Savannah is one of my favorite cities in the US! Not only will you find a city rich in history and charm, but you will also discover some of the best southern cooking around. If you love good food and a unique atmosphere, here are eight of the best places to eat in Savannah, Georgia!
8 of the Best Places to Eat in Savannah, GA
Table of Contents
- 1. The Pirates’ House
- 2. The Olde Pink House
- 3. Leopold’s Ice Cream
- 4. Treylor Park
- 5. Mrs Wilkes Dining Room
- 6. Mirabelle Savannah
- 7. The Lady and Sons
- 8. Clary’s Cafe
- A few more of the best places to eat in Savannah:
1. The Pirates’ House
At the Pirates’ House, you’ll find classic Southern cuisine served inside of an old pirate hangout. The structure was built in 1753 and is considered the oldest standing building in the entire state of Georgia.
It served as an inn and tavern for sailors and also became a popular hangout for pirates as well. There’s even a secret tunnel that leads from the tavern to the nearby Savannah River where the pirates would smuggle out contraband!
The Pirates’ House lunch buffet offers traditional southern dishes such as fried chicken, biscuits, black-eyed peas, steamed okra, macaroni & cheese, and other comfort foods.
You can also order from the full lunch and dinner menu, try the Honey Fired Chicken or the Pecan Crusted Chicken Breast.
Of course, you’ll need to round out your meal with a slice of warm homemade peach cobbler topped with fresh cream!
The Pirate’s House is considered a ‘House Museum’ with original hand-hewn ceilings joined with wooden pegs in the Captain’s Room.
The old house has 15 distinct dining rooms. We were seated in the Herb House, the oldest building in the Pirates’ House.
It was constructed in 1734 as the gardener’s home for the surrounding Trustees Garden. You’ll find the original heart pine floor and brick made from a nearby brickyard dating back to 1733.
The Herb House just so happens to be haunted as well! The staff are all so great, they were so friendly and indulged us in all of the ghost stories and folklore.
They told us the story about how one of the residents who lived in the cottage pushed his wife to her death down the well just outside of the dining room window. Her ghost supposedly still haunts the Herb House today.
After you eat, they have a roaming pirate that offers free tours of the house. You’ll learn some fascinating and creepy history!
On the tour, she pointed out a small portrait of a child located just outside the back room of the Herb House. We were shocked to learn that the child was actually deceased in the photo.
It was a common practice back then that if a child passed away before a photo had been taken of them, then they would prop up their body and snap a photo.
We also learned that when the pirates needed more deck crew, they would make an arrangement with the bartender where he would drug some unsuspecting patron’s drink.
When the victim would pass out, they would carry him through an underground tunnel that leads to a seaport and load him on their ship. The kidnapped man would later wake up to find himself at sea starting a new life as a pirate!
We even had a chance to view the tunnel from above. Certain tour operators in Savannah offer ghost tours that actually include exploring down inside the tunnel.
It is also believed that Robert Louis Stevenson was inspired by the Pirates’ House while writing Treasure Island.
Savannah is mentioned several times throughout the book and it is believed that the Pirates’ House is the inn where the fictional Captain John Flint took his last breath.
You can even view some of the original early edition pages in the Treasure Room.
So come to the Pirates’ House hungry and you’ll leave with a full stomach and a full imagination!
And if you like ghost stories, be sure to visit the nearby Bonaventure Cemetery, one of the most haunted and most beautiful cemeteries in America!
2. The Olde Pink House
The Olde Pink House is a restaurant and tavern housed in a historic 18th-century mansion.
The home was once a pristine white. However, over the years the stately mansion soon began turning a curious shade of pink as the red brick beneath the white plaster exterior began to bleed through.
This led to the nickname, ‘The Olde Pink House’.
The home was built in 1771 as the Habersham family’s private residence and played a role in the history of the South.
James Habersham Jr. was a wealthy planter and well-respected citizen. He used his influence to hold secret meetings in this home to help secure the independence of the 13 colonies from England.
In 1811, the home served as the Planter’s Bank, the first bank in Georgia. Today, the massive cast iron vaults are used as the restaurant’s wine cellar.
During the civil war in the early 1860s, Sherman presented the city of Savannah as a Christmas gift to President Lincoln. Subsequently, General York set up headquarters in this mansion where it was used to house the military generals.
The walls of this home hold many secrets, stories, and even a few ghosts. It is considered one of the most haunted restaurants in Savannah.
Don’t be alarmed if the candles blow out or you feel a rush of cold air while enjoying your meal. It’s all part of the experience!
The Olde Pink House is known for its home-cooked low-country cuisine and traditional southern fare. The dishes are all made with fresh organic ingredients.
Try the Applewood Smoked Bacon & Sweet Cream Corn with Pecan Crusted Chicken, or their signature Deep Dish Chicken Pot Pie.
The Olde Pink House is one of the best restaurants in Savannah, so be sure to make dinner reservations far in advance.
The tavern and piano bar in the basement also offer the same menu. Reservations are not required but still expect a wait.
*Related Post: Best Things to Do in Charleston SC on a Girl’s Weekend
3. Leopold’s Ice Cream
Leopold’s is a legendary ice cream parlor that claims to be the creator of the Tutti Frutti ice cream flavor. It is reminiscent of a frozen fruit cake but better!
Their premium handcrafted ice cream is the best in the city. The Savannah Socialite is also one of their most popular flavors, but I can never pass up the Blueberry Cheesecake!
The menu also includes shakes, sundaes, floats, banana splits, old-fashioned fountain sodas, hot cocoa, and a variety of fresh homemade pastries and baked goods.
Leopold’s is a family-run business that was founded in 1919 by three brothers from Greece.
Their sons took over the business, except Stratton Leopold who took a hiatus from the ice cream business and headed to Hollywood to pursue his dreams.
Stratton went on to produce blockbuster movies such as Mission Impossible 3 and The Sum of All Fears.
He returned with his wife in 2004 to carry on the family’s ice cream legacy where they incorporated his love for Hollywood into the traditional soda fountain decor.
You can even find movie posters displayed around the shop and original clapperboards from the films.
However, that is not the only connection that Leopold’s has with Hollywood. Johnny Mercer, a singer and songwriter and one of Savannah’s most famous residents, grew up just down the road from Leopold’s and even worked there when he was a boy.
4. Treylor Park
Unlike many of the historic restaurants, Treylor Park is fairly new to the Savannah foodie scene. However, their innovative dishes have taken the city by storm!
While there are four different locations in Georgia and Florida, each restaurant offers a unique menu.
Treylor Park specializes in adding a unique twist to traditional dishes.
They have mastered the art of savory and sweet, and their creative flavor combinations are mind-blowing!
Try the Hot Chicken Waffles with Blueberry Compote, Grilled Chicken & Apple Pie Sandwich, or the PB&J Chicken Wings tossed in a peanut and pecan butter with peach jelly sauce.
There are two locations in Savannah, each with a unique menu. Be sure to check the menu at each of the locations to determine which one you would like to visit.
5. Mrs Wilkes Dining Room
Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room is located in a former boardinghouse. The restaurant has been serving home-cooked southern dishes in a family-style setting for 68 years.
This iconic Savannah restaurant is only open for lunch, and on any given day you will find a line wrapped around the building at least an hour before opening.
As the lunch crowd files in, everyone is seated around the large dining tables with settings for ten. You can expect to share a table with strangers that will soon become friends.
For lunch, you’ll find large platters of fried chicken and cornbread dressing, black-eyed peas, okra gumbo, sweet potato souffle, cornbread muffins, and flakey biscuits.
The menu changes daily but is always filled with favorite classic southern dishes.
A meal at Mrs. Wilkes is a true experience in Southern cooking and Southern hospitality!
*And while you’re visiting Savannah, be sure to make the short drive to Tybee Island and grab dinner at The Crab Shack. It is a unique experience and one of the coolest things to do on Tybee Island!
6. Mirabelle Savannah
Touring the opulent Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist is one of our favorite things to do in Savannah. After you visit this iconic landmark, step across the street to Mirabelle Cafe for a Southern Belle Peach Cobbler Waffle.
Inside the white-washed brick facade of this historic 1860s Greek Revival-style mansion, you’ll find a darling European-inspired cafe.
Tables are located inside various rooms on the first floor of the historic home, or you can dine al fresco on the outdoor sidewalk like at a typical European cafe.
Mirabelle is known for its liege waffles that originated from the streets of Belgium.
These waffles are made from a fermented dough with carmelized sugar pearls, giving it a rich and chewy texture similar to brioche.
Their Peach Cobbler Waffle adds a sinfully delicious southern twist to the traditional Belgium waffle.
The heavenly waffle is piled high with a peach compote, cinnamon streusel, and freshly whipped cream.
Not only do they specialize in decadent waffles, but their signature coffees are brewed from coffee beans harvested around the globe. Other menu items include sandwiches and teas.
The Mirabelle also doubles as a boutique hotel, hosting guests in one of four vintage-inspired upstairs suites that are just dripping with southern charm.
7. The Lady and Sons
The Lady and Sons is the landmark restaurant of Paula Deen, the queen of southern cooking.
Her passion project began in 1989 out of her humble home and has since grown to become a world-renowned restaurant and catering business.
The Lady and Sons restaurant first opened its doors in 1996 and over the decades has been serving some of the best home-cooked southern dishes around.
In 2003, the restaurant moved to its current location inside a 200-year-old brick building on Congress Street. Here you will find a three-story restaurant with seating for over 300 guests.
Meals at The Lady and Sons are served family-style with platters of crispy fried chicken, creamed corn, and buttery biscuits all passed around the table.
It is a one-of-a-kind dining experience that encompasses the heart and spirit of Savannah!
8. Clary’s Cafe
Fans of the best-selling book and subsequent movie, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, will want to stop in for a meal at Clary’s Cafe. This popular local hangout is mentioned quite often throughout the book.
It is located only a few blocks from the famed Mercer House, so plan to stop in and grab a bite to eat either before or after you take a tour of the home.
Clary’s first opened in the 1930s as a drug store and soda fountain. Today, it is a local diner that has become a fixture in the community
Whether you are a fan of the book or not, you won’t want to miss their legendary breakfast dishes.
Try the Greek Omelet, Eggs Benedict, or thick slices of french toast drizzled with Georgia cane syrup.
Their lunch menu is also quite extensive and includes a variety of soups, sandwiches, salads, desserts, and fresh-baked pastries.
Try the Grilled Ham & Cheese Sandwich with a side of Tomato Basil Bisque Soup. For dessert, you can’t go wrong. with the Caramel Pecan Sticky Bun, or the Homemade Bread Pudding!
At Clary’s, you’ll find large portions, reasonable prices, and a friendly staff that will treat you like family!
Savannah is one of our favorite girls’ trip destinations. For more recommendations, see our guide 11 Best Girls’ Trip Destinations in the US!
A few more of the best places to eat in Savannah:
- The Grey: A chic restaurant that is located in an old converted Greyhound bus depot. Be sure to try the pie of the day!
- Back in the Day Bakery: Known for its homemade Pecan Sticky Buns and Cinnamon Rolls.
- Gryphon: The best place to go for a classic southern Pimento Cheese Sandwich.
- Zunzi’s: A legendary sandwich shop boasting ‘The Conquistador’. This generously sized sandwich has been featured on the Travel Channel for its tender and juicy chicken topped with melted provolone cheese and signature Zunzi’s special sauce.
- Maple Street Biscuit Co: This iconic southern chain doesn’t mess around when it comes to biscuits! The flakey buttery biscuits are made fresh daily and filled with hearty organic meats and cheeses then covered in a house-made gravy.
- The Ordinary Pub: Unexpectedly delicious pub food served in a unique setting.
I hope this guide has helped you discover the best places to eat in Savannah, Georgia!
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