Photo by Hatteras Sky
Ditch the luxe-lodge mountain aesthetic and opt for something, well, radically different at Asheville’s stylish new hotel the Radical. Inspired by and named after its location in the River Arts District (aka RAD), the boutique spot was once a 1920s cereal factory, later left abandoned to the elements—and to graffiti artists. When transforming the property into an upscale 70-room hotel, the new owners chose to embrace this part of the building’s history and hired local artists to further embellish the exposed-brick walls in the guest rooms, lobby, and other common areas with vivid, graffiti-style murals.
Photo by Matt Kisiday
The street-art vibe reinforces the maximalist design seen throughout the hotel. Rooms feature a mix of bold animal prints, rich jewel tones, canopy beds, and eclectic decor such as matryoshka dolls. Large windows and high ceilings invite loads of natural light, but blackout curtains promise a restful night of sleep in the cloudlike beds.
Photo by Evan Anderson
The Radical offers much more than a place to stay, though. Just off the lobby, After/Glow brews coffee and proffers pastries by day, shakes cocktails and serves light bites into the evening, then transforms as the sun goes down into a groovy, glowing bar with a DJ spinning tunes from a hanging spherical cage. For dinner, make a reservation at Golden Hour, an adventurous endeavor from James Beard Award semifinalist Jacob Sessoms that features dishes with unexpected flavor combos, such as shellfish beignets topped with an Old Bay sugar seasoning.
Photo by Matt Kisiday
And if all the excitement leaves you yearning for a little of that peaceful mountain aesthetic, you can pop up to the Radical’s rooftop for a local craft beer or zero-proof cocktail and stellar views of the sunset over the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains.
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Insider Intel
Chef Jacob Sessoms shares a few of his Asheville favorites
Take a Hike
“Two of the best and easiest hikes off the Blue Ridge Parkway are Hawksbill Mountain and Lane Pinnacle. They have some of the best scenery: I’m talking 5,000-foot elevation and almost 360-degree views.”
Slice of Paradise
“If it’s nice out, I love to get dinner on the patio at Contrada. It’s a little joint with fantastic Neapolitan pizzas and delicious vegetables, almost all of which come from Evan Chender, the ‘Culinary Gardener.’”
Music City
“For a small- to mid-sized city, Asheville really gets some great live music. Some of my favorite venues include the Grey Eagle, the Orange Peel, Rabbit Rabbit—the list goes on.”
This article appears in the Fall 2024 issue of Southbound.
