Established in 1999, City Bakery includes several locations including the one on at Charlotte Street. With a downtown location that is only two miles from the Biltmore Estate, City Bakery is convenient for tourists and locals alike. If you are visiting the Biltmore Estate, a quick stop at the bakery is a great way to get in the mood for your visit.
City Bakery is more than a cafe – they are also a working bakery. During your visit, you can purchase a dozen different types of homemade bread ranging from cheddar black pepper to farmhouse oat. What’s better than these scrumptious baked goods? A perfectly paired and crafted sandwich.
When you arrive at the bakery, you’ll feel like you are visiting a childhood friend’s home. You can even bring your dogs on the pet-friendly patio. The goal is to make sure customers feel comfortable.
City Bakery is equally as passionate about working with businesses within the community. The bakery outsources local ingredients or items when possible. These goods include everything from breakfast and lunch to on the go early dinner and snacks.
Here are a few of our favorite menu items:
Bread and Sandwiches for Days
Start your travel mornings with a chunk of fresh bread when you pick up your preferred loaf. Better yet, grab a sandwich and something on the side like an acai bowl or some sticky buns here at City Bakery. Here are some highly requested finds on the menu:
Artisan Breads
City Bakery regularly rotates different bread they bake for the day. Among those on the menu include classic sourdough and multigrain to Americanized anadama and savory potato rosemary. Pop in and choose a loaf from what is fresh from the day. The warmer, the better! By the way, the following sandwiches feature homemade bread from the artisan bread line.
Farmhouse Sandwich
Close your eyes. Picture the ingredients you expect on a farmhouse sandwich. Good bread, farmer’s cheese, apples, sausage, eggs, maybe some spinach to make it healthy, a smear of apple butter mustard if you have it. That is the farmhouse sandwich you get at City Bakery. You’ll be more than fit to work out on the farm with this gut buster.
The Hawaiian
This breakfast sandwich is a sweet and savory Island inspired dish. A sweet and fluffy Hawaiian bun stuffed with a salty mix of bacon, ham, and Swiss. Top it with a paprika aioli to seal with a fatty kiss. If you are experiencing ill effects from traveling, homesickness, or being hungover, this is a stomach-soothing dish.
Acai Bowl
Instagram much? You have found your morning post with this photo-fabulousness. The acai bowl is your typical dish, covered with locally baked granola and local golden honey. It’s just the surprise to find it on such a strong menu. Yes, this is such a light dish. But then again, it caters to the opposite of the type of person eating through the farmhouse. That’s where it wins.
Vegetarian Finds
It’s so hard to find something vegetarian, and especially vegan, that tastes good when traveling in the Southeast. So finding a bakery serving veggie mains like Avogoddess, Asian BBQ tempeh, and hummus sandwiches is simply amazing. Plus, acai bowl, homemade granola, fresh fruit, and of course the freshly baked bread really rounds out this menu.
Insider Tips:
-Brunch is when City Bakery is the happening spot among the locals. The brunch crowd is impressive in Asheville and the bakery is in a convenient location. Be prepared for crowds during Sunday brunch in particular.
-If you drive a vehicle into the city, there is free private parking on Biltmore Street for City Bakery customers.
-You can connect to wi-fi for free and it’s reported as being fast.