The Best Places to Eat in Savannah, Georgia
The southern states are known for their incredible cooking, and Savannah is one of the best foodie cities in the South! From classic southern dishes to authentic global cuisine, Savannah has so many delicious choices. The best places to eat and drink in Savannah, Georgia range from fine dining to neighborhood haunts, swanky rooftop bars to secret speakeasies. You almost can’t go wrong walking into any restaurant, but this guide covers the places the city is most well-known for or that have been recommended by locals.
This is your foodie guide to the best places to eat and drink in Savannah, Georgia.
PLANNING TIP: Many of the top restaurants in Savannah book up fast, so be sure to plan ahead and make your reservations well in advance.
The Best Places to Eat in Savannah, Georgia
BRUNCH
The Collins Quarter
The dinner menu here is also delicious, but brunch is really where The Collins Quarter shines. Expect elevated classic dishes alongside Australian Cafe staples like toasties, all served in a beautiful yet casual space.
Le Cafe Gourmet
What’s not to love about crepes and freshly baked bread? Don’t miss the croissants here, which are some of the best I’ve had in the United States! Made with ingredients imported directly from France, they take several days to make and are the perfect combination of fluffy, flakey, and buttery.
Local Cuisine
One of the best ways to experience Savannah is through the local flavors. Look for classic southern dishes like fried chicken, shrimp & grits, fried green tomatoes, boiled peanuts, okra, or pimento cheese. Some Georgia specialties include pralines, mint juleps, and, of course, peaches.
LUNCH & DINNER
Husk
With several locations throughout the South, Husk has become somewhat of a Southern legend. This upscale eatery sources all of its ingredients from the South to create impeccable seasonal dishes that give you that classic “homecooked” feeling. Advance reservations are a good idea with this one.
Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room
Speaking of homecooked, no one in Savannah does it quite like Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room. Gather around the table for classic Southern staples like fried chicken and biscuits served up family-style. Dining doesn’t get any more authentically southern than that! This spot doesn’t take reservations, so arrive early to get in line.
The Olde Pink House
The ivy-clad pink walls of this restaurant are sure to catch your eye! Elevated yet authentic southern dishes grace the menu here, served up in an elegant colonial mansion. Plan to make reservations in order to get a table here.
The Grey
Located in a former Greyhound bus station, this is the kind of fine dining restaurant that doesn’t list its prices online. The menu is extraordinarily fresh, altering not just by the season but by the day (and sometimes even within the course of an evening). This is one of the most sought-after dining experiences in Savannah, so make your reservations well in advance! For a little taste of The Grey in a much more casual setting, check out The Grey Market.
Cotton & Rye
Expect southern dishes like fried chicken, cheese grits, and brussels sprouts but with an elevated and modern twist. Cotton & Rye is set in a former 1950s bank with a great outdoor space as well.
Savoy Society
This eclectically cool and vintage-designed restaurant is open late, serves up globally inspired dishes, pours some excellent cocktails, and plays vinyl. That’s a winning combo in my book.
Fox & Fig Cafe
I’m not going to lie, vegans can have it a little tough in the South. That’s where Fox & Fig Cafe comes to the rescue with its entirely plant-based (and delicious) menu. The desserts here are fantastic as well!
Rancho Alegre
Savannah offers more than just southern fare. Rancho Alegre serves up authentic Cuban dishes prepared using family recipes and fresh ingredients. Head there on Friday or Saturday evenings for live jazz and Latin music as well!
Vinnie Van GoGo’s
Pizza is always a good idea. Grab a Neopolitan style ‘za at this local favorite.
Frali Gourmet
Authentic Italian dishes make up the menu here, including some very tasty pasta. This little spot serves up fresh, housemade pasta topped with your choice of sauce at a very approachable price point.
Green Truck Neighborhood Pub
This is a simple pub menu but done right. They handmake even the simplest of items like ketchup, pimento cheese, and salad dressing. The burgers and fries are perfect, and the vegan chili is the side dish I never knew I needed.
DESSERT
Leopold’s Ice Cream
This award-winning ice cream has been using the same recipe since 1919. Select from premium flavors like chocolate chewies & cream or classic flavors such as strawberry or butter pecan (made with roasted Georgia pecans of course). Leopold’s sticks to its original recipe, so you won’t find any milk-alternative ice creams, but they do offer a rotating sorbet. Expect a line here on just about any given day.
The Best Places to Drink in Savannah
COFFEE
The Paris Market Cafe
This lovely shop and its tres chic cafe are stunning. In fact, it was named the most beautiful coffee shop in Georgia. With adorable indoor and outdoor seating, excellent coffee, and delicious baked goods, The Paris Market is a must-stop in Savannah.
The Coffee Fox
This little coffee shop is a staple of Savannah and has spawned numerous other fox-themed establishments (see Fox & Fig Cafe above). In addition to great coffee, they also serve cheeseboards, pastries, and even beer and wine.
The Sentient Bean
Not only does this spot serve up a mean coffee, but they’re also located on the south end of Forsyth Park. This makes it the perfect place to grab a coffee before a morning stroll through Savannah’s most iconic park.
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COCKTAILS
Peregrin
Located at the stylish Perry Lane Hotel, this might be my favorite rooftop bar I’ve ever been to. Ever. The cocktails are superb, the faux grass and French cafe seating are incredibly aesthetic, and the view overlooking the Historic District is unmatched. If you visit just one rooftop bar in Savannah, this should be it.
The Lost Square
This is another rooftop bar in Savannah, but its location downtown gives it a great view of the river. Watch the working barges float in while you sip a martini in the southern sunshine.
Alley Cat Lounge
If you need a break from the southern sun, head to this speakeasy-style basement bar. Grab a booth and peruse the unique menu filled with as many fun facts as it has delicious craft cocktails. Nothing like a little education to go with your drink!
The Original Pinkie Masters
Looking for something a little less swanky? This cash-only dive bar is a local favorite. As one of the oldest running bars in Savannah, it definitely has a vintage and much-loved feel to it with plenty of charm and personality.
Matta Hari’s Speakeasy
Travel back to 1920s prohibition with Savannah’s most exclusive speakeasy. The unmarked entrance leads you to a private club featuring live lounge singers and a bar serving up all the goods, including absinthe. The catch? Even if you find the secret location, you’ll need a key to get in. No key, no entry. If you’ve secured your key, knock on the discreet door and present it to gain access. How do you get a key, you ask? Well, that’s just no fun.
BREWERIES
Crystal Beer Parlor
This was one of the first American eateries to serve alcohol after the repeal of prohibition (it may or may not have been an illegal speakeasy prior, so the alcohol would have been easy to come by). The kitchen’s southern dishes are also a local favorite, so don’t shy away from the brewpub menu.
Service Brewing Co.
This local hangout is Veteran owned and operated, putting its love for country, community, and those that serve at the forefront of its business. The colorful taproom pours year-round brews alongside several small-batch, experimental offerings.
Moon River Brewing
On the surface, this might seem like your ordinary pub. The twist is that this one is haunted (or maybe that’s not so much of a twist – this is Savannah, after all). It’s housed in one of the oldest buildings in Savannah and it’s known for being one of the most haunted buildings in the city (and the country for that matter). Grab a tasty brew and keep an eye out for the woman in white or the many other ghostly figures that have been sighted here.
Savannah is a foodie’s paradise. It’s been nicknamed The Hostess City, and what’s a good hostess without offering their guests some great food and refreshments? There’s something about southern cooking that’s just better, and the incredible food scene in Savannah rivals even the city’s beauty.
Is there anything you would add to this list of the best places to eat in Savannah? Let everyone know in the comments below!
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