Okay ya’ll, be cool… don’t let the feral locals know where you heard it from, but we’re willing to sacrifice it all just to let you in on a few best-kept locals secrets in Asheville. Here’s how you could plan your Asheville weekend without anyone knowing you’re not actually from here, featuring the best of Asheville’s local favorites.

Activity: LaZoom’s Fender Bender “Beers & Bands” Tour

Our top choice for locals, LaZoom’s Fender Bender is more than just a sober cab for your beer crawl – it’s a music venue on wheels featuring local musicians. Every weekend, LaZoom hosts a local band on our iconic purple bus! Locals ride again and again to get up close and personal with their favorite bands, and for a break from their usual routine.

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LaZoom Asheville Tours - A group of people sit on wooden benches inside a trolley or tram, smiling and laughing together in a casual, relaxed setting—capturing the joyful spirit of summer in Asheville.

Breakfast: BattleCat Coffee Bar, West Asheville

A sign of a true local is parking a few blocks away (somewhere free) and then confidently sprinting across Haywood Road in West Asheville to grab your favorite bagel sandwich and iced coffee at BattleCat. 

We recommend the lox bagel and iced chai if you want to fly under the radar. 

 

Lunch: Hail Mary, West Asheville

All are welcome at this queer owned and operated diner-style restaurant. You could go for lunch, dinner, or cocktails and a DJ set. We recommend lunch to beat the crowd. 

Gourmet smash burgers, “stoner specials”, and an outdoor patio – the trifecta of a true Asheville gem. 

LaZoom Asheville Tours - Plates of fried chicken, carrot sticks, cheesecake, salad, sundaes, and a sandwich—some of Asheville’s local favorites—are arranged on a counter with a colorful, collage-style surface in a diner kitchen.

Cocktail Hour: Anoche, River Arts District

That’s “AH-NO-CHEY”, to you. This trendy and hip mezcal bar is a must-visit and ranks at the top of the list for locals. The indoor bar is intimate, the outdoor patio is heated in the winter, and shaded in the summer. What more can you ask for?

The staff is kind and knowledgeable, so don’t feel like you need to be a mezcal expert – they have other liquor options as well. 

 

Dinner: Iron & Oak Brisket Company, Woodfin, NC (downriver from the River Arts District)

Located inside Riverside Rhapsody Beer Company, this locals favorite boasts the best BBQ in the city. 

Enjoy live bluegrass music by real Appalachian musicians, down a coupla’ local brews, and definitely don’t skip the Brisket Burger, coleslaw, and potato salad. Tip heavy, be kind, and don’t forget… keep it cool. 

 

How’d we do? Let us know next time you ride with us at LaZoom!