The 5 Best Neighborhoods to Live in When You Move to Asheville in 2019

Michelle Detwiler
May 16, 2018
Find Self-Storage
Table of Contents
2
3

When people think of Asheville, they typically picture the bohemian downtown surrounded by the picturesque backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains. But there is much more to Asheville than that. In fact, neighborhoods make up the heart of this city. The most sought-after in Asheville are listed here:

1. West Asheville

Perfect neighborhood for: Hipsters, families with kids, seniors, Gen-Xers, LGBTQ people

It seems like everyone who comes to this town wants to live in West Asheville, and for good reason. It’s highly walkable and bikeable, with numerous retail establishments, restaurants, and independent stores lining Haywood Rd., the main thoroughfare. One of the biggest parks in the city, Carrier Park, is on the south end of the neighborhood, and smaller parks dot the rest of neighborhood.

It has become a breeding ground of sorts for creative and eclectic establishments that attract people from all around the area, not just Asheville. One online publication called it the “Brooklyn of North Carolina”. The greatest problem with any popular neighborhood, and that is especially true with the area known as “Best Asheville,” is that the supply of homes does not meet the demand of people who want to live there. Although new properties are being built, it’s not happening fast enough. As a result, the cost of housing has skyrocketed in West Asheville in recent years, with the average home price at $264,808.

Highlights:

  • Sunny Point Cafe – Sunny Point serves its food fresh – it has its own garden on the property, which employees utilize to make the homemade comfort food served in the dining room.
  • Biscuit Head – With homemade biscuits “as big as your head,” this breakfast joint is a top draw, with lines nearly every morning. If the biscuits don’t draw you in, I have two words for you: Jelly Bar.
  • The Hop Ice Cream Cafe – This family-owned business specializes in homemade ice cream with unique flavors – blueberry kale, anyone? – and a selection of vegan “ice cream”
  • Harvest Records – The record store sells mostly vinyl, but also CDs and equipment. They specialize in buying and selling, and has been a success even before vinyl was hip again.

2. North Asheville

Perfect neighborhood for: College students, families with kids, F. Scott Fitzgerald devotees

The smell of old money practically wafts from the chimneys of the homes in North Asheville. Known to locals as the neighborhood where “the other half lives,” this section of town consists of stately century homes with sprawling yards. Few of the homes in the ‘04 (for the ZIP Code 28804) are valued at less than $550,000. A centerpiece community in the neighborhood is Lake View Park, which surrounds Beaver Lake.

On the flipside of the wealthy portion of North Asheville is the UNC Asheville campus, where you’ll find typical college housing and student-friendly establishments on Merrimon Road.

Fun fact: F. Scott Fitzgerald stayed at the Grove Park Inn for two years while his wife Zelda stayed at the Highland Hospital for treatment for mental illness. He wrote quite a bit about Asheville from his room, and drank a lot.

Highlights:

  • The Omni Grove Park Inn – This historic hotel was built in 1913, and must be seen to be believed. The exterior is all stone, and the interior is designed in the Arts and Crafts style.
  • Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company – A pizza place with a brewery, a movie theater, and an arcade, Asheville Pizza is a popular destination for families.
  • Luellas Bar-B-Que – Some of the finest scratch-made barbecue and southern sides.
  • Plant – A vegan restaurant with stellar meals and desserts.

3. South Asheville

Perfect neighborhood for: Families with kids, retirees

This part of town is comprised of mixed housing and shopping destinations. Many of the shopping and restaurant establishments that have found success in other parts of the city open duplicate versions on the south side, which makes it especially appealing. Within South Asheville is an actual town called Biltmore Forest – 2.9 square miles of mostly older mansions, which also happens to be the wealthiest town in the state per capita. Another popular place to live is in Biltmore Park, a multi-use shopping and lifestyle center that has luxury apartments and condos. Behind the retail establishments are mountain-view properties that cost upwards of $1 million.

Highlights:

  • Tupelo Honey Cafe – Excellent house-made and locally sourced southern food.
  • Biltmore Village – A quaint shopping experience in the heart of the historic Biltmore Estate neighborhood.

4. Downtown

Perfect neighborhood for: Hipsters, young professionals, struggling musicians

Downtown Asheville is where the city comes alive. Incredibly walkable and pedestrian-friendly, there are plenty of things to do and places to go. Housing options include typical city living – apartments and lofts. Nothing beats the people-watching in Downtown, as it attracts all kinds, from bohemian college kids to adventurous tourists. It’s also home to some of the best restaurants and culture Western North Carolina has to offer.

Highlights:

  • Fine Arts Theatre – Catch first-run independent films at a decent price.
  • Curaté Tapas Bar – Spanish tapas in a mellow atmosphere.
  • Woolworth Walk – An old Woolworth store was restored and made into an enormous art gallery displaying local works.
  • Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe – Proving that independent bookstores are still vibrant and necessary, Malaprop’s features readings from local and national authors, as well as an assortment of new books.

5. River Arts District

Perfect neighborhood for: Artists, aspiring artists, college students

The RAD is home to numerous studios and artist spaces, as well as restaurants and breweries, all existing along the French Broad River. Most of the studios are housed inside former industrial buildings, and re-purposed for creative gallery spaces. The majority of real estate in this neighborhood are apartments and condos, with new housing being constructed.

Highlights:

  • Wedge Brewing Company – Not only does Wedge brew some fine beers, the original building (another – Wedge Foundation – is a mile away) also houses 20 art studios.
  • The Grey Eagle – A concert venue for national, international, and local acts that also features a taqueria that serves local brews and delicious food.
  • Smoky Park Supper Club – This restaurant is as unique as Asheville – and it’s the largest restaurant in the U.S. made out of shipping containers.
Contents
2
3

WANT MORE HELP?


Recent Posts

Popular Storage Locations

Atlanta

Austin

Bronx

Brooklyn

Chicago

Columbus

Dallas

Denver

Houston

Jacksonville

Las Vegas

Los Angeles

Miami

New York

Orlando

Philadelphia

Phoenix

Queens

Sacramento

San Antonio

San Diego

San Francisco

San Jose

Tampa