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    Vortex Doughnuts

    3.9 (729 reviews)
    ModerateCoffee & Tea, Donuts

    Order Vortex Doughnuts Takeout or Delivery

    Vortex Doughnuts Photos

    Business Info

    VORTEX DOUGHNUTS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Vortex Doughnuts

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    Bakery counter
    Kennan K.

    This place had me hyped! I think the "made daily" donut sign might be fibbing a little... We went on a Tuesday morning at 730am, and grabbed a chocolate, mango, salted caramel and a cherry with sprinkles. Greater with a smile. Only the salted caramel tasted like it was a fresh donut. The chocolate , mango and cherry had to have been made the day before...it was dense, cold and had no life to the dough. I could be wrong....but Hole donuts are still warm and delectable when you get them. Maybe we will try again this weekend for a filled donut(only do filled donuts on the weekend)

    Iced NOLA @tiffhuangry
    Tiff H.

    DOUGHNUT WORRY, the line may be long but moves quickly at Vortex Doughnuts! But please be respectful and know what you want to order by the time you get to the register! They've got seasonal coffee and donuts - but I only had eyes for the iced NOLA on their regular menu - which was a sweet and creamy chicory coffee using 1000 Faces Coffee, which I had just recently discovered in Athens, GA recently. By the time we made it to the register at 11am, they were very limited on donut options. We tried the famous Holenut, the Vortex (cinnamon sugar chocolate), a classic chocolate sprinkle and cranberry donuts. Everything was delicious but I also wasn't sure it was worth standing in a line outside in the cold for. Next time, I'll be sure to arrive earlier to get their more popular donuts!!

    Mat A.

    Friend introduced us to Vortex 2 years ago as one of the local gems in Asheville. They're well-known for their yeast donuts including a different variety of cream cheese donuts. Naturally I got a cream cheese-flavored strawberry yeast donut at that time, and I've been thinking about these donuts ever since. Had the opportunity to come back last month. Happy to say they are just as good as I remembered them. They also offer a variety of coffee drinks. Their mochas are particularly decadent, and I got the La Luchador just for that hint of spice. It brought me back to sipping these regularly while in the Yucatan peninsula. Goes well with donuts. Highly recommend a visit here if you're in town.

    Gina R.

    A group of us stopped by right before closing time for a quick treat. The donuts looked delicious. Ian was working the counter and could not have been nicer. He talked about the different donuts that they had available and his favorites. We tried the Vanilla Bean, Chai Blackberry, Cream Cheese, Salted Caramel, and Mango Pepper Flake donuts. We voted that Salted Carmel and Cream Cheese donuts were our favorites.

    Johnny Z.

    Some of the best donuts I've ever had! The yeast-based ones were super fluffy, and the Coconut Blue Lemon Cookie donut was incredible- perfectly balanced and not overly sweet. The space is open and inviting, and I loved the convenient handwashing sink. A must-visit in Asheville!

    Caramel and Cream Cheese Donuts
    Ricky R.

    Service was good. The vibe of this place is very cool! The donuts here aren't really anything special to me. Hole had great donuts that were unique. This donut shop didn't really offer anything unique in my eyes.

    Jayla J.

    I stopped in at Vortex Doughnuts early in the morning and it wasn't busy at all. The young man at the counter was super kind when taking my order. The shop itself is very cute inside and has a fun, artistic feel to it. I really like that they have 3 types of donuts (yeast, cake, and gluten sensitive). They have a decent variety of flavors to choose from. We got a 4 pack with the cream cheese, chocolate frosted, cinnamon sugar w/dark chocolate (their signature), and an apple fritter. The yeast donuts were nice and fluffy as described, with the cake donuts being a bit heavier. The gluten sensitive donut didn't have a "gluten free" taste at all, which was nice! We liked the consistency of each one but the actual taste was kind of bland, making the overall donuts just "okay." It lacked the flavor and sweetness you would expect from a sweet treat like a donut or apple fritter. I also ordered a hot caramel cappuccino, and that tasted great. If you prefer your pastries with minimal sweetness, this might be a good spot for you -- but if you're like me and lean more towards the sweet side of things, I would recommend somewhere else. Personally, I would rate their donuts a 6.5/10 :)

    Austin W.

    I had heard about this place, was really let down. For a yeast donut, this is probably one of the worst I've had. Donuts are one of my favorite breakfast splurges. These were chewy, seemingly stale, and the flavors on most of them were not very strong. Lemon poppyseed was a standout among those, you'd expect a burst of lemon flavor, sadly it left much to be desired. Seems like a lot of people are fans, not sure what I missed here. Maybe an off day, staff was nice though and ambience was cool.

    Inside
    Vincent L.

    I came here because it is highly recommended and it is all over the Internet for one of the must try places in Ashville. With high hope walking in, atmosphere is excellent. Good job with all the open space decorations and art works on the wall. Service from the barista and cashier is excellent. Which is what you expect from a local cafe. Problem is their donuts. Why is it chewy. Is it because it is old or is it because some abnormal ingredients they use. They are big though. Next time I just get coffee or drinks. It taste so much better in a tall glass. But their donuts, I don't know. I just stick with regular donut shops. This is kinda overrated

    Eric R.

    Nice vibe inside and lots of seating outside at the picnic tables. I'm not a a GenZ person looking for donuts with feelings, vegan, gluten-free blah blah blah. I want a great tasting with all the extras (milk, gluten, Sugar) that make a real donut a real donut... not something in disguise to make me "feel" good. So obviously I got the non-vegan donuts. Pretty good, not like Hendough (off the charts amazing), but solid donuts and located near some great breweries which doesn't hurt.

    Alyssa A.

    We came to visit, and this was the one place we were told we had to stop at during our trip. The donuts are INCREDIBLE - some of the best I've ever had. I'm used to getting cake donuts, but we were told we had to try the yeast donuts. Loved the light, chewy texture. The cream cheese cherry was the big winner - perfect frosting to donut ratio with the perfect amount of sweet. Also loved the espresso donut. They make good coffee as well, and I enjoyed my chai tea latte. Staff are super pleasant, and I love the big, open vibes of the shop and how they incorporate local artists. One of the best donut shops I've ever been to.

    Kim H.

    Delicious vegan doughnuts and great matcha. Some places make matcha extra gritty/clumpy. This matcha with oat milk was amazingly smooth. It was perfect. We each had a doughnut while there and then purchased four to go. I wish we had a Vortex Doughnuts where we live bc I'd go constantly. It was a nice chill place to hangout. We didn't feel rushed and felt comfortable. The prices were great too.

    Vegan cream cheese and gingerbread crumble and vegan vanilla.
    Luke H.

    Ample space for lines and a few places to sit. The big plus is the non-dairy options for my bro who's allergic. The staff was amazing! So helpful and informative. Plenty of amazing options (but not Too many to choose)

    Sweet Bombay

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    2 months ago

    These were the best donuts I've ever had, and they were vegan! The employee was also very nice.

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    Page 1 of 19

    Ask the Community - Vortex Doughnuts

    Do they carry any gluten-free donuts?

    The barista told me today that they do NOT (nor have they ever have had) gluten-free donuts. 😭

    How many vegan options do they usually carry?

    Hi. Vortex usually has about 4-6 different vegan donuts - and they're great. I work with a vegan food company, and we always order from Vortex for company meetings. They do sometimes get low on the inventory though, so best to go earlier in the… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    We are staying at the Aloft hotel and really needed some coffee. Thankfully Double Ds is like 2…read moreminutes down the road for an immediate caffeine pick me up! Super cute that they serve out of a double decker bus. There are about 4 tables you can sit at outside of the bus. No seating inside. Menu has some pretty interesting concoctions, so I was intrigued. They also have a seasonal menu that changes. Prices are super reasonable, which shocked us, but it's cash only! Ugh who carries cash nowadays?? Only downside to this place, which is why I knocked a star off. Atm inside the Aloft charged $4.25 for the atm just FYI. I got a hot creme brulee latte and my husband got a blackberry latte. After you order at the window, they call your name on a speaker and you pick it up inside the bus. My drink was really tasty and smooth. My husband enjoyed his as well and said the blackberry was really strong and pronounced in a good way. I would definitely frequent this place again if I had cash on me. If I didn't, there's so many other coffee places in Asheville that I would probably try somewhere else next time.

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    Rowan Coffee in downtown Asheville is the kind of shop that immediately signals serious attention…read moreto craft. One thing that stood out to me right away: the barista pulling espresso shots while weighing each pull from start to finish. That level of precision is exactly the kind of detail that makes a coffee nerd like me smile. It shows they care about consistency and dialing things in, not just pushing drinks across the bar. The shop itself has a really cool aesthetic -- minimalist but warm -- with a quiet corner vibe that makes it a great place to slow down and actually enjoy what you're drinking. I started with a cortado, which was beautifully balanced. The espresso came through clearly while the milk softened it just enough -- smooth, rich, and exactly what a cortado should be. Then I tried both of their seasonal drinks. Roses Are Falling (no mocha) was delicate and aromatic, with floral notes that felt intentional rather than perfumey. It was subtle, interesting, and really well composed. I also had the Hello Ruby, which brought a brighter flavor profile and rounded out the experience nicely. Both drinks showed a lot of creativity without losing the coffee itself. Between the precision behind the bar, the thoughtful drink menu, and the calm, stylish space, Rowan is a standout coffee stop in Asheville. Definitely a place for people who appreciate the craft behind the cup.

    Vortex Doughnuts - coffee - Updated May 2026

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