12 Best Restaurants in Savannah, Georgia

This restaurant dates back to 1924, when Ben T. Byrd began baking small batches of cookies in his Savannah bakery; today the Byrd Cookie Company distributes far and wide. Guests of the simple yet sophisticated restaurant, specializing in soups, salads, and sandwiches, can catch a peek inside the factory from the dining room. Countless menu items are made on the premises, from the breads to the pickles to the ricotta cheese. Savor the deviled eggs, roasted turnip bisque, or the thick-cut BLT with pesto aioli, each adding a refined twist to a Southern favorite. In the evening, the seared sheepsheads are a delectable selection.

From the folksy artwork to the sweet splashes of pastels to the banners hanging from the ceiling, this corner bakery evokes a spirit of days gone by. A great place to start your day with a cup of coffee and a pastry, Back in the Day also serves fresh and yummy lunch selections that includes a good variety of both meaty and vegetarian sandwiches. A trip to this cheerful café will undoubtedly remind you, as the slogan goes, to "Slow down and taste the sweet life."

Housed in the modern-art extension of the Telfair Museum, the Jepson Cafe is an exquisite culinary experience. The small dining room is adorned with rotating temporary art installations. Overlooking the Jepson atrium, the space mimics the minimalist–modern feel of the building. Gourmands should look no further for lunch: Start with the tuna poke over sliced avocado, or the fresh summer rolls of local poached shrimp, fresh basil, and a peanut-hoisin sauce. The café uses lots of local purveyors, including Perc coffee, Savannah Bee Company honey, Savannah Tea Room mint tea, and Angel's BBQ for its pork shoulder. The proscuitto, fig, and brie panini is mouthwatering and perfectly melds these salty, sweet, and creamy flavors.

Housed in an old Savannah ice factory, the Florence has lots of original architectural details and serves up some of the city's most innovative flavors. The Italian-influenced menu is crafted by Kyle Jacovino, who has worked in kitchens all over Atlanta and New York. The food speaks for itself, and you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The menu changes seasonally, but there are raves all around for the Neapolitan-style pizza with Calabrian chilies, the fresh, homemade pasta selections, and the octopus starter. For cocktails, enjoy the signature Florence Cup—a twist on the Pimm's Cup—or an impressive array of amaros and other liqueurs. The adjacent coffee bar is open in the morning and offers small bites during lunch hours. If you have trouble getting a table, grab a seat at the bar.

This staple of the Tybee Island dining scene has successfully updated some island favorites with a twist of contemporary style. The small but flexible menu includes such entrées as an elaborate array of gourmet tacos (a best bet is the one with duck breast, sliced radish, and tomatillo salsa) or the fish with pear puree, cilantro, and chorizo. Side dishes like sweet-potato fries, collard greens, or black beans are wonderful, too. The prices are surprisingly reasonable given the quality. The menu also offers wine and beer pairings with each item. Sunday brunch features local live bluegrass music. There's a small children's menu for younger travelers.

This historic storefront has remained in the owner's family for nearly a century, and those familiar with the city may recognize it as the Savannah Tea Room. Although traditional tea service is no longer among the offerings here, you can stock up on local teas at the charming gift shop adjacent the wine bar. Chef Meta Adler has designed a Southern fusion menu with charmers (and fillers) like the Redneck Reuben and the Deviled Eggs. For "supper," the Dixie Chicken and cornmeal waffles can't be beat.

This place is about as low key as it gets, as evidenced by the neon beer signs on the walls and the day-old newspapers doubling as tablecloths. Located just across the bridge from Savannah, Desposito's has been serving up cold beer and fresh fish for decades and the no-nonsense menu offers a small but tempting variety of seafood, as well as options for landlubbers.

This is the city's first cold-pressed juice bar, with special equipment that extracts all the nutrients from fruits and vegetables. Each bottle contains two to three pounds of produce, most of it organic. A little outside town, Savannah Squeeze is well worth the trip for anyone interested in the healthiest juices. Try the carrot cake smoothie—it's as good as it sounds. Vegan snacks are also on offer.

The upscale sister to the wildly successful Tybee Island Social Club, this restaurant opened to raves in 2014. With great attention to detail, the handsome eatery has a menu tailored to please even the most critical foodie. Try the pork belly salad or the curried mussels to start. For your entrée, you can't go wrong with surf or turf. Local grouper is seared to perfection in a lemon brown butter, and the bone-in rib eye will fill up the hungriest diners.

This is the real deal, an authentic Greek eatery and bakery where grandmother's recipes inspired the menu. Most everything is made on the premises and perfectly blends the flavors of the Mediterranean; house favorites include Greek salads, savory spanakopita (spinach pie), and meat or vegetarian dolmades (stuffed grape leaves).