TL;DR
- Creative hub: Trendy boutique hotel in Asheville’s River Arts District.
- Warehouse vibe: 1923 red-brick factory converted into a bold, mural-filled hotel.
- Hangout factor: Murals, bold interiors, and funky decor make it a place to stay and play.
- Check prices here
If there’s anywhere we wish had a few more small-scale, forward-thinking boutique hotels, it’s places like Asheville’s River Arts District.
As a famous mill-town-turned-cultural-capital, Asheville is the ideal spot for aging factory buildings to get new life as cutting-edge boutiques.
If this is to become a trend, the Radical should be the blueprint. They lean all the way into the “edge of town” status, which might be a misnomer, as the steady stream of events and happenings sure makes the River Arts District feel central.
The 1923 warehouse is the perfect amount of cool, all red brick large windows, and plain, a brick building on a street with other brick buildings. It makes it all more thrilling when you finally get inside.
The interior is covered in murals, colorful and bold, with gaudy light fixtures and every shape of plump sofa you can imagine.
It’s a place you’ll want to hang out, and a perfect home base for a deep dive into the fresh, creative adventure that is Asheville, NC.
What are the rooms like?
- Number of rooms: 70 rooms ranging from Queens to expansive suites.
- Signature decor: Canopy beds, graffiti murals, tiger-print pillows that surprisingly work.
- Modern comfort: Smart TVs, mini fridges, blackout shades, tea kettles in every room.
- Luxury bathrooms: Marble, gold, Grown Alchemist amenities, chic waffle robes.
- See all rooms in detail here on the Booking page
There’s a good range of rooms, from a “simple” Queen through King Studios and the expansive Corner King Suite.
All beds except the Queens are cutting-edge floral canopies, which feels like it shouldn’t be a thing, The Radical seems to have made it happen.
The rest of the rooms are coated in murals painted by local artists, mostly your classic graffiti style, which should clash with the florals and tiger-print throw pillows, but they don’t? We can’t explain it other than to say that it works.
When you don’t want to see anything, you’ll have blackout shades in every room, along with smart TVs, mini fridges, tea kettles and seating options in even the smallest rooms.
Bathrooms are marble and gold, well-stocked with Grown Alchemist amenities and chic waffle robes.
What are prices like?
And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?
- Food & drink: On-site cafe, rooftop bar, and wood-fired Golden Hour restaurant.
- Social scene: DJs, block parties, and art exhibitions keep things lively.
- Wellness perks: Complimentary morning yoga and weekly river runs.
Situated as it is in part of town with less going on 24/7, the Radical has taken it upon itself to be a kind of entertainment hub for the Arts District.
They’ve got a full schedule of happenings and multiple über-hip spots to grab snacks and drinks.
Afterglow is a cafe-lover’s dream. Open early morning into the night, you can grab the perfect cup of the coffee, pastries and small breakfasts whenever you get up.
Later in the day, you’ll find some sexy cocktails and excellent local beer options.
Golden Hour, open from 5PM daily (and for weekend brunch!) is all about the woodfire, and it does it so, so well.
It’s not just pizza, you’ll find wood-fired veggies, seafood, and even entire chickens for those who want to know the joy of salty, sizzling skin.
Finally, you’ll find The Roof on, well, the roof. You can grab some nice snacks with cocktails to start with, then settle in to watch the sun go down.
If you’d like to drink your way through a line up of local brews, this is the place.
If you’re looking for a little more spark than tasty cocktails in a gorgeous location, never fear! The Radical hosts DJs, block parties, and even art exhibitions in a pretty packed schedule.
The more active among us will love the complimentary morning yoga and weekly group run along the river.
How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?
- Creative district: Located in Asheville’s River Arts District, surrounded by studios and shops.
- Central access: Easy reach to downtown and West Asheville food and drink.
- Tourist fun: Pinball Museum, Salt Cave, Science Museum, and endless breweries.
The River Arts District isn’t the bustling center of the city, but it might be the heart. Surrounded by art studios, hair salons, and skate shops, the hotel chose the location perfectly for anyone feeling a bit curious and creative.
There’s still places worth seeing further outside the city, with miles of riverside wandering along the French Broad River.
You’ll also find yourself smack in between the East and West of the city, which means you can enjoy the quirky tourism of downtown and the endless food and drink of West Asheville’s Haywood Road.
A Science Museum is always a classic, but Downtown boasts a Pinball Museum as well, even a Salt Cave.
It’s a small city packed with new experiences. Beer drinkers better not forget to enjoy a tour of the city’s many, many breweries.
And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?
Some things guests liked:
”Loved the decor – very interesting. I had a breakfast bun which was delicious. Room was spacious and the small sofa was a nice touch. The little packaged bags of ice were great. I was having trouble figuring out the parking sign up and the hostess went outside and did it for me….”
”We loved the art and funky decor throughout the hotel. The food at Golden Hour was exceptional! The rooftop bar is a treat, a must-see (day or night). Our room was spacious and comfortable. The scent in the lobby was fresh, setting the tone for a lovely weekend getaway….”
Some things guests didn’t like:
”The After Glow coffee shop was somewhat disappointing. We asked for latte’s extra hot, and we were lucky if they were warm. Breakfast sandwiches were also disappointing….”
”Had to pay for parking through an app each time you came and left instead of paying once at check-in….”
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