23 Most Fun Date Ideas in Asheville for 2024

Date ideas in Asheville are not few and far between. You may actually be stuck on choice overload!

What do I do on a date night? According to Harasymchuk, Walker, Muise and Impett in The Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, “Shared recreation and joint leisure activities are examples of interactive maintenance behaviors that have been identified as important markers of relationship quality.”

How do you keep a date night fun? Here's a breakdown of the most fun things to do in Asheville, NC.

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• Foodie Date Ideas in Asheville
• Creative Date Ideas in Asheville
• Unique Date Ideas in Asheville
• Outdoor Date Ideas in Asheville
• Free & Cheap Date Ideas in Asheville

Foodie Date Ideas in Asheville

1. Cooking Classes

Experience cooking classes in Asheville for a scrumptious date night! Choose from a variety of courses, like Cook Northern Italian Classics and Make a Feast of Thai Street Food. First date ideas have never been more enticing.

2. Jack of the Wood

Listen to live local music and slip your lips around some pub fare made from fresh ingredients. Hand-crafted English ales are the specialty here and the charming atmosphere is home to weekly band jam sessions — one of the top Asheville date night restaurants.

3. Benne on Eagle

Inspired by Appalachian ingredients, the modern soul food served here is well worth your time. Enjoy locally sourced dishes while you chat with your loved one for an authentic date idea in Asheville.

4. Hemingway's Cuba

This Cuban-style restaurant is located towards the top of a city building and across from the Grove Arcade. Enjoy the Arcade, then stop for a delicious dinner with stunning views of the city – and a little spice mixed in.

Enjoy the Cuban Daquiri to cool your mouth down and as a refreshing treat from the North Carolina heat. Some fine things to do in Asheville, NC for adults.

5. The Corner Kitchen

Located in the Richard Sharpe Smith House, a Victorian-style building over 125 years old, this restaurant is known as “Asheville’s most surprising restaurant”.

It is a wonderful addition to Asheville date night restaurants. With local and seasonal ingredients, merely seeing images of the food here will start you salivating.

6. Rocky's Hot Chicken Shack

“Tennessee style” hot chicken and more are available at this taste temptation location. Their unique and freshly sourced chicken is fried to order, so you can choose your level of spice.

7. Bear's Smokehouse Asheville

Award-winning K.C.-style Barbeque is this venue's claim to fame and they also offer vegan options. No matter what your meal preferences are, BBQ is a classic Southern soul food style you have to taste as one of your date ideas in Asheville, NC.

Creative Date Ideas in Asheville

8. Paint and Sip

Attend paint and sip in Asheville with your sweetheart. You'll learn together and challenge each other on who can recreate the sample image more faithfully.

Sip some delicious beverages and wink at each other over your canvas while you work. What could be better for indoor date ideas?

9. Mold Clay Together

How do you have a fun date? Improve your handiwork skills with pottery classes in Asheville. Learn how to sculpt and make a gorgeous dish for your special someone.

10. Get Artsy

Dip your brush into a new talent when you join art classes in Asheville! Make collages, sculptures, jewelry and more with the guidance of a skilled artist instructor, making it an ideal date idea in Asheville for those interested in embracing the art culture of this mountain city. 

11. The Biltmore Estate

Take a tour of the fabulous gardens and expansive Biltmore mansion. The grounds are stunning and the estate architecture is palatial.

If you read some of the mystery novels set on the premises before you go, you can play detective or spy with your sweetheart while on your tour. It also makes an easy second for your list of alphabet date ideas in Asheville.

12. Thomas Wolfe House

Explore the historic 29-room Victorian boarding house where Thomas Wolfe grew up. Wolfe was both a native of Asheville and the author of Look Homeward Angel. Who doesn't love seeing where the art gets made? This is one of several second date ideas in Asheville for book lovers.

Unique Date Ideas in Asheville

13. Learn New Dance Moves

Twist and spin the night away with your significant other during dance classes in Asheville. Enjoy the feel of their hips beneath your fingertips as you twirl your love across the floor.

14. Batting Cages

Spend some time swinging a bat at one of Asheville's various batting cage facilities. The city hosts at least four locations open to the public for improving your Baseball skills. Compete for the honor of buying dinner — the winner pays!

15. Archery Classes

Shoot a bow and arrow alongside your sweetheart at Artemis Archery Asheville. Classic couples' date ideas in Asheville may not include such an old-fashioned sport, but for those lovers of fairy tales and folklore — or hunting, this is the hot spot of choice.

16. Tryon International Equestrian Center

A day of horses, sports and food — what could make for better couples date ideas in Asheville? Combine them with a journey to Tryon International Equestrian Center.

As one of the most interesting things to do in Asheville, NC for adults, the race track is accompanied by a variety of restaurants, so you'll never get bored.

17. Asheville Pinball Museum

Take a day off for a play date at Asheville Pinball Museum — home of 35 pinball machines and 35 classic video games. Play all day for a reasonable fee per person.

These are the most fun date ideas in Asheville for a reason. Since it's indoors, it can also make for casual Valentine's Day ideas or a rainy afternoon.

Outdoor Date Ideas in Asheville

18. Murals of Asheville

Together with your significant other, study some lovely local art when you check out the murals of Asheville. Located in Asheville's arts sector, you'll love the various displays as you stroll through the streets.

19. Hiking

Asheville is a short drive from the majestic natural beauties of North Caroline like the Blue Ridge Mountains waterfalls, Pisgah Forest and the Smoky Mountains.

Well known for their stunning scenery, bears and from a variety of folk and classic country songs, these geographic landmarks are well worth the visit.

20. North Carolina Arboretum

Sip some adult beverages as you make your way through the wonders of the North Carolina Arboretum natural gardens. Nighttime self-tours are open during summer months, as well as day-time walks.

Gardens are fantastic spaces for conversation — especially helpful last-minute date ideas and first date ideas in Asheville. A list of best date night spots in Asheville, NC wouldn't be complete without this stupendous attraction.

Free & Cheap Date Ideas in Asheville

21. Mini Outdoor Music Festivals

Free live music concerts in downtown Asheville take place every third Friday during the warmer months of the year, called Downtown After Five.

Street beer and food vendors add spice to the entertaining equation — purchase a wristband to show your age to alcohol sellers for only $2. Whether this is for double date ideas or fun things to do in Asheville, NC, make it a night you'll never forget!

22. Drum Circle

Come on down for this favorite tradition in Asheville — open to locals and tourists. Drum, dance or watch as long as you find a fun way to participate this makes for one of the best date ideas in Asheville.

They take place in Pritchard Park on warm Friday nights, especially from April through October, making it perfect for summer date ideas or fall date ideas in Asheville. 

23. Parkway & Picnic

Enjoy gorgeous views throughout the Blue Ridge Parkway and bring a picnic to enjoy a meal with your loved one. What magnificent free romantic things to do in Asheville, NC! Picnics are also fantastic date ideas for teens.

If you're able to afford a little more pricey meal, try getting a picnic basket put together for you by The Rhu. Delight in delicious foods while you're partaking of the spectacular scenery North Carolina has to offer.

How do you spend a day in Asheville, NC? Get to know Asheville in any season by visiting historic house museums or hiking gorgeous paths along the mountain ranges, not to mention stopping for a bite at amazing local eateries of various ethnic origins.

If you're looking for free romantic things to do in Asheville, NC, Halloween date ideas during the fall season and more date inspiration, this list is the best place to start.

For even more fun date ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!