Deemed the oldest city in the state of Georgia, Savannah can be a sweet and historical Southern escape for those of you itching to travel. Particularly for those of us living in Miami, Savannah is only an 8 hour drive, most of it being through the state of Florida. So get ready to see a lot of green, swampy, and flat surfaces along the way. Condé Nast Traveler has named Savannah one of the “world’s friendliest cities” so you’ll definitely get a dose of Southern Hospitality here. There is much to do and see here that I recommend you get at least three full days. Below I’ve outlined where to stay, eat, and explore!
Stay
Located in the heart of Savannah’s Historic District sits The DeSoto hotel, an elegant landmark property that has played host to past presidents, personalities, and guests since 1890 and is part of the Historic Hotels of America. Upon entering the lobby, you’re greeted with an open foyer that leads into large ballrooms directly ahead and the check-in area to the left.
Past the check in sit three eateries, Buffalo Bayou Coffee, 1540 Room, and Edgar’s Proof and Provision. Out of these three restaurants I went ahead and tried the quick service cafe, Buffalo Bayou, for breakfast one morning. They had delicious fresh brewed coffee, all kinds of tea to choose from, pastries, biscuits, and so much more.
I opted to stay in a double room with a balcony overlooking the city. The balcony didn’t have any seating so I didn’t use it at all but it was nice to have all the light from the sliding glass window come in and greet me every morning. The bed was comfortable and kept me warm during the chilly nights but the bathroom was still a bit outdated. All-in-all it was a great place to stay because of how central it was to everything. It took about 10-15 minutes to walk everywhere.
Eat
This is where the meat and potatoes of the trip was, pun intended. For some reason, I tend to center the day’s agenda around where to eat. I feel like you can really get a taste for a new city by the restaurants you try. Here is where I had help from a friend who lived in the area while attending school. Let me first start off by mentioning that Savannah has an open container policy that allows you to walk around with, you guessed it, open containers of alcohol. Nothing like being able to take your glass of wine to go!
First up on the list is Treylor Park, a super unique place to eat with cool cocktails, indoor and garden seating. The menu was full of all kinds of “everything but the kitchen sink” type dishes. I went in for the Treylor Park Nachos Grande and Shrimp Quesadillas with a local beer called Tybee Island Blonde. The nachos were not your typical meat over tortilla chips. These nachos had a waffle fry base topped with pickles, fried chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese with chive ranch, and balsamic gastrique. I have absolutely no words to describe just how good these were! 10/10 would recommend.
For breakfast, you’ll definitely want to try Savannah Coffee Roasters. At first glance you’ll think this place is where all of Georgia’s hipsters get their coffee but after some research it turns out this place has been around since 1909. Edgar R. Morrison established the coffee company at the age of 21, so maybe he was the first hipster of his time. The coffee company is open 7 days a week for breakfast, brunch, and lunch. They even serve high tea, if you’re into that. I decided to try breakfast here one rainy morning and it was packed but service didn’t take very long. All of the breakfast dishes looked delicious, eggs, bacon, toast, the works but I opted for the fruit bowl with yogurt, honey, and granola. A healthy option considering I had eaten a whole plate of those Treylor Park Nachos. If you’re looking for a relaxing and slow start to your morning, this is the place to go. The seating is laid out much like someone’s living room so there is no doubt you’ll be comfortable.
Lastly, for a pinkies up dinner head to The Olde Pink House. Originally the Habersham House, this national landmark is famously known for serving its amazing traditional Southern dishes with a side of ghosts. Yes, apparently The Olde Pink House is haunted. No surprise here as the house was used as a meeting place for generals during the Revolutionary War. You can read more on the history of the home on their website. But I was here for the food… and partly the ghosts. You can’t travel to Savannah and not have traditional Southern food. Being a chicken lover, I ordered the Chef’s Fried Chicken with Mac & Cheese and boy was it good! The skin was perfectly crispy while the meat on the inside was juicy. I classically paired this with a glass of wine and it was bon appétit for me.
Explore
While Savannah is a small city, it still has so much for you to explore. Did you know there are 22 outdoor squares that are open to the public to enjoy? That makes 22 different places to sit and people watch or have a picnic. Other than the squares you have Forsyth Park, a 30-acre park that is popular among local families. Last but not least, taking a stroll down River Street in Historic Downtown seemed to be the place I kept finding myself. The street runs along the Savannah River and is full of shops, restaurants, bars, street vendors and more.
If you feel like exploring the surrounding area, just across the river is the South Carolina border and about a 45-minute drive to Hilton Head. A two-hour drive will get you to Charleston, South Carolina which is a whole other blog post for another day!
*This post was not sponsored, all opinions and suggestions are my own. If you plan to travel during COVID-19, please do so responsibly by wearing a mask in all designated areas to protect yourself and others. Please do not travel if you are experiencing any cold symptoms.
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