Experience Savannah
Are you planning a trip to the Hostess City of the South? As one of the top tourist cities in the South, Savannah, GA has so many amazing things to do and places to see. I’ve compiled a list of our favorite stops in Savannah. Take a look at our Savannah, GA City Guide to help plan your trip!
BREAKFAST + COFFEE SPOTS
(Always look for a place that serves PERC COFFEE ROASTERS - Savannah’s best coffee roasters)
The Collins Quarter - Need a quick coffee… The Collins Quarters offers a walk up coffee window. But I recommend taking the time to enjoy brunch inside this amazing restaurant. Anthony Debreceny has brought Australian style to Savannah with red banquettes, marble tables, palm-green chairs, and a coffee bar out of a luxury travel magazine.
Our favorite order: The Avocado Smash Toast with a Lavender-Bud Topped Latte.
Little Duck Diner - This isn’t your ordinary greasy diner! This fancy diner has a unique breakfast menu and offers great people watching of Ellis Square. Ele owns quite a few popular Savannah restaurants that we love! “I named it for my three children. They were always following me around like little ducklings wherever we go, so we named it for them.” How cute is that?!
Our favorite order: The Risotto Stacker
Mirabelles Cafe and Bakery - Mirabelle Cafe prides itself in being “Savannah’s only destination for authentic Belgian Liege Waffles.” There is a lot of charm packed into this café. It sits right at the base of St. John the Baptist, one of Savannah’s iconic cathedrals.
Our favorite order: The Rose Mocha, The Southern Belle Waffle and the Georgia Peach Cobbler
Foxy Loxy - This Gingerbread-style Victorian house has a new life as a coffee shop. Their Tex-Mex brunches in the courtyard are not to be missed with brisket hash and breakfast tacos inspired by owner Jen Jenkins’ home state.
LUNCH SPOTS
SoHo South - This used to be a car repair shop but now is an amazing lunch spot. It is one of my favorite wedding venues because of the eclectic vibe and mis-matched everything!
Our favorite order: The SoHo Classic Grilled Cheese and tomato soup.
Zunzi's - The line out the door is testament to the yummy flavors found inside this take-out restaurant. The menu is filled with South African, Dutch, Italian, and Swiss influences.
Our favorite order: Conquistador - French bread piled high with grilled chicken and the signature sauce.
Green Truck Pub - Greatest burger in Savannah! We used to live a few blocks away when we lived downtown and this was definitely our regular spot. Homemade ketchup, local grass-fed beef from Hunter Cattle Company (our best local beef), and eclectic burger options.
Our favorite order: The Whole Farm Burger with bacon and Cheddar with a perfectly fried egg. It’s so decadent!
Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room - Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room (formerly Boarding House) is a Savannah institution. People start lining up for lunch between 9-10am and the doors open at 11am. At 2pm (ish) an employee walks out and marks the last person in line to cut off the line. They will then serve everyone in line and close up shop when everyone’s eaten. Everyone eats at communal tables. The food and sweet tea are already served by the time you sit down. It’s a Wilkes Dining Room tradition to bring your dirty dishes to the kitchen when you’re finished. CASH ONLY!
Treylor Park - Think elevated bar food. “We want to do an elevated version of anything you would find on a shelf in a trailer”. This place has a unique approach on all the classics. We also love their sister restaurant, HITCH.
Our favorite order: PB&J wings & the Nacho’s (share it).
BEST BARS AND LOUNGES
Rocks on the River – Located on top of the picturesque Bohemian Hotel, Rocks on the River is the perfect spot to grab a late-night drink and enjoy the sights of Savannah from up above.
Peregrine – The Perry Lane Hotel is the hot new spot in Savannah to stay at when visiting our city. The rooftop deck has amazing views of the city and is a great atmosphere. Grab a drink at the rooftop bar and lounge with friends in a relaxed environment.
Artillery – The Artillery bar, located in the heart of downtown Savannah, is the perfect start for a night on the town. This trendy speakeasy is a classic must hit for your next date night.
Jen's and Friends - You don’t even have to be a martini fan to love this place! Jen’s is cozy and serves some 300 variations of the cocktail, so you can go as classic or as weird as you want. Rice Krispie, Butterfinger, and Blackberry Cobbler are some of my favorite. If liquor isn’t for you, look to the full beer menu, with 100 brews to choose from.
Alley Cat Lounge - You literally enter Alley Cat’s through a back Alley off of Broughton Street. Alley Cat’s menu, The Alley Cat Rag, is a 32-page, newspaper-style tome that situates booze-related literature next to its list of liquor offerings. The menu even features excerpts from Ernest Hemingway, Hunter S. Thompson, and the renowned essay “Frank Sinatra Has a Cold” by Gay Talese. There’s also an explanation of the difference between tequila, sotol, and mezcal. That’s what sets this place apart from other upscale bars—it holds your hand as you dive in to the menu, rather than just expecting you to know the difference. You can get a cheap drink or a $200 bottle of champagne and fit in.
We also have many breweries and distillery’s to try: Two Tides Brewing Company, Service Brewing CO, Southbound Brewing Company, The Distillery Ale House and Ghost Coast Distillery.
DATE NIGHT RESTAURANTS
Olde Pink House Restaurant - This is probably the most iconic restaurant in Savannah. This Georgian mansion was built in 1771 for James Habersham Jr., one of Savannah's most important early cotton factors and founding-family members. But he had a major building delay! The mansion’s main structure was made of red bricks, which were then completely covered with white plaster. Maybe the quality of bricks or the plaster job itself weren't very good, because the red bricks would bleed through the white plaster, turning the mansion a shade of… pink. The walls are literally oozing with history.
Our favorite order: Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Bourbon Molasses, Crispy Scored Flounder with Apricot Shallot Sauce, and Corn Bread Fried Oysters.
Husk – The menu changes every day, but that is because they use the best local ingredients. Don’t worry, the menu is posted on their website daily so you can get a feel for the nights offerings. You can also learn on their website about all of the suppliers that help provide the best ingredients.
The Wyld Dock Bar – This place will really give you a taste of the low country and all it has to offer. It is off the beaten path but easily the best waterfront, seafood restaurant we have. This place isn’t fancy. You can play boochie ball out front with a beer while you wait for a table. The menu changes with the season. The view will not disappoint!
Our favorite order: Obviously… oysters but we also love the fish and chips and pork tacos.
Cotton & Rye – This outstanding neighborhood restaurant is in a former bank—the door to the safe remains in the dining room and is a fun conversation-starter. Everything is made from scratch and truly showcases southern cuisine.
Our favorite order: Completely made in house burger, the fried chicken thighs with spicy orange blossom honey, and their James Beard award-winning chicken wings.
Vic’s On The River – Vic’s our favorite riverfront dining experience! The building it is located in is a restored cotton warehouse which once served as a hub for General Sherman's army during the Civil War.
Our favorite order: Pecan-crusted local flounder and the smoked cheddar stone ground grits.
SWEET TREATS
River Street Sweets - Make sure to stop by there River Street location for a free praline sample and to buy a sweet treat. The candy shop sells every candy you could imagine, fudge, candy apples, chocolate covered EVERYTHING, ice cream and gifts to take home to your loved ones.
Lulu’s Chocolate Bar - This is definitely my favorite after dinner haunt in Savannah. This Chocolate bar was voted best desserts in Savannah by our local Connect Magazine from 2008-18. All desserts are made from scratch and the drink menu is a extensive. You can NOT go wrong with a slice of their suspension cake!
Leopold’s Ice Cream - Leopold’s is a Savannah institution. They haven’t changed their ice cream recipe since 1919 and that is a benefit to anyone that visits. One of the son’s of the original founders had a very successful Hollywood career as a producer and executive at Paramount. You will see his Hollywood resume on the walls. He retired from the movie bizz in 2004 and moved back to Savannah to kick start Leopold’s back up. Try these signature flavors": Tutti Frutti, Chocolate Chewies and Cream, or Butter Pecan.
SHOP UNTIL YOU DROP
Savannah Bee Company - The Savannah Bee Company has three locations in Savannah: Brighton Street, River Street, and the Wilmington Island Showroom on Johnny Mercer Boulevard. Each offers a variety of health and beauty products as well as varietal honey, gifts, and accessories. Make sure to taste test some of their honey, try their lotions and even sign up for a mead tasting!
The Paris Market and Brocante – A local shop you wont want to miss on Broughton Street! The Paris Market is a mecca of all things whimsical, inspiring, and delicious. It’s a two-level boutique lends the distinct feel of a well-curated Parisian flea market. In 2017, Southern Living selected Paris Market as “the South’s Best Shop” stating: “Like Alice falling down the rabbit hole, prepare to get lost in a wonderland of the most incredible goods.”
Terra Cotta – My first job in Savannah was in a boutique next to Terra Cotta. They have an amazing selection of woman’s clothes, kids gifts and home décor. “It’s really granddaughter to grandmother.” Think Anthropologie but locally curated for the southern woman.
Shop SCAD –Savannah College of Art and Design is one of the top artistic universities in the country! For some truly one of a kind shopping, make sure to stop by Shop SCAD, home to hundreds of products all hand crafted by the country’s top emerging young students and artists.