This Is the Most Peaceful Place in Asheville

I didn’t mean to spend an entire afternoon inside a plant shop in Asheville, but that’s the thing about this city—it has a way of gently rerouting your plans. I’m an Asheville native, and Flora is one of my favorite hidden gems at home.

I was wandering through West Asheville one day, past vintage storefronts and sun-washed sidewalks, when I noticed a doorway overflowing with green. Ferns spilled outward, vines climbed the windows. The sign above the door read Flora Botanical Living, and stepping inside felt like crossing into a quieter, softer version of Asheville, named one of the best places to travel in 2026 by Travel + Leisure.

At first glance, Flora looks like a beautifully curated plant boutique. But linger for more than a moment and the space reveals itself as something more. It’s part botanical studio, part design haven, and part neighborhood gathering space.

“I always wanted to have a little shop that was different from your typical flower shop,” says founder Melissa Thomas. Flora will celebrate its 14th anniversary on Feb. 5, but the business began even earlier than that, when Thomas ran a studio-based florist operation out of her West Asheville home.

What makes Flora special, aside from the abundance of plants, is the way the space encourages you to slow down. In a city known for packed itineraries full of hikes, breweries, and bluegrass shows, Flora offers a different kind of experience, rooted in stillness and sensory pleasure.

Flora’s story is deeply tied to Asheville’s creative spirit. Founded with the intention of bringing botanical beauty into everyday life, the shop has grown into a full-service floral and design studio, where the team creates everything from lush wedding installations to living walls. There’s also a flower bar where you can create your own bouquet; when you’re done, the team wraps it in thick paper and ties it with a lavender-adorned bow.

Tucked among the greenery is Forage Wine & Coffee Bar. “For me, those things go together: plants, coffee, wine, and books,” Thomas explains. “I wanted to create a place for the community to gather in a different kind of way that felt good. We don’t have any control of the outside world, but we have control of what we create within these four walls. And we have an opportunity to create, not just a shop, but an experience.”

Every object in the shop seems chosen with purpose, from handmade planters to cards with plantable seed envelopes, books, and curated gifts and snacks from around the world. I picked up an exquisite set of blush-pink long-stemmed wine glasses, and learned they were mouth-blown by artisans at a woman-owned business in the Czech Republic using centuries-old techniques.

There’s something interesting to look at in every corner of Flora; the walls hold work by local artists who blend nature and 3D design into their pieces. The nooks, with their plush seating and fluffy pillows, have books stacked on either end. And the shelves hold candles, ceramics, and more.

For travelers who want to do more than browse, Flora also hosts workshops, inviting guests to get their hands dirty building terrariums or learning floral techniques alongside locals. It’s an unexpected way to connect with Asheville beyond the usual sightseeing. “We grow as many of our own flowers as possible, and source as much as we can from local farmers,” Thomas says. “I’m very much inspired by the natural world, and wanted to bring all of that together in a creative, relaxing space.”

And if one afternoon among the plants isn’t enough, Flora offers a way to fully immerse yourself. Just outside the city, its renovated barn on a working flower farm extends the brand’s botanical philosophy into an overnight experience. Guests wake to misty mountain mornings, wildflower fields, and interiors styled with the same thoughtful touches found in the shop.

Asheville has no shortage of attractions, but the places that tend to stay longest in my memory are often the quiet, tranquil ones. It’s in these spaces that I feel momentarily rooted, where I can pause, breathe, and stay a while. Flora Botanical Living is one of those rare finds.

In a city defined by movement—flowing rivers, rolling mountains, live music spilling into the streets—the shop offers something just as essential: a place to just be.