These Are the 10 Best Hotels in Asheville

In Asheville, the mountains (the Blue Ridge ones, that is) are calling, along with bluegrass music, innovative plays on farm-to-table cuisine, more craft beer than you’ll know what to do with, and a dynamic homegrown art scene. As Asheville continues to draw more and more visitors, it’s resisted losing its local flavor, making it a tried-and-true place to experience the crossroads of Appalachia and the South.

As the city evolves, so does its hotel scene. On April 26, 2024, the Flat Iron Hotel will debut with 77 rooms that nod to the Gilded Age with art deco–inspired design, and May 2024 brings two unique hotels just outside the city that are steeped in nature: The Mirror Hotel, which features cabins covered in mirrors that reflect the surrounding natural beauty, and AutoCamp Asheville, an outpost of the brand known for its Airstream and glamping accommodations. Meanwhile, the best hotels in the city, which we’ve hand-selected for our Hotels We Love series, manage to capture Asheville’s essence and turn it outward so guests can experience what makes this city distinctive. Here are the 10 top hotels in Asheville, North Carolina, listed in no particular order, that we recommend.

Blind Tiger Asheville

Courtesy of the Blind Tiger

• Why we love it: Individually designed rooms in a former residence dating to 1889
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The Blind Tiger in Asheville is the third Blind Tiger in the growing collection (the others are in Burlington, Vermont, and Portland, Maine). Opened in June 2023, Blind Tiger Asheville is housed in a building that was originally built as a private residence in 1889. The hotel’s decor incorporates vintage, antique, and handmade pieces into the 14 rooms and suites, which range from an airy artist’s loft on the top floor of the historic main house to a cozy stand-alone two-room cabin. Some rooms have fireplaces, jetted tubs, kitchenettes, and charming sitting nooks.

Outside, the grounds feature green and flowering gardens and charming koi ponds. When hunger strikes, guests can visit the pantry, which is stocked with a curated selection of complimentary snacks, cold brew, and cocktail fixings. From $179

Foundry Hotel

Courtesy of the Foundry Hotel, a Raines Hospitality Hotel

• Why we love it: A well-located modern hotel with a standout culinary program
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Opened at the end of 2018, the 87-room Foundry Hotel occupies North Carolina’s former steel foundry (which forged the steel used to build the Biltmore). The boutique property consists of three old steel mill buildings and two new structures and maintains several original features, including a pulley elevator, exposed beams, steel-star fastenings, exposed brick, and industrial-style windows.

Take a ride in the house Tesla Model X, play bocce on the lawn, or relax on a rocking chair by one of the outdoor firepits. The hotel honors its surroundings—Asheville’s historically Black business district—via tours with a historian and its acclaimed, Appalachian-inspired soul food restaurant, Benne on Eagle, which employs former neighborhood restaurant owner Hanan Shabazz as a consultant and serves many of her recipes. With Shabazz’s mentorship, the restaurant aims to ensure the African American culinary traditions that once thrived in the area will continue to do so for years to come. From $209

The Inn and the Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate

Courtesy of Biltmore Estate

• Why we love it: Two ways to stay at a grand (and eco-conscious) hotel on a historic property
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George Vanderbilt came to Asheville in 1895 to pursue his dream of building a self-sustaining residence. Today, his 8,000-acre Biltmore Estate remains an eco-friendly marvel—nine acres of solar panels offset 20 percent of the energy used at the estate and its farmland—and is a must-see for anyone visiting Asheville. For an extra special experience, book a room at one of several lodging options on the estate. (Sorry, no overnights in the Vanderbilts’ original home are allowed.)

The most luxurious choice is the Inn, with rooms that exude old-world elegance in the form of dark wood furniture, rich textiles, and plush beds. The Inn is renovating all rooms while remaining open; the first set was completed in early 2024, and the second set will be completed in 2025. The newly designed rooms take inspiration from the Vanderbilt mansion.

In between strolling the spectacular gardens and grounds, enjoy the hotel’s heated outdoor pool and hot tub, deluxe spa, fitness center, library lounge, and stately white-linen dining room with a menu of farm-to-table Southern classics—the ingredients come straight from the estate’s farm. Keep a lookout for grazing Angus cattle, White Dorper sheep, and Berkshire pigs that are humanely raised on the estate and served in the restaurants, and be sure to tour the working vineyard and winery.

Also on the expansive Biltmore Estate is the more casual (and more affordably priced) Village Hotel. The atmosphere is relaxed, with a farmhouse-meets-cottage vibe; rooms feature a white-and-gray color palette, plus natural wood and metal accents. Village guests also have access to the estate grounds, gardens, and winery, as well as to an outdoor pool, a fitness center, and a grab-and-go café. Best of all, you can bring your dog—the Village Hotel is pet-friendly. The Inn from $320; the Village Hotel from $210

Kimpton Hotel Arras

Courtesy of Kimpton Hotel Arras

• Why we love it: A former bank turned modern mountain retreat
• Loyalty program: IHG One Rewards
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The pet-friendly Kimpton Hotel Arras opened in October 2019 as part of a historic transformation of the former BB&T Bank, which was built in 1965 in Asheville’s bustling Pack Square. Now the building (the tallest in Asheville) features 128 rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, some showcasing impressive views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The decor is inspired by a modern mountain motif, with wood paneling, stone features, custom ironwork, and an original metalwork by local artist Catherine Murphy hanging above each bed. In fact, there’s local work throughout the entire hotel, with nightly art tours available (don’t miss the massive steel sculpture just outside the building, which the hotel commissioned from Asheville artists Chukk Bruursema and Ash Knight to honor the city’s music scene). Guests can also explore the area on complimentary Public bikes and return to use the hotel’s Exhale Massage Spa, yoga area, and fitness center featuring Peloton bikes. From $191

Omni Grove Park Inn

Courtesy of Omni Grove Park Inn

• Why we love it: A century-old Blue Ridge Mountains getaway with modern creature comforts
• Loyalty program: Select Guest (Omni Hotels & Resorts)
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A historic resort dating to 1913, this grand dame of the Blue Ridge Mountains was originally designed to echo the iconic Old Faithful Inn and Canyon Hotel in Yellowstone National Park. Built from granite stones mined from adjacent Sunset Mountain, it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a member of Historic Hotels of America.

Guests of the Omni Grove Park can expect 513 luxurious rooms, plus 36-foot-wide stone fireplaces, elevators hidden in chimneys, and one of the largest collections of arts and crafts furnishings in the world, including more than 400 oak chairs, corner servers, sideboards, writing tables, and lighting fixtures. To keep you busy, there are also 10 bars and restaurants; a 43,000-square-foot subterranean, rock-wall spa with a grotto-like relaxation pool; a fitness complex complete with indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, and hiking trails; and an award-winning golf course. Plus, it’s only a 10-minute drive to downtown Asheville.

Since becoming part of Omni Hotels & Resorts, the hotel has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to nonprofit partners across western North Carolina during the holiday season. It also donates one meal to a local food pantry for every guest stay. From $229

The Radical

Courtesy of the Radical

• Why we love it: Showy, maximalist interiors celebrating urban creativity
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Living up to its name, this hotel is filled with bold touches such as graffiti-style art, intricate patterns, and bright colors. Opened in the fall of 2023 in the city’s funky River Arts District, The Radical is located inside a graffiti-covered former 1920s cereal factory. The 70 unique guest rooms and suites retain their original building features, including raw concrete pillars and exposed brick walls (that now complement vibrant street art), marble and brass bathrooms, and large windows (ask for one with French Broad River views).

The hotel features more than 200 works of art, including several murals and graffiti painted on the building over the years that the owners preserved and incorporated into the design. Guests can dine at wood-fire restaurant Golden Hour (try the wood-grilled skewers with Japanese sweet potato, chicken, shrimp, and local mushrooms), sip on cocktails at the rooftop bar, and start and end the day at the café and bar AfterGlow, all with menus by local Asheville chef and two-time James Beard–nominated Jacob Sessoms. From $152

The Restoration Asheville

Courtesy of the Restoration Asheville

• Why we love it: A design-forward retreat in the heart of downtown
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In 2023, one of Charleston’s favorite hip hotels opened its second location in downtown Asheville. The all-suite Restoration Asheville features 60 guest rooms ranging from 375 to 600 square feet, with perks including locally roasted coffee, late-night cookies, and an in-room Nosh Box with locally made snacks. Design details include hardwood floors, exposed brick walls, richly patterned textile accents, and leather headboards.

Signature restaurants include the Exchange, with a seasonally driven menu; the Observatory, a rooftop cocktail bar and event space; the Rise, a coffee shop with breakfast sandwiches and pastries; and the Draftsman, an underground speakeasy-style lounge complete with bowling lanes, vintage arcade games, and a stage for live music. Also on the property, you’ll find a library stocked with Assouline books; flip through a tome there or in the sun-drenched Solarium. From $277

Windsor Boutique Hotel

Courtesy of Windsor Boutique Hotel

• Why we love it: A dose of Paris in downtown Asheville
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Initially constructed in 1907, the Windsor went through an 18-month renovation before opening as a Parisian-inspired boutique hotel in the heart of downtown, ideal for families or longer stays. The all-suite hotel has 14 spacious guest rooms with distinct designs, each containing either a king, queen, or double queen bedroom, bathroom, a fully equipped kitchen, a living room with sleeper sofa, and a washer/dryer. Complimentary amenities lend a residential feel to the experience and include free parking, snacks and drinks, yoga mats and free weights, and a selection of board games available upon request.

Art from Paris and pieces by Asheville artists can be found throughout the hotel, and on the ground level you can find Benjamin Walls’s art gallery and wine bar. From $653 for two nights (two-night minimum)

Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins

Courtesy of Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins

• Why we love it: Urban glamping with plenty of creature comforts
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Two former river guides opened this singular urban cabin campground on the French Broad River Greenway in West Asheville in September 2022. The 16 A-frame cabins, sustainably built into the scenic natural landscape, give guests easy access to the great outdoors along the river and to the city. The cabins surround the communal River Lodge that anchors the property as a place to eat, drink, gather, and shop, creating a kind of mini village. Food and provisions at the Canteen come from James Beard semifinalist Ashley Capps and partner Travis Schultz (both of Asheville-based Newstock Pantry).

Each A-frame features a queen bed and queen sleeper sofa, an en suite bathroom, a desk, a kitchenette with a microwave, and a deck. Instead of a TV, there’s a record player with records, books, and games. The modern interior design of the cabins combines rustic elements of Appalachian craftsmanship with minimalist Scandinavian design. Local artists created details: There are wooden animal sculptures by woodworker Ben Grant and reclaimed wood countertops by Julian Harris of JF Kraftworks.

Enjoying the outdoors is encouraged here; guests will find a hammock, camp chairs, and a portable table in their cabins that they can bring anywhere on property. The hotel also partners with outfitters for such activities as kayaking, river tubing, stand-up paddleboarding, mountain biking, and guided hikes. From $217

Zelda Dearest

Courtesy of Zelda Dearest

• Why we love it: Asheville through the eyes of Zelda Fitzgerald
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Inspired by Zelda Fitzgerald, who loved Asheville, Zelda Dearest from Lark Hotels debuted in October 2023 in downtown’s South Slope with 20 rooms across four buildings. Fitzgerald’s personality and art are captured in the design by Nashville-based design firm Anderson Design Studio. Rooms feature bathrooms with jungle-themed wallpaper, private patios and porches, separate sitting nooks, and art deco–inspired furnishings. Some accommodations have deep soaking tubs and a curated library.

While the service here is a little more hands-off, snacks are available in the Rosalind Building, while the on-site Parlour Bar is a great spot for a nightcap. From $206