A guide to our favorite coffee shops in Asheville
If you are looking for a guide to the best coffee shops in Asheville, look no further! This coffee shop guide includes everything from local roasters, to coffee shops with excellent food to doughnut shops with excellent coffee.
Overview of the best coffee shops in Asheville
One important note: THE COFFEE SHOPS ARE NOT RANKED! That would be impossible! There are too many great coffee shops in Asheville, each with their own unique vibe and offerings. Instead, we have broken it down by neighborhood. See below for an overview!
- Map of the best coffee shops in Asheville
- Downtown Asheville Coffee Shops
- River Arts District Coffee Shops
- South Slope Coffee Shops
- West Asheville Coffee Shops
- North Asheville Coffee Shops
- Montford Coffee Shops
- Woodfin Coffee Shops
Map of the best coffee shops in Asheville
We thought it may be helpful to see a map of all of the coffee shops we love in Asheville so that you can easily find a good one wherever you are!
Downtown Asheville Coffee Shops
1. The Rhu
If you are familiar with us at all, you’ll know we love The Rhu. It’s cute as a button inside and is known for amazing and beautiful pastries, the world’s best brownie and excellent breakfast + lunch options.
The Rhu also has great coffee and tons of seating upstairs, as well as a few tables and great window seats downstairs.
About The Rhu
Quick details: Great coffee, a perfect pastry selection, breakfast sandwiches and lunch options. They also have a fun retail market with local goodies.
Location: 10 S Lexington Ave // Downtown Asheville
Availability: closed Tuesday
Beverages: Full espresso bar and drip coffee available
Whole bean availability: The Rhu sells bags of PennyCup coffee in their market pantry section.
Food options: Excellent pastries and great breakfast and lunch options. Bagels and biscuits for breakfast.
Online Ordering: You can order takeout online from The Rhu.
Parking: Downtown parking is always hit or miss. No street parking out front, so you’ll have to walk from wherever you find a spot.
Award: Two awards for The Rhu!! 1. Best Coffee Shop in Asheville To Work From. Upstairs is awesome for this! PS The Rhu shares this award with Summit RAD. And 2. Best Coffee Shop In Asheville For Dessert (that brownie!!)
2. Trade and Lore Coffee
Bistro lights and outdoor seating, local art on the walls and fun drinks combine to make the magic that is Trade and Lore. It’s a great place to meet a friend and enjoy an espresso drink (or wine!) I typically stick with plain lattes but I love testing out all of the fun drink flavors at Trade and Lore. Never too sweet and always something that sounds amazing (sweet potato, peppermint mocha, pecan pie…)
About Trade and Lore Coffee
Quick details: Cute coffee spot in downtown Asheville. Indoor and patio seating available and a few treats on the menu as well as kombucha, Devil’s Foot sodas, beer and wine.
Location: 37 Wall St // Downtown Asheville near Laughing Seed Cafe and Early Girl Eatery
Availability: Open daily
Beverages: Full espresso menu with some great seasonal drinks, coffee sodas, teas and shrubs. They also have beer and wine.
Whole bean availability: Trade and Lore isn’t a roaster, but they do sell bags of Cooperative Coffee. They also have bottled syrup and Chill Wave coffee concentrate available for purchase.
Food options: Various pastries from The Rhu(!) and Eat More Bakery, quiche, muffins, biscuits and Cultivated oatmeal cups. Burritos on the weekend from Simple Asheville.
Online Ordering: Yes! Order online and pick up at the walkup window
Parking: Street and garage parking available downtown
Award: Cutest Coffee Shop In Asheville To Meet A Friend For Drinks
3. Rowan Coffee
Rowan Coffee is new(ish) to the scene but feels as if it has always existed. It’s such a calm place even when it’s busy. Rowan is a beautiful coffee shop all the way around— from its stylish and moody interior to its cool city building exterior. They are also dedicated to brewing the perfect cup of coffee and have a great variety to choose from daily. Oh, and count on great music!
About Rowan Coffee
Quick details: A speakeasy-feeling coffee shop located in downtown Asheville. Great atmosphere and even better coffee. Check out their daily pourover menu or try one of their specials! And don’t miss their weekend waffles– pure magic all around.
Location: 66 Broadway St // Downtown Asheville
Availability: Open daily
Beverages: Rowan has a batch brew as well as a few varieties of pour-overs and seasonal drinks in addition to their espresso menu. They share what they are brewing (and listening to!) on Instagram each week and you can tell they are very passionate about it all.
Whole bean availability: Rowan features a variety of roasters, but you can typically count on finding a bag of whole beans in their retail section. You can also find coffee tools for your home setup!
Food options: A great selection of pastries from The Rhu. They also have some fantastic (and creative!) waffles on the weekends.
Online Ordering: Available for delivery on GrubHub
Parking: There’s a pay-to-park lot right next to them on Broadway. Street and garage parking is also available downtown.
Award: Best Coffee Craft In Asheville
4. High Five Coffee (downtown)
If you like the city coffee shop feel, High Five Coffee’s Rankin Avenue location is a great spot to set up and do some work. This location only has indoor seating (which is cozy, yet bright and airy at the same time), but their Broadway Street location has great outdoor patio seating and their riverside location is, well, riverside.
About High Five Coffee
Quick details: Count on great coffee in a fun atmosphere with High Five! They serve up Counter Culture and have a pastry case as well as smoothies and other treats.
Location: 13 Rankin Ave // Downtown Asheville
Availability: Open daily
Beverages: Full espresso menu and Counter Culture coffee
Whole bean availability: They aren’t a roaster, but they do have Counter Culture beans available for purchase.
Food options: Pastries, smoothies and snacks available! They serve up treats from Rise Above Bakehouse and Silvermoon Chocolate (including some gluten-free and vegan options!)
Online Ordering: None
Parking: This location is in downtown Asheville, so parking can be a bit tricky. There are garages close by, though! And the one across the street is free for the first 30 minutes.
Award: Friendliest baristas in Asheville! Their staff is always so happy and kind (and they always whip up the best drinks!)
5. Session Cafe and Bar
I’m always torn between whether we should share hidden gems or keep them to ourselves. In this case, I have decided to share Session because it’s just too good not to 🙂
First of all, it’s located in the historic Citizen Times building across from the Grove Arcade. The building is also home to Citizen Vinyl record press. There’s also a recording studio, an art & record store and a plant store. Secondly, they have amazing food– we love the egg salad sandwich and grilled cheese! And thirdly, the people! Everyone is so friendly.
The interior is flawless, there’s a ton of seating and great background music to boot. Not only is Session a fun place to meet friends, but it’s also a great spot to work from in downtown Asheville. You’ll find seating outside, at the ground level and upstairs.
About Session Cafe and Bar
Quick details: A impeccably decorated cafe and full bar in the heart of Citizen Vinyl record press facility. Great to work from or just to hang out and enjoy the authentic Asheville.
Location: 14 O’Henry Ave // Downtown Asheville near Grove Arcade
Availability: Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Beverages: Full espresso menu with some great house flavors (ex. lavender honey, almond cinnamon, rosemary brown sugar.) They also have Asheville Tea Company teas, house herbal blends, spritzes, sodas, cocktails, wine and beer.
Whole bean availability: Counter Culture
Food options: Amazing!! Seriously, some of the best food in Asheville. It’s gourmet, yet approachable.
Online Ordering: Yes! Order online through Kickback
Parking: Street and garage parking available downtown
Award: Best hidden gem coffee shop in Asheville
6. Summit Coffee (Downtown)
Though Summit Coffee is not originally local to Asheville (it started in Davidson, NC), it definitely feels at home here! Their original Asheville location is in the River Arts District and this one is in the Grove Arcade downtown.
Summit Coffee is a roaster and they sell various blends at each shop. I’m currently on a Summit Coffee kick at home– I just can’t get enough of their Kilimanjaro blend. We use a Chemex and I feel like I’m at an actual coffee shop when I drink it. It’s so good!!
About Summit Coffee
Quick details: A roaster out of Davidson, NC with two AVL locations. Great coffee and espresso drinks with a few pastries on the menu.
Location: 1 Page Ave // Downtown Asheville
Availability: Open daily (hours vary)
Beverages: Summit keeps it easy with a straightforward drink menu. You can get a drip coffee (they have a few varieties daily), a pour-over, espresso drinks, tea, chai or hot chocolate. They also have beer and wine available.
Whole bean availability: Yes, yes! They have a ton of options available in their Asheville shops, including the tea bag-style steeped packs. Each bag of whole beans purchased comes with a small coffee.
Food options: They have a few pastries and sweets available at the counter– scones, muffins, cookies, vegan energy balls– as well as fruit, bagels and oatmeal. It’s a limited menu but it works!
Online Ordering: You can order online through their app!
Parking: Downtown parking is always hit or miss. There’s street parking in front of the Grove Arcade and a parking garage not too far away.
Award: Best Coffee Blends In Asheville! They have so many to choose from and always something new. Great packaging and I love that I can get a free small coffee with each bag purchased.
7. PennyCup at the YMI
PennyCup is a local Asheville roaster that you don’t want to miss! We love gifting bags of PennyCup to out-of-town friends and family. You can find it in their coffee shops as well as various retailers around town. As far as coffee shops go, PennyCup at the YMI is great! It’s a hidden gem coffee shop even though it’s right downtown. PS they have real penny tile in the bathroom.
This is their downtown Asheville location. They also have a RAD location that serves as their roaster, a North Asheville shop and an East Asheville shop.
About PennyCup Coffee
Quick details: A local roaster and coffee shop with great blends. Their RAD location is a great place for watching the roasting and packing process. And it smells divine!!
Location: 39 S Market St // Downtown Asheville
Availability: 7AM – 6PM daily
Beverages: A few different options for drip coffee, pour overs, french press and a full espresso menu. You can also grab hot chocolate, a chai latte
Whole bean availability: Yes! PennyCup is a local roaster.
Food options: They have a small pastry and baked goods selection available, including some gluten-free options. They also have bagels and flavored cream cheese.
Online Ordering: None
Parking: I’ll be honest– I always have trouble parking here. But it’s a perfect spot to pop in when walking around the city. And would be amazing if you work nearby.
Award: Coolest mural and most laid back vibe for a coffee shop in Asheville
River Arts District Coffee Shops
1. Summit Coffee (RAD)
Summit’s other (and original) location! The first one we mentioned is downtown in the Grove Arcade. We love both locations but their RAD location will always be a top favorite of ours. It’s a great place to work from and has outdoor seating when the weather allows.
Summit is a roaster so you can plan to pick up some great whole beans when there. Whether you are looking for a quick cup of coffee to go, a relaxing place to catch up on emails or a great homebrew, Summit is your place!
About Summit Coffee
Quick details: A roaster out of Davidson, NC with two AVL locations. Great coffee and espresso drinks with a few pastries on the menu.
Location: 4 Foundy St Suite 20 // River Arts District // It’s just across from 12 Bones and Wedge at Foundation.
Availability: Open daily (hours vary)
Beverages: You’ll find drip coffee (they have a few varieties daily), a pour-over, espresso drinks, tea. chai or hot chocolate. They also have beer and wine available.
Whole bean availability: They are a roaster and have several blends. Each bag of their whole beans purchased comes with a small coffee.
Food options: They have a few pastries and sweets available at the counter– scones, muffins, cookies, vegan energy balls– as well as fruit, bagels and oatmeal. It’s a limited menu but it works!
Online Ordering: You can order online through their app!
Parking: There’s a parking lot right outside as well as additional parking lots nearby.
Award: Tied with The Rhu for best coffee shop to work from in Asheville! They may even win out because parking is easy! 🙂
2. PennyCup Coffee
We mentioned PennyCup’s downtown location above, but their RAD location is also a fun one! This shop serves as their roastery and tasting room. It’s a great place for watching the roasting and packing process. And it smells divine!! They also have a coffee shop in North Asheville and another in East Asheville.
About PennyCup Coffee
Quick details: A local roaster and coffee shop with great blends.
Location: 362 Depot St // River Arts District
Availability: open daily (hours vary)
Beverages: A few different options for drip coffee, pour overs, french press and a full espresso menu. You can also grab hot chocolate, a chai latte
Whole bean availability: Yes! PennyCup is a local roaster.
Food options: They have a small pastry and baked goods selection available, including some gluten-free options and bagels.
Online Ordering: None
Parking: Street parking and various lots close by.
Award: Best smelling coffee shop in Asheville! No, really. If you love coffee, you’ll love it. It’s also the most fun coffee shop to visit in Asheville.
3. Grind
Another newcomer to the scene over in River Arts District! Grind is *the only* Black-owned coffee shop in Asheville. They make excellent coffee and have the popular TikTok dalgona espresso drink with whipped coffee on the menu. Grind hosts pop up events for local Black-owned businesses and events for Black Wallstreet AVL. Check their Instagram to stay in the know on the next pop up!
About Grind
Quick details: Coffee shop in the Depot St area of River Arts District. It’s a great place to pop in while perusing RAD and it’s perfect for catching up on emails and getting some work done. Great coffee, friendly staff!
Location: 346 Depot St // River Arts District
Availability: Open daily
Beverages: Full espresso menu, hot chocolate, teas and a ton of syrups to choose from.
Whole bean availability: Dynamite Roasting whole beans are available for purchase.
Food options: Fresh pastries from The Rhu!
Online Ordering: None
Parking: Tons of parking! Street parking in front and a large parking lot just across the street.
Award: Best Dalgona In Asheville!! Try it with toasted marshmallow syrup!!
4. Ultra Coffeebar
A great cafe and coffee shop located in the River Arts District. Ultra Coffeebar has a ton of breakfast and lunch options in addition to a full espresso menu. The staff is always friendly and it’s a fun place to sit outside and enjoy a great cup of coffee and bagel sandwich. All of their syrups are made in-house and you can really taste the difference. We’d definitely recommend Ultra on your next tour of RAD!
About Ultra Coffeebar
Quick details: Excellent coffee and great breakfast sandwiches! You’ll find homemade syrups, awesome Nitro cold brew and great outdoor seating.
Location: 242 Clingman Ave Ext // River Arts District
Availability: Open daily
Beverages: Full espresso menu with homemade syrups. They brew Durham NC’s Counter Culture. Cold brew on tap in regular, decaf and nitro. Tons of fun iced drinks to choose from– try their Rick James (espresso, Coke and vanilla bean syrup) if you really need to wake up!
Whole bean availability: You can stock up on Counter Culture at Ultra!
Food options: Bagel sandwiches!!! You can also grab a baked good. They have a ton of vegan options for breakfast and lunch. One of our favorite items to order at Ultra is their Sunrise Bagel (egg, garlic herb cream cheese, tomato, pickled onion, spinach.)
Online Ordering: None
Parking: They have a small parking lot out front but it’s often full. There is street parking and a few lots nearby, though.
Award: Best Cold Brew In Asheville! They take it seriously there and it shows. Also, Best Bagel Sandwiches in Asheville! Obsessed, obsessed!
South Slope Coffee Shops
1. Farewell Coffee
Farewell is an excellent stop if awesome coffee and beautiful plants are your love language. Just like Session, Farewell features plants from Rosarina Plant Shop. They also have a ton of great merchandise, as well as coffee equipment and whole beans. Farewell is an excellent place to bring a laptop and get some work done. It’s also a great place for catching up with friends— especially if you go the wine route!
About Farewell
Quick details: Modern coffee shop filled with plants and really great coffee + espresso drinks.
Location: 11 Southside Ave // South Slope
Availability: open daily 7:30am – 8pm
Beverages: We love their batch-brewed coffee. They rotate their offering frequently but it’s always perfectly brewed. Their espresso drinks are also great, especially when paired with a housemade syrup (honey rose, lavender, vanilla, simple.) You’ll also find a matcha latte, chai latte, various teas and even wine by the glass on the menu.
Whole bean availability: Yes! You’ll find bags from various roasters (Ex. Junto Coffee, Black white Roasters when I last went) for sale as well as Fellow coffee products and a Hairo ceramic dripper. You can then try to recreate their magic at home…
Food options: They have a pastry case with a few goodies (stroopwafel, muffins, breakfast sandwiches, croissants…) as well as candied nuts, olives and olive oil & bread on the menu.
Online Ordering: None
Parking: There’s a pay to park lot right across the street from Green Man that you can use, as well as street parking if you are lucky.
Award: Best minimalist yet cozy coffee shop in Asheville. The open windows and the natural light put it over the top. Oh, and the plants for sale!
2. Vortex Doughnuts
Yep, a doughnut shop is on our best coffee list! But they have a full espresso menu and also sell bulk coffee! And it’s all awesome!!
Located in the South Slope neighborhood of Asheville, Vortex Doughnuts boasts a wide range of doughnut flavors in two different types of dough. It’s not a coffee shop to hang for hours and get some work done, but it is a great place to get some caffeine and a treat (especially when you have kids in tow.)
About Vortex Doughnuts
Quick details: Local doughnut shop with great coffee!
Location: 32 Banks Ave // South Slope (a few doors down from Buxton Hall BBQ and next to Catawba Brewery)
Availability: open Wednesday-Sunday
Beverages: Excellent coffee brewed with 1000 Faces! They also have a full espresso menu as well as specialty drinks and bottled milk.
Whole bean availability: Yes! Stock up on 1000 Faces (including little tea bag style ones that I am obsessed with.)
Food options: Doughnuts, of course! And plenty of them! 15+ daily doughnut flavors available in both yeast and cake doughs! Vortex posts their weekly flavors on Instagram.
Online Ordering: None
Parking: A few street parking spots out front and two pay to park lots nearby (across the street and next door.)
Award: Best Place To Grab A Coffee With Kids In Tow (and on our guide to the best doughnuts in Asheville we awarded Vortex with the BEST ALL AROUND award!!!)
West Asheville Coffee Shops
1. Battlecat Coffee Bar
An awesome independent coffee house right at home in West Asheville. You’ll find coffee, breakfast and local artwork served up in the cozy and eclectic BattleCat Coffee Bar.
Order your delicious breakfast or lunch sandwich at Tiger Bay Café located inside the coffee bar. For all the details on BattleCat and Tiger Bay, check out our spotlight post on them here!
About Battlecat Coffee Bar
Quick details: Super laidback spot to grab coffee and a great breakfast sandwich from Tiger Bay. Both are located in the same building!
Location: 373 Haywood Rd // West Asheville
Availability: Open daily
Beverages: PennyCup coffee, espresso drinks — hands down my favorite plain iced latte in Asheville comes from BattleCat!
Whole bean availability: They sell Asheville’s very own PennyCup coffee (including a custom BattleCat blend!)
Food options: There are two options for food at Battlecat. You can grab a pastry with your coffee order or hop over to Tiger Bay Cafe and grab a breakfast sandwich. Definitely try a bagel sandwich or breakfast panini from Tiger Bay!
Online Ordering: You can’t order coffee from BattleCat online BUT you can order takeout breakfast or lunch from Tiger Bay. Order your coffee in person once you arrive.
Parking: Street parking available
Award: Chillest Coffee Shop In Asheville
2. Odd’s Cafe
Odd’s Cafe is a local gem at the edge of West Asheville’s main Haywood Ave corridor. It’s a great spot to hang when the weather is nice and they open their large windows up. Everyone is always so friendly and we love checking out their local art and sampling their various baked goods from local bakers.
About Odd’s Cafe
Quick details: Quirky neighborhood spot in West Asheville that features local bakers, local artists and, well, locals. It’s the perfect place to catch up on work while sipping on a great cup of coffee.
Location: 800 Haywood Road, Suite 110 // West Asheville next to Retro Arcade
Availability: open daily
Beverages: Drip coffee, full espresso menu, tea, matcha, chai, smoothies, sodas and a few bottled drinks. You can even get an Emergen-C if you need an immune boost!
Whole bean availability: Odd’s sells bags of Asheville’s very own Cooperative Coffee
Food options: Odd’s is great because they support local bakeries! You can always count on finding a new treat from a local NC baker. They also have quiche, bagels, oatmeal and fruit available.
Online Ordering: Yes! You can order for pickup ASAP or schedule a few hours or days in advance.
Parking: West Asheville parking can be tricky! Street parking is available right out front but it depends on the time of day.
Award: Best Coffee Shop To Feel Like A Local In Asheville
3. OWL Bakery
Disclaimer: OWL IS NOT AN ACTUAL COFFEE SHOP! But they have absolutely amazing coffee and definitely deserve a mention on this list!
When I thought about all of the places around town for coffee I couldn’t imagine a list that didn’t include OWL Bakery. First of all, they have exceptionally great drip coffee. It’s definitely my favorite cup of coffee in Asheville.
And secondly, they have amazing pastries! You order at a window on the side of the building and there is some outdoor seating just around the corner. If you are getting an espresso drink, you’ll wait at the front of the building for them to call your name. Otherwise, you can grab your pastries and coffee from the window where you order.
About OWL Bakery
Quick details: A delightful bakery located in West Asheville. Takeout only but they have an amazing cup of coffee (and a full espresso menu) in addition to their stellar baked goods. OWL is a must-visit if you are new to the area or in town for the weekend.
Location: 295 Haywood Rd // West Asheville — You can also find them at the seasonal North Asheville Tailgate Market on UNCA’s campus. AND(!!) they recently announced plans for a Charlotte Street location in North Asheville.
Availability: open Thursday-Sunday
Beverages: Awesome coffee and espresso drinks! They make my favorite cup of drip coffee in Asheville. You can also find specialty beverages (London fog, hot chocolate, hibiscus lemonade…) on their drink menu as well as tea and even a mimosa! If you are looking for a fun new drink, try adding vanilla cardamom to a latte!
Whole bean availability: Methodical Coffee out of Greenville, SC
Food options: If you can snag an apple turnover, DO. I rarely get there in time! Their cardamom buns are also a treat, as are the almond rose croissants and the morning buns and, well, everything else. They even have some great gluten-free items like their daily squirrel loaf filled with nuts and seeds.
Online Ordering: You can order a few items online in advance (breads, olive oil, wine…) but for drinks and pastries you’ll need to order in person.
Parking: A few street spots are available out front and there’s a parking lot on the other side of Archetype Brewery
Award: Best Cup of Drip Coffee in Asheville
North Asheville Coffee Shops
1. Liberty House Coffee and Cafe
Liberty House Coffee and Café is one of the most perfect coffee shops in Asheville. They have ample space in a quiet garden setting with a soothing low drone of conversation that is the perfect background noise for working remotely. It’s also a great place to meet friends for coffee– and breakfast or lunch!
Liberty has an awesome food menu and it’s all so fresh. Oh, and you can expect great coffee of course! (PS free top-off on your drip coffee!) Read our love letter to Liberty here.
About Liberty House
Quick details: Cute coffee house with excellent food and the best outdoor seating in Asheville.
Location: 221 S Liberty St // North Asheville tucked away in the Chestnut Ave area just off Merrimon
Availability: open daily
Beverages: Full espresso menu, seasonal specials, hot tea and a beverage cooler with various drinks
Whole bean availability: They aren’t a roaster, but you can typically count on a few bags of whole beans for sale (like Asheville’s very own roaster Cooperative Coffee!)
Food options: Best in town! Hands down, Liberty is our favorite coffee shop for food. They have amazing pastries and a great breakfast and lunch menu. Don’t miss their sourdough pancake or weekend specials!
Online Ordering: None
Parking: Street parking along Liberty can be a bit tricky, especially when there is a yoga class in session at Asheville Yoga Center. It’s worth circling the block or walking for, though…
Award: Two awards for one of our favorites! 1. Best Coffee Shop in Asheville to sit outside (well, tied with High Five Riverside!) and 2. Best Food at a Coffee Shop in Asheville.
2. PennyCup Coffee (North)
Another PennyCup! They actually have four shops around Asheville– we mentioned their downtown location and their RAD location above, and this one is their North Asheville coffee shop. What I love about PennyCup is that you’ll find the same great coffee everywhere, but each location has its own feel.
Their North AVL location, which is conveniently right across Merrimon from Geraldine’s Bakery (!), is a fantastic place to get some work down. They have indoor seating as well as a great patio.
About PennyCup Coffee
Quick details: A local roaster and coffee shop with great blends.
Location: 857 Merrimon Ave | North Asheville
Availability: open daily (hours vary)
Beverages: A few different options for drip coffee, pour overs, french press and a full espresso menu. You can also grab hot chocolate, a chai latte
Whole bean availability: Yes! PennyCup is a local roaster and any of their locations is a great place to stock up on your home coffee supply.
Food options: They have a small pastry and baked goods selection available, including some gluten-free options and bagels.
Online Ordering: None
Parking: There’s a parking lot on the side (it can fill up!)
Award: Best coffee shop to work from in North Asheville
3. High Five Coffee (Five Points)
Another great coffee shop (imagine that!) This one is actually High Five’s original location, though they now have one downtown and another on the river. They recently redid the interior and there is space to sit inside as well as a great patio out front.
About High Five Coffee
Quick details: Count on great coffee in a fun atmosphere with High Five! They serve up Counter Culture and have a pastry case as well as smoothies and other treats.
Location: 190 Broadway St // North Asheville // Their original location! You’ll find nice outdoor seating here and it’s a great place to walk to if you live or are staying nearby.
Availability: Open daily
Beverages: Full espresso menu and Counter Culture coffee
Whole bean availability: They aren’t a roaster, but they do have Counter Culture beans available for purchase.
Food options: Pastries, smoothies and snacks available! They serve up treats from Rise Above Bakehouse and Silvermoon Chocolate (including some gluten-free and vegan options!)
Online Ordering: None
Parking: A few spots in the garage and additional parking on side streets.
Award: Friendliest baristas in Asheville! Their staff is always so happy and kind (and they always whip up the best drinks!)
Montford Coffee Shops
There’s only one place to grab coffee in Montford (for now!), but it’s a good one! It’s less of a coffee shop that you work from all morning, and more of a great place to grab coffee and delicious food!
1. All Day Darling
If All Day Darling‘s coffee doesn’t wake you up, their bright yellow espresso machine will! Everything from their cutesy name, their happy logo to their great food and coffee made it a no-brainer for us to include on the list of best coffee shops in Asheville. All Day Darling is one of my favorite spots to grab a to-go latte before heading to Tempie Avery park with the kids. Speaking of, check out our list of the best playgrounds in Asheville!
About All Day Darling
Quick details: A cute restaurant serving up breakfast, lunch, dinner and coffee all day!
Location: 102 Montford Ave // Montford
Availability: open daily
Beverages: All Day Darling has a full espresso menu with some really fun options (like their golden mocha with cardamom.) Apart from coffee and espresso drinks, you’ll also find smoothies, matcha, their very own Lululemonade and various hot and cold teas.
Whole bean availability: You can grab a bag of Counter Culture (a Durham NC roaster!) next to All Day Darling’s really cute shirt selection 🙂
Food options: Breakfast, lunch and dinner! Their all day breakfast menu item with eggs, greens, toast (GF available) and choice of bacon, ham, sausage or avocado is always a hit! We also love their breakfast bowl and shakshuka.
Online Ordering: Yes! We have done this once and it was very fun to skip the line!
Parking: Street parking along Montford Ave– it’s hit or miss out front but there is plenty of street parking even if you have to walk a bit
Award: Most creative espresso drinks in Asheville! Try the golden mocha with chocolate, turmeric, ginger and cardamom. Or their honey CBD latte on the menu for those over 18.
Woodfin Coffee Shops
Woodfin is only a few minutes north of Asheville and has two great coffee shops that we love! We typically pair a trip to one of these coffee shops with an outing at Roy Pope Memorial Park with our kids. Though honestly, the High Five riverside location is basically a park in itself! See below for details on our two favorite coffee shops in Woodfin.
1. High Five Coffee (Riverside)
Our favorite High Five Coffee location! I always feel like I am on a vacation here. You can order inside and then sit at a picnic table or chair on the French Broad River that runs behind the building. It feels like a different world! High Five also has a location downtown and one in Five Points.
All drinks are made to go, so bring your own mug if you don’t want a paper cup.
About High Five Coffee
Quick details: Cute coffee house on the French Broad River. They have a few small bites and brew Counter Culture.
Location: 2000 Riverside Ave // Woodfin
Availability: Open daily
Beverages: Full espresso menu and Counter Culture coffee. You’ll also find golden milk, matcha latte, hot chocolate and various specialty drinks on the menu along with housemade syrups (vanilla bean, brown butter caramel.)
Whole bean availability: They aren’t a roaster, but they do have Counter Culture beans available for purchase.
Food options: Egg and cheese biscuit, ham and cheese biscuit, turkey and cheese sandwich, hummus sandwich, pastries and smoothies.
Online Ordering: None
Parking: Parking lots in front of the building and next to the building with plenty of spots
Award: Best coffee shop to sit outside in Asheville (tied with Liberty!) The view of the river is amazing and so peaceful. High Five in Woodfin is a perfect stop on a nice day.
2. Gallivant Coffee
A neighborhood coffee shop with a full plant-based menu. They have awesome seasonal nitro as well as amazing homemade pastries. They are new-ish to the scene but feel as if they have always been in the neighborhood. There are a couple of tables inside and a couple more right outside in front of the building.
About Gallivant
Quick details: Plant-based coffee shop with great custom blends, nitro, pastries and breakfast empanadas.
Location: 126 Elkwood Ave // Woodfin
Availability: Open daily
Beverages: Full espresso menu (plant-based milk only!), seasonal specials like a wildflower latte, nitro and fun signature drinks like their oak-smoked sea salt and honey latte.
Whole bean availability: They roast their own blends!
Food options: They have great scones, muffins, pop tarts and cinnamon buns. You’ll also find bagels from Rise Above on the menu as well as a super tasty breakfast empanada.
Online Ordering: Yes! Order online here.
Parking: A few spots on the side of the building
Award: Best plant-based coffee shop (and you wouldn’t even know it!)
