Montford Spots That Feel Like Home
Dining & Cafes
So, if you're wondering where Montford residents go when they're hungry, the options are surprisingly diverse for what looks like a purely residential neighborhood. The area has these little pockets of deliciousness tucked between the historic homes.
Nine Mile
This Caribbean-inspired spot is always bustling with locals. The Montford location was their original before they expanded to West Asheville and beyond. Their jerk chicken pasta has complex flavors that dance on your tongue. The cozy interior with local art on the walls feels like you're dining in someone's renovated historic home—because you basically are.
Other culinary gems hidden in Montford:
- Chiesa - Italian food in a converted church with incredible ambiance. Their handmade pasta has ruined me for the boxed stuff forever.
- Montford Pull Up - A food truck with some of the best Caribbean food in town. The authentic flavors and friendly service make it a neighborhood favorite.
- All Day Darling - Formerly Tod's Tasties, this neighborhood cafe is perfect for morning coffee, afternoon meetings, or casual dinners.
- Montford Rooftop Bar - Technically at the edge of the neighborhood, but the views of Montford's tree canopy and downtown beyond are worth including it.
What makes Montford's food scene special is how unpretentious it feels. Here, you'll see locals in hiking boots sitting next to visitors in business casual, and nobody bats an eye.
Parks & Recreation
Montford's natural areas have this wonderful organic quality that reflects the neighborhood's character. Green spaces here feel like natural extensions of the community rather than designed afterthoughts.
Montford Park
This isn't a manicured recreation area—it's a neighborhood park in the truest sense. The playground equipment isn't the newest, but kids don't seem to mind. What makes it special is how it serves as Montford's living room during community events. The Montford Park Players perform Shakespeare here in the summer, creating an experience enhanced by fireflies providing additional lighting and mountain air cooling the summer evenings.
Other recreational spaces that make Montford special:
- Riverside Cemetery - I know it sounds odd to list a cemetery as recreation, but this historic graveyard is also one of the most peaceful places to walk in the city. The rolling hills and river views make it a place where history, nature, and contemplation meet.
- French Broad River Greenway - The western edge of Montford connects to this growing trail system. It feels wild and connected to the natural landscape.
- Montford Community Center - A hub for neighborhood activities with a playground, basketball courts, and indoor facilities. It has that community-building energy that brings neighbors together.
What's fascinating about recreation in Montford is how integrated it feels with daily life. Parks aren't separate destinations—they're extensions of the neighborhood's living space, places where community naturally happens rather than being programmed.
Arts & Culture
If you're wondering about Montford's cultural scene, you might be surprised by how this residential neighborhood punches above its weight in arts and culture, just with a more grassroots approach.
Montford Park Players
This is the oldest free Shakespeare company in North Carolina, and their summer performances in the park are magical. There's something about watching Hamlet under the stars with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance that adds a dimension you can't get in a more urban setting. The suggested donation model makes it accessible to everyone, creating a diverse audience you rarely see at formal theater productions.
Other cultural touchpoints in Montford:
- Literary History - Walking through Riverside Cemetery to visit the graves of Thomas Wolfe and O. Henry connects you to Asheville's literary past in a tangible way.
- Montford Historic Tours - These walking tours reveal the architectural and social history of the neighborhood, including often-overlooked Black history.
- Montford Music & Arts Festival - This annual event transforms the neighborhood into an outdoor gallery and concert venue.
- Informal House Concerts - Keep an ear out for word-of-mouth house concerts and poetry readings that pop up in private homes throughout the neighborhood.
What makes Montford's cultural scene special is its organic, community-driven nature. Rather than institutional arts organizations, you find passionate residents creating cultural experiences that reflect the neighborhood's creative spirit.
