I live in North Carolina and annually visit the Grove Park Inn in Asheville as part of a business conference. This year I was given an historic room in the main inn. These rooms are small, but attractively furnished with Arts and Crafts look furniture. The room I was in was kept very clean and neat.
Pros:
The view of the mountains.
The windows open!
The hotel has gorgeous common rooms and I love the sense of history about the place.
Our hospitality suite was huge and beautifully furnished (although as a Demon Deacon the fact that Roy Williams stayed there was hardly a plus!)
Cons:
The walls are thin and noise carries. I know far too much about the lives of the “active” couple next door.
The pillows are very uncomfortable (apparently this isn't solely a cmcfong complaint. Several of my associates had the same opinion)
Construction going on from 0700 till early evening was very disruptive.
The coffee maker was in the entertainment center and was almost impossible to fill and use. I run on coffee and do not do well if I don’t get it as soon as I am upright so this matters to me.
There are group tours (think sneakers and fanny packs) which visit so the common rooms are often very busy and noisy. This takes away some of the charm of the spaces which are so lovely .

Spa: I have been to the spa at GPI before and it is a great place to see. However unless you are interested in spending a good deal of time in the pools and saunas, the treatments are very expensive. I go to the Secret Garden Spa in Weaverville. It is small and extremely well run. The treatments are vastly cheaper than GPI and every bit as professionally done. I had a Rambling Rose (exfoliation, shea butter massage, facial, reflexology) for under $200. Thank you, leahinsc for this suggestion.

Meals:

Green Sage-vegetarian friendly, gluten free choices, basically a sixties hippie vibe with a modern recycling twist. The food was good, not great. The atmosphere drew a lot of families with young children. Prices are quite inexpensive. Located conveniently near the Civic Center.

Grovewood Café-American menu, food is very good, service is not very polished or prompt. It is walking distance from the GPI and popular with my group as no one has to drive. I had a very good roasted beet salad and an excellent vegetable plate at one meal. Crabcakes at lunch were also very good. Prices are $13-24 for entrees.

Wellbread Café and Bakery-in Weaverville This place is fantastic. I had an excellent Havarti, fresh spinach, and carmelized onion on freshly baked foccaccia. I bought a dozen of the cookies for DH and my brother……and managed somehow not to taste test them on the way home. The macaroons are reportedly incredible.

Three Chopt-casual family style restaurant with pretty good sandwich and salad offerings in Hendersonville. It was recommended to me by a local and was clearly very popular.

Market Place on Wall St. downtown Asheville. The restaurant prides itself on using locally sourced ingredients. It is very, very good. The servings are small and beautifully presented. Highly recommended. Service is knowledgeable but slow. Priced $20 and up for entrees.

Savoy: this remains my favorite restaurant in Asheville. I have been many times and have yet to have anything which isn’t well prepared and excellent tasting. There is no view, it is located in a non descript building on Merrimon, but inside the music is Sinatra and the boys, lights are low and the food is divine. They are offering a three course meal for $30 which was a very good buy. Highly recommended.

Veranda in Black Mountain. Black Mountain is a charming little town, very walkable. The Veranda is wonderful. First rate baked goods which are a huge draw, but the meals are also delicious. They lean towards comfort food well prepared and often with a bit of a twist. Highly recommended. Most meals under $10.

Green Life Grocery: this is a whole foods grocer with many take out choices. Great for hikers and stocking up the hotel room.

Chocolate Fetish: not a restaurant, just a fantastic chocolatier. Buy something, see for yourself what chocolate can be!


Asheville is a wonderful place to visit. I look forward to returning soon.

Hi cmcfong, thanks for your detailed description of the Inn and the food! I've always wanted to visit Asheville... well, some day I hope!

yk, You should. I think you would enjoy it. If you do, I would recommend you consider some hotels other than Grove Park. I particularly like the Haywood Park hotel downtown, but there are also some very charming bed and breakfasts.

We have beautiful springs in this part of the country. When I lived in Boston I got the impression spring was something Bostonians had heard about but never actually seen.

Thanks cmcfong for a great trip report and including your thoughts on the city's restaurants. Makes me want to go to Asheville too some day.

Daniel

Thanks for the trip report and restaurant descriptions. We will be Asheville in May and I am checking out the B&Bs. I was wondering if you had visited any personally. I was looking at 1900 Inn on Montford, Cumberland Falls and the Hill House. We want to be downtown and be able to walk around and to restaurants. Any first hand suggestions would be appreciated. We will go see the Biltmore Estate. Then we will be heading North on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Daniel, I hope you do visit Asheville. I would love to see the city through your eyes.
Lynnesm, I have not stayed in any of those b and b's so cannot advise you on them. My preferred hotel is the Haywood Park, located downtown. There is a first rate restaurant, The Flying Frog, in the hotel and it is easy walking distance to all downtown attractions. Their valet parking is reasonably priced and very convenient as you will need to drive to Biltmore from downtown.

topping for Beth

ps I received the sad word that the Secret Garden spa has closed. I do have contact information for the therapist I used there if you decide you want to arrange a spa treatment. If you want the spa experience either the Grand Bohemian which will be near your hotel or the Grove Park would be fun.

I will be in Asheville at the end of April for a conference at the Doubletree. How far is the Grand Bohemian? Haywood? Also, do you recommend any time that I should set aside to see Hendersonville?

The Doubletree and the Grand Bohemian are close to each other. Haywood Park hotel is downtown, several miles from Biltmore Village.

Hendersonville is not terribly engaging in my opinion. I would head for the Parkway and do some hiking!

Thank you cmcfong - I will be there a week - so I can do both. If you have any suggestions about Hendersonville - I would appreciate suggestions.

I would suggest you check out Black Mountain (have a meal at Veranda), Weaverville (meal at Stoney Knob, dessert at WelBread) and Flat Rock (Carl Sandburg site), hike the Parkway and enjoy Asheville. Hendersonville isn't very high on my list of recommendations. There is a new shopping area with lots of restaurants on the Hendersonville Road out of Asheville. I believe it is called Biltmore Square which is bound to confuse since that is so close to the name of Biltmore Village.
Enjoy your stay, it is a wonderful area.