September is a wonderful time for enjoying great outdoor restaurants in the mountains. The weather is still warm enough to comfortably dine al fresco. And the leaves are beginning to alight into the fiery reds, oranges, and golds that belie the name of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Want to make the most of outdoor dining while the leaves are at their peak color? We can help. Best of all, our suggestions all have literary connections! Here are just three of the many delicious restaurants with mountain views in Asheville, NC.
Hemingway’s Cuba
There is no hard evidence that Ernest Hemingway ever visited his contemporaries Thomas Wolfe and the Fitzgeralds in Asheville. But if you’ve always wished to have a drink with him, you can at Hemingway’s Cuba—there’s a bust of the author in the bar. Located on the fourth floor of the Cambria Hotel in the heart of downtown, the restaurant offers one of the best rooftop dining experiences around. Enjoy a cocktail alongside authentic Cuban dishes. The proprietor of the restaurant grew up working in Hemingway’s favorite bar in Cuba, and he now brings those recipes to the mountains.
15 Page Avenue, Asheville | (828) 417-6866 | hemingwayscuba.com
Library Lounge at the Inn on Biltmore Estate
George W. Vanderbilt chose the location of his iconic estate because of its rolling hills and the beauty of the mountains. Now, we are able to share those views with every visit. There are several great restaurants with mountain views on the Biltmore Estate. But perhaps the most literary is the Library Lounge at the Inn on Biltmore Estate. Located within the four-star Inn, the lounge offers cocktail service, savory bites, and desserts alongside breathtaking vistas of the surrounding hillside. It is the perfect place to relax with your favorite book. Or, just sit and imagine yourself among the other noted literary guests of Biltmore, including Henry James and Edith Wharton.
Note: To dine on the estate, guests must have a daytime ticket or Biltmore Annual Pass, or be staying at one of the estate’s overnight properties. Resort casual attire is recommended for the Library Lounge.
1 Antler Hill Road, Asheville | (828) 225-1699 | biltmore.com/restaurant/library-lounge
Sunset Terrace
Every restaurant inside the historic Omni Grove Park Inn in north Asheville will offer great views—you can’t go wrong! But nothing compares to the experience of enjoying fine dining and an evening cocktail on Sunset Terrace while the sky slowly shifts from bright red-orange to deep blue to black. Opened in 1913, the Grove Park Inn has hosted countless celebrities. The walls are festooned with portraits, from world leaders to Academy Award-winning actors to literary giants. F. Scott Fitzgerald famously caused trouble while staying at the Grove Park during one of his frequent visits to town. Today, his rooms (one for sleeping, one ostensibly for working) are labeled with a plaque.
Note: Resort casual attire is recommended for Sunset Terrace.
290 Macon Avenue, Asheville | (800) 438-5800 | omnihotels.com/hotels/asheville-grove-park/dining/sunset-terrace
See More Literary Sights on the AVL Lit Tour
When you’re not enjoying mountain views from fine restaurants, walking tours are a great way to learn more about the city of Asheville while taking in its sights and sounds. If you’re into books and all things literary, then AVL Lit Tours are for you. Learn about many Asheville-related authors, from the 19th century to the present.
Asheville Literary Tours are a great respite to enjoy the city’s sites and also grow your minds. Book your 90-minute AVL Lit Tour today!