How to Spend a Splendid Day at Asheville’s South Slope

There's plenty to see and do from sunup to sundown at one of downtown's hottest spots.

By Amy Antonation on August 10, 2023

From morning until late night, there’s always something happening at the South Slope District in Asheville, a revitalized industrial neighborhood that’s one of downtown’s hottest stops.

Craft breweries and taprooms hold down most corners, but visitors will also find murals, award-winning restaurants and live music. Many area businesses are locally owned, giving the neighborhood a unique atmosphere.

“Asheville has ended up with a lot of small businesses and entrepreneurship because people were trying to craft their own jobs (in the wake of the 2008 recession),” says Josie Mielke, owner of Urban Orchard Cider Co.

Mural, Mural on the Wall

Start the day off by tackling the South Slope Mural Trail. The self-guided, approximately two-mile route, which debuted in 2021, winds its way past 17 striking murals, many of which draw inspiration from Asheville’s businesses, culture and history.

There are depictions of coopers making oak barrels (inspired by a local brewery’s barrel-aged beer program); modern recreations of faded “ghost signs” and century-old photos; and artistic renderings of local business’ services, from autowork to brewing. Other paintings incorporate cubist, pop culture, abstract and folk art elements.

The Refinery AVL Creator Space and Gallery sits along the trail and is adorned by a vibrant blue mural, celebrating the natural world in images of bowerbirds and the structures they build as part of their courtship rituals. The Refinery building provides studio space for a wide variety of artists — painters, photographers, sculptors, ceramicists and more — as well as hosts exhibits, monthly studio arts walks, and occasional classes.

Sip Your Way Through the South Slope

Refueling after an urban trek is a priority, and luckily, the South Slope District in Asheville is packed with craft breweries and taprooms, wineries and distilleries — Asheville has been reported to have one of the highest number of breweries per capita in the U.S.

In South Slope, Burial Beer Co. and Catawba Brewing Co. are popular choices. There’s also a cidery for drinkers looking for something a bit different; Urban Orchard Cider Co. launched in 2013 in West Asheville and expanded to South Slope in late 2019.

Mielke says of the intersection between beer and cider, “There’s this stigma with cider: Everyone assumes it’s very sweet. We have to educate patrons that we have bone dry ciders.”

In fact, Urban Orchard’s tap list boasts ciders ranging from bone dry to dry, medium- and semi-dry. The dry varieties far outnumber medium- and semi-sweet offerings. And the cidery sources its apples from Hendersonville, a major North Carolina apple producer that’s just a few miles down the road.

Fill Your Day With Play

As if people-watching at local watering holes isn’t enough, the South Slope District in Asheville has entertainment options to suit all types. Well Played Board Game Café stocks over 700 board games (plus an all-day menu and full bar) for gamers seeking IRL connection.

There’s also Rabbit Rabbit, an approximately 1-acre outdoor venue that’s downtown Asheville’s largest gathering space. The venue is home to movie nights and concerts, and has hosted musical artists like Sylvan Esso, Modest Mouse and the Pixies.

Dig In for a Delicious Dinner in Asheville

For suppertime, Buxton Hall Barbecue draws on North Carolina’s history of whole-hog barbecue. It butchers hogs from nearby Vandele Farms on Cedar Creek in-house, offering traditional pulled pork plates and sandwiches as well as creative culinary mashups like brisket cheesesteak and barbecue hash poutine.

But for those craving late-night bites, PIE.ZAA is the place to be. When owner Tyler Kotch moved to Asheville from New York City, he noted the lack of late-night eateries, particularly in contrast to the number of breweries open until the wee hours. Kotch had a marketing background, but not much expertise in hospitality. During his research, he says, he learned that “pizza, hot dogs and noodles make money.”   

Kotch didn’t want to be a hot dog or noodle guy, so in 2020, he launched PIE.ZAA and hired a consultant to teach him the pizza-making ropes (“I had no idea how intricate it was”). Thanks to the quality of the pies, he now boasts a thriving dinner service as well as “lines out the door after concerts” and heavy business until 1 a.m. on weekends.  

“I picked South Slope partly because of the breweries,” he says. “I like to go spend time there. It’s super quaint, and anything that is new and cool goes in there.”