15 Coolest Coffee Shops In Asheville For Dessert, Work, & Fuel
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Enjoy the best coffee shops in Asheville with books, baked treats, and beans for the road from locals. Hop in a vintage double-decker red bus and catch an author talk. Devour decadent desserts in historical buildings or grab lunch at a cafe. Get some work done.
Although known for its craft beer, the coffee scene in Asheville is just as happening. As locals, we have our regular spots for great outdoor seating, strong espressos, and herbal tea. Along with your coffee, you might also love these local and delicious Asheville breakfast restaurants. (And, if you do love craft beer like me, this is the insider scoop on the best breweries in Asheville.)
Best Coffee Shops In Asheville With Dessert
These are our favorite places serving vegan blondies and delicious chocolate cupcakes, along with the best coffee in Asheville.
Odd’s Cafe
A local favorite with a great selection of GF and vegan baked goods
West AVL is a quirky neighborhood for book and plant shopping, mural spying, James Beard award-winning Asheville restaurants, and craft beer. Leash up your cat for Odd’s Cafe (you heard me right), which boasts pet-friendly indoor seating and delicious cold brews under the eyes of a dinosaur. Find baked goods, smoothies, tea, coconut water, and steamed milk. Odd’s Cafe represents Asheville’s hipster vibe at its best.
Odd’s Cafe | 800 Haywood Rd Suite A-110, Asheville, NC 28806
Old Europe Pastries
Late-night option for Downtown Asheville Hungarian treats
Old Europe is one of Asheville’s longest-running cafés (1994) and a Downtown staple. Along with herbal tea and coffee, we head here for the best pastries and desserts, including Tom’s coveted gluten-free, vegan cupcake.
Find pies, muffins, cookies, macarons, and light breakfast items like ham & cheese or chocolate croissants, cheese Danish, and quiche. Old Europe always lands on our Downtown Asheville itinerary.
Old Europe Pastries | 18 Broadway St, Asheville, NC 28801
French Broad Chocolate Lounge
An Asheville must for newbies with unforgettable bonbons
One of the hottest attractions and most popular coffee shops in Asheville, French Broad Chocolate is for chocolate lovers. We always grab a box of bonbons (the vegan collection). I love their vegan hot chocolate and affogatos.
The Pack Square Park location might have a quickly moving line out the door during peak visitor season weekends and festivals. The wait is worth it. Or, head to their River Arts District location, which offers factory tours and has a quieter cafe, perfect for digital nomads and locals.
French Broad Chocolate | Downtown – 10 South Pack Square, Asheville NC 28801 & River Arts District Factory – 821 Riverside Dr #199, Asheville, NC 28801
Vortex Doughnuts
Donuts in happening South Slope
For delicious Asheville donut shops serving coffee, tea, and juice, Vortex Doughnuts (new ownership post-Helene) is a sweet option, especially if you are spending the day exploring Downtown. Grab a beverage to-go or hang out in their airy warehouse space perfect for families traveling with kids.
Vortex Doughnuts | 32 Banks Ave #106, Asheville, NC 28801
Asheville Chocolate
Avoid the French Broad Chocolate lines to “Get chocolate sauced”
Asheville Chocolate stays quieter for digital nomads with tucked-away seating ensconced by Benjamin Walls photography. Here, find gourmet truffles (we’ve seen Scotties and Egyptian pharaohs), gelato, hot and cold drinks, and desserts. Choose from mochas with homemade ganache or tea. Asheville Chocolate is one of Asheville’s most tempting chocolate shops.
Asheville Chocolate | 25 Broadway Street, Asheville, NC 28801
Most Unique Asheville Coffee Shops
These are the cutest and quaintest coffee shops in Asheville sure to leave an impression.
Pollen Coffee & Flower Shop
Shop for flowers and treats on the outskirts of Downtown
It always feels like spring at Pollen. Brighten your day with gorgeous blooms for purchase, paired with a flowery herbal tea or locally sourced roast. I love their bright space with nooks and corners filled with hanging plants. The simple menu draws a local crowd. For food, find pastries and bagels, especially from one of my favorites, Back Porch Baking Co.
Pollen Coffee & Flower Shop | 45 S French Broad Ave SUITE 150, Asheville, NC 28801
Rowan Coffee
The most romantic spot in a gorgeous historic space
Rowan is one of my personal favorites, not only for serving the best coffee in Asheville but also for having the most intimate space (downtown location). I love their lattes. Find a simple menu and beans to go. At Halloween, they might float candles from the ceiling… I get serious Harry Potter vibes here. They recently opened a West Asheville coffee shop, too!
Rowan Coffee | 66 Broadway St, Asheville, NC 2880 & 785 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806
Double D’s Coffee & Desserts
Instagrammable Downtown icon with delicious treats
Double D’s is one of the most touristy coffee shops in Asheville; it’s a vintage double-decker bus just beckoning to Instagrammers. Don’t let the crowds deter you, though. It’s cool, and they serve delicious iced drinks, frappes, smoothies, milkshakes, and desserts. Double D’s only accepts cash, and they surprisingly have Wi-Fi.
Double D’s Coffee & Desserts | 41 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
Izzy’s Coffee
Quick and easy with baked goods and snacks
Along with the best coffee in Asheville, Izzy’s made my favorite opossum shirt. For treats, find bagels, breads, and cookies. The Downtown location is great if you are grabbing drinks on the run.
Izzy’s Coffee | Izzy’s Coffee Den Downtown – 74 N Lexington Ave, Asheville, NC 28801 & Izzy’s Coffee House (West Asheville) – 976 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806
Next door to Izzy’s Coffee Den, tea drinkers can dip into Dobra Tea. Across the street, peruse the shelves of Downtown Books and News – Malaprop’s sister bookstore.
Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe
One of the best indie bookstores with a cafe
The best bookstore in Asheville, Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe is great for bookish gifts, fabulous staff book recommendations, indie titles, translated literature, and local Asheville author events. They send out a kick-butt newsletter (sign up!). Grab a coffee and baked goods in their cafe before perusing their endless stacks. I dare you to leave empty-handed.
Malaprop’s Bookstore & Cafe | Address: 55 Haywood St, Asheville, NC 28801
Best Cafes Serving Food & Coffee In Asheville
For more than just baked treats and chocolates, order a green tea latte and a bite to eat, including breakfast, brunch, or lunch.
Liberty House Cafe
Local North Asheville hot spot perfect after the Asheville Salt Cave
My love runs deep for this residential area, especially since Tom and I live nearby. Liberty House Cafe and its Pulp & Sprout neighbor (a vegan cafe with smoothies and the healthiest soup in Asheville) are great places to grab food and coffee in Asheville. At Liberty House Cafe, devour breakfast platters, avocado toast, salads, and burgers. Enjoy plentiful outdoor seating, and yoga is next door. This area is known as Asheville’s “wellness district.”
Liberty House Coffee and Café | 221 S Liberty St, Asheville, NC 28801
Ultra Coffeebar
Early morning local favorite with a Nitro Cold Brew
From mugs with funny sayings like, “Live, Laugh, Fart,” to delicious breakfast and lunch options with well-defined vegan sections, we love RAD’s Ultra Coffeebar. With outdoor seating overlooking train tracks and a bustling indoor space filled with digital nomads, Ultra is the best of all worlds, coffee and food.
Ultra Coffeebar | 242 Clingman Ave Ext, Asheville, NC 28801
Yellow Mug Coffee Lounge (Weaverville)
Hipster local cafe in a residential Asheville suburb
Less than 15 minutes from Asheville by car in Weaverville, Yellow Mug is our favorite coffee shop near Asheville for budget-friendly and casual breakfast, weekend brunch options, and lunch. Think bagels, French Toast, breakfast burritos, soups, salads, and sandwiches. I cannot resist their chicken salad sandwich. We always finish with a baked treat.
Yellow Mug Coffee Lounge | 113 N Main St, Weaverville, NC 28787
Gemelli
As Asheville residents, we do a lot of our shopping at Earth Fare (it’s amazing). This means we fuel up next door at Gemelli. A casual but boutique Italian eatery from Chef Cerrato, the owner of Strada and Social Lounge, they serve great coffee in Asheville as well as delicious brunch, lunch, and dinner. I love the London Fog, vegan risotto, and homemade pasta. Tom is in heaven with all of the GF options.
Gemelli | 70 Westgate Pkwy, Asheville, NC 28806
Bonus For Digital Nomads & To Get Work Done
Penny Cup Coffee Co.
Small-batch roaster; the Merrimon location is great for digital nomads
One of the best coffee shops in Asheville to pick up stellar beans for home and get work done, head to PennyCup Coffee. Because of its residential location and large back workspace, we frequent PennyCup’s North Asheville location. Grab a beverage on the run and stroll Beaver Lake.
PennyCup Coffee Co. | River Arts District – 362 Depot Street; Downtown Asheville – 39 S. Market Street; East AVL – 6 Beverly Road; North Asheville: 857 Merrimon Avenue
Nearby, you might also appreciate Green Sage Cafe on Merrimon Ave. Avoid busy peak dining times if you are trying to get work done. Green Sage promises my favorite juice in town and great smoothies.
Quick Summary: Our Top 5 Coffee Shops in Asheville
With all of these great cafes and shops to choose from, if Tom and I had to pick our top 5 coffee shops, we’d go with:
1. Odd’s Cafe
2. Old Europe Pastries
3. Pollen
4. Ultra Coffeebar
More we love: Retro Coffee, The Rhu, & Weaverville’s Allgood Coffee
There are SO many good coffee shops in and near Asheville, I frequently change up this list to showcase them all. Let me know your favorite in the comments.
Still Thirsty? Head This Way!
Earthling Coffee! Most out of this world and creative coffee shop in asheville!!
Though I certainly won’t be in Asheville anytime soon, I love reading about coffee shops & seeing pictures of them!! So many of these sound lovely x
I knew that you’d love all of the Asheville coffee shops! I hope your summer is going well! xxx