Savannah First-Timer's Guide
Plan the Perfect Trip to Savannah
Since I’m often asked the best restaurants in Savannah, I thought I’d break down the different options and list my personal favorites to help you decide where to go!
My #1 piece of advice when it comes to dining out in Savannah is to avoid the chains and always choose a local spot.
We have plenty of incredible options to keep you satisfied — even if you eat out for every single meal during an entire weeklong vacation!
Note: This guide contains affiliate links to my trusted travel partners.
If you’re new around here, first of all…allow me to extend a warm welcome!
My name is Erin, and I authored theSavannah First-Timer’s Guide. It combines my top tips from this website into one downloadable guide.
Contents
Famous Restaurants | Best Restaurants in Savannah | Breakfast | Fried Chicken | Seafood | Burgers | BBQ | Reservations Needed | No Reservations Needed
Famous Savannah Restaurants
There are some popular restaurants in Savannah that everyone seems to know about, so you might hear them mentioned over and over again.
As is the case in many cities, the most well-known restaurants aren’t always the best.
Sometimes they’re simply the ones that have been around the longest. In other instances, they’re restaurants that make the news frequently…and not always for the best reasons.
These are a few of the most famous restaurants in Savannah:
- The Olde Pink House
- The Pirates’ House
- Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room
- The Lady & Sons
- The Grey
- Husk
- Back in the Day Bakery (closed February 2024)
Anytime you see a “related reading” link on my site, like the one below, you can click on it to read in-depth about that particular subject.
For example, in the post linked below, I tell you which famous restaurants are worth visiting and which ones are simply overhyped tourist traps (ahem…Lady & Sons).
Related Reading: Which Famous Savannah Restaurants are Worth the Hype?
Best Restaurants in Savannah Georgia
This was tough, but I’ve compiled a list of the current best places to eat in Savannah — in my opinion. (Yes, this list is subjective.)
These restaurants are consistently incredible! I’ve tried to include options in a variety of price ranges — not just the fanciest spots.
Here are my current top ten all around favorites, in alphabetical order:
- Alligator Soul
- Brochu’s Family Tradition
- Common Thread
- Crystal Beer Parlor
- Erica Davis Lowcountry
- Geneva’s Famous Chicken and Cornbread
- Green Truck Pub
- Starland Cafe
- Sweet Patricia’s
- The Collins Quarter
I should probably note that my favorites change frequently, so I’ll update this list on a regular basis!
Try a Food Tour: Savannah Culinary & Cultural Walking Food Tour
Breakfast Restaurants in Savannah
Whether you’re looking for a hearty Southern-style breakfast or you prefer to load up on pastries from a bakery, there are plenty of yummy breakfast places in Savannah.
Here are ten of the most popular options, in alphabetical order:
- Alexander’s Bistro | Victorian District
- Auspicious Bakery | Outskirts (near Wormsloe)
- B Matthews Eatery | Historic District
- Big Bon Bodega | Starland District
- Clary’s Cafe | Historic District
- Dottie’s Market | Historic District
- Huey’s on the River | Historic District
- Narobia’s Grits & Gravy | Starland District
- Sweet Patricia’s | Starland District
- The Collins Quarter | Historic District
My personal favorite is currently Sweet Patricia’s (I love their fluffy quiche options), but I’ll forever be a fan of Clary’s and Narobia’s for their hearty meals and friendly, down-home atmosphere. I like Dottie’s a lot, but the prices are geared more towards tourists.
Historic District Breakfast
Since the majority of people who visit Savannah stay downtown, I’ve written an entire post about the best places to go for breakfast in the Historic District.
Each one is within easy walking distance of downtown hotels.
Here are my top five, in alphabetical order:
- B. Matthew’s Eatery
- Cafe M
- Clary’s Cafe
- Dottie’s Market
- The Collins Quarter
The post linked below includes lots of food photos and has some additional yummy breakfast spots in addition to the five options listed above.
Related Reading: A Local’s Guide to the Best Breakfast in Savannah
Starland District Breakfast
Since I live in Starland, and since breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, I thought it might be fun to also include a few favorite breakfast spots near me.
A couple of these are hidden gems you might not hear about otherwise.
- Narobia’s Grits & Gravy
- Sweet Patricia’s
- Troupial (they relocated to the Forsyth Farmers Market, as of December 2023)
Sweet Patricia’s is my current favorite! I love their spinach quiche option.
If you’re looking for the popular Back in the Day Bakery, the owners sold the building in late summer of 2023 and their closing day was on February 14, 2024.
New Small Business Alert:
I love giving new restaurants a shoutout, and I’m excited to give this place a try: Goody’s is located at 1526 Bull Street, and they serve breakfast from 7 a.m. ’til 11 a.m.
Related Reading: 11 Incredible Starland District Restaurants (and 5 Hidden Gems!)
Best Fried Chicken in Savannah
Fried chicken is a staple in the South, and Savannah has some solid options if you happen to get a craving for it during your visit.
Here are my top five picks, in alphabetical order:
- Brochu’s Family Tradition
- Cotton & Rye
- Geneva’s Famous Chicken and Cornbread
- Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room
- Savannah Fried Chicken
I say this all the time, but I realize the term “best” is highly subjective.
That’s true whether you’re referring to the best restaurants, tours, places to stay — or really anything, for that matter.
However, I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt that my personal favorite spot for the best fried chicken in Savannah is Geneva’s.
In fact, I love it so much that I hate to even list it here! I wish I could keep Ms. Geneva’s all to myself. Her fried chicken reminds me of Sunday dinners at my Nana’s house. The sides are tasty, too!
The folks at Brochu’s are solidly in the #2 spot for me. Their chicken tastes completely different from Geneva’s — but in a good way. The coating is lighter and flakier, and the seasoning is unique (and slightly) addicting. The chicken is brined first, then fried.
Andrew Brochu is a James Beard-nominated chef, and his restaurant was listed as one of the Best New Restaurants in the U.S. in 2023.
Savannah’s Top Seafood Spots
Since Savannah sits along the beautiful Georgia Coast, we’re lucky to have our choice of fresh seafood year round.
Let me tell you, there’s something pretty special about plate full of fresh-caught wild Georgia shrimp!
Here are my top five picks, once again in alphabetical order:
- a.Lure
- Chive Seabar and Lounge
- Driftaway Cafe
- Erica Davis Lowcountry
- The Wyld Dock
I should also probably include a special shoutout to Crystal Beer Parlor and B. Matthew’s Eatery in this section for serving up some of the best shrimp and grits in Savannah. I also love Despositos, which is on the way out to Tybee Island.
Related Reading: A Local’s Guide to the Best Seafood in Savannah
The Best Burger in Savannah
Few restaurants in Savannah seem to create burgers worth writing home about, so that makes this an easy category to complete.
Here are my top five picks, in alphabetical order:
- Alexander’s Bistro
- Crystal Beer Parlor
- Green Truck Pub
- Over Yonder
- Sly’s Sliders and Fries (budget-friendly option)
The best of the best are Alexander’s Bistro, Over Yonder, Green Truck Pub, and Crystal Beer Parlor.
I get a burger nearly every time I go to Crystal Beer Parlor, and I don’t believe I’ve ever tried anything other than a burger at Green Truck Pub.
You can’t go wrong with any of these restaurants — although some people might tell you to steer clear of the ketchup at Green Truck. It has a sweetness to it, so it’s a bit of an acquired taste! I personally like it.
Green Truck has won “Best Restaurant in Savannah” awards from various local publications for at least ten years in a row. Their (many) certificates line the walls in the dining area.
One of the things I appreciate most about Green Truck is that they’ll serve my burger “bloody.” I’m a savage, what can I say?
I love that, because I typically only eat half — since I pig out on the fries. The other half can be warmed in the oven the next day and still be juicy.
PS: I should give a shoutout to The Public Kitchen & Bar in this section, because I hear their grass-fed burgers are incredible. I just haven’t tried one yet. They’re next on my list!
The Best BBQ in Savannah
My all-time favorite type of barbecue is good ol’ Texas brisket straight off the smoker, but I appreciate a wide variety of BBQ styles. Luckily, Savannah has a few BBQ spots that rival my favorites in Texas.
Here are my top picks for the best BBQ in Savannah, in alphabetical order:
- Erica Davis Lowcountry
- Munchie’s BBQ
- Randy’s BBQ
- Sandfly BBQ
- Slow Fire BBQ
As picky as I am about some good ol’ Texas brisket, I admit I absolutely love the brisket plate at Erica Davis Lowcountry. Their pulled pork is also pretty spectacular.
Slow Fire operates out of a food truck — actually a food bus — but they’re in the process of building a brick and mortar location on the 1900 block of Waters Avenue.
Related Reading: Add These 3 Restaurants to Your Savannah BBQ Bucket List
Restaurants that NEED Reservations in Savannah
There are a few restaurants in Savannah that are so popular they’re consistently booked for weeks — sometimes months — in advance.
If you plan to visit any of the following, I highly suggest making reservations asap!
- The Olde Pink House
- The Grey
- Common Thread
- Husk
- Alligator Soul
Trust me, the earlier you reserve your table, the better!
For example, the Olde Pink House is sometimes booked solid for three or four months in advance during peak tourism season.
Insider Tip: You can often find seats at Planters Tavern, located in the basem*nt of The Olde Pink House, on a walk-in basis. They serve the same food as the restaurant. At The Grey, you can often grab a seat at the front bar even when the restaurant is booked!
No Reservation Restaurants in Savannah
During the many years I’ve spent passing advice off to tourists, I’ve learned there are two distinct types of travelers:
- Travelers who plan their daily activities around restaurant reservations to ensure dining at a “must-eat” spot
- Travelers who prefer to go with the flow and not be restricted to eating at a certain time
For those of you who fall in the second category, the restaurants below include ten popular spots that operate on a first come, first served basis — no reservations necessary:
- Crystal Beer Parlor
- Double Wide Diner
- Green Truck Pub
- Huey’s
- Little Duck Diner
- Starland Yard
- The Ordinary Pub
- The Vault
- Treylor Park
- Vinnie Van Go Go’s
Savannah Travel Guide
If you’re in the beginning phase of planning a trip to Savannah, here are some handy resources I’ve created to help you out:
- Savannah Vacation Guide: If you aren’t familiar with the city at all, begin with this helpful post. It’ll give you a brief overview of the city.
- Free Resources: When you sign up for my email list, you’ll gain access to printable checklists, photos of Savannah, and more.
- Savannah First-Timer’s Guide: My ebook combines all of my most helpful Savannah travel tips from this entire website into one handy downloadable guide.
Finally, if you’re traveling with a pet, there are plenty of places where you can enjoy a meal out. Here’s a list of dog-friendly restaurants in Savannah and the must-try dishes at each spot.
Do you have any questions about restaurants in Savannah? As always, let me know in the comments below.
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15 Comments on An Insider’s Guide to the Best Restaurants in Savannah in 2024
What a wealth of information!!! We are headed there in a couple of weeks, and, after reading your post, can taste the fried chicken already! Thank you so much.
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Hi! I am planning a trip to Savannah end of April and I have at least 4 vegetarians in the group. Breakfast and lunch options are easy, we have reservations at the Olde Pink House, but I need 1 more dinner spot. Any suggestions? Local 11 ten said they would do a veg entree, but wondered if you had another suggestion. Wanted something on the nicer side, girls are late 30s-early 50s.
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Yes, try Common Thread! It’s an incredible restaurant, and they have a separate vegetarian menu that they can provide upon request. It would be a great place for you ladies to try!
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This is great. Love to get real info from a local. So looking forward to our visit this spring!
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I’m glad it was helpful. Also…it felt like spring around here today already!
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Hello,
This has nothing to do with food. (I did just txt my guys the food places lol) I have a son going to grad school at SCAD and they are on the way now to find an apartment for him to live. I have to tell you I am overwhelmed! First of all are the prices but I really want a safe area for him. Can you recommend any safe area outside of downtown? We live in a small college town in Alabama and I just don’t know much about the surrounding areas of SCAD.Reply
This post might help: https://savannahfirsttimer.com/where-to-stay-in-savannah-georgia/ It goes into detail about the different areas. Lots of SCAD students live in the Victorian District or the Starland District. If you can find a carriage house to rent in Ardsley Park or Parkside, those are also good spots!
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One person mentioned on Yelp that a.Lure is in a sketchy part of town. We will be 3 woman traveling together. Will it be safe for us to walk to this restaurant?
Thank you!
LoriReply
It’s safe to walk to a.Lure. It’s in the Historic District, and the Historic District is safe overall. It’s fairly close to City Market, and City Market has had a some crime issues in recent years, but the majority of those issues occurred well after midnight. Walking around during dinnertime is fine. That area will have lots of tourists out and about at that time of night!
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Great posts and resources – thank you !
Pink House restaurant doesn’t feature in any of your top 10 lists, but is muted as being booked months in advance. Other people highly recommend Pink House.
What are your thoughts on it and why didn’t it make any of your top recommendations ?
Thanks !
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Hi Marc! I’m glad the post was helpful. If you click on the link about famous restaurants, that post has an entire section about The Olde Pink House and my thoughts on it. While it doesn’t make my top 10 list, I do love the restaurant. The ambiance in the lower level Planters Tavern is fantastic, and the food is consistently good. I don’t think it’s the end of the world if you aren’t able to get a reservation there during your trip, since there are plenty of other incredible restaurants in the city, but I do see why it’s a bucket-list item for many people. Here’s the post I mentioned: https://savannahfirsttimer.com/famous-savannah-restaurants/
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You don’t mention Noble Fare anywhere in your post. What are your thoughts on this restaurant? We arrive Saturday morning and leave Sunday afternoon. So not much time and want to choose wisely. 😉
I’m off to read your article on first timers after I leave this post.
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Noble Fare is an excellent restaurant. I just haven’t been in a while, so that’s the only reason it isn’t mentioned. Excellent quality and atmosphere!
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Back again. . .I just left a comment asking about Noble Fare but also curious about Chive. Your thoughts? We love seafood and that place looks great. I really wanted reservations, but no such luck, at Alligator Soul and The Grey (I’m on their waitlist and plan to sit at the bar if we don’t get a table)
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Chive is fantastic! They’re on my post about the best seafood restaurants in Savannah: https://savannahfirsttimer.com/best-seafood-in-savannah/ (I really need to update the photos on that post! I’ll add that to my To Do list!) It’s difficult to secure reservations at both Alligator Soul and The Grey unless you book at least 6 weeks in advance. They are popular spots! I have fun sitting at the bar at The Grey, but it’s much more casual than being in the dining area.
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