April is North Carolina Beer Month, and Asheville is the place to celebrate! In particular, you’ll find numerous watering spots in South Slope, a walkable downtown area home to some of the city's highest-rated food and drink spots. Originally a stoic industrial and warehouse district, South Slope is now a vibrant brewery/restaurant, retail, and residential area. Known as an “Innovation District” and the “Brewery District,” it's just right for a beer celebration in April or any time of year.
South Slope Breweries
If you’re interested in sampling some of the many local Asheville breweries, South Slope is a great place to start. For one-stop, check out Wicked Weed Funkatorium, home of the Sour and Wild Tasting Room on Coxe Ave. Take a tour and have a taste of its revolving beer-on-tap list that includes fruit-infused, barrel-aged sour beers and more. Tours fill up quickly, so be sure to sign up online. Another local favorite is Burial Beer Co., which has a large outdoor area, in addition to its indoor space, where they have a chef-driven kitchen serving locally sourced American fare.
Burial Beer Co. on Asheville's South Slope.
Asheville's South Slope area has an abundance of options for drinking holes, including Asheville Brewing, which has pizza + beer (catch a movie at their North Asheville location on Merrimon); Green Man Brewery, Twin Leaf Brewing, and Hi-Wire Brewery. It's also home to the distillery Chemist, and its cocktail bar, Antidote. You really can’t go wrong in Asheville's South Slope, and you may need a couple of trips to try it all out.
More South Slope Options
If you’re looking for a breakfast spot, stop into Mother Bakery & Cafe nearby for freshly-baked artisanal toasts, omelets, and coffee. The adjacent Banks Ave is home to the James Beard award-winning Chai Pani, Coxe Ave is home to Michelin-recognized Little Chango, and Buxton Ave is home to Good Hot Fish by award-winning Asheville chef Ashleigh Shanti. For nightlife near South Slope, check out Ben's Tune Up or Banks Ave Bar for live music, performances, or DJ sets, or catch a show at Burial's Eulogy venue.
If you’re hankering for something other than food and drink, wander into Muse Art Bar for an afternoon of hands-on creating. Hop in the car for a quick drive to nearby Tracey Morgan Gallery, which specializes in contemporary art by American and international artists. While in the riverside area, Chocoholics should check out French Broad Chocolate Lounge Factory for a guided tour and chocolate sampling. The building is also home to Ginger's Revenge, where you can end your day the same way you started it—with a craft beer. Only this time, it's a gluten-free alcoholic ginger beer crafted with 95% organic ingredients.
Come See South Slope!
As you can see, there’s plenty to do in South Slope, so you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to meander through!