Welcome to Savannah!

From world-class dining to lively nightlife, romantic date spots to fun family attractions, and historic landmarks to good ol’ Southern hospitality, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a place as charming as the Hostess City of the South.

We’ve put together the ultimate visitor guide to give you the inside scoop on how to make the most of your stay in Savannah. Enjoy!

INDULGE

The Olde Pink House

Photo via stuartblakley.blogspot.com

One of Savannah’s most popular and easily recognizable restaurants, The Olde Pink House serves sophisticated Southern cuisine in an 18th century Georgian mansion. The extensive menu features mouth-watering Southern staples such as shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, and blackened oysters, but be sure to save room for their signature praline basket filled with vanilla ice cream topped with sweet local berries.

RUMOR HAS IT: Staff and patrons alike claim to have had other-worldly encounters with the restless spirit of the home’s first owner, James Habersham, Jr., who allegedly hanged himself in the tavern’s basement in 1799.

Treylor Park

Photo via tinyhousegiantjourney.com

Looking for a fun twist on bar food classics? Look no further than Treylor Park, the quirky Bay Street joint dreamed up by owner Trey Wilder that specializes in taking ordinary dishes and turning them on their heads. Take their popular PB&J chicken wings – Chef Hunter Sattlewhite makes their own pecan butter and peach jam in house, which he then blends together to make a finger-licking sauce for some so-good-you-can’t-stop chicken wings. Other fan favorites include a chicken and pancake taco (topped with a house-made maple glaze and strawberry-jalapeño salsa) and their popcorn shrimp, which is actually grilled shrimp laid atop a bed of popcorn and drizzled with chive ranch dressing.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE: The wild ride for your tastebuds doesn’t just stop at the food menu – try one of their crafty cocktails like a Cactus Pear Margarita or a Tire Swing.

Cotton & Rye

Photo courtesy of Cotton & Rye

Off the typical beaten path of tourists, Cotton & Rye is a has quickly gained notoriety among locals with its flawless execution of modern Americana staples. Simple in presentation and fresh in flavor, Cotton & Rye transforms home-grown classics by using locally sourced ingredients that are often rendered in house. Fan favorites include the shrimp and grits (cheddar cheese grits, rock shrimp, scallions and cherry tomatoes, loaded in a skillet and topped with panko bread crumbs and parmesan cheese), their perfectly balanced burger (they bake the bread in house, grind the meat themselves, and top it off with six-year-aged cheddar cheese, pecan smoked bacon, and caramelized onions), and fall-off-the-bone lamb ribs. As for the ambiance, the restaurant sits in a beautifully renovated bank building as part of Savannah’s newly revitalized Victorian District (the old vault serves as a private dining room for parties of six or fewer). With an enclosed patio featuring both covered and open-air seating options, Cotton & Rye is the perfect spot to unwind with an artfully crafted cocktail and delicious meal after a long day of sightseeing.

LOCAL ADVICE: Order the lamb ribs. Order the lamb ribs. Order. The. Lamb. Ribs.

IMBIBE

Rocks On the Roof

Photo courtesy of Bohemian Hotel

Located atop the trendy Bohemian Hotel, Rocks On the Roof offers spectacular views of the waterfront and the Savannah skyline amidst chic decor and live entertainment. The outdoor patio is equipped with a fire pit for (rare) chilly nights, and the tapas-style menu is perfect for small bites to accompany the bar’s extensive selection of wines, martinis, and swanky cocktails.

PRO TIP: Head to this top-floor hotspot late in the afternoon to catch an unbeatable Savannah sunset – patio spots are prime real estate!

Savannah Smiles Dueling Pianos

Photo via Yelp.com

Great for large groups looking to have a raucously good time, Savannah Smiles Dueling Pianos is an all-request show featuring four talented piano players dueling it out for the audience’s affection. From rock to rap, oldies to country, and anything in between, these talented entertainers know how to work the crowd and get everyone in on the fun. In addition to the non-stop, all-night entertainment, Savannah Smiles is a favorite of locals and tourists alike due to the super friendly staff. The bar features numerous beer and liquor specials, the kitchen offers standard bar fare, and the atmosphere will leave you with a whole lot of great memories.

HEADS UP: Make sure you show up with plenty of small bills in your pocket – there is a $5 cover at the door, a cash-only bar featuring great drink specials, and song requests go a lot further when accompanied by a well-deserved tip for the performers.

EXPLORE

Forsyth Park

Photo via vestigo.co

Spread out over a lush 30 acres in the heart of Savannah’s Historic District, Forsyth Park offers a relaxing retreat amidst beautiful scenery. Rich in history, the park is one of the oldest urban parks in the United States, and features several memorials and monuments commemorating American history. The park’s original ten acres center around a large, distinctive fountain, which is surrounded by flowering azaleas in the spring and hundreds-of-years-old oak trees draped in Spanish moss. The lower portion of the park features the Fragrant Garden, a café, and a visitors center.

HOT HAPPENINGS: The park plays host to many festivals and special events throughout the year, so be sure to check their events calendar to see what’s going on during your planned stay. Regardless of the weekend you’re visiting, the Forsyth Farmers’ Market is held year-round every Saturday from 9am-1pm.

Blue Orb Tours

Photo courtesy of Blue Orb Tours

Savannah has been named by numerous publications the most haunted city in America, which means that the city has more than its fair share of ghost tours. Few, however, are as chilling, informative, and acclaimed as Blue Orb Tours. In 2015 alone, Blue Orb’s Savannah ghost tours were named among the top ghost tours in the world by Conde Nast Traveler (Top 13), Trip Advisor (Top 10), and USA Today (Top 3). The company offers tours suited for all ages as well as adults-only adventures, all of which feature rich history lessons about Savannah’s most haunted sites, along with stories from property owners, renovation crews, real estate agents, and past and current tenants of their chilling encounters with the otherworldly.

LOCALS RECOMMEND: Get on a tour with Blue Orb owner and guide Tobias McGriff – with 20 years of experience investigating paranormal activity, his captivating storytelling and depth of historical knowledge about Savannah are truly unparalleled and make for an unforgettable experience.