and everything hit the spot.
Posana Restaurant
A restaurant which I have always walked by but never stopped to try before was Posana, located downtown on the corner of 1 Biltmore Ave. We decided to make a reservation for dinner to try it out on this last visit, and we were not disappointed with their New American menu.
The kale salad and bread sticks were a delicious treat to start. For the main course, we couldn’t go wrong with ordering the lamb rack and prime ribeye – outstanding! A great spot for a date night or if you are celebrating a special occasion.
Asheville Proper
We stumbled upon this restaurant while searching for dessert after dinner. Asheville Proper’s entire dessert menu sounded delicious, so we decided to grab a seat near the bar.
The s’mores were outstanding. Their unique combination of a frozen chocolate mousse, graham cracker, toasted meringue, toasted marshmallow, and chocolate ganache was gratifying.
Holeman & Finch
Holeman & Finch is another spot in downtown Asheville which we came across, wanting to grab a quick lunch before hitting the road back home. We didn’t know we stumbled upon an amazing burger spot.
Gobbling up their HNG Cheeseburger (with just cheese, pickles, and onions), along with Fries and a local beer to wash it down at the bar, is all it took for us to fall in love with this place.
Shoji Spa & Retreat
If you are looking for a little bit of serenity, peace, and relaxation then look no further than Shoji Spa. This is an amazing spot in the mountains to unwind and be one with nature…while sipping on some tea of course.
Shoji’s private hydrotherapy salt hot tubs, overlooking views of the Pisgah National Forest, are something everyone should experience at least once. We also experienced their sauna for a bit, had a spectacular couples massage, and enjoyed their Savansa Retreat which was composed of gemstone therapy and meditation.
Highly recommend!
Hope you are able to relish in some of our favorite recommendations on your next visit to Asheville.