Coffee Shops in The River Arts District
This article highlights the handful of coffee shops in the River Arts District near downtown Asheville.
We share details on the atmosphere, food offerings and more.
Don’t miss our guide to the best coffee shops in Asheville for a full roundup of our top picks.
River Arts Coffee Shops
Below you’ll find a guide to coffee shops in the River Arts District. While the number of coffee shops may seem small, they’re perfectly placed throughout the district for an easy caffeine fix while gallery hopping!
Hurricane Update: Summit Coffee is closed following Hurricane Helene. Their River Arts District was heavily damaged. You can support them by buying coffee beans online.
Charming coffee shop with outdoor seating & great seasonal drinks
Summit Coffee is a great coffee shop in the River Arts District. They are known for excellent coffee (they’re a roaster!) and unique seasonal drinks.
They have a few pastries on the menu as well as beer and wine.
You’ll find Summit just across from 12 Bones BBQ and Wedge at Foundy. There are also several shops and galleries nearby.
Summit in RAD is a great place to work remotely in Asheville, with seating both indoor and out.
River Arts coffee shop with great food
If you’re in search of a coffee shop with great food in the River Arts District, head to Ultra Coffeebar! They have excellent breakfast and lunch sandwiches, as well as pastries, bagels and more.
Try the sunrise bagel sandwich with pickled onion and garlic herb cream cheese! They also have a vegan version with a tofu egg available.
Black-owned coffee shop in RAD
Grind is a Black-owned coffee shop in the River Arts District with a laidback feel and great coffee.
It’s tucked in RAD near several galleries, so it’s the perfect stop if you need to kick back for a bit. Or if you want to hang out of a coffee shop while your travel partners browse around the area!
We also love to recommend Grind if you are looking for a coffee shop to work remotely from. They open the garage door when it’s nice out and there’s a ton of seating.
They have a variety of pastries available daily and are one of the only local coffee shops to offer Dalgona coffee (whipped coffee!)
Roastery for a local Asheville favorite
PennyCup Coffee Co is tucked in the River Arts District on Depot Street near Vivian.
This location serves as their roastery, so there’s limited seating due to the equipment needed. We wouldn’t plan on staying too long, but it’s a great place to grab a bag of whole beans and an excellent coffee or espresso drink!
PennyCup has a few pastries available daily as well as bagels and bagel sandwiches.
