[[HIGHLIGHT]]This place is on an intermediate side street on the hill (the map marker I looked at made this hard to tell) and is a small location inside with more exterior seating, which will work for many but not all days in Asheville.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It's a small pizza and side dish menu, but it looked to be of enough quality to be worth spending an evening in Asheville on. I took a recommendation on a cabbage salad with black garlic and walnuts. It was quite mouthwatering and was a novel flavor combination for me. Now I need to go and buy some black garlic. For a pizza I went with an arrabiata, which was basically a cheese pizza with calabrian chili and a little extra cheese. It was quite indulgent, and also garlicky, with a nice charred crust that flopped in the hand and was a bit damp towards the center (generally a marker of quality). I enjoyed it enough that I didn't wish I was somewhere else, which in Asheville is saying something, and I liked the innovation on the menu. And surprisingly, I can't recall having been to any other high-end Neapolitan-ish pizzas in Asheville, so maybe this is the one that will stick. read more

Contrada - Arrabiatta - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Great pizza and drinks. Small but good. Unique pizzas. Some are olive oil based and some traditional. read more

Contrada - a collage of photos of a restaurant - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Great food, great service, and a cool vibe![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Great pizza, with a side of tasty olives, and good selection of wines and drinks! read more

This is our favorite pizza place in town! [[HIGHLIGHT]]It can be tough to get a table because the venue is smaller, so expect to wait if you come during peak hours.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Easy enough to grab a premixed drink at the bar or go next door for a couple rounds and wait. We've tried most of the pizzas on the menu at this point, you really can't go wrong! read more

I am not usually a fan of wood fired pizza but this was the best pizza I've ever had. We ordered the bianco and I still daydream about it. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is VERY tight.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]As the 2 tables were already taken, we sat along the window that has bar stools and a ledge just big enough for an average sized plate.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]We bumped into the people at the table behind us as we were leaving on accident.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They are walk in only and there's not a place to wait for a table besides outside. We will be getting pizzas to go next time. read more

Delicious! We were lucky enough to score a table for 2 right away on a Monday at 6pm, after us there was a wait. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Difficult spot for parties larger than 2.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The Panelle & herb salad was SO yummy. I had never heard of this dish before and wanted to lick the plate. Order it! Fiore de late Pizza was just what I was craving. Touch of finishing salt & sweet tomato sauce made my taste buds happy. read more

Contrada - Panelle & herb salad - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Easy 5 stars with service, price and most importantly, the excellent food coming out of the back of the house. My wife and I stopped in, once her wine and my cocktail selections were made, we had a salad to share, one that kept us trying to figure out what was generating the different tastes popping up, this is not your basic restaurant dish. Then onto the pizza supremo, again, impressive, so good, we ordered another with the initial thought of bringing it back to the hotel for the next day's trip home. Unfortunately, once it arrived to the table, we ate 1/2 of it, before finally saving the other 1/2. One on the best pizza's we've had in a long time. East decision to make this a go to place when back in town. Highly recommend. read more

Probably some of the best pizza I've ever had in my life. 10/10 vibe, ingredients, pizza [[HIGHLIGHT]]Would love to visit in the summer to sit on the patio and enjoy dinner[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Maybe the best pizza I have ever eaten!!!! Such a. small place we grabbed one of the 2 tables inside before I the crowd came. The cabbage salad was do good and the pizza was perfect! Will be back! read more

Top notch. Excellent service. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Super cool place.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] And the pizza is as good as it gets. Style is a crispy Neapolitan and the ingredients are of top quality. The Margarita was brilliantly simple. We also had the potato and another I can't remember the name of. My advice would be to keep it simple with the ordering. The only knock is that the potato pizza lacked something. Maybe more herb or a splash of a good evoo. If you want pizza and your in Asheville, this is a must visit. read more

Contrada - Pizza is a 8+ easy. Very good. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Holy moly, how did I NOT know about this place?! Nestled next to Cucina 24 (their parent restaurant), Contrada is a quaint little spot serving up same yummy draft cocktails and really impressive pizzas. We went in around 6:30pm on a Thursday and had our pick at where to sit. The dining room is small and lightly dimmed. There are two tables that seat 4, with a small bar top with stools around the wall. They have a small patio with extra seating and heaters for winter. We spoke with our server about its history, and we even talking about Cucina 24 (and I now want to go asap). We are vegetarian and there were lots of options for us, and they were open about dishes that could easily be made vegetarian. Our server was very helpful about answering our questions about the menu. We ordered two draft cocktails, an appetizer and two pizzas. The draft cocktails were so delicious and beautifully arranged. They have a bottled Italian lager for the beer, a wine menu, and I overheard another table ask about ciders (I believe the server said they had one) and he mentioned they also had a house made soda on tap, the flavor was grapefruit/cinnamon. The server could tell I was very intrigued by this soda and without asking he brought me a small sample. It was so heavenly, you could taste the hints of grapefruit without it being tart, and the sweetness from the cinnamon really pulled it all together. It was also very smooth, I expected it to taste kind of bubbly (like a soda water) but the flavor was perfectly balanced. The food came out soon after we ordered it. We started with wood fired mustard greens which was the perfect size for two and was a unique way to serve greens. We ordered a white and a red pizza. Both were fantastic. The dough was delicious and it inspired my partner to get back into making his own pizza dough. Each pizza had the right amount of sauce and toppings to create a truly fantastic pie. I loved everything about this place and am shocked it took me seeing a foodie visiting Asheville make a TikTok about it to even know it existed. Thank goodness for that video because everything about our evening at Contrada was amazing. read more

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Great pizza, we had the margharita and had an Italian cabbage salad for the first time which was outstanding. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Small space we sat outdoors.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Only downside tables are small[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Contrada - Pizza - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Honestly, the food is amazing, the service tonight was not just rude, but borderline hostile. We have enjoyed meals here twice before and had excellent service. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We returned tonight with friends, excited for great food in a cozy atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our party of four arrived at 7:45 and was greeted by a snarky, overly pretentious server who made it very clear that any hopes of dining here were out of reach. When we inquired about the wait, he told us there were several tables ahead of us (we saw one woman waiting at the bar seat, no one outside) and he did not offer a time frame for the wait or suggest an outdoor option (there were 3 open tables outside). When I asked about sitting outside he bluntly said "yes, but you can't sit together and would literally be at opposite ends of the patio" It was a bizarre, adversarial approach to customer service, especially as there were 3 open tables outside and two were side by side. We walked around a bit and returned and asked if there were any updates and he said no. (The 3 outside tables still unoccupied) We stood outside to be out of the way, discussing where to go and he came out and approached us and said "do you have drink orders ready??" We were hopeful and asked if that meant there was a table and he very rudely replied "No, I don't know what to tell you, thats all you're going to get". To the owners of this business, the guy working evening shift on 2/2 is doing a disservice to your business and could use a refresher on how to make guests feel welcome. To the guy working the floor on 2/2- do better. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Delicious food, fresh ingredients, great atmosphere and service.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We stopped here one afternoon when everywhere else was closed and I'm so glad we did! Got the mozzarella and broccolini appetizer and we were recommended the Bianca pizza when we asked for a good vegetarian option. Service was fast and the food was absolutely amazing. Fresh, perfectly seasoned, lets the ingredients shine. Pizza crust was stretchy and cooked perfectly. read more

Contrada - Bianca pizza - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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We had an incredibly frustrating experience with our waiter, MARK G., during our recent visit. After being seated, it took Mark a full 20 minutes just to bring us our waters. Things only went downhill from there. He completely forgot one of our pizzas, and we had to physically get up to find him since he disappeared for nearly the entire meal. To make matters worse, after finally bringing the check, Mark gave my sister a weird look. The irony is that she was the only one in our group still willing to give him a chance at that point. There was no apology for the multiple issues, which left us extremely disappointed with our night out. Strangest thing was he was incredibly warm and welcoming to everyone around us but my family and we could see his face completely change when walking around us on purpose... On the bright side, the pizzas were decent, though they took 45 minutes to arrive. Unfortunately, the poor service overshadowed the food.... Genuinely, IT TAKES A LOT FOR ME TO MAKE AN ACCOUNT ON YELP JUST TO GIVE SOMEONE A BAD REVIEW. Im sorry to the business but just wow. read more

Absolutely phenomenal. Great food, drinks, dessert, and service. Great variety of pizzas as well as anti pasta and cocktails and a few very special dessert options. I had the peaches ripieni with thyme gelato and absolutely loved it. Will say that they do a great job at maximalizing limited space, and due to that it might be a less desirable location for people with larger bodies (photo of seating provided). Had a great time, will return many more. read more

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For a first time visitor to Asheville, I had heard great things about Cucina 24, which is Contrada's parent restaurant. As a lover of pizza, especially wildfire pizza when I heard about the little Italian place Contrada I had to try! My roommate and I absolutely loved it! Just crispy/burnt enough. Inside Contrada there was limited seating, but it made it feel more intimate. Service was great considering we got there right when they opened at 4:00 p.m. Loved both the Alfredo pizza and Patata (potato) topped pizza, but I wish I had gotten a red sauce based pizza to try as well! Will be back next time I'm in Asheville. read more

Contrada - Alfredo Pizza - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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The pizza was so good it was the best pizza I've ever had. [[HIGHLIGHT]]the vibe was amazing[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] the pep are so nice and friendly [[HIGHLIGHT]]it is a little small space[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] but everything else was so great. read more

Contrada - Pizza - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Contrada has quickly become one of my favorite places to grab a bite in downtown Asheville. If you have enjoyed Chef Brian Canipelli's Cucina 24 in the past, you owe it to yourself to grab a bite and a drink at Contrada. If you have ever wished for a place you could pop into and grab a glass of wine and a perfectly delicious small plate of European flair on the streets of downtown Asheville, you owe it to yourself to visit contrada. If you have longed for deliciously crispy and suculent porchetta on top of freshly baked focaccia while sipping on a draft negroni, my friend, you owe it to yourself to stop by Contrada. While not a restaurant, Contrada offers some of the best flavors and bites in downtown Asheville. Some people may be deterred by the lack of seating, or the intimacy of the space. But others, like myself, will relish in it. Show up, order a drink and some small plates at the bar, enjoy yourself and a great conversation, then move on to whatever else the night may hold for you. Or perhaps you'll be captivated by just how delicious everything is and find yourself adjusting your plans to stay for another 15 minutes, hour, or two. Contrada is a welcome change of pace from your standard upscale eatery, with premium small plates and drinks, served in a hyper casual environment. Share the space, meet new people, judge everyone that peaks in the window but doesn't commit to coming in, with your own complete knowledge of exactly what they're missing out on. Don't miss out! read more

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We came across this gem on a trip to Asheville. I highly recommend coming here for the food, drinks, ambiance and service! It's a tiny Italian tapas bar with two tables and sone seats on the window. Our bartender was engaging and extremely helpful! We ordered the Colin's and red wine which were both superb. For appetizers we got the stracciatella and the fungi pizza. The flavors in both of these dishes were some of the best I have had. We ended with the olive oil gelato which made you want more with every bite! If your visiting Asheville this is a must eat! Thank you for ending our trip on such a high note! read more

Contrada - stracciatella - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Absolute favorite. Staff is knowledgeable and in no way pretentious. I just love the experience so much. The pizza is ridiculously dreamy. The non alcoholic grapefruity soda is a treat that I probably don't deserve. The olives are the perfect gateway olive, but are loved by those who know their way around such fruit. It's intimate. It's vacation (even though I live here). And it's the spot I take my favorite people. Much love and appreciation to the staff ...and damn that pizza is stunning. read more

OMG This pizza spot is an absolute gem. I'm sitting here thinking about this pizza two weeks later after returning from our trip to Asheville, NC. I would visit Asheville just for this pizza. This place ruined all of my local pizza spots, it's that yummy. I prefer this place over Cucina 24, all day. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Such a fun spot.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The table olives were addicting and the pesto pizza was to die for, but the cabbage salad with black garlic was the star of the show. I'll be recommending Contrada to as many people as I can! read more

Excellent pizza and excellent service. We will be back. Highly recommend. Very small place so get there early.

Wandered into this place at random, and so glad I did! A tiny Italian place where the menu is divided into "pizza" and "antipizza". The pizza was amazing. We tried a creamed greens pizza and a clam pizza, both of which were surprising and fantastic in flavor! This might be my new go to place to order pizza any time. Server was attentive but gave you plenty of space, very knowledgeable of the extensive drinks menu, and great with recommendations. Cherry almond gelato for dessert was a perfect ending to the meal. Looking forward to coming back and trying more! Great vibes, not that pricey, and a cozy atmosphere. I love it! read more

Everything about this place is top notch. [[HIGHLIGHT]]From service and atmosphere to food it exceeded all expectation.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's small and excellent in every way.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The singular best place for pizza in Asheville. Top 5 restaurants in general in Asheville read more

What was once a very different experience and a totally perfect iteration is now... every other hipster pizza spot. A shame. The original Italian tapas concept was literal perfection. Nothing wrong with what it is but the world is worse off because Contrada is not what it was... read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]To be honest, the service was awful as is the interior.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We stayed for 1 drink and left abruptly when we're asked to move our 6"x6" stools to accommodate another party. Bad experience. read more

Small place, AMAZING pizza and service. Parma pizza was delicious. A must if you are in Asheville.

Our choice of potato, rosemary and cheese pizza on a drizzly evening made our first meal in Asheville off to a good start. My selection of a red Toscanna wine and my husbands Peroni topped off the meal our dessert of butter pecan gelato was devine read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Really good pizza in a very quaint location.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Highly recommend it to anyone for a great dinner

This place is a hidden gem. Couldn't recommend it more! Everything is top tier. From the service, to the food, to the atmosphere, Contrada executes it all perfectly. Some of the best pizza I've ever had, definitely one of the top restaurants in Asheville! read more

Really good pizza I would definetely go back if I lived in the area. The location doesn't have much seating but that can be a good thing.

Fantastic meal and Dee made the experience!! Thank you for making our first night in Asheville fantastic!!