Where To Eat, What To Do, Where To Shop, And More: LGBTQ+ Asheville
As time goes on, the extremely queer and earth-loving city of Asheville, North Carolina keeps growing in popularity. While it can be exciting at times for our beloved spot in the mountains to get some attention, and can also have negative impacts on the community, and make it hard for visitors to figure out how to support local businesses that really take heart in their work. On top of that, Asheville is in a sweet location, nestled near the Blue Ridge Mountains while also sitting close to ancient rivers, streams, lakes, and waterfalls. When you take all of this into consideration, it can be hard to choose how to spend your precious time while visiting as there is so much to take in.
What To Listen To: Road tripping to Asheville or looking for a new podcast recommendation? Check out these 12 podcast episodes featuring LGBTQ+ stories from activists, travelers, and explorers on the Unruly Podcast.
To cut through the confusion, I’ve written this guide for people visiting Asheville or locals just getting to know it. If you’re wondering what to eat, what to do, where to shop, and who to support, you’ve landed exactly where you need to be. As a queer person who has lived just outside of Asheville for almost five years now, I’ve complied some of my favorite businesses and activities in this blogpost just for you.
🚨 2024 Hurricane Helene NOTE: As of October, 2024 some of these businesses or locations listed may be destroyed, damaged, or otherwise inaccessible. Locals who survived Hurricane Helene are asking tourists NOT to come for the fall leaf season. You can find out more about Hurricane Helene damage and ways to support Asheville in this essay titled Yes, I’m OK After Hurricane Helene Hit North Carolina. But Not Really. Please check back on this post in the coming months for updates.
1. Where To Eat In Asheville
Asheville is known and celebrated for its epic food scene. As someone who has eaten their way through the city, (but has traveled to 5 continents already, tasting food from around the globe) I sure understand the hype! Not only are my favorite food spots here vegan-friendly, but they are all are queer-friendly as well. So while you’re visiting Asheville, be sure to hit up as many of these hot spots as you can, each with their own unique flavor and atmosphere:
For That Southern Comfort Food: Rosetta’s Kitchen
Rosetta’s Kitchen is a long-time hotspot for filling, nourishing, and soul food in Asheville. Stocked with a complete vegan menu, Rosetta’s doesn’t skimp when it comes to sautéed kale and smashed potatoes with Granny’s Gravy. My favorite menu item is the tempeh Ruben piled high with avocado and vegan cheese. Other local favorite menu items are their peanut butter tofu, chili, corn bread, and coconut curry.
If you’re on a small budget or looking for something simple, grab their pinto beans and rice plate for just $6. In addition to their kombucha and delectable desserts, they have an “Everybody Eats” program. Pay what you can for the Pinto Beans & Rice plate – anything over $6 allows them to pay it forward and feed the community for free.
Type of food: Soul food, Southern food, soups, sandwiches, salads, kombucha, dessert
Frequented by: Long-time Asheville vegans, tourists, and queers of all ages
For The Most Delicious Food: Gypsy Queen
Gypsy Queen wins the “most delicious food” title simply because of how wonderfully addictive their Yum Yum wrap is, along with their vegan shawarma offerings and fries. You can check out their menu here, where they have a large selection of plant-based food. When it comes to their roots, their website says the following about the owner: “Suzy has been cooking amazing food ever since she was a child in Lebanon. She shares a love and passion for good ingredients and delicious spices with her attentive staff.”
Type of food: Lebanese food, with a large plant-based offering
Frequented by: All types of queers – their amazing food alchemy brings everyone together!
For The Healthier Food: Pulp + Sprout
This bright and vibrant cafe with outdoor seating is located near downtown Asheville, not too far from Rosetta’s. They offer a 100% plant-based menu full of juices, smoothies, and food made in-house. Nothing on their menu has ever disappointed me, but their Mushroom Banh Mi alongside the Medicine Mylk or Chocolate Cherry Bomb smoothie are my favorites.
Type of food: 100% plant-based, cold-pressed & freshly made juices and smoothies, hearty salads, sandwiches, soups, and desserts
Frequented by: Witches, yoga-doers, queer friends & couples
For The Burgers & Fries: Romeo’s
This fast food joint is conveniently located just above one of The Hop’s locations, where (in my opinion) you can get the best dairy-free ice cream in town. Romeo’s is new to town as of 2024 after expanding out of Charlotte. The service is fast and the food hits the spot if you’re looking for that gooey, greasy deliciousness that burgers and fries can provide. I can personally recommend the Mexico Romeo burger and their refreshing cream soda, and was happy with how affordable everything was.
Type of food: 100% plant-based burgers, sandwiches, fries, milkshakes and soda
Frequented by: Locals, burger lovers of all sorts
2. Where To Get Your Tea/Coffee Fix In Asheville
For The Atmosphere & Tea Selection: Dobra Tea
Dobra Tea is local queer hangout and tea house that provides a cool, unique, and relaxing atmosphere. Dobra Tea has two locations: one is in downtown Asheville while the other is in West Asheville. The teahouse in downtown after offers indoor seating, a small vegetarian food menu, and an extensive tea and drink menu. The downtown location is darker than the West Asheville location, although they both offer cozy seating options where guests sit on the floor to sip their tea around round tables on cushy pillows. The location in West Asheville has an expansive vegetarian/vegan menu, tea and drink menu, and indoor and outdoor seating.
For The Plants & Crystals: Flora
If you live for plants, crystals, candles, and locally-made crafts, be sure to put Flora on the top of your list. Flora is a wondrous floral design studio and plant-shop that has a coffee-shop with low-waste product offerings attached to it, so you’re sure to walk in for coffee and leave with a hand full of plants.
For The Pit-Stop And Community: Battle Cat Coffee Bar
Battle Cat has a more rebel feel to it and is a great place to do work, meet up with friends, and enjoy a nice day with their outside seating selection. This cafe draws in a very alternative and creative crowd, and is a great place to make new friends!
3. What To Do In Asheville
In recent years Asheville has really transformed, but not for the better. As more places become gentrified and cater to tourists and wealthier people, it can become confusing when trying to weed out which activities are worth taking on. But have no fear – that’s where the Unruly Travel blog comes in! We’ve spent years scouring Asheville for the coolest queer-friendly things to do and have them broken down into two categories.
What To Do In Asheville During The Day
Take A Self Guided Bike Ride Through West Asheville
Asheville is a weird and wonderful place that’s fun to explore by bike. While there are some great companies who offer guided bike tours, doing it yourself offers more flexibility and is suitable for those on small budgets. This self-guided bike tour of Asheville that is family, budget, vegan and queer-friendly offers a unique way to adventure Asheville. This guide was created by combining my own personal favorite biking route with insights from Second Gear‘s local bike experts!
Visit Firestorm Co-op (Highly Recommended!)
Put a visit to the Firestorm Co-op at the top of your list. Go ahead, do it now while you don’t forget. While this is something that could have been included in the “Where To Shop” section of this guide, it is more fitting to list it as an experience. Firestorm Co-op is a book store that holds space for community, connection, and collective liberation. They say: “As a queer, feminist collective we feature books and events that reflect our interests, and the needs of marginalized communities in the South. We strive to promote exploration and encounter by maintaining a welcoming, sober, and anti-oppressive space.”
Besides supporting a rad collective when shopping at this bookstore, you’ll be giving back to the locals of Asheville as well. The shop is filled with books on social justice topics, queer sex, gender, race, off-grid living, intersectional sustainability, nature, fantasy, sci-fi, kids books, veganism, anarchy, and more.
Here are some of my favorite books that they carry:
Be sure to grab a copy of the Art of Unruly Travel on a Budget during your visit! Their shelves are stacked with books written by queer authors – to the point that you may be overwhelmed when looking around. I could spend lifetimes getting lost in the worlds and incredible fictional civilizations produced by queer activist and writers that Firestorm hosts.
Dance The Day Away with Asheville Movement Collective
Have you been to “dance church” before, or “ecstatic dance”? To put it plainly, ecstatic dance is one big dance wave where people are expected to come sober, remain non-verbal while dancing, and always respect those around them. I’ve been participating in dance waves with Asheville Movement Collective for years and appreciate the welcoming and safe space that they offer for all types of folks. With every dance wave there is a curated music playlist that starts out slow and then builds into a dance eruption, invoking all kinds of feelings and movements from dancers. These dances are held on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at different locations in Asheville, so be sure to check their website for scheduling. They are donation based (which I love!) and I recommend checking out their guidelines before attending.
Visit the River Arts District
For those who used to visit Asheville about 6+ years ago, you may remember the cool graffiti hangout spots near the River Arts District. This is a place where warehouses and large buildings were abandoned but decorated to the max in graffiti art by whoever wanted to contribute. I used to hangout there, take photos, and look around at all of the rouge decor. The same can still be done but in a more structured way, as that old abandoned corner of Asheville has since been transformed into crafty businesses, art galleries, coffee shops, and more. Consider exploring it by bike.
While you’re visiting the River Arts District be sure to hit the skate park, catch a movie at the Grail Moviehouse, or bike, walk, and run the paved trails that hug the French Broad River. If you’re looking for a creative queer community space, you’ll likely find exactly what you’re looking for here!
Take A LaZoom Tour
Even though I am not one for “touristy” activities, the comedy bus LaZoom tours in Asheville have caught my eye for years. I recently got to go on their Ghost Tour and experienced fits and bursts of uncontrollable laughter at their unconventional humor and quirky style. Their website says: “All LaZoom experiences are one of a kind, and completely scripted in house.
Marketing, web design, graphic design, costume design/production, and printing (both apparel and advertisements) are sourced locally if available. Bus decorations were sourced locally, and installed locally. The only thing not local is our sense of humor. It’s pretty far out there. We also pay a living wage to all employees and provide a medical stipend to full time employees.” If you’re in need of some inappropriate humor, follow the big purple bus to back to the building where a huge nun grumpily towers over visitors.
Visit West Asheville
As you may have realized by now, West Asheville is by-far the coolest part of Asheville and is the local queer hangout. There are some cool businesses there worth visiting like Flora (cafe & plant store), the used bookstore, an upcycle store, Battle Cat Cafe (they don’t have many vegan-friendly options), Fleetwood’s, Firestorm Co-op, and Harvest Records. West Asheville is super close to many parks, breweries, and the River Arts District. It’s convenient to have so may rad businesses and collectives in one place!
Take A Hike
If you’re looking for a leisurely walk, look no further than Asheville’s various parks and green spaces. But if you’re wanting something more, there are some incredibly stunning hikes close to Asheville and on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Check out these unique waterfalls in Western North Carolina worth chasing, and these 5 epic waterfalls outside of Asheville with no signage.
I always have so many recommendations for hiking and waterfall chasing to nature-lovers visiting Asheville. Because Western North Carolina has so much gorgeous wildlife to offer, it can be hard to decide which hike to take or which waterfall to visit, but no choice will end up being the wrong choice. (Please note there are other guides to accessible hiking paths and waterfall routes)
What To Do In Asheville At Night
I am not much of a night owl, so we’ll have to take the word of fellow queers who are for this section. Asheville has some unique and unruly places to go for dancing, drinking, shows, and more.
Hit Up O.Henry’s Gay Bar
I’ve heard people rave about O’Henry’s Gay Bar, and upon researching it more, feel called to step out of my pajamas, put down my tea and book, and dance the night away as the sun slips into a deep sleep. O.Henry’s is the oldest gay bar in North Carolina and was established in 1976. Their website says: “O.Henry’s continues to be home to a friendly, fun staff and is welcoming to locals and travelers alike. The front has a comfortable lodge-like look with a feel good, neighborhood bar vibe.
There’s always something happening at O.Henry’s. We have the best music, games, special events and daily drink specials in town. O.Henry’s also houses a cool, industrial dance bar in the back called ‘The Underground,’ which hosts the popular ‘Total Gold Dance Your Ass Off’ parties the first Friday of every month. Other special events include hip jazz & blues music to unforgettable cabaret and burlesque style shows, to goth nights.” They host a variety of special events and drag shows, and you can view their event calendar here.
Get Married and Dance The Night Away at Fleetwood’s Rock-n-Roll Wedding Chapel
Situated in West Asheville (the best part of the city!), Fleetwood’s is a must-experience spot. By day they sell vintage clothes, host food trucks, and serve drinks. By night you can get hitched (without a hitch), dance, drink, and see live musical performances and shows. Fleetwood’s says: “Exchange your vows, rings, and of course a little smudged lipstick at Fleetwood’s Rock-n-Roll Wedding Chapel! Fleetwood’s is the go-to for the ultimate offbeat wedding without going too far off the beaten path. Fleetwood’s is kitted out in alluring and playful vintage decor with a nod to all things ‘Rock-n-Roll’. After the ceremony join the locals at our bar for a cold one and the best tunes in town.” Fleetwood’s is a uniquely cool and quirky venue that you don’t want to miss!
Catch a Live Show at The Odditorium
The Odditorium is a neighborhood bar and hangout (also located in West Asheville) that hosts live bands and drag shows frequently. It is the perfect place to have a drink, attend a rad event, and get down with some music of all varieties in a spooky atmosphere. Check out their events and music schedule here.
4. Where To Shop In Asheville
If you have some green dough to blow and want to support some rad local businesses, consider supporting these folks:
Emote AVL is trans-owned second-hand clothing and queer art shop. There you’ll find the cutest hats, skirts, mugs, buttons, glasses and more. Be sure to follow their Instagram page where they post about upcoming events and new products.
Get Your Reading On at Malaprop’s Book Store / Café: Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café is queer-owned. Their website says that they are “an independent bookstore founded in Asheville, NC in 1982.” They bring “books, writers, and readers together in an environment that nurtures community and the joy of reading.”
Stop by Second Gear: Second Gear is a queer-friendly used gear shop that is “your source for quality, affordable outdoor gear, with an ever-changing selection of used and new equipment, apparel, footwear, & accessories.”
Time Travel with Harvest Records: Visit this independent record store that “is committed to providing an authentic, open-minded, engaging record store experience for its visitors. The friendly and knowledgeable staff will help you comb through a massive inventory of new & used vinyl, CDs, cassettes, stereo equipment, books, DVDs, vinyl accessories and beyond.”
Invest in Low-Waste Living with Ware: This low-waste shop sells “items that are beautiful, functional, responsibly-made (both in terms of environmental and human impact), minimally-packaged, and from as close to home as possible – to name only a few of the boxes we aim to check.”
Shop at West Asheville Market & Deli: This small grocery store is filled with healthy produce and vegan-friendly frozen, fresh-baked, and to-go foods. They also offer crafts, art, stickers, body products, and more by local artists and creators.
Jason Pierson Quilts: Jason Pierson is a queer artist who creates modern quilts, inspired by the beauty of nature and the strong tradition of Southern craft. Follow Jason here to catch him at a local market and browse through his beautiful offerings.
5. Nonprofits And Organizations To Support In Asheville
If you’re like me, you may be interested the change-makers and the do-gooders of the places that you visit. If that’s the case, I suggest learning more about these incredible local organizations while in town, and consider attending one of their events or making a donation to their campaigns.
Friendly Fields Farm Animal Sanctuary: This queer-friendly sanctuary is a 501c3 nonprofit in Waynesville, North Carolina that is home to more than 100 animals rescued from situations of slaughter, neglect and abuse. This is an intersectional nonprofit that cares about humans and nonhumans alike. Follow them on Instagram here or schedule your visit while you’re in the area to meet the chickens, pigs, turkeys, ducks, sheep, goats, and more who call this place home!
Beloved Asheville: This organizations is seriously transforming our community through love, passion, and boots-on-the-ground action. They focus on racial healing & cultural organizing, food security, building affordable housing, street medic outreach, and more. Beloved Asheville literally provides live-saving services and work to our community.
Firestorm Co-op: Firestorm Co-op is way more than just a book store; they provide space for community, connection, and collective liberation. They say: “As a queer, feminist collective we feature books and events that reflect our interests, and the needs of marginalized communities in the South. We strive to promote exploration and encounter by maintaining a welcoming, sober, and anti-oppressive space.” They are another boots-on-the-ground and action-based organizing that is doing much-needed work in Asheville.
Southern Queer Survivor Network: This anti-violence project serves LGBTQ survivors of abuse and intimate partner violence in all 100 counties in NC. SQSN has dedicated queer advocates ready to provide free services to survivors in Western NC. To inquire about services, or to donate/volunteer, visit SQSN.org or email advocate@lgbtqcenterofdurham.org.
Go Fourth And Explore Asheville
If you’ve made it to the bottom of this guide, congratulations! You are now armed with knowledge of some of the best queer hangouts, businesses, activities, and more. If you’ve visited Asheville before and would like to add something to this list, please submit a comment below. If you’re here for the first time and use this guide to get around, please share it with a friend and leave your feedback below as well!
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