About AIR

Asheville’s Independent Restaurant Association

AIR is all about food in Asheville – delicious, locally-sourced, award-winning food. But we are also about making a difference in the kitchen, at the table, and in the community.

We began in 2003 with the spark of an idea formulated by four local restaurant owners who believed that by working together, Asheville’s independent restaurants could create a culture of collaboration and stewardship unique in the industry. Today, our 13-member board leads an organization of 150+ members, making us the largest not-for-profit (501C-6) organization of our kind in the U.S.

Our kitchens are cooking. The tables are set. We’re saving a seat for you. Come experience how AIR is food in Asheville…and so much more.

Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.
 RUTH REICHEL: Food Writer, Magazine Editor & Chef