An Insider’s Guide to Asheville

Proper Picks

The buzzy mountain town of Asheville, North Carolina, has all the makings for a food-filled, adventurous weekend. You likely know popular spots we’ve covered, like Cúrate and Benne on Eagle but for off-the-beaten-path coffee shops, taquerias, BBQ joints, and more, we turned to a local: Mindi McGlynn who along with her husband, chef Owen McGlynn, co-owns the city’s only steakhouse, Asheville Proper.

The couple have watched firsthand as Asheville has evolved into a thriving cultural hub for many award-winning chefs, artists, makers, and small business owners—making it a top Southern destination. Below, Mindi  gives us a few of her favorite hot spots to hit when you’re visiting this eclectic mountain town for a long weekend.

Mindi McGlynn’s Picks

BemBeriBon

“A gluten-free bakery and restaurant in hip West Asheville (or ‘Westville’ as we call it.) I’m gluten-free, so they’ve got amazing options for sandwiches, baked goods, and more—my personal favorite is the jiang bing!”

Summit Coffee Co.

“Located two doors down from us, Summit has amazing coffee that is locally roasted in Davidson, North Carolina.”

Roman’s Deli

“Sandwiches from Roman’s Deli get us through the week, seriously. Owen loves their reuben and I love their burgers and bacon avocado caprese.”

Buxton Hall Barbecue

“Our kids love Buxton for lunch. They are obsessed with the mussels and I could bathe in their BBQ sauce.”

Taco Temple

“Located in a former 1930s gas station, it’s a funky space with the best chorizo queso on the plant. Their tacos are served on handmade corn tortillas that are so fresh and lovely.”

Jettie Rae’s Oyster House

“Serving up sustainable and fresh seafood, Jettie Rae’s is one of our favorite date-night spots in town. We really enjoy the fresh seafood and we really trust the quality. We can easily eat several dozen oysters and pounds of peel & eat shrimp in one sitting.”

High Five Riverside

“There are a few High Five Coffee shops in town, but the Woodfin location—sometimes referred to as Camp Riverside—is located along the bank of the French Broad River. On the weekends, we’ll bring the kids so they can play in the river while we enjoy oat milk lattés.”

Zambra 

“A tapas and wine bar located in the heart of downtown. We love it because we can order one of everything on the menu and no one will blink an eye.”

The S&W market

“A new addition to the neighborhood and Asheville’s first food hall. We love to pop in there to grab a snack while we’re working. My favorite is the Thai-inspired street food from Bun Intended and Owen likes to grab chicken sandwiches from Buxton Chicken Palace for the guys in the kitchen as a pre-shift snack.”