When Jonathan Rutt explains how his family landed in Sylva after living in Columbia Falls, Montana, the story is one of a year-long road trip, complete with an old school bus and homeschooling the kids en route. Did we mention this was in 2020?
At some point along the journey, the family visited Rutt’s brother-in-law in Sylva, and the town instantly felt like home. The opportunity for outdoor recreation was part of the draw to Jackson County, but another was the food scene. Both Jonathan and his wife, Jillyn, have made their careers in hospitality, so the area’s exceptional restaurants set it apart. “You don’t often find small towns that are getting attention from the James Beard Foundation,” he says. Fast forward to today, and the Rutts are making their own waves in Jackson County’s dining scene with the White Moon Café & Dark Moon Cocktail Bar on Mill Street.
Here in the mountains of southwestern North Carolina, celebrated restaurants, cafés, breweries, and cocktail spots are as much of a draw as the surrounding mountains and fresh-water streams. Craving a visit? Our three-day itinerary serves up maximum flavor and ways to work up an appetite between each meal.
Discover local flavors with elevated taste in scenic mountain towns. From authentic Thai and Italian-Appalachian dishes to Southern staples and regional cuisine, eat your way through Jackson County, a vibrant food scene that’s sure to satisfy every palate.
Once you’ve arrived, step out of the car and breathe in the mountain landscape. Take a beat to get acquainted with the hotel, cabin, or inn serving as your home base for the next few days. Then, after a quick refresh, it’s time to explore.
Ditch the car and stroll through Sylva’s walkable downtown. Photography courtesy of JACKSON COUNTY TDA
Walk through this lively downtown and you’ll see purple “Welcome Catamounts” banners, a sign of the town’s proximity to Western Carolina University. The variety of shops in Sylva includes everything from gift shops like Carly & Cass to record stores like Underground Sylva. Inside Snake Song, dried flowers hang from the ceiling; displays of succulents, jewelry, and crystals line the tables and shelves; and buckets of blooms create an inviting ambience for shoppers. For camping supplies and more, check out Black Balsam Outdoors.
The stately historic courthouse perched on a hill at one end of Main Street adds to the undeniable charm of Sylva. Climb the 107 steps leading to the 1914 Neo-Classical Revival building that now houses the community library, and you get a bird’s-eye view of downtown Sylva with a backdrop of mountain silhouettes.
Start the evening with a glass of wine and light snacks at Santé. Photography courtesy of JACKSON COUNTY TDA
This welcoming wine bar makes a perfect pre-dinner stop. Choose from an extensive selection of unique, top-shelf wines and enjoy them with olives and charcuterie. Knowledgeable, friendly staff, open-air window seats, and a full-wall display of wine bottles add to the experience.
Seasonal flavors shine in Italian-inspired preparations at ILDA. Photography courtesy of Tembo Hospitality Group
Next door to Santé, owners Chef Santiago Guzzetti and Sommelier Crystal Pace have created a dining experience not to be missed. The menu showcases locally sourced ingredients and handmade pasta dishes like mafaldini — a lamb Bolognese with local greens and pecorino Romano cheese.
In a nod to classic American diners, touches like leather booths and Tiffany-style hanging lamps add a nostalgic feel to the Main Street restaurant. The food also has shades of hearty diner fare, like the sausage and cheddar omelet made with local Hickory Nut Gap pasture-raised sausage. If you’re hankering for something sweeter, try the chocolate waffle — a made-from-scratch Belgian waffle, complete with chocolate chips and a drizzle of house-made chocolate sauce.
Hike past rhododendrons as you follow the two-mile loop around Whiteside Mountain. Photography courtesy of JACKSON COUNTY TDA
Driving along NC Highway 107 South, you’ll catch glimpses of Lake Grenville on the way to Whiteside Mountain in the Nantahala National Forest. Once you’re on the trail, the moderately challenging hike leads to gorgeous views at the 4,930-feet-high summit. Whiteside Mountain’s 750-feet, white-streaked sheers make this a memorable landmark along the Eastern Continental Divide.
Shop for fresh-baked goods, jams and jellies, local cheeses, and more at the Cashiers Farmers Market. Photography courtesy of JACKSON COUNTY TDA
The wide, sandy pool at the base of Silver Run Falls is an idyllic spot to cool off after a hike. Photography courtesy of JACKSON COUNTY TDA
The folks at Slab Town Pizza hand toss house-made dough to create delights like The Duke, topped with Italian sausage, pepperoni, bacon, ricotta, and Grandé mozzarella.
If you’d rather picnic, visit Cashiers Farmers Market, where lunch is as easy as ordering barbecue sandwiches and banana pudding at market’s take-out window. Next stop: a picnic shelter in The Village Green, where you can enjoy your bounty. After lunch, wander the paths of the park through a woodland glade, grassy lawns, and wetlands. Young travelers will make a run for the wooden castle-like playground, where they can climb and slide to their hearts’ content.
Next, spend the afternoon exploring the village’s independent shops and boutiques. What you’ll find runs the gamut from cozy pajamas at Bella Cotn to toys at The Corner Store. For outdoor gear, both Brookings Fly Shop and Highland Hiker have you covered. Vivace, a women’s boutique, sells designer clothing and accessories, and TJ Bailey’s is renowned for exceptional customer service and classic styles for men and women.
Just south of Cashiers, the 25-foot cascade marks the end of a quarter-mile walk. The pool below the falls is a popular swimming hole, so bring your suit on hot days and take a splash.
Known for its arts and crafts, Sylva’s neighboring town (population a little more than 200) sits on the Tuckasegee River. Across Front Street from a row of historic storefronts, Innovation Station (once the old train depot) overlooks Scotts Creek. This brewery has become a gathering place for locals and visitors alike.
Innovation’s flagship location in Sylva, less than two miles away, sits on the same creek. “Both of the locations are creek-side, so it’s just great to sit right on the banister and watch otters in the water or just hang out,” co-owner Chelsea Brinton says.
Find a spot on the brewery’s wrap-around, covered patio to enjoy a pint of Paws Pilsner, the official beer of Western Carolina University. Although Innovation focuses on lagers and IPAs, it continues to create seasonal beers and house-made ginger ale.
Enjoy northern Thai recipes at Dalaya Thai in Dillsboro. Photography courtesy of JACKSON COUNTY TDA
Inside the rustic red building, wide windows span the height of one wall in the cozy dining room, allowing diners a full view of the creek flowing behind the restaurant. There’s no pad Thai here, but you won’t miss it. The delectable northern Thai dishes — like khao soi, a chicken curry made with coconut milk and dark meat chicken — are the reason the restaurant earned a nomination from the James Beard Foundation.
Start or end the day at White Moon Café, which moonlights as a cocktail bar from 7 p.m. until close. Photography courtesy of JACKSON COUNTY TDA
A cup of joe, made from beans roasted by Steamline Coffee in nearby Waynesville, pairs nicely with a breakfast sandwich. Which one? The Gouda Nuff — a homemade biscuit piled with scrambled eggs, bacon, Gouda, avocado, and strawberry-rhubarb-jalapeño jam — was voted 2023’s Best Sandwich in Jackson County.
“It’s sweet, savory, smoky, a little spicy, a little buttery. And it remains one of our most popular,” Rutt says.
On Wednesdays through Saturdays, the café transforms into its alter ego, Dark Moon Cocktail Bar, beginning at 7 p.m.
Casual walkers, cyclists, and families enjoy the riverside Jackson County Greenway. Photography courtesy of JACKSON COUNTY TDA
Less than a 10-minutes’ drive south of Sylva, this paved, mile-long path hugs the Tuckasegee River. You can walk the length of the greenway, tracing the bend in the river at a leisurely pace under the shade of trees.
In Dillsboro, Dogwood Crafters, a craft cooperative, showcases the creations of more than 80 artisans. Find a collection of nature-inspired gifts at The Fox’s Burrow’s, and truffles, fudge, and other confections for your sweet tooth at Dillsboro Chocolate Factory.
Load up on North Carolina- and Texas-style smoked meats — including brisket, pulled pork barbecue, and turkey — at Haywood Smokehouse. Photography courtesy of JACKSON COUNTY TDA
Before you hit the road to head home, fuel up for the drive with a barbecue lunch at Haywood Smokehouse. This popular ‘cue joint knows a thing or two about smoking meats until they’re tender and flavorful. Dig into a pile of pulled pork or the dry-rubbed ribs and a side of Nana’s coleslaw. You’ll leave with a full belly and maybe a little barbecue sauce on your chin as you bid Jackson County farewell.
Ready to chow down? Click here to start planning your trip to these small mountain towns that deliver unforgettable flavors.
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