Kyle Green
If you could associate an image with the word “charming,” it would be Savannah, Georgia. A true southern belle of a town, Savannah is a famous tourist attraction for families, romantic getaways, and history buffs alike.
Savannah’s picturesque coastal, historical, and urban surroundings are breathtaking to behold.
The city’s historic districts preserve their antebellum charm, with horse-drawn carriages strolling down cobblestone streets, colorful plantation-style homes, and 18th-century buildings.
Savannah’s charm extends to its outstanding restaurant scene with an eclectic selection of wonderful bistros, family-friendly grills, and hip restaurant-bar concepts.
During my most recent trip, I scoped out the best restaurants in Savannah to enjoy excellent meals in friendly and creative atmospheres.
Mrs. Wilke’s Dining Room
107 W Jones St, Savannah, GA 31401
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In true Southern fashion, I’m starting out with a Southern comfort restaurant inside a beautifully preserved 1870’s boarding home in downtown Savannah’s South Historic District.
In 1943, owner Sema Wilkes converted the downstairs into a family-style dining room that we now know as Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room. Mrs. Wilke’s Dining Room is one of Savannah’s most popular restaurants and tourist attractions.
Customers line up to get a seat at one of Mrs. Wilke’s giant dining room tables, where couples, families, and singles must share a table to enjoy some of the best Southern food they’ll ever taste served family-style in big glass bowls.
Fried chicken, meatloaf, black-eyed peas, macaroni and cheese, candied yams, collard greens, pickled beets, and so much more are on the pre-fixed dining room menu.
Husk Savannah
12 W Oglethorpe Ave, Savannah, GA 31401
Phone: 912-349-2600
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Located in Savannah’s Historic District North, Husk Savannah is Executive Chef and Savanna native Chris Hathcock’s vision of ingredient-driven southern food.
Located inside a historic antebellum home with a beautifully designed modern dining room and bar, Husk offers a constantly changing menu inspired by Georgia’s home-grown and caught bounty.
Chef Hathcock uses southern ingredients to create innovative dishes that fuse the deep south with other world cuisines.
I loved the chicken liver pate with persimmon, blinis, corn crackers, and mustard. I recommend the beef, sunflower risotto, and sunchokes for the main course.
The Grey
109 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Savannah, GA 31401
Phone: 912-662-5999
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Named for the 1938 art deco-style Greyhound Bus Terminal in which it’s located, The Grey is a trendy, upscale new American restaurant in downtown Savannah.
Chef Trevor Elliot sources produce, meat, and seafood from local farms and vendors to create complex contemporary takes on soul food.
Dinner, cocktails, and weekend brunch are all excellent at The Grey, crafting dishes and cocktails from the state and region’s seasonal bounty.
I loved the English pea falafel with tomato, baba ghanoush, and summer squash to start. I continued with the Mediterranean them on my entrée of grilled quail with tahini, scuppernong, and basil.
Cotton & Rye
1801 Habersham St, Savannah, GA 31401
Phone: 912-777-6286
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Located in the heart of Thomas Square, Cotton and Rye is a beautiful cocktail bar and high-end new American restaurant owned by Savannah-native Zach Shultz with married couple Caleb Ayers and Peanut Ayers as Executive Chef and Pastry Chef, respectively.
Cotton & Rye’s unique and creative dishes use the freshest ingredients and make all bread, sausage, and pate from scratch.
Since they make and cure their sausage in-house, I highly recommend trying their charcuterie board, with a rotating selection of house-made meats.
For the main dish, their Pork Osso Buco braised pork shank with cheese grits, parmesan, kale, and stewed tomatoes is superb.
Fox & Fig Cafe
321 Habersham St, Savannah, GA 31401
Phone: 912-297-6759
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If you’re a veggie-lover looking for a break from meat-heavy southern cuisine, Fox & Fig Café is Savannah’s first vegan café, serving artisanal coffee, craft beer, natural wine, and a brunch-inspired, fully plant-based menu.
Located in Downtown Savannah, Fox & Fig has one of the best espresso bars in town, serving freshly baked vegan pastries like cinnamon rolls and brownies for morning coffees to go or to savor in their lovely outdoor patio.
The menu at Fox & Fig is an all-day brunch menu with healthy, plant-based versions of classic dishes like French toast and nachos.
I loved their Fox-ocado Toast, a spruced up version of avocado toast on ciabatta with key lime smashed avocado, red onion, micro cilantro, pico de gallo, pickled red onion, chia, hemp, and pumpkin seeds!
Crystal Beer Parlor
301 W Jones St, Savannah, GA 31401
Phone: 912-349-1000
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Located in an old brick building in Savannah’s Historic District South, Crystal Beer Parlor is a Savannah institution and one of the first establishments to serve beer when Prohibition ended in the 30s.
The Parlor used to be a family-owned grocery store when William Blocko and Connie Manning bought it and converted it to a burger and beer joint in 1933. It’s still a Savannah favorite for brews, burgers, and whiskey today.
The extensive menu at Crystal Beer Parlor features southern twists on classic bar fare along with a vast list of sandwiches, burgers, soups, salads, and even a kid’s menu.
I loved the Pimento Pig sandwich with smoked pulled pork, pimento cheese, tomato, and chopped pickles on sourdough bread that’s buttered and grilled. They also make some of the best battered and fried onion rings you’ll ever taste.
The Collins Quarter
151 Bull St, Savannah, GA 31401
Phone: 912-777-4147
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The Collins Quarter is a charming eatery offering Australian and Southern fusion cuisine at the corner of Bull Street and Oglethorpe Avenue.
If you’re visiting for brunch, a must-try at The Collins Quarter is their signature Avo Smash, featuring perfectly ripe avocado, feta cheese, beet hummus, and a perfectly poached egg atop a slice of hearty, seeded toast.
Another standout brush dish is the Israeli-style Shakshouka, made with stone-ground grits, merguez sausage, and hot peppers, served with warm, soft pita.
For dinner, start with a Beef Tartare Tostada, loaded with cotija cheese, serrano peppers, and poblano aioli, before moving on to the Roasted & Flashed Fried Half Chicken served with a side of arroz sofrito and broccolini.
Sandfly BBQ
8413 Ferguson Ave, Savannah, GA 31406
Phone: 912-356-5463
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Nestled in the charming neighborhood of Sandfly, Savannah, Sandfly BBQ serves up mouthwatering, traditional Southern barbecue in a laid-back, casual setting.
The restaurant is easily accessible from the Isle of Hope and the nearby Wormsloe Historic Site.
Start your meal with their famous Brunswick Stew, a hearty mix of smoked meats, tomatoes, corn, and lima beans.
However, the star of the show is undoubtedly their tender, fall-off-the-bone St. Louis Cut Spare Ribs, generously slathered in Sandfly BBQ’s signature tangy and mildly spicy sauce.
Alternatively, opt for the succulent pulled pork or smoky beef brisket and a selection of classic sides like creamy Mac-n-Cheese and Fried Okra.
Big Bon Bodega
2011 Bull St, Savannah, GA 31401
Phone: 912-349-4847
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Situated in the vibrant Starland District of Savannah, Big Bon Bodega is a beloved neighborhood gem just a short walk from the famous Foxy Loxy Café and Gallery.
At the heart of Big Bon Bodega’s menu are their artisan bagels, baked to perfection in a wood-fired oven.
Choose from classic options like sesame or herbs de Provence, then pair it with a generous smear of their house-made cream cheese, available in plain, kimchi, pimento, scallion & herb, strawberry, and vegan.
For bigger appetites, sink your teeth into the absurdly delicious Bon Mi bagel sandwich with succulent roasted pork shoulder, pickled veg, cucumber, spicy mayo, and more.
Leopold’s Ice Cream
212 E Broughton St, Savannah, GA 31401
Phone: 912-234-4442
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Leopold’s Ice Cream is Savannah’s-and perhaps the U.S.’s- oldest ice cream shop, opening its doors in Savannah’s North Historic District in 1919.
The house-made ice cream still uses the same century-old recipe that the original owner Peter Leopold passed down to his son, famed Savannah native and Hollywood producer Stratton Leopold, who’s the current owner.
Along with mouthwatering ice cream, Leopold’s also sells fresh-baked bread, pastries, sandwiches, soups, and salads. Still, you must sample one of Leopold’s many ice cream creations.
I loved the classic Banana Split with vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate ice cream, strawberry and pineapple toppings, chocolate syrup, pecans, whipped cream, and a cherry on top!
The Olde Pink House
23 Abercorn St, Savannah, GA 31401
Phone: 912-232-4286
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Located between Johnson Square and Reynolds Square in Savannah’s North Historic District, The Olde Pink House is an antebellum home, built in the 1700s and played a key role in America’s independence from England.
Today, guests can enjoy a fine-dining Southern meal while learning about The Olde Pink House’s history, replete with a harrowing ghost story.
The Olde Pink House’s menu consists of new and refined twists on Southern comfort food favorites like cornbread fried oysters and Cheerwine barbeque pulled pork sliders with butter pickles.
Entrees range from fine cuts of steak, seafood, and pork, to some of the best fried chicken I’ve ever tasted.
Vic’s On the River
26 E Bay St, Savannah, GA 31401
Phone: 912-721-1000
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As the name implies, Vic’s On the River is located in a beautiful building right off the picturesque Savannah River in Historic District North with a wonderful oak tree-covered outdoor patio.
Vic’s is a restaurant and bar on the riverside and a coffee house, cocktail and espresso bar, streetside.
Their upscale dinner menu features classic Southern dishes with refined, modern ingredients and flavor profiles.
I loved their take on fried green tomatoes, which they served with goat cheese, tomato chutney, and balsamic glaze.
Their southern BBQ meatloaf with tempura onion rings, haricots verts, and mashed potatoes was perfectly comforting and decadent.
Vinnie Van GoGo’s
317 W Bryan St, Savannah, GA 31401
Phone: 912-233-6394
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Vinnie Van GoGo’s is a family-friendly, casual Yamacraw Village neighborhood pizzeria specializing in New York-style pies.
They make their dough every night for the freshest, bubbliest thin-crust pizza in town, and they deliver pizzas on bicycle, which is a small-town and environmentally friendly tidbit I am happy to support.
Pizzas have a crunchy underside and a Neapolitan-style bubbly char at Vinnie’s. You can choose between a red, pesto, or white pie with the toppings of your choice. They also sell giant New York-size pizza slices for a quick lunch on the go.
Flock to the Wok
37 Whitaker St, Savannah, GA 31401
Phone: 912-239-6697
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True to its silly play-on-words name, this trendy and delicious Pan Asian restaurant and bar in downtown Savannah attracts a large crowd on a nightly basis.
With a wide selection of Asian favorites like dumplings, fried rice, and numerous stir-fries, Flock to the Wok has won plenty of accolades from Savannah’s press, including a vote for Savannah’s best restaurant.
Whether you’re looking for noodles, dumplings, rice, seafood, or spring rolls, Flock to the Wok has an authentic variation from different Asian countries.
They have Japanese Gyoza, and Chinese Shumai steamed dumplings. My favorite dish was the whole crispy flounder with sweet and sour sauce.
Noble Fare
321 Jefferson St, Savannah, GA 31401
Phone: 912-443-3210
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Located in Savannah’s historic downtown district, Noble Fare is just steps away from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and within walking distance of Chippewa Square, making it a perfect spot for a memorable meal after a day of sightseeing.
Begin your meal with the restaurant’s renowned Goat Cheese Fritter Salad, adorned in pecans, craisins, berries, and apples, then dressed in a raspberry vinaigrette.
Indulge in the succulent Center Cut Filet Mignon for the main course, perfectly complemented by a savory truffle whip potato and crisp haricot vert.
To enhance your dining experience, peruse Noble Fare’s extensive cocktail list, with offerings like the Peach Old Fashioned and the Raspberry Fizz.
Elizabeth On Thirty Seventh
105 E 37th St, Savannah, GA 31401
Phone: 912-236-5547
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Located inside a stunning Victorian mansion with perfectly manicured grounds in Thomas Square, Elizabeth on Thirty-Seventh is one of Savannah’s most romantic fine-dining restaurants, serving sophisticated southern coastal cuisine since 1981.
Owners and brothers Greg and Gary Butch create a superb wine program while Executive Chefs Kelly Yambor and Jeremy Diehl serve modern takes on classic Southern dishes.
Elizabeth offers a chef-tasting menu with wine pairings along with a small yet excellent a la carte menu. I loved the spicy Savannah red rice with Georgia shrimp, Half Moon River clams, sausage, grouper, and okra.
Best Restaurants in Savannah
- Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room
- Husk Savannah
- The Grey
- Cotton & Rye
- Fox & Fig
- Crystal Beer Parlor
- The Collins Quarter
- Sandfly BBQ
- Big Bon Bodega
- Leopold’s Ice Cream
- The Olde Pink House
- Vic’s on the River
- Vinnie Van Go Go’s
- Flock to the Wok
- Noble Fare
- Elizabeth On Thirty Seventh
Final Thoughts
Savannah restaurants offer the very best of both traditional and innovative cuisine in historical and charming atmospheres that represent the spirit of this Southern gem of a city.
Whether you want fine dining in an 18th century antebellum home or contemporary bar food in a hidden speakeasy, you’ll find the best restaurants in Savannah on my diverse list of bistros, pubs, BBQ joints, pizzerias, and more.
If you’re looking for other things to do in Savannah, check out our ranking of the best brunch spots, right here!
Did we miss your favorite restaurant in Savannah? Leave a comment for us down below and we’ll check it out!
Nice article. We have been visiting Savannah for years, usually during its music festival. We have eaten at many of the fine restaurants in your article. Kind of surprised to see that the 17Hundred90 Restaurant didn’t make it in the top 21. One of our favorites, everytime we go.