Asheville does romance in its own way: a little wild, a little artful, and fully committed to the idea that a “date” can be a salt soak in the trees, a rooftop toast downtown, and a late-night music set that makes time feel optional.
Use this five-day plan as your framework, but leave room for detours. Asheville rewards the couples who wander.
Begin your story together with intention. Asheville offers plenty of romantic places to snuggle up, whether that means a boutique hotel close to the energy of the city, a historic inn with porch-swing charm, or a cabin-style stay that tucks you into the quiet edges of the Blue Ridge.
After you check in and get settled, point the car toward the Blue Ridge Parkway. This ribbon of road doesn’t rush you anywhere. It curves gently along the spine of the mountains, offering overlook after overlook where you can pull off, breathe in the view, and let the last of the travel day fall away. Music up, windows down, and mountains stretching out for miles ahead offer a beautiful way to begin your shared Asheville story.
Just outside the city, tucked into a wooded hillside, Shoji Spa & Lodge feels like a quiet secret. Here, private outdoor soaking tubs sit hidden among cedar and trees, steam rising into cool mountain air. The tubs are salt-based and Japanese-inspired, meant for lingering, for talking, for not talking, for simply being together without a clock ticking anywhere nearby.
Tonight, let Asheville introduce itself properly. Head into downtown Asheville, where historic streets and a lively mix of restaurants and bars make it easy to settle into the city’s after-dark glow.
Start with dinner at Xico, a wood-fire-driven Mexican kitchen that feels lively and warm from the moment you step inside. Share a few small plates, sip mezcal or cocktails, and let the night unfold at its own pace.
After dinner, head to The Montford, a downtown rooftop bar perched above the city. From up here, Asheville spreads out in soft lights and distant hills. It’s the perfect place to clink glasses and quietly agree: we picked a good place to be.
Start the day downtown at Pollen Coffee + Flower Shop, where espresso, flaky pastries, and buckets of fresh blooms make even a quick stop feel a little romantic. Grab coffee and something sweet, maybe a small bouquet just because, then point the car north for your next adventure.
A short drive brings you to Navitat Canopy Adventures, where a morning zipline tour sends you soaring through the forest. Their side-by-side lines let you launch together, glide above the treetops, and land laughing, a little breathless and already buzzing from the view.
After the canopy, head back toward Asheville and spend your afternoon in the River Arts District, where old industrial buildings have become working studios and the river keeps everything feeling a little open and unbuttoned. Settle in for lunch at Piccolina, a small, soulful Italian café tucked along Depot Street.
Instead of just browsing, choose a shared activity. The RAD calendar is full of hands-on options, including short “make your own” style sessions that are perfect for couples because they are collaborative, low-pressure, and you leave with something real. One popular example are the 30-minute glass experiences at the NC Glass Center where you work one-on-one with an instructor to create a piece like a paperweight, ornament, or cup, then customize it with your color choices.
Wander a little more after. Pop into a few studios to watch artists and makers at work. Let the afternoon be playful and unplanned, with a single anchor moment that becomes your souvenir.
Stay in the district for dinner at Crusco, a warm, intimate spot on Depot Street. This is a “share a few things” kind of meal. Start with cocktails, then settle into a couple plates and let the night stretch.
When you are ready for a final chapter, head a few minutes down the road to The Grey Eagle, an all-ages live music venue right in the River Arts District. Pick a show, grab a drink, and let Asheville do what it does best at night: turn a good day into a story you will re-tell.
Start your day at Liberty House Café, a little café set in a 1920s cottage with an on-site garden that makes the whole place feel quietly grounded. Order coffee, grab something baked, watch the chickens that live on the property peck around, and let the morning be slow on purpose.
It's time for more unwinding at Asheville Salt Cave & Spa, where you can settle into a comfortable lounger inside a nature-inspired salt cave built with about 30 tons of crystalline pink salt. Sessions are typically 45 minutes, with gentle lighting, ambient sound, and a brief guided meditation that helps you fully exhale.
Tonight, shift neighborhoods and let Asheville show you a different mood. West Asheville feels a little more lived-in and creative, with an easy crawl of spots along Haywood Road and a “stay awhile” pace.
Start with dinner at Jargon, a cozy, polished favorite where you can choose your vibe: the dining room, the bar, the Chef’s Counter, or the heated, twinkling covered courtyard that works year-round.
Then keep the night in the neighborhood with a nightcap at Potential New Boyfriend, a hi-fi listening bar in West Asheville built around desserts, wine, and music. Desserts are the star, including housemade ice cream and more playful, chef-driven sweets, and the whole place has that flirtatious “one more song, one more bite” energy.
Begin the day in Biltmore Village, where old brick cottages, ivy-wrapped storefronts, and quiet sidewalks make everything feel a little romantic. Settle in at Corner Kitchen, a longtime local favorite inside a 19th-century house, and take your time over coffee and breakfast.
After breakfast, take a slow stroll through the village and pop into a couple local stops. Step into Finch Grocery for something sweet or savory to tuck into a bag for later, then browse New Morning Gallery, a light-filled space overflowing with handmade art, jewelry, and crafts from artists across the region. It is the kind of place where you might find something small that ends up meaning a lot.
From the village, it’s a short hop to Biltmore Estate, one of Asheville’s most storied places. The house was built for George Vanderbilt in the late 1800s, designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt, with grounds shaped by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. America's largest private home rises out of the hills like a storybook, surrounded by gardens and the beauty of the Blue Ridge. You can move through the grand rooms, stroll the grounds, or simply let the scale and beauty of the place sink in at your own pace.
When you are ready for a pause, head to the Biltmore Winery, where complimentary tastings invite you to slow down again. Find a spot at the tasting bar, sip through a flight of estate wines, and enjoy that gentle, happy quiet that comes after a long, beautiful walk.
As the light softens, make your way to Antler Hill Village, the heart of the estate’s village life. The green fills with evening air, shops glow from the inside, and everything feels easy and unhurried.
For dinner, stay right on the property. Cedric’s Tavern offers cozy pub fare and local beer alongside Biltmore wines, while the Stable Café, set inside the estate’s former horse stables, feels intimate and warm, with tables tucked into old stalls.
Set an early alarm and earn the kind of quiet you can’t get anywhere else. For a sunrise that feels like the Blue Ridge is showing off just for you, head up to Craggy Pinnacle, a short Parkway hike known for big, open views.
After the hike, come back into downtown and settle into one of Asheville’s most charming lunch rituals: Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar, located inside the historic Grove Arcade. It’s exactly what it sounds like in the best way. Books lining the walls, a cozy feel, and a menu built for lingering. Their lunch offerings include gourmet paninis, fresh seasonal salads, seasonal soups, plus shareable literary-themed boards that pair perfectly with a glass of bubbles.
Later, point yourselves toward The Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa, Asheville’s storied stone landmark on Sunset Mountain. Open since 1913 and built by Edwin Wiley Grove, it’s the kind of place that immediately transports you to another time. Claim a seat on the Sunset Cocktail Terrace, order a drink (and a few small bites if you’re hungry), and watch the Blue Ridge stretch out in front of you.Time it right and you’ll understand why this view becomes part of so many Asheville traditions.
Bring it back downtown for a final night that feels like a celebration. Cúrate is Asheville’s Spanish tapas classic, set inside a renovated 1920s bus depot, lively and warm, with plates made for sharing and staying awhile. Cúrate was recognized by the James Beard Foundation with an Outstanding Hospitality award, which makes sense the moment you sit down and the evening starts to unfold.
And then, because you should end a romantic trip with something sweet and a little theatrical, walk over to French Broad Chocolate Lounge at Pack Square, the one in the signature blue building. Order truffles or housemade ice cream, and do not skip the drinking chocolates if the night has any chill in it.
