Shrimp n’ grits, Spanish moss trees, ghost tours and cute boutiques on every corner: this is what I think of when I reminisce on my recent trip to Savannah Georgia! I took a girls trip to Savannah with my mama as a last hurrah before lil bubby boy arrives, and we stayed in the heart of the city for 6 days exploring, eating and shopping. Savannah is filled with deep history and charm that gives any visitor there such a unique experience.
Savannah has it’s own type of vibe that separates it from other popular southern cities like Charleston. There’s a quirkiness and eclectic vibe (perhaps since the SCAD university is there and the city is oozing with art students). The locals are super friendly, the entire downtown area is very walk-able (if its not too hot), and there’s pubs, restaurants, and shops on almost every corner. From the various districts to the interesting cuisine, I’ve rounded up the ultimate travel guide to Savannah. So get your planning hat ready cause here is everything that you MUST do when you make a trip to this southern city.
Where to eat in Savannah
I pretty much live to eat. Dining out and trying different cuisines are one of my favorite things to do, so you best believe I made a list and reserved tables ahead of time! Here’s a list of my favorite places we enjoyed meals at:
Husk: I’ve been to the Charleston location, so when we walked by their location in Savannah I knew we had to dine there! Husk creates southern comfort dishes with a modern twist – it’s the ultimate foodies dream! Their menu changes frequently so there is always seasonal fresh ingredients. I loved their mocktail concoctions and we tried an array of different plates which included pimento cheese wafers, black pepper biscuits with pickles, and a daily collection of southern vegetables. Everything was AMAZING and I highly recommend dining there!
Olde Pink House: Not only is this an extremely charming restaurant in the heart of the city, it also offers incredible spaces for unique weddings. I had delicious collard greens here as well as a seasonal fruit dessert with a side of key lime pie ice cream. SO good.
Shrimp Factory: Located on River street, the more touristy area of Savannah, is an affordable seafood spot that had delectable crab seasoned in savory spices. They have daily specials that you can’t beat. It’s the perfect place to pop in for lunch or dinner after you’ve strolled up and down River Street to do some shopping.
The Collins Quarter: We stopped here for lunch one day and the charming ambiance and light airy vibe provided us an energetic start to our day. They have wonderful salads that fill you up, and tasty burgers if you want to indulge.
Treylor Park: There are so many unique comfort foods on this menu like avocado fries, PB & J chicken wings, and Treylor Park pot pie, but I opted for a salad (trying to get as much nutrients for bubby boy as possible!), and was still super satisfied.
Gryphon Tea Room: An old apothecary storefront turned into a booze free breakfast and lunch spot. The inside decor is wonderfully delightful and has an upscale ambiance which makes you feel as if you’ve immersed yourself into a decadent session of mid afternoon tea. We tried a variety of iced tea and fruit concoctions such as their Atlanta peach, Strawberry basil, and blueberry lemonade tea.
Six Pence Pub: One meal I’ve been craving for months while pregnant is a big ole Reuben sandwich, so when we stumbled upon the Six Pence Pub and I saw it on their menu, I just about drooled out all my body weight’s worth of water. This pub has an old school vibe with delicious food that you can fill up on while you shop around on Bull Street.
The Crab Shack: Our second to last day in Savannah we decided to rent a car and take a drive to Tybee Island, and stopped at the Crab Shack right before you enter the Island. The majority of the restaurant is set outside with eclectic beach decor and trees growing smack dab in the middle of the dining space. The menu has traditional seafood options and looks out over a lagoon, and there is even an alligator exhibit you can walk through on your way out. This was definitely one of our favorite spots to visit during our trip!
The Coffee Fox: I kept reading about the Coffee Fox while doing my research before my trip so I had to make sure we stopped by to try their famous Horchata which is simply sweetened milk with cinnamon. This is probably the first and only time I had literal cows milk in more than 10 years, but it was worth it!
Mirabella Cafe: An extremely quaint cafe across the street from the Cathedral of St. John the Baptiste, Mirabella Cafe has an array of delicious offerings like pancakes, paninis, and various teas. I enjoyed a lavender hibiscus tea while I took in the view of the beautiful cathedral across the street.
Two spots I didn’t have the pleasure of visiting during this trip was Leopold’s Ice cream (there was literally a line of 20 people outside every time we walked by), and Soho South Cafe. I’ve heard great things about both so if you are lucky enough to walk by when there isn’t a HUGE line, take the opportunity to pop in!
Shopping in Savannah
The shopping in Savannah was plentiful, and there are actually quite a few boutiques that aren’t outrageously expensive. The best streets to deep dive into a shopping spree are Broughton Street (I’d say a majority of the shops are on Broughton), River Street, and Bull Street. Here’s my list of favorite shops we stopped by.
Savannah Bee Company: Pretty much a honey haven, the Savannah Bee Company has everything bee products! The best thing is that they have free tastings so you can taste their various flavors that come from different flowers as well as a delicious honeycomb, apple and cheese snack. I bought their honey BBQ sauce, a Royal Jelly body cream (which I swear makes my skin incredibly soft, like way softer than normal), and a charcoal and propolis face wash. They also have a Mead bar (which is a fermented booze made from honey) – I’m bummed I wasn’t able to imbibe in that, but next time.
The Paris Market: Even though this boutique is extremely expensive, like $50 for a candle expensive, it’s worth the peek. The upstairs is a Parisian cafe, and the downstairs a hidden gem of an interior design store. I definitely got a ton of inspiration for our own home just browsing through their aisles.
One Fish Two Fish: This was one of my favorite stores to look through. They have all sorts of amazing items for your home, beauty products that you can’t find at any regular store, and extremely endearing gift options to bring home to your gal pals. I loved smelling all of their room scents and candles and going through their coffee table books.
River Street: This is the street to walk down if you want to pick up a souvenir to bring home. I found two adorable shawls at a $20 and below shop, and there are tons of confectionery stores to pop into to taste some sweets or go all out and fill up a bag with candy.
City Market: You’ll find cute boutiques, art galleries, and even ice cream shops in this area filled with restaurants and bars.
The Peanut Shop: Located on River Street, The Peanut Shop has everything (you guessed it), peanuts. Even better is that they have a majority of their peanut tins available to sample (the best is their chocolate covered varieties). They have literally every type of flavored peanut you can imagine like pickle flavored peanuts, sriracha peanuts, and even bacon and cheddar peanuts. Definitely worth popping into to taste the flavors!
RMC Boutique: This was my favorite boutique to look in, it had the CUTEST clothes and I was so mad that my pregnant self couldn’t buy anything! Luckily they also sell online and they carry the cutest rompers, dresses and all sorts of stylish outfits.
What to see in Savannah
Forsyth park: The largest park in Savannah has a beautiful entrance with an enchanting water fountain. Personally, only this area of the park seems to be the best place to set up a picnic or people watch.
Monterey Square: You will come upon a square almost every block, the city is filled with them! They are surrounded by charming houses and Spanish moss trees, and every square seems to have a different vibe. Monterey Square is my personal favorite along Bull Street. It’s right next to the Mercer Williams house which is a historical spot to take a home tour.
Bull Street: Almost every day we found ourselves walking along Bull Street. All the pretty squares are there, half of the restaurants I listed are nearby, and there is shopping galore.
Sorrel Weed House ghost tour: Did you know that Savannah is considered the most haunted city in America? So of course you know there are plentiful ghost tours around town. My mom and I are big on ghost tours but we wanted to hunt for spirits in an *actual* haunted house, and we found one! The Sorrel Weed House provides guided ghost tours throughout the home and around the neighborhood, and let me tell you it’s freaky.
Bonaventure Cemetery: An absolutely beautiful cemetery just outside of the city center, Bonaventure is a must see. It is extremely peaceful and calming to walk through and is filled to the brim with beautiful trees and lush gardens that surround each grave stone. You can literally spend hours in there.
Owen Thomas House Tour: If you like architecture and learning about history, the Owen Thomas House Tour is a great option to take in the middle of your day. The inside is beautiful and the tour is quite interesting (I usually don’t like historical tours), the outside garden is also extremely beautiful.
Savannah is absolutely a must see destination if you want to visit a Southern state, but I recommend going in the fall/early winter/early spring when it isn’t so HOT! We went in June and it was almost 90 degrees and extremely humid. I don’t know how I toughed it out being 5 months pregnant!
