New Asheville Restaurants, Bars, Breweries Make Second Quarter Debut
Italian fare to coffee shops: Which Asheville restaurants and bars opened in 2nd quarter 2024?
ASHEVILLE – A host of new eateries and watering holes opened in time for the spring and summer crowds. The latest local, regional, and national businesses to debut include food stall vendors with fast-casual meals, fine dining restaurants, and chic bars serving drinks, food, and a scenic view. Asheville’s brewery scene expanded and diversified as restaurateurs introduced new brands in April, May, and June. Here are some of the Asheville area food and beverage destinations to open in the second quarter of 2024:
South Paw
In April, South Paw opened at 1996 Hendersonville Road serving New American cuisine from smash burgers to prime rib to tempeh. The full bar offers classic and signature cocktails, including infused spirited drinks.
Soprana Rooftop Cucina
In April, Soprana Rooftop Cucina, an Italian-inspired restaurant and bar specializing in pizza and other casual bites, opened on the rooftop of Embassy Suites by Hilton Asheville Downtown, 192 Haywood St. The seventh-floor eatery offers a dining and spacious rooftop patio that looks out on the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Auction House Food and Drink Hall
In April, Auction House Food and Drink Hall opened at 29 Fanning Bridge Road in Fletcher. KO Restaurant Group’s featured concepts offer an assortment of dining and beverage options including Auction House Wine Bar (or A.H. Wine Bar), KO Burger, Fish Camp 25, Mercado Cantina, and Blue Collar Bourbon.
Nightcrawler
In April, Nightcrawler, a pop-up concept, became the resident cocktail provider at Trve Brewing Company, 255 Short Coxe Ave. in the South Slope brewing district. A menu of staple signature drinks is offered in the craft brewery’s taproom daily. On the first Saturday of each month, Nightcrawler will offer a fuller menu of craft concoctions at a party-style event with an invited food truck partner on-site for the day.
Flour
In May, Flour became the newest vendor in the S&W Market, a food hall at 56 Patton Ave. downtown. The café offers freshly baked focaccia sandwiches and pizza, pastries, coffee, signature drinks, and beverages to-go, like wine. Flour opens early for breakfast service and stays open for lunch and dinner crowds.
Cooperative Coffee Shop
In May, Cooperative Coffee Shop opened at 210 Haywood Road, formerly Urban Orchard Cider Co.’s West Asheville taproom. The local roastery expanded to add the communal venue that includes an outdoor deck and natural seating area. The beverage menu features coffee and espresso drinks made with in-house roasted beans with house-made syrup additions available, plus snacks and light prepared meals from local partners.
El Patio by Guajiro
In May, El Patio by Guajiro, an indoor-outdoor beer and wine bar, opened at Asheville Cotton Mill Studios and is the sister concept of the food truck, Guajiro Cuban Comfort Food at 122 Riverside Drive.
Terra Nova Beer Co. and Mission Pizza
In May, Terra Nova Beer Co. opened its main brewery at 101 South Lexington Ave. on the South Slope. The Asheville company partnered with Winston-Salem-based Mission Pizza to be its resident food provider.
Chai Pani
In May, Chai Pani relocated to its new, spacious location at 32 Banks Ave on the South Slope. The James Beard Award-winning restaurant’s other Indian street food concept, Botiwalla, will open later in Chai Pani’s former location at 22 Battery Park Ave.
Luminosa
In May, Luminosa opened on the first floor of The Flat Iron Hotel, 20 Battery Park Ave. downtown. The historic building has been renovated from a mixed-use retail and business building to a hotel with a rooftop bar and an underground speakeasy called The Red Ribbon Society.
Vowl
In May, Dssolvr brewery’s new wine and cocktail bar and event space, Vowl, opened at 61 North Lexington Ave., next door to the downtown taproom. The menu features signature drinks, natural wine, cider, and more to balance the business’s craft beer side.
Wine & Roses
In May, Wine & Roses, a parlour bar, opened with a curated menu of local beer, wine, and craft cocktails with small bites to come. Wine & Roses is inside Zelda Dearest, a new 20-room boutique hotel at 150 Lexington Ave. named in honor of Zelda Fitzgerald.
Chick-fil-A
In May, a new Chick-fil-A location hatched at 970 Brevard Road at the site of the defunct Ryan’s Buffet.
Visuals
In June, Visuals wine and cocktail bar opened on the rooftop of Burial Beer Co.’s Eulogy music venue at 10 Buxton Ave. in the South Slope brewing district.
Cava
In June, Cava opened its second Asheville area location at 1 Brian Blvd., Unit 100 in Arden, serving Mediterranean customizable bowls, wraps, salads, and more at the fast-casual eatery.
Mamma Mia! Café
In June, Mamma Mia! Café opened at 46 Haywood St., Suite 11 in the Haywood Park Building downtown. The Mediterranean eatery offers fresh pastries, sandwiches, and coffee available to-go, in the cozy lounge, or in the café-style seating area in the atrium.
Romeo’s Vegan Burgers
In June, Romeo’s Vegan Burgers opened its third brick-and-mortar restaurant and first Asheville location at 640 Merrimon Ave, Unit 203. The Charlotte-based fast-food eatery serves plant-based meals using scratch-made ingredients and products from leading vegan brands.
Stay tuned for more updates on the vibrant food and beverage scene in Asheville!
