ASHEVILLE – In a tumultuous year, Asheville’s restaurant industry strives to rebuild and recover from mass devastation following Tropical Storm Helene.
The food and beverage scene has experienced much loss as businesses were destroyed or closed due to financial strain caused by the September storm.
The community welcomed many new establishments, including some familiar places that have introduced new concepts.
Here’s a highlight of newcomers that opened in Asheville in 2024.:
The catfish plate with fries, hushpuppies and Sea Island red peas at Good Hot Fish.
Good Hot Fish opened its first brick-and-mortar restaurant in the South Slope in January. The Smokin’ Onion opened in the same shopping center as Bad Manners Coffee on Haywood Road in West Asheville.
Big Tikka, an Indian restaurant, moved into Noble Cider’s former taproom on Rankin Avenue.
Trve Brewing Company, founded in Colorado, opened a taproom and The Whale’s third Asheville rare craft beer bar, Terra Nova Beer Co. with Mission Pizza opened on the South Slope.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Asheville Downtown had its grand opening, officially introducing Soprana Rooftop Cucina.
Big Tikka’s chicken kebab has oven roasted chicken thighs marinated in an authentic tandoor marinade.
The Flat Iron Hotel opened with an Italian eatery, Luminosa, and rooftop and basement speakeasy-style bars.
Moxy Hotel Asheville opened with Wildwood Still rooftop restaurant, specializing in American and Asian cuisine and whiskey, on Biltmore Avenue adjoining Aloft Hotel.
In April, Auction House Food & Drink Hall opened in Fletcher, introducing several original food and beverage concepts.
Cooperative Coffee Shop opened on Haywood Road in Urban Orchard Cider Co.’s former location in West Asheville.
Vowl, a wine and cocktail bar and event space, opened next to the downtown brewery, Dssolvr.
In June, Burial Beer Co. debuts its Visuals wine and cocktail bar on the rooftop of Eulogy music venue on the South Slope.
Burial’s Fraggle on the Rocks made with vodka, VISUALS Disperse Into Ethers Aperitif Wine, grapefruit and orange bitters.
Wine & Roses, a parlour bar, opened inside Zelda Dearest boutique hotel downtown.
Bonito, a global fusion concept, opened at The Hound, a lounge in East Asheville.
Chick-fil-A opened in the former lot of Ryan’s, which was demolished for the new construction.
Juancho’s Fonda opened on Sweeten Creek Road offering Colombian fusion cuisine and cocktails.
Juancho’s Fonda’s Bandeja Paisa comes with pork belly, steak, chorizo, rice beans, plantains, avocado and an egg.
Quench! Wine Bistro opened in Woodfin’s Reynolds Village in collaboration with Metro Wines and the former owner/chef of Ambrozia.
Maguro, a Japanese restaurant from the same owner as Arden’s Murasaki, opened on Biltmore Avenue.
Asheville Charcuterie Company opened a brick-and-mortar shop on Page Avenue downtown, formerly Pleb Urban Winery’s bar, The Aventine.
A grab-and-go cup from Asheville Charcuterie Company.
Character Study, a new bar concept from the owners of Little Jumbo, opened on Haywood Road in the former location of Alley Cat Social Club, which closed in February.
Flour opened inside S&W Market, taking over Highland Brewing’s first-floor kiosk in the downtown food hall in May. In December, Flour shifted and expanded operations, turning its established space into a coffee and pastry-focused Flour Café and introducing a second kiosk as Flour Focaccia Sandwich Shop.
In the fall, Mabel Bakery and Mattie Lou’s Bakery opened.
The founder of Gospel Artisanal Ice Cream opened New Potential Boyfriend a music-listening lounge and wine bar in West Asheville. The menu includes handcrafted ice cream.
A back corner of Character Study, called “The Hideaway,” right, has a cushioned chair with an ottoman, side table, reading lamp and bookshelves.
In late December, Joey’s Bagels expanded, opening its new location at 707 Merrimon Ave in North Asheville.
More new establishment openings include Taqueria Rosita in The Odd, Cava in Arden, Mamma Mia! Café, Insomnia Cookies, Romeo’s Vegan Burgers, Bebop Bottle Shop and wine bar, Dripolator (East Asheville), Haywood Famous coffee shop, Jersey South Bagel Co., Sheetz (Hendersonville) and Mount Mitchell Café & Eatery (Mount Mitchell State Park).
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Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Tips, comments, questions? Email tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow @PrincessOfPage on Instagram/Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: New restaurants, bars, breweries, coffee shops in Asheville in 2024
