Plan Your Visit to Black Mountain

You read about the Black Mountain Blues Experience in Destination Food & Travel. Here’s where to eat, drink, stay and find live music when you come see our town for yourself.

Where to Eat

Map out every cuisine served in Black Mountain and you’d travel about 56,000 culinary miles around the world. Taste them all without leaving town.

See local restaurants ›

Breweries & Drinks

Local breweries, a gin and whiskey distillery, cider and mead. Grab a pint before the music starts.

Find a drink ›

Where to Stay

Places to stay in and around town, so you can make a weekend of it and see more than one day allows.

Find a place to stay ›

Events & Live Music

Live music, festivals and community events happen every week. See what’s on while you’re in town.

See the event calendar ›

Thank You to Our Local Sponsors

These local businesses help bring Black Mountain to Destination Food & Travel readers. Stop in and tell them you saw them here.

C. W. Moose Trading Company

A downtown gift and clothing shop since 1998, with apparel, jewelry, souvenirs and more.

Visit website ›

Black Mountain Center for the Arts

Gallery shows, concerts, theater and classes for all ages in downtown Black Mountain.

Visit website ›

Blue Mont
Stays

Locally owned vacation homes downtown, by the lake and in the countryside. Some are pet-friendly.

Visit website ›

White Horse Black Mountain

A nonprofit listening room with live music, storytelling, theater and free community programs.

Visit website ›

Hell or High Water
Black Mountain

Seasonal small plates from local farms and their own butcher shop, plus a rooftop bar on Broadway.

Visit website ›

Want your business in the next issue? Let’s talk ›

About Black Mountain, NC

Black Mountain is a small mountain town about 15 miles east of Asheville, at the foot of the Seven Sisters range. Downtown is easy to walk, with local shops, restaurants, galleries and music venues within a few blocks. Lake Tomahawk, hiking trails and mountain views are just minutes away.

Eat and Drink

If you mapped out every cuisine served in Black Mountain, you’d travel about 56,000 miles around the world. You’ll find Southern cooking, farm-to-table, French, Argentinian, South African, Japanese, Mexican, BBQ and more, along with bakeries, chocolate and ice cream. For drinks, there are local breweries, a gin and whiskey distillery, cider and mead. The Black Mountain Ale Trail is a good way to try a few.

Live Music and the Arts

Music is a big part of life here. The Black Mountain Blues Experience brings blues musicians to town each fall, and there’s live music most nights of the week. White Horse Black Mountain and the Black Mountain Center for the Arts host concerts, theater and classes year-round.

Make a Weekend of It

Stay in a vacation home, inn or cabin and take your time. Neighboring Swannanoa and Old Fort are just down the road, with more trails, food and small-town charm.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Black Mountain from Asheville?
About 15 miles, or a 20-minute drive east on I-40.

Is downtown Black Mountain walkable?
Yes. Most shops, restaurants and music venues are within a few blocks of each other.

When is the Black Mountain Blues Experience?
The 2026 festival was held September 25–27. Check our event calendar for next year’s dates.

Where can I find events happening this week?
Our event calendar lists live music, festivals and community events in Black Mountain, Swannanoa and Old Fort.

When is the best time to visit Black Mountain?
Any time of year. Spring brings wildflowers at Lake Tomahawk and the Tailgate Market. Summer has Fourth of July fireworks and the Sourwood Festival in August. Fall brings the Blues Experience, peak leaf color and the Howl-O-Ween Pet Parade. Winter is cozy, with Holly Jolly, Deck the Trees and holiday shopping downtown. See our month-by-month guide to Black Mountain for ideas all year long.