14 Best Restaurants in Savannah, Georgia

1. 1. The Olde Pink House

If you’re looking for places to eat in Savannah, start your culinary tour of the city at one of the best and most popular restaurants to enjoy a true Southern meal, in a sophisticated, 18th-century Georgian mansion, surrounded by portrait-lined walls, fireplaces and shimmering chandeliers. You’ll have your choice of Southern-influenced fish, beef, pork and chicken dishes, as well as Southern classics, such as shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, and bourbon molasses-glazed grilled pork tenderloin with sweet potatoes and collards.

The BLT salad, a twist on the traditional BLT sandwich, combines fried green tomatoes, crispy bacon and black pepper thyme buttermilk dressing and was featured on the Food Network Show, “The Best Thing I Ever Ate.” For a grand finale to your meal, indulge in the signature praline basket, filled with vanilla ice cream and topped with sweet berries. A good way to begin your Olde Pink House dinner is to enjoy drinks in the Arches Bar while munching on cheese straws stacked in one of the many mason jars.

The Olde Pink House

Address: 23 Abercorn St, Savannah, GA US 31401

Website: The Olde Pink House

2. 2. Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room

Once you have dined in high Southern elegance, head to Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room, for real Southern comfort food, located in the basement of a 19th century home. That’s where President Obama headed a few years ago when he visited Savannah and it was the only restaurant in which he chose to dine.

Opened in 1943, Mrs. Wilkes Dining room is a Southern staple, that has been serving family-style meals for decades. You may find yourself at a table with strangers at one of the 10-person communal tables. Along with good conversation, platters of fried chicken and dishes of butter beans, red rice, collard greens, mac and cheese, chicken, ham, beef stew, rice and gravy, and candied yams will be freely flowing.

The daily menu offers at least four meats and ten veggie dishes, so check their website to see what the daily options will be. Be prepared to queue outside during lunch hours. If you’re in the mood for “the real deal”, this is the place to go.

Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room

Address: 107 W Jones St, Savannah, GA US 31401

Website: Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room

3. 3. Elizabeth on 37th

Considered the “Grand Dame” of Savannah dining, this romantic eatery is a favorite among locals and visitors and is considered one of the best restaurants in Savannah. Housed in a restored early 20th-century antique-filled mansion, in Savannah’s Thomas Square Streetcar neighborhood, Elizabeth on 37th’s Southern-influenced seasonal menu features fresh local produce, seafood and meat, along with an impressive wine list and innovative dishes, such as spicy Savannah red rice with Georgia shrimp.

Sapelo Island clams are a favorite appetizer and the Coastal Grouper Celeste, a sesame-almond crusted fish served with peanut sauce and roasted potatoes, is a best seller. Another standard entrée favorite is the double cut Berkshire pork chops with five cheese macaroni and apple-slaw cabbage.

If you have room for dessert, you’ll have your choice of indulgent treats, such as a pecan almond torte topped with praline ice cream and bourbon caramel sauce and the restaurant’s famous Savannah cream cake, an angel food and sherry-laced custard cake with berry and custard sauce.

Elizabeth on 37th

Address:105 E 37th St, Savannah, GA US 31401

Website: Elizabeth on 37th

4. 4. Leopold's Ice Cream Parlor

Take a step back in time and stop by Leopold’s Ice Cream Parlor. No trip to Savannah would be complete without a visit to Leopold’s. You can’t miss it. It’s the place with people lined up outside, waiting to place their order to dine in or take out. The reason it is so popular is that their ice cream has been named the 5th best in the world.

Inside you’ll find a retro ice cream parlor, complete with an old-fashioned marble soda fountain and friendly soda jerks. Their ice cream is made in-house, one batch at a time, using family recipes handed down from the Leopold brothers. Leopold’s Ice Cream was founded in 1919 by three brothers from Greece. They learned the art of candy and dessert making from an uncle, who had already settled in America. George, Peter and Basil Leopold perfected their secret formulas and created the now world-famous Leopold’s Ice Cream.

Since then, generations of Savannahians and visitors can’t get enough of Leopold’s Ice Cream. Besides ice cream, their menu features milkshakes, sandwiches, soups, salads and homemade pastries.

Leopold's Ice Cream

Opening Hours:Sunday-Thursday: 11 am – 11 pm; Friday-Saturday 11 am-midnight. Fall and Winter hours may vary.

Address: 212 E Broughton St, Savannah, GA US 31401

Website: Leopold’s Ice Cream

5. 5. Cafe M

Step inside Cafe M and you will be transported to an authentic Parisian Cafe. Cafe M isn’t just inspired by France, it is run by a Parisian couple, Amanda and Arthur Montplaisir. French ambiance permeates the cafe - artwork by French illustrator Sempe, French music in the background, and traditional Parisian cafe tables with marble tops and woven chairs. Sit inside or outside on their pet-friendly patio. The cafe is located in the heart of the Historic District, just off River Street, tucked into a corner where two bridges carried cotton factors to the different warehouses on the river in the 1800’s.

Their sweet and savory menu includes French pastries, colorful macarons, and signature baguette sandwiches, such as the “Provence” - their most popular, with mozzarella, prosciutto, ham, sundried tomatoes, mixed greens and pesto. There’s also the “Parisian”, with ham and Swiss. Fresh brewed coffee is served all day and they stock a selection of imported foods and French goods.

Cafe M

Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 8 am - 4:00 pm (kitchen closes at 3:00)

Address:128 E Bay St, Savannah, GA US 31401

Website: Cafe M

6. 6. Holland House

Don’t know where to eat in Savannah? Well, if you’re in the mood for comfort food, Holland House is an establishment you’ll want to seek out. The unassuming Midtown restaurant has been serving soul food to residents and visitors to Savannah for 45 years. The menu is comprised of the daily meats and veggie sides on their buffet, for each day of the week.

You’ll have your choice of traditional Southern comfort food favorites, such as crispy fried chicken, beef stew, and chicken and dumplings, along with a selection of sides, such as okra and tomatoes, mac and cheese, sweet potato soufflé and collard greens. If it’s breakfast you are looking for, Holland House has custom-made breakfast available daily and includes favorites, such as pancakes, omelets, French toast, breakfast sandwiches, biscuits and gravy and hash browns.

Come as you are, the restaurant is located in an old house that has a laid-back vibe, friendly staff and reasonable prices.

Holland House

Address: 601 E 68th St, Savannah, GA US 31405

Website: Holland House

7. 7. a.Lure

There is a type of Southern cuisine that is regional, as opposed to the traditional Southern comfort food that is found in the greater South. It’s called Low Country and it’s a type of cuisine associated with the South Carolina Low Country and the Georgia coast. It has its origins in African cuisine, paired with the rich diversity of seafood from the coastal estuaries. Being positioned on the coast, Savannah offers a wide variety of seafood, such as grouper, snapper, and blue crab, which means the restaurant a.Lure does, too.

The seafood here is caught by Savannah fishermen and also comes from Florida and the Carolinas. Keeping it local is all part of their “from the farm” concept, as their seafood and produce comes straight from the Low Country. Located in the Historic District, a.Lure has a classy, upscale ambiance and offers an eclectic menu with their specialty seafood, but also their steak, pork and chicken.

One of their most famous Low Country dishes, the Low Country Boil, is a feast, with added crab cakes, fingerling potatoes, collards, and sweet corn souffle. There is also the classic shrimp and grits, with locally caught shrimp. And they may just have the most decadent dessert in Savannah: chocolate peanut butter s'mores - a chocolate torte with peanut butter ganache, homemade marshmallow and toasted marshmallow cream.

a.Lure

Address: 309 W Congress St, Savannah, GA US31401

Website: a.Lure

8. 8. The Grey

Occupying a 1938 Art Deco Greyhound bus terminal, (thus the name), the Grey restaurant has been described as “game-changing”. The building underwent a restoration to preserve the historical Art Deco architectural elements. Inside there is Art Deco paneling, a 60 seat dining room with banquettes, a central horseshoe-shaped bar, a skylight and a refurbished ticket booth, that serves as an open kitchen.

Chef Masham Bailey, a native of Savannah, pairs Southern staples, such as country captain (curried chicken and rice dish), pickled oysters, and smoked pork with pepper jelly with contemporary Italian inspired dishes, such as house-made pasta with shrimp, tomato and bottarga. No matter Southern or Southern with an Italian influence, regional produce and seafood are the ingredients. The Grey also stocks European wines and Atlantic Trade liquors.

The Grey

Address: 109 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Savannah, GA US 31401

Website: The Grey

9. 9. Cotton and Rye

Set in a former 1950’s bank, Cotton and Rye is a Zagat rated upscale New American restaurant, that cooks up creative foods with a Southern slant. Just minutes from downtown Savannah, the former bank building was transformed into a sophisticated but relaxed atmosphere, with modern white brick and a sleek maple butcher block bar and table tops with soft accents of cotton. There is also an outdoor dining covered deck that overlooks a lounge with a seating area of sofas, lounge chairs and tables. If you want some privacy, you can request to be seated in the bank’s vault.

Influences come from New England, the Deep South, the Southwest and South Florida. Carefully sourced ingredients go into the preparation of their charcuterie, pickles, and bread, all made on the premises. The eponymous fresh-baked-daily rye slices are wrapped in a white cotton cloth. Side dishes, such as giant lima bean ragout and squash with sorghum and spiced pecans, are seasonal. The bar is 100% American stocked, with American wine, spirits and beer.

Cotton and Rye

Address: 1801 Habersham St, Savannah, GA US 31401

Website: Cotton and Rye

10. 10. Back in the Day Bakery

Make your way into Back in the Day Bakery and taste the best pastries and bread at one of Savannah’s best bakeries. Try their signature buttermilk biscuit, or build your own biscuit. Some of their best pastries include scones, muffins, and cinnamon swirls. If you wish to have lunch, their curry chicken, and grilled cheese salad is a must-try. The best thing about this bakery is that they offer baking classes to diners as well. Book a class for December and learn the art and craft of southern baking with Cheryl Day. Avid bakers an cooks can also purchase cookbooks in the bakery as well for some memorabilia to take home from Savannah.

Back in the Day Bakery

Address: ​2403 Bull Street, Savannah, Georgia 31401

Website: Back in the Day Bakery

Opening hours: 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, Thursdays to Sundays

11. 11. Fox and Fig Cafe

Visiting the southern part of the US can sometimes mean a lot of fried chicken and fried food, but lo and behold the south has made room for vegan cuisine. If you’re looking for good restaurants in Savannah that serve vegan dishes, try the food at Fox and Fig Cafe, a premier vegan cafe that also features locally roasted PERC coffee. Some of their best sellers include the American Drip Bottomless Cup, Plant Food Plank, and the Kale Pesto Pizza among many other crowd favorites. Experience Savannah’s southern take on fusion vegan food, and enjoy healthy food delivered with Southern hospitality and charm.

Fox and Fig Cafe

Address: 321 Habersham St., Savannah, GA 31401

Website: Fox and Fig Cafe

Opening hours: 8:00 am to 9:00 pm, Sundays to Mondays

12. 12. Wiley's Championship BBQ

If you’re the type of traveler who can’t resist the appetizing smell of barbeque, make plans to eat at Wiley’s Championship BBQ. Although the meat and the type of charcoal are important, some cooks claim that the secret is in the sauce, and this award-winning restaurant can back that up! Their barbeque sauce comes in original and tangy, and you can buy them by the bottle. Pair your pulled pork or rack of St. Louis ribs with a side of potato salad, mac and cheese, or sweet potato casserole. Wrap up a satisfying meal with something sweet and order a peach cobbler or a slice of peanut butter pie.

Wiley's Championship BBQ

Address: 4700 US-80, Savannah, GA 31410, United States

Website: Wiley’s Championship BBQ

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 7pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 8pm; Sun: 11am - 5pm

13. 13. Chive Sea Bar and Lounge

Head to Chive for lunch or dinner and enjoy fresh seafood dishes with a twist. This 1920s-style restaurant in the city’s Historic District promises a satisfying meal for your special occasion. You can order a signature cocktail to go with your meal, but each menu item also comes with a wine suggestion. Lunch favorites include ahi tuna salad served with miso ginger dressing and pan-seared snapper risotto drizzled with red curry. The dinner menu is divided into appetizers, soups, salads, cold plates, entrees, and desserts. Popular dinner dishes include filet mignon and miso-marinated duck breast.

Chive Sea Bar and Lounge

Address: 4 W Broughton St, Savannah, GA 31401, United States

Website: Chive Sea Bar and Lounge

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 3pm, 5pm - 10pm; Fri: 11am - 3pm, 5pm - 11pm; Sat: 12pm - 3pm, 5pm - 11pm; Sun: 12pm - 3pm, 5pm - 10pm

14. 14. Goose Feathers An Express Cafe & Bakery

Skip the typical hotel breakfast and head to Goose Feathers An Express Cafe & Bakery on Barnard Street for a delicious morning meal. Choose from their selection of gourmet coffees and specialty teas and pair your drink of choice with a hearty dish from their breakfast menu. Popular items include the Belgian waffle with fresh fruits and whipped cream, bread pudding, breakfast panini made with homemade ciabatta, blueberry cream croissant, and the fresh bagel with cream cheese. They also have sandwiches and desserts that make for the perfect afternoon snack.

Goose Feathers An Express Cafe & Bakery

Address: 39 Barnard St, Savannah, GA 31401, United States

Website: Goose Feathers An Express Cafe & Bakery

Opening hours: Mon, Thu - Fri: 7:30am - 2:30pm; Sat - Sun: 8am - 2:30pm (closed on Tue & Wed)

Enjoy dining in Savannah

This historic city has beautiful city squares lined with stately homes and a canopy of trees. Savannah’s restaurant scene reflects the cultural influences that have shaped the menus of some of the best restaurants the city has to offer. Whether you choose to dine in an elegant house or in a sleek, contemporary setting, you can be certain you will enjoy the best of what the city has to offer. Be sure to check out these best restaurants in Savannah on your next visit.