This guide spotlights Asheville’s best breweries for families. It includes details like kid-friendly features, food options, breweries with kid tours, and our top picks. Get ready to explore Asheville’s beer scene with your little ones!
Hurricane Update: This list has been updated to reflect the statuses of breweries post-hurricane.
Looking for Asheville breweries that welcome your little ones? We’ve got you covered! This guide highlights our top picks, all of which we’ve personally visited with our kids.
This curated list explores breweries in Asheville with features that make them truly kid-friendly. Think: engaging spaces, outdoor areas, and even kid’s menus!
We’ve done the research! Each brewery listing includes details on why it’s great for kids, food options, and any kid-specific features (like play areas and tours).
Map of Kid-Friendly Breweries in Asheville
The map below will help you locate the closest kid-friendly brewery to you. As you’ll see, they are scattered in pretty much every direction.
Asheville’s Kid-Friendly Breweries
Below you’ll find our guide to the most family-friendly breweries in Asheville. Though it’s not a ranked list, we have featured our top picks and most recommended spots at the top of the list.
Make sure to check out our web story on the most kid-friendly breweries for a quick glance at a few of our favorites.
1288 Charlotte Highway | Fairview
Train-themed brewery with mini golf & other outdoor fun
Whistle Hop Brewing is our top pick for a family-friendly brewery in the area. Though it’s located just outside of Asheville in Fairview, it’s an easy drive and worth the trip.
They offer a kid’s paradise: train cars for seating, an outdoor play area with slides and soccer, plus mini-golf, mini-bowling, and a unique disc golf Connect Four!
Whistle Hop features rotating food trucks. You can view the food and music lineup here. One of our kids’ personal favorites is the regular Tuesday appearance of Smashville. The cheeseburger food truck takes a break during winter months but you can typically expect them all spring through fall.
Whistle Hop is on the drive back to Asheville from the kid-friendly Bearwallow Mountain Trail. Pair the two together for an awesome day out for the whole family!
Let your kids play and explore at Sierra Nevada’s impressive property.
Located near the Asheville airport, Sierra Nevada is a must-visit brewery. And yes, kids included! The campus is impressive and they also offer one of the best brewery tours in Asheville.
It’s a family-friendly spot, with tons of space to explore, a few nature trails, a sandbox area and an amphitheater with live music. Check Sierra Nevada’s event calendar for upcoming shows.
For curious minds aged 12 and up, the highly-rated Sierra Nevada Brewery tour unveils the magic behind brewing your favorite craft beers. Reservations are recommended, as these tours tend to fill up quickly.
The Back Porch Bar offers a casual walk-up counter with kid-friendly options like nachos, PB&J sandwiches, and even a charcuterie-style snack box. Plus, 20 beers are on tap from 1-7 pm daily (weather permitting.)
For a more extensive menu, head to the taproom restaurant. This table-service option features a broader selection, including pizzas and burgers. It’s perfect for families looking for a sit-down meal.
12 Old Charlotte Highway | East Asheville
East Asheville brewery with lots of space + rotating food trucks
Highland Brewing is Asheville’s original craft brewery and serves as a great destination for the entire family.
It’s a laidback space in East Asheville with a ton of room to explore. They have a meadow area with a large field, outdoor bar and live music on their outdoor stage on weekends.
If you are looking for some additional activities, there’s a hiking trail, disc golf course and cornhole on their campus.
And as far as food goes, you’ll find rotating food trucks at Highland. Two of our favorite regulars are Bun Intended and Kinfolk.
Downtown Asheville brewery where kids eat free on Tuesdays
Wicked Weed’s Brew Pub in downtown Asheville is home to a 15-barrel production brewery and a restaurant with biergarten seating.
It’s a family-friendly place and kids under 12 eat free on Tuesdays with the purchase of an adult meal. It works on a 1:1 basis, so you’ll get a free kids meal with each purchase of a regular one.
They have a vast selection of award-winning beers as well as an on-site kitchen with excellent food options. Wicked Weed’s kids’ menu comes with crayons and gives a choice of burger, grilled cheese or chicken fingers.
As far as drinks go, try one of their signature flights to sample several of their brews.
A family-friendly brewery along the French Broad River
Located on the French Broad River in West Asheville, New Belgium caters to families with its sprawling space, outdoor seating, and FREE brewery tours (all ages welcome!)
They have rotating food trucks, including favorites Bun Intended and Tin Can Pizzeria (check their website for the latest schedule.)
Hurricane Update: Wedge Brewery At Foundation received massive damage when Hurricane Helene came through. Their other River Arts location did too, but their downtown location was spared.
Laidback brewery in River Arts District with a permanent food truck
Wedge at Foundation in the River Arts District is a family-friendly brewery with a large patio, cornhole & ping pong, and the coolest perk if you’re a kid: train yard views!
Though train sightings aren’t guaranteed, you might catch a few rolling past if you stay a while.
For food options, Wedge at Foundation has an on-site food truck (Chop Shop) with burgers &hot dogs and takeout options from next-door neighbor 12 Bones BBQ.
Opt for a nice day to enjoy the outdoor space for maximum fun.
South Slope brewery with great bites and outdoor seating
Burial Beer in South Slope is at the top of our list of breweries to visit in Asheville. They have everything you’d want: excellent brews, elevated fare and Biergarten seating. We absolutely recommend a visit if it’s your first trip to Asheville.
While Burial lacks a dedicated play area (unlike Whistle Hop), it earns a spot on this list for its family-friendly vibe. They even offer a kids’ menu upon request.
The real star for little ones? Exploring the unique seating options – repurposed vehicles mixed amongst picnic tables! Just remember, it’s not a playground, so supervise closely.
South Slope production brewery with pizza
Asheville Brewing Company is a local brewery and pizza favorite. They have three locations around town, though their South Asheville is takeout only.
Let’s first chat about their South Slope location– it serves as the production brewery and packaging warehouse. It’s in a great location on the north end of South Slope (and just next to Rabbit Rabbit music venue!)
Their covered outdoor picnic tables make for casual seating and the perfect spot for kids to enjoy a slice of pizza. Dogs are also allowed at the outdoor patio.
Their pizzas are all great and include a variety of toppings, including crust toppings. Try the parmesan crust! They also have gluten-free and vegan options made with Daiya cheese.
Hurricane Update: Asheville Pizza and Brewing is closed while they wait for the return of water.
A dine-in movie theater and brewpub in North Asheville
The original Asheville Brewing Company location, known as Asheville Pizza & Brewing, offers a nostalgic escape for families in North Asheville. It’s a brewpub/restaurant with 2 dine-in movie theaters,
Catch a new release or a classic kid’s movie (think: Where the Wild Things Are) for just $3! And enjoy their famous pizzas, sandwiches, and more alongside their extensive beer selection (on tap and canned).
Hurricane Update: Hi-Wire’s River Arts District location was heavily damaged by Hurricane Helene. You can support them at their South Slope location. It’s open daily from 1pm to 6pm with draft beer and to-go beer.
Funky beer garden built from shipping containers
Hi-Wire’s beer garden in Asheville’s River Arts District is a great spot to bring the entire family. They have tons of beer garden seating (made from recycled shipping containers!) and it’s all colorful and happy.
And what’s even cooler (especially if you’re a kid who loves forklifts) is that this location doubles as their distribution center. It’s not uncommon to see them whizzing by inside.
If your kids aren’t impressed by the machinery, Hi-Wire RAD has games including bocce ball and pinball machines that are perfect for keeping older kids entertained.
Though Hi-Wire RAD doesn’t have a kitchen, they host rotating food trucks. They also have local Blunt Pretzels and Lusty Monk Mustard available daily.
Kid-friendly brewery in South Asheville with a meadow + BBQ
Sweeten Creek Brewing is a family-friendly brewery in South Asheville. They have a large meadow for kids to roam– we recommend bringing a frisbee or soccer ball for your kids to get their energy out!
When you’re hungry, head to Bear’s BBQ. It’s located in the same area, though it’s a separate business altogether. Bear’s has some of the best barbecue in Asheville— your kids will love their mac & cheese!
Don’t miss Sweeten Creek Brewing’s kid-friendly events, like their annual Easter Egg Hunt!
Family-owned brewery near the Biltmore
Hillman Beer is a kid-friendly brewery near the Biltmore Estate with great outdoor seating, a production brewery on site and pub fare.
Though they don’t have a dedicated kids’ area, their outdoor seating is spread out and it’s a really casual environment for the whole family.
You can sit out front or walk through the building to a back area. The back area is a bit smaller, but it’s further from the road which is always nice with littles wandering around.
Don’t miss their $14 burger and beer night on Wednesdays!
10 Brook Street | near Biltmore Village
On-site burger truck and outdoor seating
Hi-Wire Brewing’s Big Top location near the Biltmore Estate is a great destination when the weather is nice. Though they don’t have a grassy area for kids, they do have outdoor seating.
The Rebel Burger food truck is permanently parked at Hi-Wire. They have burgers, a cabbage-based bowl and beef tallow fries on the menu. Rebel even has a kid-friendly junior burger available.
