Black Mountain is a town located just outside of Asheville. It was known in the past for it’s Black Mountain College which was known as a hub for creative thinking and art. The town seems to have nurtured creativity, artistry, and free thinking long after the closure of Black Mountain College in 1957. Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting the town of Black Mountain and can only say great things about it and it’s people.
My first stop was at the Dripolator for a much needed coffee after a long day at the office. When entering, I truly thought that I might have just walked into an independently owned coffee house 
in Greenwich Village or some place in San Francisco. Young people in their 20s and early 30s were at tables scattered throughout working on writing, websites, as well as, discussing art and literature. It was a very refreshing experience to begin with and got better as the visit continued. The Barista behind the counter was more than helpful and offered information about the different types of coffee they served and also recommended a few restaurants to investigate in the town for dinner. Her recommendations turned out to be very knowledgeable as I evaluated each of them on my short walk through the town.
Black Mountain is unique in that it is a small town in Western North Carolina that offers many shops and restaurants in it’s historic downtown area. Yes, there are a few towns in Western North Carolina that have fully leased shop fronts, but I would have to say that few compare to the eclectic mix offered in Black Mountain.
The town offers several pubs such as the Black Mountain Ale House, Trail Head Restaurant and Bar, Town Pump Pub, and many other small watering holes that meet the needs of all types of folks. All offer beer on tap and a welcoming atmosphere.
Out of the recommendations, I finally decided to eat at Berliner Kindl, a German Restaurant with authentic German cuisine and owned by a German man and his wife who immigrated over 30 years ago to the USA. The food was absolutely scrumptious and the prices were very reasonable. The waitstaff was knowledgeable of all the German dishes being offered and were helpful with beer selections as well.
The town has a great feel to it and offers a range of shops and galleries.
If you are in Western North Carolina for the first time or someone who has never visited Black Mountain, I highly recommend it. It has all the offerings of a Big Town, with a small town feel. I give it 5 stars.
Black Mountain is one of the many interesting places with less than a half hour drive from Ciel, a mountain top neighborhood, in Asheville NC. At Ciel, we focus on building homes that meet the needs of our customers without compromising the landscape and integrity of the mountain.