6 Top Places in Asheville to Visit if You Love Art and Food

Recently, I visited Asheville, North Carolina for a conference; I was presenting on my research concerning Faust myths and how gender transgression and queer sexuality are often linked to damnation and the Devil. It was also a time to convince others to ship Faustopheles, but that besides the point.

Anyhow, I had a blast. I met some wonderful, unforgettable people, and, with the late March mountain cold and wind, the city had this bleary but vibrant beauty to it. It is wonderful to find a place so immersed in music, art, and literature. For me, Asheville was hipster heaven and a blast to walk around. There were so many places to visit that I couldn't possibly see them all.

However, should you ever want to head to Asheville, I've compiled a list of the top cost-effective restaurants and artsy places I visited.

Battery Park Book Exchange

This one was personally recommended to me. It's a used bookstore that combines two of the world's best things: books (of course!) and wine. It was a bit of a walk from the hotel, but totally worth it. Several members of my party ended up returning there. There's a wide selection of incredibly well-priced books from various different fields.

For less than $3, I bought a 1946 edition of The Sound and the Fury. Also, there was great, comfy lounge seating and, because the bookstore is pet-friendly, there were plenty of dogs to pet and a confirmed kitten sighting.

Green Sage Cafe

A solar-friendly, organic cafe with wonderful food and great, friendly service. While there was a line, it went by quickly. There's also a good selection of teas. I personally recommend the sorghum BBQ sandwich with rice. It was a swift and cheap option that didn't skimp on the quality. It also kept me full and happy on the trip back from the conference. As far as I know, there are other location in North Carolina.

Farm Burger

Yet another eco-friendly location with an emphasis on grass-fed, non-GMO animals as the source of food. To my knowledge, there are other location, but this was my first time visiting one, and boy, the burger and fries were good. This ethical eatery is also quick and highly recommended.

Kress Emporium

I have to stop myself from gushing. This is a store that features art from Asheville locals. This ranges from pendants to miniature wooden statues to prints to shirts. There were also flower crowns (pictured here), wooden signs, and stunning paintings. The emporium is huge and the vast selections of artwork are astonishing. There are so many different styles and beautiful arrangements of jewelry and more. Even if you don't purchase anything, this is a must-see for the sheer wow factor.

Twisted Laurel

A Greek-themed eatery with anything you can imagine from wraps to burgers to wings tossed in Greek or mango-chili lime sauce. The people there are wonderful, the environment is welcoming and accommodating, and the food is spectacular.

Strada

Likely the most expensive of all the listed food places, but not only are the people helpful and kind, but the pasta and bread are extremely tasty. Definitely recommended if you love good Italian food and need a fancier place to eat.

There were several places I couldn't visit over the course of three busy days, but Asheville was amazing. Have you been? Do you want to go? Where would you recommend, or what would you like to see?

Bonus: Picture of when I stumbled upon Thomas Hardy's home!

#art #travel