I just got back from a wonderful weekend trip to Savannah, Georgia with 3 of my friends. Savannah is known as an ‘urban forest’ because of the beautiful oak trees that seem to line most streets as well as the abundance of parks around the city. It’s also known for being one of the most haunted cities in America. Before heading to Savannah, I asked for recommendations of the best restaurants, activities, and sights to see from my friends on Instagram and I must say it really helped us plan a fantastic trip! Although a few items were changed as the weekend progressed, here’s our basic itinerary:
Basic Itinerary
Day 1 (Friday):
- Travel Day/Arrival
- Rooftop happy hour drinks at Myrtle & Rose
Day 2 (Saturday):
- Breakfast at Savannah Coffee Roasters
- 1.5 hour trolley tour with Old Savannah Tours
- Late lunch at Vic’s on the River
- Walking around/shopping
- Sorrel Weed House Ghost tour (7pm)
- Smiles Dueling Piano Bar (pub style food for dinner)
Day 3 (Sunday):
- Brunch at Colin’s Quarter Forsyth
- Owens Thomas House & Slave Quarters (we planned on this but it was closed for Easter)
- American Prohibition Museum
- Shopping/Walking around neighborhood
- Dinner at The Olde Pink House
- Ice cream at Leopolds
Day 4 (Monday):
- Depart for home
Detailed Savannah Trip Breakdown
Day 1 Breakdown:
After our 7 hour drive to Savannah, we arrived at our Airbnb, which was located on Lurch Street near Forsyth Park, a great home base from which to easily see lots of sights. After we changed, we headed out to the Plant Riverside District for rooftop appetizers and drinks. We went to Myrtle & Rose which had an incredible view of the waterfront and such a pretty ambiance- highly recommend! The entire JW Marriott complex is pretty magnificent, with several bars and restaurants, so if you’re in doubt of where to start, this is a great place. Be sure to head inside and take a stroll through the lobby- it’s really beautiful and unique.
After our fancy drinks, we went across the street to a country bar called Saddlebags. This was definitely a younger crowd but we still had fun and made sure to request Reba’s Fancy (which most of the early twenty-somethings there had seemingly never heard of) and sang along at the top of our lungs! This seems to be a popular stop on a Bachelorette Party itinerary, too.
Day 2 Breakdown:
We did a grab and go breakfast at Savannah Coffee Roasters followed by a 1.5 hour sightseeing trolley tour with Old Savannah Tours. This cafe has been is business since 1909 and is quaint and cozy with lots of yummy baked goods as well as more hearty breakfast and drink options. Lots of people recommended we take either a trolley tour or walking tour of the city on the first day because it’s a great way to familiarize yourself with the layout of the neighborhoods and can also provide other ideas of sights to see or activities to check out later on. It ended up raining during our first day so the tour week took with Old Savannah Trolley Tours also worked out nicely since it was covered.
After our trolley tour we had lunch at Vic’s on the River. Their lunch menu did not disappoint- we all left feeling happy, full, and understanding why this restaurant is recommended by so many. Lunch was also a great option for eating at a higher-end restaurant more affordably. Making reservations in advance is a must, however, so be sure to do so as soon as possible.
Next we headed to Braughton Street for some shopping. This area has a mix of smaller boutiques and larger chain stores. One of our favorite shops ended up being the gift shop at the Davenport House Museum. I’m not sure why we didn’t actually tour the house (we definitely should have) but we did stumbled upon the gift shop and it has such cute, unique, and surprisingly affordable items. I ended up getting some adorable gifts for my daughter. The other shop I love is called The Paris Market Cafe, which was part coffee shop, part home decor boutique with a mixture of modern and vintage items.
In the later afternoon we went back to our Airbnb to have some downtime before heading to the Sorrel-Weed House for an evening ghost tour. This historic home is said to be one of the most haunted houses in Savannah. Even if you’re a skeptic, it’s a pretty fun and spooky tour to take. Many people recommended doing some sort of ghost-related tour while visiting, but if ghosts aren’t your thing, the Sorell-Weed House also offers a daytime architecture tour. Reserving tickets in advanced is recommended for both tours.
After the ghost tour, we went to Savannah Smiles Dueling Piano Bar, which was a ton of fun. They don’t accept reservations so tables are first come, first served. The atmosphere has a dive-bar feel and the drinks and food offered go along with this vibe. We got some basic pub food which countered the more pricey dinners on our itinerary. This is a great place to add to your agenda if you are celebrating a special occasion like a bachelorette weekend or milestone birthday.
Day 3 Breakdown:
Our Airbnb was only a couple blocks from Forsyth Park so we walked over to Collin’s Quarter Forsyth for brunch. They don’t accept reservations and are usually very busy so be prepared to wait a bit. It was cold and rainy so we ate inside but if you are there when the weather is nice, they have outdoor patio seating with a beautiful view of the park. The food and drinks were both delicious.
After brunch we strolled through Forsyth Park and some of the surrounding neighborhoods. We had planned to tour the Owens Thomas House & Slave Quarters, however, they were unfortunately closed because it was Easter Sunday. Instead, we ended up visiting the American Prohibition Museum, which was a fun last-minute addition to our itinerary. The museum is located on a street that’s only open to pedestrian traffic and has several shops and restaurants (including a cookie shop that offers a free cookie tasting) so I’d recommend checking out this area called City Market. We grabbed a to-go pizza from one of the restaurants as an afternoon snack and headed back to our Airbnb to relax.
The most recommended restaurant by far was The Olde Pink House, and this is where we went for dinner. You MUST make reservations well in advance, however. This historic home-turned-restaurant has several different rooms for dining throughout. We were seated in the basement tavern area and it was incredibly cozy. I’d love to go back and sit in one of the other rooms, too, as each space has a unique ambience. If you are in town and can only choose one restaurant, this is certainly a fantastic choice for a special dining experience.
After dinner we headed over to Leopold’s for ice cream. Leopold’s is a very popular ice cream parlor so expect to wait in line, no matter the time of day (although the line moves pretty quickly). I would say it lived up to the hype because the ice cream flavors were unique and the sundae I got was delicious (with real freshly whipped cream on top). This was a perfect way to end our trip!
Savannah offers so much to do, with its beautiful tree lined streets, colorful historical homes, and rich history. Some other ‘must sees’ include:
Other Top Recommended Attractions
Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room:
This restaurant is only open Monday-Friday for lunch but apparently has incredible fried chicken
Treylor Park Restaurant:
We stopped here for drinks one afternoon and it’s a fun, casual restaurant that many recommended
Foodie Tour:
A great option to experience Savannah’s culinary delights
Day Trip to Tybee Island:
Lots of people recommended taking a day trip to the beach
Savannah Riverboat Cruise
We saw one of these impressive looking steamboats while down on the riverfront and it looks like a great way to take in a scenic view of the city
Savannah is a beautiful city that I’m excited to go back to visit again, even if it’s just to take an afternoon stroll through the historic neighborhoods, being drawn in by the colorful architecture of the rows homes. I’d highly recommend a visit to this quaint city for a girls trip or even a long weekend as a couple or solo traveler!
