Malaprop's will forever be one of my favorite indie bookstores. I first fell in love with it back…read morein 2021 when I lived in AVL. I liked the name so much because I was the type of person who used malaprops a good amount. It's extra charming because you're able to order something from their cafe while reading your book. This spot is deceptively huge. The different sections are very intentional and beautifully organized. I had an especially great time looking at the "Beautiful Books" section this visit. I ended up falling in love with a short stories book by Chips Hardy that I took home. I also adored their graphic t-shirts here. I am not a big t-shirt person, but always want more graphic tees, so was so excited to love this one so much. I had a really special experience with one of the booksellers here on my recent visit too. I could not find The Enchanted April in the fiction section and when I asked, one of the booksellers got really excited about the author and that book. She passionately told me how wonderful the book was. We were sad to see it was sold out, but suggested I check a bookstore a block over. I love this bookstore and think everyone should make it a stop on an Asheville trip.

Very cool independent bookstore in downtown Asheville complete with an adjacent cafe and tables for…read moresipping, reading, or conversing. It seems as though it's only open until the afternoon though, as it wasn't staffed when we were there. But there's still plenty of seating if you wanted to sit a spell. The bookstore portion is really well curated with a nice "local" section featuring local writers and interest. I love checking out this section when I travel and there was a ton to dig into here. They also have a good sized kid's section most notable thing is how many books they offer with autographed copies. That means they seem to bring in a ton of writers which is so exciting for the Asheville community. Speaking of community, I peeked at their events calendar and it looks like they have a ton of book clubs in a variety of different genres that meet regularly. So no matter your interest (romance, science fiction, mystery, horror, etc) you can find a meetup. Some are hosted in store but others in local breweries, libraries, and other third spaces in the area. Excellent offerings across the board!

This is a great, beautiful place to explore. If you are into charcuterie boards and spirits, with a…read moreclassic, aesthetic vibe, this is the spot for you!! The food and drinks are rather expensive, we are talking $30 for a board. But you have the option to choose individual items to be put on your board. I got a board with bread, prosciutto, and a mocktail all for $19 before tip. So it's a nice place to come in and snack. You can reserve spots for bigger parties but can also walk in and ask for a table. Our server was a friendly gentleman who was very knowledgeable about menu items.

Absolutely adorable spot! Came here to for a bachelorette trip and we stumbled upon another…read morebachelorette party at the table next to us. The vibes for book lovers are immaculate. You are also able to order wine and food, which to be honest was just okay, but you're really coming here for the vibes not necessarily the food. The charcuterie was pretty good though! Accessible bathroom available on the first floor!

We were in town to visit the Big Crafty craft show at the nearby civic center and were wandering…read morearound nearby. We stumbled onto this unique bookstore and spent some time perusing their wares. Definitely has that old bookstore feel rather than an antiseptic megastore. We didn't purchase anything during out brief stop but this is the type of store we would patronize if we lived nearby. It might seem a little scrappy for some, but we support independent bookstores.

So racism. Been…read moregoing to this shop for 6 years. On new year's day, I walked in with my mom and noticed they were selling a $13 Confederate Cook Book. I told the man with glasses and also bald that it's s not okay to sell this. He immediately said "Why" And proceeded to tell me how they're also thinking about having Hitler's Mein Kampf in their shop. He basically forced me into a "intellectual" convo about the power of disturbance. Little does he know I actually confront nazis online everyday. I also know that the only person buying a Confederate cook book is a racist white person. You also made it very affordable for them. It was enclosed in plastic, so it could've had very violent content in it that the shop was protecting for the "right" customer. I then proceeded to tell him he had this cookbook out with no context and who is he selling this to? He listened and said thank you for the feedback. I then said you're a white man who doesn't get to have opinions about it. Dear Man, You forced me to confront your racism and affinity for kkk literature. Then proceeded to try to find a debate in it. You're not at the level of deep thought you need to be.

It's cute and the cashier is nice. I like the feeling of the place and all the neat books! If…read morebookstores make you feel good, you will love this place.. but it does need a coffee maker. Haha

This is one of my favorite bookstores ever! The collection is amazing. The prices are wonderful,…read moreand it's just a good vibe all around. Staff are very helpful too

I loved the selection of books, stickers, local art, and cards. I bought a little is everything!…read more The space is affirming for queer and trans folks & inclusive of diverse voices and authors. I also appreciated how many people were still masking in the store. We keep us safe!

Almost left due to the lack of parking- don't park directly behind the building because it's not…read moretheir parking lot. They seem to have legit one parallel parking spot directly in front of the store. Really just wanted to turn around at that point and go home. My sister and I wanted to check it out because we were in the area but as soon as we walked in she (part of LGBTQ+ community) felt very out of place among all the activist/anarchist stuff. We wanted fantasy and chill art and maybe nature books and just everything in our faces was about political or social issues/ justices or stories. We ended up politely looking around and leaving soon after empty handed. We found it ironic that for a community who believe in being and I quote from their sign "an anarchist community bookstore" that they immediately wanted to put all people entering in masks. We thought it was a little funny. They did have some cool art but a lot had words that just didn't make me want to buy it. It's dog friendly and not for profit but I wouldn't be back. We felt we were definitely outsiders and just didn't find what we were expecting or wanting.

Good selection, easy trade process with generous store credit policy, clean store, helpful staffread more

Have always and will probably always adore this place. One of my top go-to spots for a nice gift…read more The store has good hours and is kept tidy and clean. Staff are helpful and welcoming. Tons of parking options. The book selection is diverse- from old copies to new releases and all in between. It's often they do not have something so I like to go in with an open mind. The staff is also always willing to search for ya too. The prices of many books is extremely competitive and they typically have discount racks outside too. I really love their interactive section- they have journals, board games and cute things like workbooks.

What to do while waiting for your entry to Biltmore? Why stop in all of the shops, of course! This…read morewas a nice shop with books about Biltmore House, the gardens, the family, as well as other book related paraphernalia for your book-loving friends. Small, but a nice distraction while you wait.

The Bookbinder's Shop is one of the shops in what was once the stable area. It is located across…read morefrom the customer service area. the staff are very friendly here and will even hold your packages while you explore other areas of the estate. The shop is on the smaller side as it is specialized with mainly reading materials but there are other items too such as dvds and artwork . Some of the books about the estate are just available in this shop. It is one of my favorite stores to explore and find gift items.

This is the other Barnes and Noble where I tend to shop most often, though less so than the…read moreBiltmore Park one due to distance and time. I'd rate them both four stars, but this one is probably more a 4.5, because in small ways, it's a bit better, while in other small ways, Biltmore has the advantage. First, the Asheville Mall's advantages: The overall book selection is larger, and new releases are generally on time, even outside of popular genres. Their table displays are always set up with plenty of eye-catching color and features; I always stop to browse even if I don't buy anything. I love book-themed knickknacks, mugs, and so forth, and this B&N always has some cute ones in stock. And as a fairly recent Harry Potter nerd (finally opened my letter at age 31; long story), kudos for the quality HP merchandise on sale. :) I found a Ravenclaw and Slytherin pillow there and I love them (yes, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff are still on my wish list). Furthermore, the foods and drinks on offer tend to be fresher and prepared more quickly, and again, there tends to be a bigger selection, with seasonal changes. For instance, this is the only B&N I've gone to in my region, where I could consistently find ginger cookies in the winter (which is a shame, because they're good). Now, if you hit this bakery at the wrong time, you may well get a stale cookie or scone (so maybe still don't grab your goods after dinner, unfortunately). But overall, I like this bakery better. This store is at a disadvantage when it comes to accessibility, because you can only access the upper level via escalator, which is tough with my depth perception. Well, I take that back. There *is* an elevator at the back, behind the cafe (or if you are upstairs, it's near the kids' section). But it rattles, it smells like stale coffee and urine, and honestly, it doesn't always feel very safe. So if you do need or want something from the upper level, I'd either (A) chance the elevator (B) go up with assistance or (C) have a clerk pop up to get it for you. This plays into another disadvantage, in that many if not most of the "specialty sections," such as Christian fiction, romance, and mystery/thriller, are on that upper level. Again, you do have options, but I definitely understand the need and desire to shop independently and take your time to browse, so, just take that under advisement. Overall though, this is probably your best bet if you really want a "full" bookstore experience.

Pretty decent Barnes and noble and Starbucks that's been here awhile. The mall is a bit empty these…read moredays so you can always find parking. That's a positive. The space is big and clean. There are great cozy nooks that are wonderful for kids and adults alike. There is a big range of price options- things on sale and new releases too. The Starbucks is definitely not my favorite. When I asked if a cheesecake was on sale, the cashier said "well does it say it is in the case?" Yikes. I asked because I couldn't tell. I also was showing my Starbucks card but they mentioned I couldn't use it after I ordered. Just be aware.

Spent some time shopping in beautiful downtown Asheville and got this new shirt. This precious…read moresilver sterling ring caught my attention and could not leave it behind. The staff was very courteous and friendly. They have a lot of cool souvenirs, artwork, jewelry madr by local artists.

The Asheville Emporium is located across from Mast General Store and featured a mix of work from…read morelocal artists. I loved the multicolored 3D printed dragons and eggs and bought them for some friends. Very fun items here.

I love this place. Whenever I visit Asheville I make sure to stop by and take as many teas I can…read morewith me. I highly recommend them.

Whenever I have out of town visitors I take them here. They have a wonderful selection of herbs,…read morebooks, crystals and tons of local artisan products. This store takes pride in their products and it shows. Perfect for gift giving too. Some very special things here.