Zelda Dearest is in the beer-brewing South Slope district of Downtown Asheville, North Carolina.
Planes
Most flights require at least one layover, often in Atlanta, to reach Asheville Regional Airport, which is a 30-minute drive from the hotel. For direct flights, you’ll need to land at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, which is a two-hour drive from the hotel. Private transfers from Asheville’s airport can be arranged on request and for an extra charge.
Automobiles
Downtown Asheville is easy enough to explore on foot, but if you’re planning on seeing more of North Carolina, we’d suggest picking up a rental from the airport. Parking is available at the hotel for $20 a night.
Worth getting out of bed for
Asheville is a locus of creativity, and Zelda Dearest’s dreamy Downtown location means you’re right in the center of it all. The city is filled with up-and-coming artists and more breweries than any other US city, so we’d suggest blending in with a trip down to the mile-long River Arts District (RAD for short) – where rows of studios, museums, galleries and boutiques line the bank of the French Broad River – before seeking out some of Downtown’s best beers. The Momentum Gallery and Asheville Art Museum, which both host temporary exhibitions aimed to support local creatives, are just down the road from the hotel. If you’re visiting between June and October, a crafts market – Art in the Park – is held on each Saturday in Pack Square.
If you’d rather hear the art than gaze at it, the Orange Peel has a lengthy roster of live events throughout the year; and in keeping with the musical theme, the Moog Music studios are just down the road offering tours of their star-studded halls. Fans of theatrics may want to check out what’s on at the Asheville Community Theatre on East Walnut Street.
George Vanderbilt’s 19th-century Biltmore Estate is the largest in the country and has 8,000 acres of land to wander (including a winery). Shoppers may be happier heading 10 minutes across the way to Biltmore Village, where high-street names mix with independently owned boutiques. And don’t forget, the Blue Ridge Parkway is close by, where hiking, biking and horseback riding await.
Local restaurants
There’s plenty for foodies to feast on here – Asheville is a noted gastronomic hub – and luckily for you, some of the city’s best eats are just round the corner from the hotel. Set up by a group of friends and helmed by chef Michael Lewis, Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse serves what its name promises, with a menu of chargrilled Japanese goodies (smoked-soy salmon sashimi and crispy back ribs marinated in a maple-miso are a few fan favorites). For amped-up Appalachian dishes, head to Cultura, where menus differ day-to-day. On Sundays, they take things back to basics with fried chicken and milkshakes. At Sovereign Remedies, you’ll find seasonal farm-to-fork fare and plenty of creative cocktails.
Local cafés
Downtown is filled with independent, creative cafés. We suggest stopping by Trade and Lore on Wall Street for fresh-from-the-oven pastries and artisan coffee blends, roasted in Asheville. And Izzy’s Coffee Den pours equally delectable brews down North Lexington Avenue.
Local bars
As a beer-brewing capital, one of Asheville’s many taprooms is a must. Burial Beer Co hosts tastings, tours and live events throughout the year. If it’s something a little more laidback you’re after, the Crow and Quill is a small craft cocktail bar with an impressive collection of over 800 whiskies and 1,000 spirits – enough to have you doing the Charleston home.
