Embassy Suites Asheville
Asheville Basecamp: The Embassy Suites Downtown
If you’re looking for a no-frills stay in the heart of Asheville, the Embassy Suites by Hilton is a wonderful option to consider. It strikes a balance of being centrally located, spacious, and actually affordable in a city where hotel prices can fluctuate dramatically.
The Location: A Foodie’s Dream
The real selling point here is the proximity to everything. You are right in the thick of it, within 1.5 miles of almost every heavy hitter in the Asheville food scene. Whether you're walking or taking a quick Uber, you’re minutes away from:
The Essentials: Chai Pani, Mother Bakery + Cafe, All Day Darling, and Good Hot Fish.
Coffee & Treats: Rowan Coffee, Hole Donuts, and ButterPunk (although DO NOT skip their breakfast sandwich).
Elevated Eats: Luminosa, Piccolina, and Bull & Beggar.
The Rooms: Spacious & Clean
The hotel offers 19 different room types, ranging from standard double queens to studio suites and King corner rooms overlooking the mountains.
The King Corner Suite: This is the move if you want a view — and the room type I booked. It features a separate living area with a sofa to watch TV on and mini-fridge for your leftovers, plus a massive bedroom with floor-to-ceiling mountain views. They have blackout curtains — but I slept with them open so I could wake up to the Mountain View every morning.
Price Point: Expect to pay between $150–$250/night, which is a great value for this location.
Note on Parking: It is valet only, so factor that into your daily timeline.
The Rooftop: Soprana
Whether or not you’re crashing at the hotel, Soprana is likely already on your radar. It recently snagged a spot in the Michelin Guide as a recommended dining experience, and honestly, it’s very good for what it is. — “Italian-Inspired, Asheville-Grown” food. They source as many ingredients as possible from Western North Carolina farms, supporting the local community while ensuring everything on the plate is incredibly fresh and clean. It’s the perfect spot for a happy hour or a sunset dinner before heading downtown for drinks.
The Vibe: The views are nothing short of sweeping. There is a massive outdoor patio for those perfect Carolina days, but even if it’s chilly, the floor-to-ceiling glass walls mean you never lose that mountain skyline while dining inside.
On the Table
They aren't trying to reinvent the wheel here—the focus is on brick-oven pizzas and Italian small bites—but the execution is top-tier. Here’s what we dug into:
Burrata Cheese: Served with tomato, pesto, and a white balsamic gastrique. The burrata was exceptionally creamy, and the house-made focaccia was the perfect compliment.
Oven Roasted Chicken Wings: Rubbed with Spicewalla Amore (a local favorite!), garlic butter, and charred lemon. These were tender and juicy with a nice herb-forward lemon flavor and just enough crisp to them.
The Wedge: I know a wedge salad sounds basic, but a friend told me to get this and it was excellent. Featuring crispy prosciutto, Confit Tomatoes, Pickled Red Onion, and a creamy blue cheese dressing (which used a very mild blue cheese), it hit every note—sweet, savory, salty, with a refreshing crunch.
The Asheville Pizza: A classic sweet-and-spicy combo. Loaded with pepperoni, fresh mozzarella, and a generous drizzle of Smokin’ Hot Honey. The crust was super crispy, which is exactly how I like it — definitely my favorite bite at Soprana.
Tartufo Pizza: This was an umami bomb. It’s topped with Black Trumpet Farm mushrooms, fontina, and bechamel. I opted to add the Carolina Truffieres fresh truffle (obviously), which made it incredibly rich and earthy. While not quite as crispy as the pepperoni, it was wonderfully creamy and indulgent — and certainly worth ordering.
The Service
One thing that really stood out during the stay was the staff. Across the board, the service was exceptionally friendly. From the valet team handling the constant flow of cars to the servers at Soprana who were knowledgeable about the local farm sourcing, everyone seemed genuinely happy to be there. It’s that classic mountain hospitality that makes a "no-frills" stay feel a lot more like a high-end experience.
The Verdict
If you’re a foodie headed to Asheville, The Embassy Suites Downtown makes for a perfect home base. It skips many of the frills that a boutique hotel would have, but instead focuses on what actually matters: location, space, and value.
Because you aren't dropping $500 a night on a room, you have more room in the budget to eat all over town. When you factor in the exceptionally friendly service, those Michelin-recommended rooftop views at Soprana, and the fact that you can wake up to the Blue Ridge Mountains from your bed, it’s a great choice. Whether you're an Asheville first-timer or a frequent visitor, this is a clean, reliable, and perfectly positioned hub for exploring the best of the city.
