Ah, Savannah. Some used to refer to it as Charleston, S.C.'s little sister, although not so much anymore. And that is for good reason. This nearly 300 year old city has a style and panache all its own and belongs in the shadow of no other metropolis.
With the Historic District's red brick streets , the majestic oak trees draped in Spanish moss framing the City and the beautiful and eclectic mix of Federal, Georgian, Gothic and Greek Revival architecture (amongst other styles), this gorgeous Southern city is a feast for the eyes (and an architectural photographer's dream).
But you didn't come here to talk about architecture. You came here for the food, so let's get going! To be frank, there are more fantastic restaurants in this city of about 150,000 than you could possibly experience in a long weekend (all the more reason, we think, to go back). But here are a few to whet that appetite:
Friday - Day 1.
Husk Restaurant.
We landed late afternoon, so dinner was our first real Savannah meal and, for that, we hit up a big name - Husk Restaurant (which is one of its three locations - the others being in Charleston, SC and Nashville, TN). Located in the heart of the Historic District and led by Executive Chef Chris Hathcock, Husk Restaurant continues Chef Sean Brock's tradition of rediscovering locally grown and heirloom ingredients. Given that focus, the menu changes regularly. On our night, we opted for the NC Trout (with heirloom carrots, confit leeks, ginger and trout roe) and the smoked pork loan (with Dutch fork pumpkin, conch peas and chestnut). Its wine and cocktail lists are no joke and the staff is well-versed in pairings and style.
Saturday - Day 2
Flock to the Wok.
Knowing that we were leaning into a lot of Southern cooking for most of our meals on this short trip, we opted to switch it up a bit with the family style Chinese cuisine of Flock to the Wok for lunch (breakfast having been some small bites at the hotel) This place was packed, and rightfully so. As self-proclaimed dumpling and noodle addicts, we bee-lined it to the shumai pork, pork soup dumplings and drunken chicken noodles (with egg, scallion, peanuts and bean sprouts). Thankfully, Savannah sports a lot of very walkable areas, as we were definitely carbo-loading here!
Cotton & Rye.
For dinner on our second night, we headed south of the Historic District, past Forsyth Park, and into the Thomas Square neighborhood for Cotton & Rye. Here, executive Chef Caleb Ayers and owner Zach Shultz wowed our taste buds with modern twists on some traditional Southern favorites. The fried chicken thighs (with mac & cheese) was perfect, as was the squash croquette (with sweet potato puree, grilled portabella, mustard greens and mushroom cream). Their wine list is nothing to scoff at either, with an impressive number of by-the-glass and bottle offerings conveniently organized from lightest to most full bodied (a good way to get a sense of a new wine, if you're not yet sure where your palate lies, or if you just want to branch out from well trodden territory).
Sunday - Day 3
The Grey.
For our last morning, we decided to go out with a bang. Arguably, at this point, Savannah's most well-known restaurant, The Grey is helmed by the James Beard award winning Chef Mashama Bailey (who has her own episode of Netflix's Chef's Table (Season 6, Episode 1 - go watch it!). Set in a 1938 Greyhound Bus Station, complete with original bus terminal cut outs, a horseshoe shaped counter/bar and an art deco scene that is perfectly accompanied by the live jazz during Sunday brunch, the cuisine is Chef's Bailey's spin on Port City Southern food. We had, for example, the blue crab crab beignet's (with mascarpone and remoulade), which was fantastic, the duck pastrami (with sauerkraut, poached egg and potato rosti) (pictured below) and the fried chicken and hoe cakes. Dinner is just as exciting, with a locally/seasonality focused menu consisting of dishes such as a beet, winter squash and barley salad and snapper with a candy roaster squash, mushroom and clams. Given its popularity, you will need reservations to get the full experience (and they book out well in advance), although they do allow small plate walk-ins at the Diner Bar (just be prepared for people to start lining up early).
Sunday was all about Chef Bailey for us, so, before leaving for our return flight we opted to hit up The Grey's sister breakfast, lunch and grocery market, The Grey Market (just a 1/4 mile away from their flagship destination). A quicker, more causal experience, we had the Grits and Braised Greens and Blueberry Johnny Cakes, both of which were delicious.
Bonus Tip: Like a lot of the best restaurants these days (we food obsessed people are very lucky to be living in the 21st century, aren't we?), they also ship on GoldBelly (which, if you haven't tried yet, is well worth your time).
Where to Have a Drink.
Our focus was food, but Savannah is no slouch in the bar scene department.
Artillery Bar.
The building in which Artillery Bar is located is eye-catching, to say the least. Housed in what was once a cavalry artillery armory, Artillery Bar is the perfect before dinner cocktail bar (and let's be real here, it's also a perfect AFTER dinner bar). Their classic cocktails like the Mitcher's Rye Sazerac or Rittenhouse Rye Old Fashioned are painstakingly crafted, but don't sleep on their more modern creations. We, in particular, liked the Smoke & Mirrors.
Other options, of a great many impressive locations, include the gold-hued Peacock Lounge (downstairs from Flock to the Wok) and The Fitzroy, an Australian inspired cocktail bar and restaurant with an open rooftop).
Where to Stay:
Having only two nights in Savannah, we thought it might be fun to try out two different hotels (amongst the many great hotels Savannah has to offer), to get a feel for some of the different styles this eye-catching City has to offer.
The Alida.
For our first night, we stayed in The Alida, a beautiful boutique hotel straddled between River Street and Williamson Street. With exposed brick walls, hardwood floors, and outside pool with slatted wood cabanas and, our personal favorite touch, open fire pits, The Alida was a perfect place to relax after a long day of savoring Savannah's many flavors.
JW Marriott Savnnah Plant Riverside District.
For our second night, we hopped across the street to the JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District, which sits right on the Savannah River. Everything about this hotel is awesome. Set in a converted powerplant compound, this hotel consists of three buildings, each with its own distinct styling: (i) the Power Plant (with a chrome-dipped, life-sized dinosaur (Diplodocus, maybe?) in its lobby and largely geologically focused art gallery), (ii) the Three Muses (a blend of old world European style and décor) and (iii) the Atlantic (its contemporary, but no less luxurious third building). Walking into the main lobby of the Power Plant we were greeted with a glass of champagne and jazz melody gently emanating from the grand piano further down the lobby. We could talk about this hotel all post long, but we wouldn't be able to do it proper justice.
These are just some of the best restaurants, bars and hotels in Savannah, Georgia, but there is so much more to see. Start booking your visit today!
Planning a longer stay to the area? Charleston, South Carolina is only about a 2 hour drive away. Check out our blog post on the best restaurants in Charleston, S.C.
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