There’s a new glow in Asheville — and it’s not just from the Blue Ridge sunsets.
The MICHELIN Guide has released its first-ever American South edition, and Asheville’s food scene took center stage, earning distinctions across nearly every category. From a prestigious Green Star to multiple Bib Gourmands and a lineup of Recommended Restaurants, Asheville has officially joined the ranks of the South’s most celebrated culinary cities.
Sustainability Takes the Spotlight
Leading Asheville’s honors is Luminosa, the vibrant Italian-inspired restaurant inside the Flat Iron Hotel, which earned a MICHELIN Green Star for sustainability — one of only three restaurants in the South to receive this distinction.
Under the direction of Executive Chef Graham House and Chef de Cuisine Sean McMullen, Luminosa brings together Appalachian soul and Italian craft. The team sources almost exclusively from Western North Carolina farms and producers, operating a whole-animal butchery and fermentation program that minimizes waste while maximizing flavor.
As MICHELIN Inspectors noted, Luminosa “works hard to utilize all trim from their kitchen in sustainable ways,” embodying the spirit of the Green Star distinction: innovation, stewardship, and local love.
Asheville’s Bib Gourmand Winners
The Bib Gourmand celebrates restaurants that offer “exceptional food at a great value,” and three Asheville favorites earned the honor:
📍 20 Battery Park Ave., Asheville, NC 28801
Double-honored with both a Green Star and a Bib Gourmand, Luminosa proves that sustainability and accessibility can go hand-in-hand. Its menu blends fine-dining precision with neighborhood warmth — the kind of spot where a handmade pasta can still feel like comfort food.
Little Chango
📍 134 Coxe Ave., Asheville, NC 28801
In the heart of the South Slope, Little Chango hums with color and creativity. Chef Iris Rodriguez’ menu centers on arepas, generously topped with specialties like ropa vieja and pernil.
Mother
📍 244 Short Coxe Ave., Asheville, NC 28801
Born from the art and science of sourdough, Mother is a neighborhood café and wine bar where hospitality rises as naturally as its bread. Owner Heidi Bass centers the café’s menu on its bread program, from decadent sandwiches to a delightfully crunchy dusting of sourdough breadcrumbs atop fresh salad.
Asheville’s Recommended Restaurants
The Guide also highlighted a remarkable 10 Asheville restaurants among its Recommended list — a nod to consistency, creativity, and quality across styles and price points.
- Addissae Ethiopian Restaurant – Warm, spice-forward stews, injera made with care, and heartfelt hospitality that anchors Asheville’s global table.
- All Day Darling – A North Asheville brunch favorite by Chef Jacob Sessoms, whose other restaurants, Golden Hour and Table, also make this list.
- Cúrate Bar de Tapas – Chef Katie Button’s nationally renowned Spanish tapas bar, still defining Asheville’s culinary identity.
- Golden Hour – This glamorous dining room, located inside The Radical Hotel, centers its menu on open fire cooking and seasonal Appalachian ingredients. The concept, by Chef Jacob Sessoms, is both elegant and playful in its execution of upscale, farm-driven cuisine.
- Good Hot Fish – Chef Ashleigh Shanti’s counter service spot in Asheville’s historic Black Southside neighborhood pays homage to the fish-frying matriarchs of her family.
- Leo’s House of Thirst – A cozy West Asheville bistro with small plates and a serious natural wine list. Owner Drew Wallace and Chef Austin Inselmann also helm The Admiral.
- Soprana– This eatery, atop The Embassy Suites in downtown Asheville, proffers Italian brick oven pizzas by Chef Jon Jerman, and a rooftop view that pairs perfectly with a craft cocktail.
- Sunny Point Café – Owned by April Moon Harper and Belinda Raab, Sunny Point has long been beloved for its all-day breakfast, garden-fresh produce, and joyful neighborhood vibe.
- Table– Chef Jacob Sessoms’ first Asheville restaurant is a downtown pioneer that helped launch Asheville’s farm-to-table movement.
- Tall John’s – Montford’s elevated neighborhood restaurant, where Chef Trevor Payne serves up American classics with sophisticated technique.
- The Admiral– A West Asheville institution, helmed by owner Drew Wallace and Chef Austin Inselmann, serves seasonal, chef-driven plates in a low-key setting.
- Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse – Co-founder and Executive Chef Michael Lewis merges Japanese flavors with Southern smoke in this cross-cultural downtown eatery.
A Culinary Moment Worth Savoring
For a city long known for its artistic spirit and mountain magic, Asheville’s MICHELIN recognition feels like a natural next chapter, and proof that creativity here runs from the gallery walls to the kitchen line.
So come hungry. Come curious. And taste for yourself why Asheville’s chefs are putting the mountains on the world’s culinary map — one thoughtful, flavor-filled bite at a time.
Discover Asheville’s award-winning restaurants and culinary experiences at ExploreAsheville.com/Foodtopia →