The Chocolate Fetish is a local chocolate shop at 36 Haywood Street in downtown Asheville, making handmade artisan chocolates and truffles. Favorites include the Ecstasy truffles, sea salt caramels and the African Queen, a Belgian-style truffle with a crispy hazelnut wafer and caramel ganache.

Locals pick up a box here for gifts and birthdays. Regulars say it's the best chocolate in town.

The Chocolate Fetish

Asheville's food scene is mostly local, and this guide walks it neighborhood by neighborhood. Many of these spots post their daily specials, happy hours and events on Dig Local, so check a profile before you go. Downtown, Posana on Biltmore Avenue builds its menu around local farms, The Rhu on South Lexington Avenue is known for its cruffin, Old Europe Pastries has made Hungarian pastries since 1994 and now sits on Broadway, and Capella on 9 serves tapas on the roof of the AC Hotel. On the South Slope, Tiger Bay Cafe cooks Latin and West Indian food inside Ben's Tune Up, and the Funkatorium on Coxe Avenue pours sour beer. Haywood Road in West Asheville has Biscuit Head, Thai Pearl, Finest and Westville Pub. Merrimon Avenue in North Asheville has plant, Mountain Madre, Mother Ocean Seafood Market and 828 Family Pizzeria. In East Asheville, RendezVous serves French bistro food on New Haw Creek Road. Rocky's Hot Chicken Shack fries Nashville-style hot chicken on Patton Avenue in West Asheville and on Sweeten Creek Road in South Asheville. For fully vegan kitchens, restaurants with real meat-free menus and answers to common questions, see our Dig Deeper guide to vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Asheville.

Asheville Food and Drink: Restaurants, Specials and Happy Hours

Asheville Made is your guide to products made right here in the mountains, from hot sauce and craft sodas to farm-raised meat, handmade crafts and small-batch spirits. FIREWALKER Hot Sauce Company has made small-batch, vegan sauces with locally grown produce since 2012. Devil's Foot Beverage brews ginger beer and craft sodas with organic ginger and fruit from local farms, and pours them at The Mule, its taproom on Sweeten Creek Road near Biltmore Village. Hickory Nut Gap Farm in Fairview has been farmed by the same family since 1916 and sells its grassfed beef and pasture-raised pork and chicken at the farm store. The Southern Highland Craft Guild shows the work of hundreds of juried Appalachian craftspeople in pottery, fiber, glass, wood and jewelry. For local spirits, visit Eda Rhyne Distilling in Biltmore Village, Oak and Grist in Black Mountain and Two Trees in Fletcher. These are good stops for gifts and souvenirs that are actually made in Asheville. Every listing below has hours, photos and directions.

Asheville Made: Local Artisans, Makers and Handmade Gifts

Experience Asheville, NC, your gateway to the best live music, vibrant nightlife, premier shopping, and unforgettable things to do. Stroll through bustling markets and unique boutiques for one-of-a-kind finds, or browse Asheville’s eclectic shops for local art, fashion, wellness, and gifts. Savor Asheville’s dynamic food scene, from award-winning restaurants and cozy cafés to innovative food trucks and local favorites. 

Dive into the city’s thriving hemp, CBD, and THCA community with welcoming dispensaries and specialty wellness stores. Whether you’re looking for top bars, relaxing cocktail lounges, a memorable bite, or hidden gems off the beaten path, Asheville offers fresh adventures and experiences every season. Stay updated on the latest events, hotspots, and must-visit places, Asheville is your home for discovery.

The Chocolate Fetish

What you need to know

Local's Tip

What the locals say

What you need to know

What the locals say