Many people travel to Savannah to tour its historic squares and homes, go on a ghost tour, or enjoy the nightlife (this is a popular spot for bachelorette parties), but Savannah is also home to many great restaurants. In fact, one of the best things to do in Savannah is to eat. Peaches, shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, pecan pie, fried chicken…the choices are endless. In this guide, we cover 20 of the best restaurants in Savannah.
About the Restaurants on This List
We have been to all but one of the restaurants on this list, and many of them we have visited more than once. We have friends and family that make regular visits to Savannah, so you will see several of their recommendations here too. Plus, we are regular visitors to Savannah, as Kara goes to college here.
If you have been to Savannah, we would also love to hear your favorite restaurants, and I am sure our readers will too. You can leave your recommendations in the comment section at the end of this post. Thanks!
I list 20 restaurants in Savannah, which sounds like a lot, and it is. At the end of the list, I narrow it down to our eight favorite restaurants in Savannah.
Have fun picking out your favorites!
Table of Contents
Foods to Try in Savannah
Before we jump into where to eat in Savannah, here is a quick list of what to eat in Savannah.
Fried green tomatoes. These lightly breaded slices of green tomatoes are fried and served with aioli or a Cajun cream sauce. And here’s an interesting fact: the recipe for fried green tomatoes was brought over to the US by Jewish immigrants in the 19th century. Fried green tomatoes weren’t associated as a southern food until the movie Fried Green Tomatoes made them famous.
Caprese salad with fried green tomatoes at the Ordinary Pub.
Fried chicken. You can find perfectly fried chicken on many menus throughout Savannah. At the Olde Pink House, order the fried chicken salad. And at The Pirates’ House, you can get fried chicken covered with a honey pecan sauce that is delicious. The best fried chicken we have had so far in Savannah is at Cotton & Rye.
Fried chicken and macaroni and cheese at Cotton & Rye
Collard greens. Collard greens are a leafy green vegetable that is typically served alongside other southern staples, such as fried chicken. These greens are cooked with pork chops or bacon, to give them a little more flavor.
Biscuits and gravy. Buttermilk biscuits with a side of sausage gravy. You can find this as a side dish on many breakfast menus.
Shrimp and grits. This traditional Lowcountry dish is a must-try while in Savannah. Grilled shrimp are served over a bed of grits, which are cooked in a buttery, cheesey sauce. Not sure what grits are? Grits are ground corn and don’t have much of a flavor. The grits take on the flavor of what they are cooked with and can be quite bland if you eat them plain. Want to try good shrimp and grits? Give it a try at b. Matthews Eatery or Cotton & Rye, mentioned later in this guide.
Peaches. Georgia is famous for its peaches and in Savannah, they can be found in pie or served with ice cream and cake.
Chatham Artillery Punch. This champagne punch is named after Georgia’s oldest military unit, the Chatham Artillery. Rum, brandy, bourbon, and champagne are all mixed together to form the perfect drink and great to have on hot day.
Pralines. This sweet treat is a mix of pecans and sugar cane. They can be found at the candy shops throughout Savannah, particularly along the small shops on River Street.
Best Restaurants in Savannah
Below we list 20 great restaurants in Savannah. For many of them, a reservation is recommended or required. I provide the link to their websites, so you can check hours, pricing, take a look at the menu, and make a reservation. For the location of these restaurants, they are all labeled on the map near the end of this guide.
Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room
Price: $$ – $$$, cash or check only (no credit cards)
Location: 107 West Jones Street
Website: mrswilkes.com
Reservation: Reservations not accepted
Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room is more than just a place to have a good meal, it’s also an essential Savannah experience.
At 11 am, the doors open and those who waited in line find a seat at one of the 10-person tables. Food is served family style. Plates of fried chicken, okra, cornbread, black eyed peas, and biscuits are all shared by those at the table.
Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room | Best Restaurants in Savannah
The restaurant does not accept reservations. You wait in line outside (waits can be 10 minutes to 30 minutes or longer, depending on the day and time) and you will be invited in when a table opens up.
We got in line at 10:40 am on a Friday morning and we were seated at one of first available tables. Between 10:40 am and 11:00 am, the line grew quite a bit, and it was a rainy day, so that’s saying something. I recommend getting here around between 10:30 and 10:40 am, to minimize how much time you spend in line.
Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room is open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11 am to 2 pm. They do close periodically during the year so check their hours before you go.
Mrs Wilkes Dining Room | Best Restaurants in Savannah
The Olde Pink House
Price: $$$$
Location: 23 Abercorn Street, Reynold’s Square
Website: theoldepinkhouserestaurant.com
Reservation: Highly recommended (at least 2 weeks in advance but even then it can be hard to get a reservation)
Like Mrs. Wilke’s Dining Room, a visit to Savannah wouldn’t be complete without a meal at the Olde Pink House.
The Olde Pink House | Best Restaurants in Savannah
There are two parts to the Olde Pink House: the restaurant and Planter’s Tavern.
The restaurant occupies the first and second floors of the house. In stately rooms with antique furniture, patrons dine on delicious southern-style fare. The BLT salad, served with fried green tomatoes, is one of their most popular dishes.
We ate the fried green tomato appetizer (the best we ever had), the mac and cheese jalapeno poppers (yum!), and the fried chicken salad, and the specials of the day. Almost everything on the menu is fried food. If you want to dine on fantastic southern food that is not fried, we recommend Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room, b. Matthews, and Alligator Soul.
Olde Pink House dining room | Best Restaurants in Savannah
Fried green tomatoes
In the basement is Planter’s Tavern. This dimly lit, cozy cellar is a place we’d like to visit on a return visit to Savannah.
For something special, make a reservation for the Vault (2 people can dine in the historic vault) or the JP room (the second room in Planter’s Tavern that can hold up to four people). The main room of Planter’s Tavern is first come, first served, but if you want to dine in one of the two rooms, make your reservation at least 2 weeks in advance.
Planter’s Tavern | Best Restaurants in Savannah
The Vault
JP Room
Olde Pink House history: Like many mansions in Savannah, the Olde Pink House has a long history. It was built in 1771 by James Habersham JR. In 1811, the building became the Planter’s Bank, the first bank of Georgia, and vaults were built in the basement of the house (which you can dine in now). During the Civil War, General York set up his headquarters in this house. In 1992, the house was renovated and is now a restaurant and tavern.
The Collins Quarter
Price: $$ – $$$
Location: 151 Bull Street
Website: thecollinsquarter.com
Reservation: Highly recommended
The Collins Quarter is one of our favorite restaurants in Savannah and we are frequent visitors of this restaurant.
This restaurant is styled after Melbourne, Australia’s Collins Street. On the menu is innovative cuisine and some of the best food we have eaten in Savannah. Plus, the cocktails are some of the best that we had in town. This restaurant serves brunch and dinner.
Collins Quarter | Best Restaurants in Savannah
We had dinner here and recommend the Devils on Horseback appetizer, (dates, bacon, and goat cheese), the specials, and for drinks, our favorites are the Gins ‘N Roses and the Purroni.
The brunch gets rave reviews, particularly the French Toast. We’ll have to give this a try on our next visit to Savannah.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: Request a table on the first level of the restaurant for a better atmosphere.
The Ordinary Pub
Price: $$ – $$$
Location: 217 ½ W Broughton Street
Website: theordinarypub.com
Reservation: Recommended
This American pub is located in the basement of one of the buildings along Broughton Street. Serving tradition southern fare with a twist, you can dine on Gumbo & Grits, Low Country Mac & Cheese, or Creole Meatloaf. Or, just get an Ordinary Burger. The cocktails are our favorite things on the menu…we recommend the bacon Old Fashioned and the Appropriate Sazerac.
Ordinary Pub | Best Restaurants in Savannah
The Grey
Price: $$$$
Location: 109 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Website: thegreyrestaurant.com
Reservation: Yes! 2 to 3 months in advance
What started out as a Greyhound Bus Terminal has become one of Savannah’s most celebrated and popular restaurants. In 2023, The Grey is a James Beard Award semifinalist for the Outstanding Restaurant honor.
The Grey | Best Restaurants in Savannah
With 3 and 6 course tasting menus, unique cocktails, and an even more unique setting, this is a restaurant to put on your list, as long as you are making your plans far in advance (make your reservation at least 6 weeks in advance of your visit…it took us three trips to Savannah before we were able to get a reservation here).
We enjoyed our dinner here but thought the food was overrated. We had a fantastic dinner but The Grey is not on our “favorite list” for Savannah. On that list are Collins Quarter, Repeal 33, and Fox & Fig Cafe.
If you are a foodie or want to dine at one of Savannah’s most exclusive restaurants, then put The Grey on your list. But if you can’t get a reservation, there are plenty of other fantastic restaurants to try in Savannah.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: The Grey does take walk-in’s. Your best chance of getting a seat is right at opening time. They offer seating at the bar if you don’t have a reservation. These seats generally fill up 30 to 60 minutes after opening.
The Paris Market
Price: $ – $$
Location: 36 W Broughton Street
Website: theparismarket.com
Reservation: Not necessary
This market is part boutique shop and part French café. In the market, shop for unique gifts and home décor. At the market, choose a sweet treat from the pastry case (macarons, tarts, and pastries), have a glass of wine, or a specialty coffee. This is an essential place to stop into as you stroll along Broughton Street and go shopping in Savannah.
The Paris Market | Best Restaurants in Savannah
Savannah Tequila Company
Price: $$ – $$$
Location: 500 W River Street, Plant Riverside area
Website: plantriverside.com
Reservation: Not necessary
Located in the Plant Riverside district along the waterfront, this restaurant serves Mexican food and great cocktails. The food and service is very good. We love the tacos, the street corn, and the guacamole and chips. We are also fans of the smoked rum old fashioned.
Just be aware that since this restaurant is located in the Plant Riverside area, prices are more expensive than other restaurants on this list, so don’t expect cheap plates of Mexican food here.
The Tequila Company | Best Restaurants in Savannah
Alligator Soul
Price: $$$$
Location: 114 Barnard Street, Telfair Square
Website: alligatorsoul.com
Reservations: Highly recommended (at least 6 weeks in advance)
This is one of the few fine dining restaurants on our list of best restaurants in Savannah. Dine below ground in an underground Colonial cellar. Alligator Soul serves French-Creole cuisine in an unpretentious setting.
On the menu is a wedge salad with candied alligator, shrimp and grits, beef and bison. If you are feeling adventurous, ostrich, kangaroo, elk, and antelope sometimes makes it on the menu.
Alligator Soul | Best Restaurants in Savannah
b. Matthew’s Eatery
Price: $$ – $$$
Location: 325 E Bay Street
Website: bmatthewseatery.com
Reservation: Recommended
b. Matthew’s eatery serves southern-style cuisine. The food is very good (I loved the shrimp and grits, the low country bowl is very good and the salmon is downright amazing) and the cocktails have a creative, southern twist. We have eaten here several times and always have a great experience with the food and the service.
Shrimp and Grits at b. Matthew’s Eatery | Best Restaurants in Savannah
Cotton & Rye
Price: $$ – $$$
Location: 1801 Habersham Street
Website: cottonandrye.com
Reservation: Highly recommended (at least 2 weeks in advance)
Cotton & Rye serves traditional southern-style cuisine in an upscale setting. The fried chicken thighs and shrimp and grits get rave reviews, as do the cocktails.
We have to agree with the reviews. The fried chicken and the shrimp and grits are the best that we have had so far in Savannah. You’ll see us here again on a future visit to Savannah.
Shrimp and grits at Cotton & Rye | Best Restaurants in Savannah
PRO TRAVEL TIP: Restaurants in Savannah may not be open 7 days a week. Before you go, get the hours of your favorite restaurants…the links are provided throughout this guide.
Repeal 33
Price: $$ – $$$
Location: 125 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Website: repeal33savannah.com
Reservations: Recommended
This is one of our favorite restaurants in Savannah. It’s a lesser-known spot and hidden gem in town.
This prohibition-style bar and restaurant serves some of the best cocktails and food that we had in Savannah. We love the atmosphere and décor of this place.
Start off with the potato gnocchi, crispy brussel sprouts, and tarte flambee. For a main entrée, dine on the seared jumbo scallops. We had the grouper, which was the catch of the day, and it was phenomenal. And for a unique drink, go for the Bon Appetit, with bone marrow infused Elijah Craig bourbon.
Repeal 33, along with Collins Quarter, are now our go-to restaurants every time we visit Savannah, which is 2 to 3 times a year.
Repeal 33 | Best Restaurants in Savannah
Scallops at Repeal 33 | Best Restaurants in Savannah
Fox & Fig Café
Price: $$ – $$$
Location: 321 Habersham Street
Website: foxandfigcafe.com
Reservation: Reservations not accepted
Note: Fox & Fig Cafe recently closed. However, we recommend their taco joint, Foxy Loxy.
Fox & Fig Café is the premier vegan restaurant in Savannah. They serve brunch style foods all day. If you are just passing through, grab a cup of coffee at the Espresso Bar or pick out a pastry from their pastry case. Everything that we have tried here has been fantastic. We highly recommend the Energy Bites, the Masala Chai Latte, the Fox-acodo Toast, and the Breakfast Sammie.
Fox-acodo Toast | Best Restaurants in Savannah
PRO TRAVEL TIP: We also recommend Foxy Loxy Cafe, which has the same owners as Fox & Fig Cafe. At Foxy Loxy, Tex-Mex is what is on the menu. Dine on tacos, guacamole, and chips and dips in their garden-like outdoor terrace. It’s one of Savannah’s best cheap eats. Foxy Loxy is located on Bull Street south of Forsyth Park, so it is a bit out of the way from the main sights in Savannah.
Treylor Park
Price: $$ – $$$
Location: 115 East Bay Street
Website: treylorpark.com
Reservation: Recommended for dinner
This restaurant came highly recommended to us by several Savannah locals. The menu is one of the most creative and unique of the Savannah restaurants, with PB&J chicken wings, nachos made with waffle fries and fried chicken, and a grilled apple pie sandwich. Treylor Park is the one restaurant on this list we haven’t visited yet but you’ll see us here on our next visit to Savannah.
The Pirates’ House
Price: $$ – $$$
Location: 20 E Broad Street
Website: thepirateshouse.com
Reservation: Recommended but not necessary if you don’t mind a short wait for dinner
We ate here since it shows up on a lot of Savannah to-do lists and best restaurants in Savannah lists. And we weren’t fans of this one. But, I couldn’t leave it off the list since I wanted to share our experience.
The best thing about The Pirates’ House is the building. Located within the restaurant is the Herb House, the oldest building in Georgia.
This restaurant is touristy and lacks any real charm. While we were here, a trolley tour offloaded a huge group of people to have dinner at the restaurant.
The food is decent and the service is good, so you will still get a good meal here, but with so many other restaurants to choose from in Savannah, I’d put The Pirates’ House at the bottom of the list.
Fried chicken with a honey pecan sauce at The Pirates’ House | Best Restaurants in Savannah
The Gryphon Tea Room
Price: $$ – $$$
Location: 337 Bull Street
Website: scadgryphon.com
Reservation: Recommended
The Gryphon Tea Room is the premier dining destination of SCAD, the Savannah College of Art and Design. This restaurant is located across the street from SCADStory and Madison Square. We had lunch here but we should have had afternoon tea (the little cakes and biscuits looked amazing!). This is a great restaurant to put on your list if you are touring SCAD or will be in the area as you stroll through Savannah.
Gryphon Tea Room | Best Restaurants in Savannah
PRO TRAVEL TIP: If a restaurant accepts reservations, we recommend making your reservation at least a week in advance (2 to 3 weeks is even better). At some places, the restaurants can be reserved several weeks in advance, particularly during peak travel season.
Goose Feathers an Express Café & Bakery
Price: $
Location: 39 Barnard Street
Website: goosefeatherscafe.com
Reservation: Not necessary
Goose Feathers serves breakfast and lunch. The food is delicious, the service is fast, and the prices are reasonable. Take your pick from traditional breakfast and brunch foods as well as homemade quiche, bread pudding, and specialty salads. Dine in the restaurant or get your food to-go.
We had breakfast here our first morning in Savannah and recommend the organic yogurt with honey and fruit.
Baobab Lounge
Price: $$$
Location: Plant Riverside
Website: plantriverside.com
Reservation: Not necessary
The Baobab Lounge is another hidden gem in Savannah. This is one of our favorite spots for drinks and small plates of food.
Tucked away in the Riverside Plant, this small restaurant/bar is decorated with African art and décor. The appetizers are very unique (biltong, spiced peanut chicken skewers, and Harissa steak flatbread) as are the cocktails.
Since this is located in the Plant Riverside district, it can be pricey, but it’s one of the most unique spots to have a drink in Savannah and we can usually easily get a table (we frequently have a drink or a snack here).
Baobab Lounge | Best Restaurants in Savannah
Lulu’s Chocolate Bar
Price: $$
Location: 42 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Website: luluschocolatebar.com
Reservation: Not necessary
If you need to satisfy your sweet tooth, this is the place to go (although you won’t go wrong at Leopold’s either). Chocolate tarts, cakes, pies, specialty cocktails…everything we had was wonderful.
Lulu’s Chocolate Bar | Best Restaurants in Savannah
Leopold’s Ice Cream
Price: $
Location: 212 E Broughton Street
Website: leopoldsicecream.com
Reservation: Not necessary
A visit to Leopold’s Ice Cream shop is a must-do in Savannah. They have been making their ice cream from scratch since 1919 and it is delicious! The ice cream sandwiches are very good and we are fans of the rum raisin and the Savannah Socialite flavors.
Leopold’s ice cream | Best Restaurants in Savannah
A Rooftop Bar
Price: $$ – $$$
Location: Throughout Savannah
Reservation: Not necessary
For drinks and a light meal with a view, you have a lot of great options in Savannah. For a full list, with photos and helpful tips, check out our guide to the Best Rooftop Bars in Savannah.
Our favorite is Myrtle and Rose, which is in the Plant Riverside district. The drinks and small plates combined with the beautiful décor makes this our go-to rooftop bar while in Savannah.
Myrtle and Rose
Nearby, the Electric Moon Skytop Lounge also serves great food and drinks. There’s even a sliding board (great for adults once they had a drink or two) and a kids play area. This is one of the few rooftop bars that will allow those under 21 to enter. The small tacos are one of the best things we ate in Savannah.
Other rooftop bars include Bar Julian, The Lost Square, Rocks on the Roof, and the Peregrin at Perry Lane.
The view from Bar Julian
Our Recommendations
Even with the long list of restaurants in Savannah, 20 is a lot to choose from. Below are our 8 favorites and why we chose them.
Repeal 33. Repeal 33 is our favorite restaurant in Savannah. This hidden gem doesn’t come up on many lists, but the food and the setting are fantastic.
The Collins Quarter. The Collins Quarter is our second favorite restaurant in Savannah. The food and drinks are some of the best and if you are late trying to get a reservation, this restaurant does not fill up far in advance like some other places in Savannah. There are two locations in Savannah which also makes it easier to get a reservation.
Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room. Make some new friends as you dine family-style in this Savannah restaurant.
b. Matthews. This is one of our favorite places to get southern cooking in Savannah. Get the shrimp and grits and one of their crafted cocktails.
The Olde Pink House. Like Mrs. Wilke’s Dining Room, the Olde Pink House is an institution in Savannah. On the menu is southern food, most of it fried (which can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your preferences).
A rooftop bar. Drinks and small plates with a view is an essential experience to have in Savannah. Our favorites are Myrtle and Rose and Electric Moon Skytop Lounge.
The Grey. This restaurant is not only one of the best restaurants in Savannah, it’s also well known throughout Georgia.
Leopold’s Ice Cream. There’s always room for ice cream and this is the spot in Savannah to get it.
Best Restaurants in Savannah: On a Map
How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each restaurant. Click the star next to the title of the map to add this map to your Google Maps account. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to “Your Places,” click Maps, and you will see this map on your list.
If you have any questions about the best restaurants in Savannah, or if you want to share your favorites, let us know in the comment section below.
More Information about the USA
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA: Learn about the top experiences in our article Best Things to Do in Savannah and best rooftop bars in Savannah. Savannah also makes a great place to work remotely.
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA: Learn about the top experiences in our article Best Things to Do in Charleston. In our Charleston Restaurant Guide, we cover the top restaurants and rooftop bars in the city.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA: Tour the best bars in our article Best Bars in Atlanta.
FLORIDA KEYS: Learn about the best things to do in the Florida Keys and how to plan a road trip from Miami to Key West. We also have guides to the best things to do in Key West, where to eat in Key West, and how to visit Dry Tortugas National Park.
SOUTH CAROLINA: If you have plans to visit Congaree National Park, we cover the 10 best things to do in Congaree and how to spend one perfect day in Congaree National Park.
USA ROAD TRIPS: Planning your next big adventure in the USA? Check our our USA Road Trip Guide for travel ideas and sample itineraries.
Read all of our articles about Georgia in our Georgia Travel Guide and the United States in our USA Travel Guide.
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