If you’re visiting Asheville, it’s hard not to be blown away by all the awesome mountain scenery, tree greenery, and fresh air. But I have to say that being outdoors in nature also makes me really hungry. And it feels like you’ve got a great excuse to consume some extra calories. If you’re looking to put down some extra calories, may I recommend the French Broad Chocolate Lounge? This Asheville standby has been popular for a long time but it’s held up well and delivers some delicious desserts and eats. Here’s what to expect if you visit!
French Broad Chocolate Lounge sits in a very busy area of downtown Asheville (intersection of Patton Avenue and Broadway Street) making a great spot for an after-dinner treat! The storefront doesn’t look very large, hop on inside and you’ll immediately be greeted by a large retail display of their artisanal sweets. Behind the retail area up front is the main dessert and service counter where heaven lies! French Broad Chocolate Lounge bills itself as a bean to bar to bakery and offers a variety of gelato, cakes, and pastries. So many choices, so little time!
Once you’re able to lock in on your dessert, pay at the register, grab your sweets and it’s time to find a seat in their lounge. The space is long and deep, there are two or three rooms with a smattering of tables and chairs spread out, it all feels pretty casual and a good spot to chill out for a bit.
For both of my visits, I ended up with cake! The salted caramel cake is a huge, thick slice of moist, deeply rich chocolate cake layered with soft buttercream icing. A chocolate ganache on top and dabs of dulce de leche make for an amazing bite. The French Broad Chocolate Lounge consistently does a great cake but I’m sure they are awesome for desserts across their menu!
While I’m not a huge dessert person, that is definitely not the case when visiting the French Broad Chocolate Lounge. The thought of adding a bunch of calories after a large dinner is usually something I avoid, but the French Broad Chocolate Lounge is irresistible to me. So just give in to the cravings and accept the fact that chocolate should be your love language when visiting Asheville, NC!
Homerun Derby X Coming to Durham on September 7