Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
Southern cuisine is rich in tradition, but the dining scene in Savannah is more than just fried chicken and barbecue. Many of the city's restaurants have been exploring locally sourced ingredients as a way to tweak their usual homespun offerings, a change that is now attracting chefs and foodies alike.
Although the farm-to-table trend was first spotted at upscale spots like Elizabeth on 37th and Local 11ten, more neighborhood restaurants are now getting in on the action. Places like the Green Truck Pub utilize locally raised, grass-fed beef for their burgers, and after-dinner options now even include locally roasted coffee.
The arrival of some new kids on the block doesn't mean the old standbys have ridden off into the sunset just yet. For traditional, exquisitely prepared menus, be sure to visit the Olde Pink House, which has been pleasing local palates for decades. Or follow the crowds to the ever-popular Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room (which even President Obama once visited), where you’ll find all the fried chicken, collard greens, and mac ’n' cheese you can handle.
That's just a few ideas to get you started. While exploring Savannah, you're sure to find any number of other exciting options as well, whether you're craving noodle bowls or a simple sandwich.
A full-service coffee shop featuring lovingly-crafted lattes and a Tex-Mex menu, Foxy Loxy is the always-busy hangout for students, artists, and entrepreneurs. Order a horchata and take your laptop out to the courtyard, where a koi pond, acoustic music, and Saturday night s'mores parties at the firepit invite folks to lounge in the open air.
This elegant garden-level spot is moody but bright and cozy, and the menu is chock-full of delicious treats for any time of day. The quiche is some of the richest in town, the homemade tomato soup will knock your socks off, and the Butcher's B.L.T. features thick-cut bacon and soft sourdough. Grab yourself a boozy coffee drink to go (or any other kind of espresso drink to suit your taste), and peruse the gift section while you wait for your order to come up.
In a restored Greyhound bus depot, James Beard Award–winner Chef Mashama Bailey and her talented team create gorgeous dishes that fuse Southern cuisine with European inspiration. Whether you're tucked in the more casual diner bar or perched in the luster of the art deco–inspired dining room, service is impeccable, and the ever-changing menu offers sumptuously made mains from water, earth, and sky.
One of the best ice-cream parlors in the area is Leopold's, a Savannah institution since 1919. It's owned by Stratton Leopold, grandson of the original owner and the producer of films like Mission: Impossible III. Posters and paraphernalia from his films make for an entertaining sideline to the selection of ice cream made with the old family recipe, methods, and ingredients. Try the delicious lemon custard or honey almond and cream flavors, or unique seasonal inventions like rose petal cream, Guinness, and mint-lime sorbet. The added lunch offerings, like soups and salads, are surprisingly delicious.
There's a reason you always see a line for the most heavenly croissants and pastries for miles; available for takeout Friday through Sunday.
Shimmering stained glass, stunning woodwork, and magnificent decor make this old-time pharmacy one of the most handsome settings in town. Delectable sandwiches and salads are the main bill of fare, but for more ambitious selections, opt for the ratatouille and shrimp orzo, served with locally caught wild Georgia shrimp.
From the same owners as Foxy Loxy and the Coffee Fox, this wide-open, family-oriented café offers a place for kids to explore the art project of the day while parents enjoy some caffeine. The menu also includes vegan donuts, grab-and-go sandwiches, and the in-house bakery's famous kolaches.
A Tybee tradition since 1971, it offers cones, ice cream sandwiches, coffees, candies, and more.
