There is no shortage of culinary options in Asheville – from top breweries to farm-to-table restaurants, we have it all. Our food and drink tours are ideal dates for locals as well as visitors, with our very own BREW-ed Brewery tour named one of National Geographic’s Traveler Magazine 15 Food Tours Worth the Travel. The tours give a behind-the-scenes insight not available to the average consumer, in addition to being able to sample a variety of offerings from the city’s best in one day. Most of the tours include walks through our eclectic downtown and provide unique tidbits about the city’s history, while allowing Ashevillians to really get to know the people behind their favorite restaurants and breweries.
Asheville Food Tours gives you the opportunity to try local spots on your list while also learning some cool history about the city you call home. Tours are approximately 3.5 hours in length, and held rain or shine. Be sure to purchase your tickets in advance via the tour’s website. At the end of the tour, guests will receive an Asheville Food Tour Passport containing discounts and freebies from places visited good for 5 days.
There are three tours to choose from:
Downtown Tour ($55)- Monday/Wednesday/Friday; 2pm. While on the tour, you’ll stop at 6-7 downtown eateries, sampling their cuisine. Asheville’s love of local is exemplified throughout the tours, featuring locally baked bread, locally brewed beer, and artisan cheeses and meats that originate from local farms. Tours kick off at 2pm.
Food Fan Foot Tour with Stu Helm ($65)- Sundays; 1:30pm. Led by local food writer Stu Helm (aka “The Food Fan”), guests indulge in various dishes and drinks, and will get insight on Stu’s favorite restaurants while strolling along a 2 mile route of Downtown Asheville including the Upper South Slope, Pack Square, and The Block.
Brunch Tour ($65) – Saturdays; 10:30am. Guests of this tour will stop at 4 restaurants which also include drinks at each stop, and 2 dessert shops. The tour kicks off at 10:30am, leaving you stuffed and ready for a perfect Saturday.
BREW-ed Brewery & History Walking Tours
More than just a brewery crawl, these walking tours are led by beer experts and take you behind-the-scenes at some of Asheville’s most popular breweries, while infusing local history and allowing you to sample several types of craft beer. Guests can choose to go on a two hour/two brewery tour, or a three hour/three brewery tour.
Two Hour Tour: Avaiable Thursday 5:30-7:30pm, Saturday 11:30am-1:30pm, and Sunday 1-3pm ($37) – The two hour tours take you to two different breweries varying depending on which day you chose to attend, with stops including Hi-Wire Brewing and Brhamari Brewhouse.
Three Hour Tour: Friday 2-5pm and Saturday 2-5pm ($50) – Guests will visit three breweries during this three hour tour, with stops including Asheville Brewing Company, Green Man, and Catawba Brewing.
Eating Asheville partners with around 30 of the city’s local restaurants, who will frequently open their doors specifically for the food tour attendees. Some of the restaurants include Rhubarb, Chai Pani, The French Broad Chocolate Lounge, and Zambra.There are three tours to choose from, ranging from the Classic food tour, to the date-night worthy Dinner & Drinks Tour.
Classic Tour ($54) – The Classic Tour is offered Sunday-Thursday at 2pm, and at 2:30pm on Friday and Saturday. You’ll visit six restaurants with 3 drink pairings and a dessert.
High Roller ($69) – Available Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 2pm. Not for the faint of heart, this tour requires you to be extra hungry! The tour takes you through seven restaurants with 5 drink pairings, finished with the Grand Finale dessert.
Dinner & Drinks Tour ($74) – Available Friday and Saturday at 4pm, you’ll sample craft beer and concoctions form 3 of Asheville’s top mixologists in addition to food samples at each stop. This two hour tour also gives guests history on some of the city’s best speakeasies.
Head to Western North Carolina for a look at some of our best sustainable farms specializing in produce, cheese, chicken, beef or lamb. Once the tour is complete, guests will enjoy a meal utilizing many of the items they observed while on the tour. There are currently four tours to choose from, ranging from 4 hours to 6 hours in duration.
Born on a Mountain, Raised in a Cave: The Cave-Aged Cheese Tour ($65) – Offered every Wednesday at 1pm, guests of this tour will visit Blue Ridge Mountain Creamery for a tour and tasting of their handmade cheeses. Guests then head H & H Distillery for a rum and gin tasting as well as a tour of the facility. Tour will last between 3-4 hours, and guests must be 21 or older to attend.
Farmers & Flavors of Appalachia Tour ($99) – Offered Thursdays at 1:30pm, this tour lasts 6 hours and takes you to three sustainable family farms in Madison County. Participating farms include East Fork Farm, Carolina Bison Farm and The Farmer’s Hands. Included with the price is lunch, water and snacks.
Cheese, Glass, Flower Class : Fairview Experience Tour ($99) – Offered every Friday at 10:30am, this tour also takes you to three sustainable family farms and is 6 hours long. *This tour is currently being updated.
The Land of Cream & Craft Beer Tour (Mini Tour) ($65) – The final tour offered is around 4 hours long and kicks off every Saturday at 1pm. Guests attend one of the local creameries (either Round Mountain Creamery or Looking Glass Creamery) followed by either a visit to H & H Distillery or Turgua Brewing for tastings and tours of their facilities. Guests must be 21 or older to attend.
Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours – Taste Asheville
Eat and drink your way through downtown Asheville thanks to Taste Carolina, who provides two tours for foodies to choose from. If you’re interested in a food tour but can’t make it during their scheduled times, you can arrange to take part in one privately Sundays through Wednesdays. The tours are held rain or shine and you’ll be walking between 2-3 miles, so comfortable shoes are a must. Advance registration is required for all tours.
Asheville Downtown Tasting Tour ($61.50) – Tour is offered every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 10:30am and lasts approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes. Your guide will take you to a variety of Asheville’s best farm-to-table restaurants and cafes while also informing you on history and architecture of the city’s vibrant downtown area.
Asheville Downtown Evening Tasting Tour ($92.50) – Offered every Friday and Saturday, the Downtown Evening Tasting Tour is 3 hours long and starts at 3:30pm. This tour intertwines samples from some of the best restaurants with wine, beer and craft cocktail tastings. Depending which day you take the tour, you’ll either visit an underground brewery or an intimate wine bar, setting the tone for the rest of your evening.
Feature Image Credit: Eating Asheville Food Tours
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