High Five Coffee – Riverside
Coffee or breakfast before the river, lunch after a session, or a meet-up near the water for non-paddling companions.
2000 Riverside Drive, Asheville, NC 28804THINGS TO DO NEAR TAYLOR’S WAVE · AFTER—or INSTEAD
Dry clothes. Something good nearby.
Nearby food, coffee, art, a place to sit and a respectable Plan B when the river changes the answer.
Guide updated October 2, 2026.
Listings are organized primarily by proximity to Taylor’s Wave. Paid relationships affect presentation and added features, not basic directory rank.
What’s open near Taylor’s Wave right now?
Use this guide to find verified nearby choices, then check the linked business before leaving. Hours, events, weather arrangements and scheduled-class access can change; listings stay ordered by distance from Taylor’s Wave so the closest useful option appears first.
After the river
Hungry + thirsty
Food, coffee and a place to gather after a session. Alcohol-related stops come after the water, with a designated driver.
Woodfin Tavern
A nearby evening option for people looking for somewhere to sit, have a drink, eat when food service is announced, hear music or continue the day after river plans.
235 Weaverville Road, Woodfin / Asheville, NC 28804Check before going: Food service and events vary. Use the official social page to confirm the current plan; food may be available only when a food truck or other service is announced. Business activity and current events verified September 17, 2026.
- Best for: an evening gathering after river plans
- Check today: event schedule and whether food service is announced
- Order matters: water first; alcohol afterward
Iron & Oak Brisket Co.
Brisket-focused food stop on the Riverside corridor
995 Riverside Dr, Woodfin, NC 28804Riverside Rhapsody Beer Company
A close-by outdoor gathering option on Riverside Drive with rotating hours and food service. An after-water stop only; designate the driver.
995 Riverside Dr, Asheville, NC 28804- Best for: an outdoor post-river gathering
- Good to ask: dogs, food service and weather setup today
- Order matters: water first; alcohol afterward
Master BBQ AVL
Filipino comfort-food truck operating at Zillicoah Beer Company on the immediate Riverside corridor, with barbecue skewers, lumpia, adobo and other family-recipe dishes.
870 Riverside Dr, Woodfin, NC 28804River-day fit: A substantial meal close to Taylor’s Wave before the river or after the water. Service follows the host location’s operating schedule; check the current menu and hours before going. Operating location verified September 24, 2026.
- Best for: Filipino comfort food close to Taylor’s Wave
- Location: onsite at Zillicoah Beer Company
- Check today: current food-truck and host-location hours
Guajiro
Family-run Cuban restaurant in the River Arts District serving breakfast, cafecito, Cuban sandwiches, lunch, dinner and cocktails, with indoor and outdoor seating.
Asheville Cotton Mill Studios, 122 Riverside Dr, Studio 11, Asheville, NC 28801River-day fit: A south-corridor meal or dry-day alternative rather than an immediate Taylor’s Wave stop. Current location and hours verified September 29, 2026; check the official site before going.
- Best for: Cuban breakfast, lunch or dinner in the River Arts District
- Useful when: the day continues south along the river corridor
- Check today: official hours and event schedule
Wet, cold, dirty or need dry clothes
Bring dry clothes and a towel. For wet or muddy laundry, there is an existing nearby service option.
Check directly before bringing specialized river gear to a laundry service. Public showers, changing facilities and a reliable nearby source for replacement river clothing still need verification.
Fiesta Laundries – Merrimon
Self-service and drop-off laundry near the Woodfin/North Asheville corridor.
615 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC 28804Useful after a wet or muddy outdoor day, or during a longer stay.
Recover
Check availability and booking requirements directly before planning around a recovery stop.
Drip Nordic Sauna
Sauna and recovery option near the river corridor
123 Flowstate Vista, Asheville, NC 28804On-Retreat Therapeutic Massage
Therapeutic massage in Woodfin
2 Weaverville Rd, Unit 201, Woodfin, NC 28804Or instead
Sit somewhere pleasant
An indoor place to regroup, or a dry-land river stop once access is confirmed.
North Asheville Library
Buncombe County branch library near Beaver Lake with free Wi-Fi, computer access, printing/copying, research help, public transit access, a reading lounge, and an outdoor reading porch.
1030 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC 28804Useful when: You need Wi-Fi, a place to work quietly, printing, a weather Plan B, somewhere indoors while someone else is on the river, or simply a place to cool off and regroup.
Gateway Park
A small RiverLink park project between the River Arts District and Woodfin. Check its current opening status before relying on it as a stop.
Riverside Drive- Best for: a short, dry-land river-corridor stop
- Useful when: the group still wants to be outside
- Verify first: opening status and current access
Art + things to browse
Start with the Mill and Riverside corridor. Contact working studios about visiting or classes before arriving; do not assume walk-in access.
JMK Studio Riverside
Working studio of artist John Mac Kah offering drawing and oil-painting instruction at The Mill at Riverside.
The Mill at Riverside, 2002 Riverside Drive #42-M, Asheville, NCStudio James Daniel
Working portrait and fine-art studio
2000 Riverside Dr, Asheville, NCAsheville Art Supply
Artist-owned art supply store on the Riverside corridor
829 Riverside Dr #120, Asheville, NC 28801ArtPlay
River Arts District creativity studio offering beginner-friendly classes, workshops, community art gatherings and private group experiences.
Cotton Mill Studios, 122 Riverside Dr, Suite 21, Asheville, NC 28801Plan ahead: The studio is open during scheduled classes and community gatherings rather than standard walk-in retail hours. Check the current calendar and register when required. Location and operating model verified October 2, 2026.
- Best for: a scheduled hands-on art activity
- Good fit: beginners, private groups and non-paddlers
- Plan ahead: check the calendar and register when required
River Arts District
Working studios, cafés, restaurants and makers. The district’s own directory is the best current starting point because reopenings and hours continue to change.
River Arts District, Asheville- Best for: a flexible, mixed-interest group
- Practical note: choose a specific stop before driving over
- Plan B value: high—food, art and walking can fill the day
With a non-paddler
High Five Riverside gives companions a coffee-and-food option near the water. For a quiet indoor alternative, see North Asheville Library. Agree on a meeting time and transport so nobody has to wait at the river for the whole session.
Rainy day / river’s not happening
Choose an indoor stop and check current access or booking requirements before setting out.
The library offers an indoor place to regroup; art supplies or a prearranged studio visit can give the day a different focus. Check factory-tour, class and gathering availability directly.
French Broad Chocolate Factory
Chocolate café and factory-tour experience on the river corridor. Chocolate production and visitor operations resumed after its post-Helene recovery period.
821 Riverside Dr, Asheville, NC 28801ArtPlay
River Arts District creativity studio offering beginner-friendly classes, workshops, community art gatherings and private group experiences.
Cotton Mill Studios, 122 Riverside Dr, Suite 21, Asheville, NC 28801Plan ahead: The studio is open during scheduled classes and community gatherings rather than standard walk-in retail hours. Check the current calendar and register when required. Location and operating model verified October 2, 2026.
Alcohol-related stops belong after the water, with a designated driver. A changed river plan is not a failed day.