Savannah takes eating seriously. The city mixes old school Southern cooking with chef driven dining, and most of the best tables sit inside the walkable Historic District.
This guide sorts the top Savannah restaurants by style and budget. It covers white tablecloth landmarks, family style soul food, dockside seafood, and the ice cream line everyone ends up joining.
New to the city? Start with our Savannah guide for first time visitors, then build your meal plan around the sights on our list of top things to do in Savannah.
Savannah restaurants: quick picks
- Best special occasion: The Grey
- Best classic Savannah dinner: The Olde Pink House
- Best Southern lunch: Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room
- Best seafood with a view: The Wyld Dock Bar
- Best brunch: The Collins Quarter
- Best dessert: Leopold’s Ice Cream
Best fine dining and special occasion restaurants
These are the rooms people book for anniversaries, proposals, and one big trip splurge. Reserve early, because the prime weekend slots go first.
The Grey
The Grey serves dinner inside a restored 1938 Greyhound bus station on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Chef Mashama Bailey cooks what she calls Port City Southern food, rooted in coastal Georgia ingredients.
- Cuisine: Modern Southern, prix fixe dinner
- Price: $$$$
- Area: Historic District
- Good to know: Bailey won James Beard awards in 2019 and 2022. The Diner Bar serves a casual menu with no reservation pressure.
The Olde Pink House
Savannah’s most famous dining room fills a pink 1771 mansion on Reynolds Square. The kitchen plates polished Southern classics across thirteen dining rooms, with candlelight and fireplaces doing the rest.
- Cuisine: Upscale Southern
- Price: $$$
- Area: Reynolds Square, Historic District
- Good to know: Order the she crab soup and the crispy flounder. Dinner reservations can book out weeks ahead, but the cellar Planters Tavern takes walk-ins only.
Elizabeth on 37th
Elizabeth on 37th has served a seven course prix fixe dinner in a 1901 Greek Revival mansion since 1981. Founder Elizabeth Terry won the James Beard Best Chef Southeast award in 1995.
- Cuisine: Coastal Southern tasting menu
- Price: $$$$
- Area: Thomas Square
- Good to know: Reservations are essential. Wine pairings are a house strength, and business casual dress fits the room.
Common Thread
Common Thread opened in 2021 inside a restored 1897 house at Abercorn and 37th Street. The FARM Hospitality team cooks seasonal Lowcountry food with global touches, and the menu changes with the market.
- Cuisine: Seasonal New Southern
- Price: $$$
- Area: Thomas Square
- Good to know: The chef’s sampler shares several courses across the table. The kitchen earned James Beard semifinalist attention, so book ahead.
Saint Bibiana
Saint Bibiana is the Italian dining room inside Hotel Bardo, by Forsyth Park. It opened in fall 2023 and quickly became one of the hardest tables to land in town.
- Cuisine: Italian
- Price: $$$
- Area: Forsyth Park
- Good to know: Nights center on antipasti and handmade pasta. Brunch brings a morning bakery basket and buckwheat pancakes, and Southern Living rates it among the city’s best.
Local 11ten
Local 11ten works out of a restored midcentury bank just south of Forsyth Park. Dinner leans on Georgia coast seafood and Southern flavors, plated with a modern hand.
- Cuisine: Contemporary Southern
- Price: $$$
- Area: Forsyth Park
- Good to know: Start or end the night at Perch, the quiet rooftop lounge upstairs, for cocktails and small plates.
Best Southern and soul food
This is the cooking Savannah grew up on. Expect fried chicken, slow greens, red rice, and portions that assume you skipped breakfast.
Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room
Mrs. Wilkes serves one meal only, a family style lunch at shared tables for ten on Jones Street. Platters of fried chicken land beside a rotating spread of Southern sides.
- Cuisine: Southern, family style
- Price: $$
- Area: Jones Street, Historic District
- Good to know: Open Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. No reservations, and payment is cash only. The line forms early, so arrive before doors open.
Sisters of the New South
Sisters of the New South is a Midtown soul food staple on Skidaway Road. Every dinner plate comes with three country sides, and the kitchen cooks from early morning to night.
- Cuisine: Soul food
- Price: $ to $$
- Area: Midtown
- Good to know: Plates include BBQ ribs, smothered pork chops, turkey wings, and fried shrimp. Save room for peach cobbler or banana pudding. Cards are accepted.
Crystal Beer Parlor
The Crystal opened in 1933 and counts as Savannah’s oldest restaurant. The Jones Street dining room mixes barroom history with comfort plates and a long beer list.
- Cuisine: American comfort food
- Price: $$
- Area: West Jones Street
- Good to know: Burgers, crab stew, and shrimp and grits lead the menu. It runs on walk-ins, so expect a wait at peak hours.
Best seafood and waterfront dining
Georgia shrimp, local oysters, and river views carry this group. Two picks sit downtown, and one asks for a short drive to the marsh.
River Street does the heavy lifting downtown. Its old cotton warehouses now hold dining rooms and balconies, so dinner comes with cargo ships sliding past on the Savannah River.
The Wyld Dock Bar
The Wyld perches on a dock over the marsh on Livingston Avenue. Guests arrive by car or by boat, order at the counter, and watch the light change over the water.
- Cuisine: Coastal seafood
- Price: $$
- Area: The marsh, south of downtown
- Good to know: It opens at noon daily and seats mostly outdoors. Local shrimp, crab cakes, and fish tacos anchor the menu, and frozen drinks suit the heat. Seating is first come.
Sorry Charlie’s Oyster Bar
Sorry Charlie’s faces Ellis Square on Congress Street and shucks oysters from its own local oyster farm. The ground floor runs a full seafood menu, from raw bar towers to shrimp and grits.
- Cuisine: Oyster bar and seafood
- Price: $$ to $$$
- Area: Ellis Square, Historic District
- Good to know: The Neon Fish rooftop adds skyline views and a weekend brunch. Weekday happy hours discount select oysters.
Vic’s on the River
Vic’s occupies a 19th century cotton warehouse with entrances on Bay Street and River Street. Big windows frame the Savannah River while the kitchen serves polished Southern plates and fresh seafood.
- Cuisine: Southern and seafood
- Price: $$$
- Area: River Street
- Good to know: Lunch and dinner run daily, and a piano bar plays at night. Book ahead for a window table.
Huey’s on the River
Huey’s brings New Orleans flavor to River Street, with Cajun and Creole plates and beignets for dessert. The upstairs balcony hangs over the cobblestones and the river walk.
- Cuisine: Cajun and Creole
- Price: $$
- Area: River Street
- Good to know: It suits groups who want a river view without a fine dining bill.
Best cafes, brunch, and casual favorites
Not every great meal needs a reservation or a jacket. These spots handle brunch, lunch, and easy dinners across the city.
The Collins Quarter
The Collins Quarter imports Melbourne cafe culture to Bull Street. Days start with flat whites, lavender lattes, and avocado toast, and nights turn candlelit with a seasonal dinner menu.
- Cuisine: Australian style cafe
- Price: $$
- Area: Bull Street, Historic District
- Good to know: Brunch is first come, first served, while dinner takes reservations. A second cafe sits by Forsyth Park.
Cotton & Rye
Cotton & Rye cooks inside a vintage bank building on Bull Street, vault door and all. The kitchen sends out Southern plates with a creative streak, away from the tourist crowds.
- Cuisine: New Southern
- Price: $$ to $$$
- Area: Thomas Square
- Good to know: The crispy chicken wings carry a local award winning reputation. Dinner reservations are a smart move.
Circa 1875
Circa 1875 is a French bistro and gastropub in the Historic District. It pours Old World wines beside French classics, and the bar keeps a late night neighborhood feel.
- Cuisine: French bistro
- Price: $$ to $$$
- Area: Historic District
- Good to know: It works well for a dinner that drifts into drinks without changing venues.
Starland Yard and Pizzeria Vittoria
Starland Yard strings food trucks, a bar, and picnic tables across an open lot in the Starland District. Pizzeria Vittoria fires the pies, using slow fermented dough and Southern grains.
- Cuisine: Pizza and food trucks
- Price: $ to $$
- Area: Starland District
- Good to know: Food and Wine has praised the pizza as the city’s best. Kids and dogs fit right in.
Zunzi’s
Zunzi’s is a counter service sandwich shop with a cult following. The Conquistador, stacked with chicken and smoked sausage, built the fan base, and the sauces keep it.
- Cuisine: Sandwiches
- Price: $
- Area: Historic District
- Good to know: The menu blends South African, Swiss, and Italian ideas. It is a fast, cheap lunch between sights.
Best rooftops for drinks and small plates
Rooftops pair well with Savannah’s golden hour. Visit Savannah’s own dining team points visitors to these four.
- The Neon Fish: Sorry Charlie’s rooftop over Ellis Square, with seafood towers and weekend brunch.
- Perch: Local 11ten’s rooftop lounge near Forsyth Park, built for cocktails, charcuterie, and quiet conversation.
- Peregrin: The Perry Lane Hotel rooftop, styled like a garden conservatory, with skyline views.
- Bar Julian: On top of the Thompson Savannah, facing the river on one side and the skyline on the other.
One local bonus: the Historic District allows to-go cups, so a rooftop drink can turn into an evening stroll. Cups must be plastic and no larger than 16 ounces.
Best desserts and sweet stops
Save room. Savannah ends meals with century old ice cream and warm pralines.
Leopold’s Ice Cream
Three Greek brothers founded Leopold’s in 1919, and the Broughton Street parlor still scoops from family recipes. Tutti Frutti, a house original, remains the signature order.
- Cuisine: Ice cream parlor and soda fountain
- Price: $
- Area: Broughton Street, Historic District
- Good to know: The line often runs out the door, and it moves steadily. The menu also covers sundaes, shakes, and sandwiches.
For a second sweet stop, Byrd’s Famous Cookies sells small cookies by the bag in City Market. River Street candy shops, including River Street Sweets and Savannah’s Candy Kitchen, make pralines in house.
How to choose where to eat
Start with your base. Staying downtown keeps almost every pick on this list within a walk, which is why our guide to where to stay in Savannah favors the Historic District for first trips.
Match the meal to the moment. One fine dining reservation anchors a trip, while soul food lunches and cafe brunches fill the gaps without draining the budget.
Geography helps too. The Historic District holds the famous names, Thomas Square mixes old mansions with newer kitchens, and the Starland District rewards anyone who likes food trucks and pizza.
Short on time? A weekend in Savannah fits one splurge dinner, one Mrs. Wilkes lunch, and one dockside seafood meal with room to spare.
Seafood lovers can extend the theme with a beach day. Our day trips from Savannah guide covers Tybee Island, where dockside shrimp shacks line the water.
Booking tips that save the meal
- Book The Grey, The Olde Pink House, and Elizabeth on 37th two to four weeks out for weekends.
- Mrs. Wilkes takes no reservations and no cards. Arrive before the 11 a.m. opening on a weekday for the shortest line.
- Brunch stars like The Collins Quarter seat first come. Go early or pick a weekday.
- Check the food budget against our Savannah trip cost breakdown before stacking splurge dinners.
FAQs about Savannah restaurants
What food is Savannah known for?
Shrimp and grits leads the list, followed by Lowcountry boil, fried chicken, and she crab soup. Pralines and Leopold’s ice cream cover dessert. Most menus on this list serve at least two of them.
Do I need reservations at Savannah restaurants?
Yes for the fine dining rooms, especially on weekends. The Grey, The Olde Pink House, and Elizabeth on 37th can book out weeks ahead. Soul food counters, cafes, and dock bars mostly seat walk-ins.
What is the most famous restaurant in Savannah?
The Grey draws the most national press, thanks to chef Mashama Bailey and its bus station dining room. The Olde Pink House runs it close, with a 1771 mansion setting and a menu visitors request by name.
Where do locals eat in Savannah?
Locals drift south of the Historic District. Sisters of the New South, Cotton & Rye, and the Starland Yard trucks all serve neighborhood crowds, and The Wyld fills with Savannah families on sunny afternoons.
How much does dinner cost in Savannah?
Casual plates at cafes and soul food spots sit in the $ to $$ range per person. Upscale dining rooms run $$$ to $$$$, and prix fixe menus sit at the top. Drinks and tax add up fast.
What should I order for dessert?
A scoop of Tutti Frutti at Leopold’s is the classic move. Warm pralines from a River Street candy shop come second, and the peach cobbler at Crystal Beer Parlor rewards anyone with room left.
Eat one big Southern lunch, one long fine dining dinner, and one meal with your feet near the water. That mix covers Savannah’s table, and it leaves the rest of the list for the next trip.
