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10 Asheville Favorites for Gay and Lesbian Visitors |
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Asheville Gay Owned/Friendly Inns | 10 Favorites for Gay/Lesbian Visitors | Instinct Magazine
Gay Dating in Asheville | Gay.com Top 10 Getaway | New York Times: Moving To Asheville |
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Since downtown Asheville offers so much, most of the businesses mentioned below are found there, unless noted otherwise. All of the included businesses welcome gay and lesbian visitors, and many are gay or lesbian owned. If you have any recommendations, comments, or questions, email us.
See Downtown Asheville Map | Printer-friendly version of this page
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1. Romantic Dinner: For Asheville's most extravagant dining experience, go to Grove Park Inn, three miles north of downtown. For something more casual, there are dozens of choices downtown such as vegetarian Laughing Seed Cafe (40 Wall St), Tupelo Honey's Southern breakfast on Friday and Saturday until 3 am (12 College St), Salsa Mexican Caribbean (6 Patton Ave), Zambra Spanish Tapas (85 Walnut St), and the eclectic Flying Frog with curtained-off tables for two (corner of Haywood St and Battery Park Ave). See our Asheville Dining Guide. |
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2. Hanging Out at Coffee Shops: You will find 10 coffee shops with local flavor and great atmosphere. Favorites include Malaprop's Bookstore (55 Haywood St), Europe Coffee Shop (18 Battery Park Ave), and True Confections (Grove Arcade). Most have delicious desserts for an after-dinner stop. Speaking of desserts, savor one of Carole's creations at True Confections in the Grove Arcade. |
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3. Happy Hour: There are several options for local beer or international wine. A favorite spot for local brews is Jack of the Wood, a Celtic smoke-free pub (95 Patton Ave). For the most beers on tap, head to Barley's Taproom (42 Biltmore Avenue). For wine, visit the Flying Frog Wine Bar (corner of Haywood St and Battery Park). Smokey Tavern (18 Broadway St) is a small gay bar that is convenient to drop in while walking around downtown. You don't have to be an overnight guest to enjoy a cocktail at the famous Grove Park Inn on their Sunset Terrace or in their massive lobby (see our Hotel Guide). |
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4. Experience Malaprops: To experience a true slice of Asheville, hang out in the place voted "Best Independent Bookstore in the Southeast." Lesbian-owned, it has a spirited atmosphere which draws a diverse crowd for readings and live music. For premium people watching, have a cup of coffee in their café or enjoy outdoor seating in the summer. Downtown, 55 Haywood St. Go to their Web site. |
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5. Biltmore Estate: Don't miss seeing the largest home in America, with an amazing collection of art and antiques, grand gardens, wine tasting at the winery, and the outdoor equestrian center. And there are numerous places to escape from the crowd for a romantic picnic or walk. See our Biltmore Estate Guide. |
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6. Live Music or Theatre: To listen and dance to some great jazz and blues, go to Tressa's (28 Broadway), which has a mixed straight and gay crowd. For folk music, interesting variations of blue grass, swing, and more, head to Jack of the Wood, the smoke-free pub (95 Patton Ave). For a variety of music headliners, check out The Orange Peel (101 Biltmore Avenue). In the mood for the theatre? There are several community and repertory theatre groups in town. Or see a first-run independent film or often a gay-themed film at the Fine Arts Theatre (36 Biltmore Ave). Go to the Calendar of Events for productions during your stay, or pick up the Mountain Express weekly entertainment guide when you arrive. For more, visit the After Dinner & Nightlife Guide. |
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7. Antique Shopping: Downtown has several antique shops and malls in close proximity. (See the Downtown Map.) Don't miss Stuf Antiques (52 Broadway). At Biltmore Village, be sure to visit Fireside Antiques (30 All Souls Crescent). Many couples plan a visit to Asheville around a Robert Brunk Antique Auction, one of the premier auction houses in the southeast. (Visit the Shopping Guide for more.)
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8. Gallery Hopping: John Cram owns the two biggest galleries in Asheville, Blue Spiral I downtown (38 Biltmore Ave) and New Morning Gallery in Biltmore Village. Blue Spiral has an incredible collection of fine art and crafts; better than many art museums. If you want a guided tour of artist studios hidden away in the surrounding mountains, try Art Safari. (Visit the Gallery Guide and Art Festivals Guide for more.) |
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9. Hike and Picnic: For great hikes, visit the Hikes & Walks Guide. If a picnic along the Parkway sounds inviting, stop at Picnics Restaurant and Bakery at 371 Merrimon Avenue (look for the rainbow flag) and get their "Picnic on the Parkway." Ron and his mom bake 20+ desserts daily. (See the Blue Ridge Parkway Guide). Laurey's Catering downtown at 67 Biltmore Avenue has a sumptuous "Gourmet Dinner To Go" for an evening picnic. Another idea: explore Chimney Rock Park or go whitewater rafting (NOC and Wildwater are especially gay friendly). |
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10. Go Clubbing: The premier nightclub for dancing is Scandals, downtown (11 Grove Street near Patton Avenue) in a brick building that looks like a large house. It has a lively dancebar and various areas to escape the madness of the dance floor, including one smoke free lounge, on Wednesday through Sunday nights. (Visit Scandals Web site). There are two other gay clubs nearby, mixed lesbian/gay Club Hairspray (38 N French Broad Ave, visit Club Hairspray Web site) and O.Henry's (mostly gay men, 237 Haywood Street). Smokey Tavern (18 Broadway St) is a small downtown bar with a couple of pool tables and friendly guys. |
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