Caffeinated Asheville

Caffeinated Asheville

Given Asheville's artsy sensibilities, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the city has a flourishing café scene.

City Bakery Café (60 Biltmore Ave. 828/254-4426) has so-so coffee but great European-style breads, in about 20 varieties, made from organic flours. Clingman Ave. Coffee and Catering Co (242 Clingman Ave. 828/253-2177). is in the River District, near many pottery and other art-and-crafts studios. Dripolator (144 Biltmore Ave. 828/252-0021) serves "Fair Trade" coffees and attracts a mixed crowd of alternative younger folks and businesspeople. Malaprop's Café (55 Haywood St. 828/254-6734) is associated with a first-rate downtown independent bookstore. Port City Java (870 Merrimon Ave. 828/255-3881) is a branch of a small Wilmington, NC, specialty coffee roaster.