A Guide To Dining At The NC Arboretum

This article shares details on dining at the NC Arboretum, from information on the on-site cafe to our favorite picnic spots.

About The NC Arboretum

The NC Arboretum is a 434-acre public garden located in South Asheville near the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s only 15 minutes from downtown and offers a wonderful space to enjoy local blooms, an impressive Bonsai garden and miles of trails in the Bent Creek Experimental Forest. The Arboretum is located on land within the Pisgah National Forest.

yellow leaves in fall at NC Arboretum
Red ang green leaves on trees at NC Arboretum
Sign and steps along the Carolina Mountain Trail at the NC Arboretum
Red maple bonsai during fall at the NC Arboretum

A membership to the NC Arboretum is $75 per household annually and includes daily access. The current cost to enter without a membership is $20 per vehicle per day. Make sure to check their website for the most up-to-date info on pricing.

If you are local, the NC Arboretum is included in the ZOOM Pass program through the Buncombe County Library. This program offers residents with a library card free admission to various attractions around town.

Bent Creek Bistro At The Arboretum

Did you know that the NC Arboretum has an on-site cafe? The Bent Creek Bistro is open daily and serves sandwiches, salads, quiche and even wine and beer.

Entrance to Bent Creek Bistro at the NC Arboretum
Chalkboard menu at the NC Arboretum's Bent Creek Bistro
Quiche and salad from Bent Creek Bistro
Takeout lunch from Bent Creek Bistro

Getting lunch from the on-site Bent Creek Bistro makes for an easy trip to the Arboretum. They are open daily from 10 to 4 and have both indoor and outdoor dining. You can also take your meal with you to enjoy as a picnic lunch. Speaking of, see below for picnic ideas!

Picnicking At The Arboretum

There are plenty of places to picnic at the Arboretum. You can either pack your own lunch or plan to get food from Bent Creek Bistro. Please note that food from the outside can be brought in, but you cannot bring outside alcohol on the premises.

As far as where to picnic at the Arboretum goes, the sky is the limit! There is plenty of space to spread out, tons of trails with benches and even tables and chairs at the education center. See below for a few of our favorite picnic spots for inspiration.

Driveway to the greenhouse at the NC Arboretum.

The Forest Meadow

One of our favorite places to picnic at the Arboretum is the large meadow near the amphitheater and model trains. There is so much space to spread out. We often see people doing yoga in the area. Bring a blanket and plan to stay!

Flowers blooming at the North Carolina Arboretum's quilt garden

The Quilt Garden

The Quilt Garden also makes for an excellent spot for an outdoor lunch. This is especially true if it’s spring or summer and flowers are in bloom. There are a few benches located in the area.

Fountain at the NC Arboretum

The Fountain at the Gardens

If you don’t have a picnic blanket on hand, the Fountain in the garden area is a great place to sit and enjoy lunch. There are plenty of benches around and the fountain is beautiful to watch.

Bent Creek Bistro seating at the NC Arboretum

The Education Center

If you prefer dining outdoors but with a table and chairs, there’s a great area just outside of the Education Center. There are plenty of tables to choose from and you can move them to shaded areas if needed.

Articles You May Enjoy

Omni Grove Park Inn with text

Your Guide to Visiting Asheville’s Omni Grove Park Inn

This guide shares everything to know about visiting the historic Grove Park Inn. Whether you go for dinner or drinks, to check out an exhibit or just to catch the breathtaking views, your time at the Grove Park Inn will certainly be a memorable experience.

Attractions
Exterior of hands on childrens museum with text

Hands On Children’s Museum: a complete guide

Hands On Children's Museum is such a fun way to spend a day with your kids! Located in Hendersonville, NC, Hands On is definitely one of our kids' favorite things to do near Asheville. This article shares details on parking, admission and exhibits.

Attractions
Red barn with the text

The WNC Nature Center: everything to know

Sharing all the info about the WNC Nature Center in East Asheville! It's the perfect destination to enjoy nature and to learn about the various animals that inhabit Southern Appalachia. We include details on parking, admission and our experience at the Nature Center with two kids.

Attractions

Disclaimer: Hours, pricing, menus, etc. may have changed since we last updated this post, so make sure to confirm all of this directly prior to visiting any business or attraction listed on our site.

This website contains affiliate links, meaning that we may receive a commission at no cost to you if you click through and make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.