The Foundry Hotel Asheville Review

Industrial-chic done with restraint and a strong sense of place. The former foundry's brick, steel and stone are left proudly on show, warmed by leather, timber and low lighting, and the whole hotel is deliberately woven into the story of The Block. The crowd is design-minded couples, weekenders and Biltmore visitors who want somewhere with character downtown. It reads as a small, considered independent, which is exactly what a Curio property should be.

There are 87 loft-style rooms across the restored foundry buildings, so layouts vary, with high ceilings, exposed steel and brick, big windows and comfortable, contemporary furnishings. They feel individual rather than stamped from a template, which is the point of staying here over a standard chain. Bathrooms are well done and the beds are good. Ask about the larger rooms and suites if you want more room to spread out.

Absolutely. Benne on Eagle is the anchor, serving Appalachian and African-American Southern cooking rooted in the history of The Block, and it is a destination restaurant in its own right rather than a hotel afterthought. The Workshop Lounge alongside pours cocktails and hosts regular live jazz, making it easy to spend a whole evening in the building. Beyond the door, downtown Asheville's food and beer scene is a short walk.

There is no spa and no rooftop pool, contrary to some listings; wellness runs to a 24-hour fitness centre. That is in keeping with what the Foundry is, a compact downtown design hotel rather than a resort, where the draw is the architecture, the restaurant and the location. If spa time is a priority, Asheville has plenty of options nearby, and the surrounding Blue Ridge trails offer a more active alternative.

Design and food lovers who want a characterful, walkable downtown base in Asheville. It suits couples and weekenders here for the galleries, the breweries and the Biltmore who would rather stay somewhere with a story than a standard chain. It is less suited to families needing lots of space or anyone expecting resort facilities; the Foundry trades on atmosphere, heritage and a genuinely good restaurant, and it does those very well.