My honest review of Savannah
"Adventure is worthwhile." -Aesop
I have so many thoughts on this city. My main takeaways: great spot for a quick, easy romantic getaway (especially from the DC area). An even better spot for a girls getaway. Probably not a place I'd bring the kids to, not enough kid-friendly things to do and just all-around better suited as an adults-only destination.
Savannah, GA has been on our list of places to visit for some time now. We love Charleston and assumed Savannah would be similar, albeit smaller. And it is similar in some ways, but in other ways not. First, as expected, it's much smaller than Charleston. We explored all of downtown on foot in under a day. Second, it's way more relaxed, artsy (Savannah College of Art & Design is located downtown), and a little less refined than Charleston. It's very much rich in history and the architecture reflects that. It's lacking in its waterfront charm but there are beautiful park squares on just about every block, historic southern row homes with swoon-worthy front porches, and open-container laws that allow for cocktails on-the-go. It's the home to Forsyth Park in all its spanish moss-draped oak tree glory. It has a kitschy party scene, but elegant dining experiences are also easy to find. It's not Charleston, but it is definitely worthy of a visit and we thoroughly enjoyed our time there, just the two of us, celebrating our 14th anniversary. We were there for 48 hours and it was just the right amount of time to experience what the city has to offer.
Savannah is also home to The Perry Lane Hotel which was a luxe experience in and of itself. Complimentary champagne. All day. My heaven. Need I say more? Seriously though, it's a lovely hotel a little off the beaten path with five-star amenities and luxurious accommodations. We felt well taken care of from the minute we arrived until the moment we left. Shameless plug for my Fora benefits which afforded us complimentary breakfast and lattes each morning and pre-dinner cocktails each evening at the bar. The hotel also offers complimentary car service around town which we used to get to/from dinner each evening. Bottom line, the hotel is charming, elegant, luxuriously comfortable, and was one of the highlights of our getaway.
We arrived at the Hotel around 11am on our first day and after a glass of champagne we set out to explore downtown and grab some lunch. We explored River Street along the waterfront and honestly were kind of disappointed. It felt very industrial and touristy, just not our cup of tea. The city redeemed itself when we visited Forsyth Park (sooo lovely). We also strolled up and down stunning Jones Street (beautiful, charming homes) and took in the sites and shops on Broughton and Bull Streets. I basically did zero shopping but I did really enjoy popping into The Paris Market and the SCAD shop.
Our first night, after cocktails at the hotel bar, we had dinner at Elizabeth's on 37th. The restaurant is located in a historic mansion and has a very classic southern feel. It's only offering each evening is a seven course Chef's Tasting Menu. The wine list is pretty extensive and aside from a few misses, we thought the overall experience was really good. High praise for the grilled oysters and blue crab soup- they were amazing.
The next day we explored a little bit more in the morning and then made our way back to the rooftop pool at the hotel where we vegged out in 80 degree sunshine, and lunched, and napped, and it was glorious. We checked out the hotel gym (great) before pre-dinner cocktails and dinner at Saint Bibiana, another highlight of the trip. The meal was super memorable and we absolutely loved the vibe of the restaurant. It's adjacent to the Hotel Bardo which I was lucky enough to tour and see first-hand earlier in the day. The Hotel Bardo has girls getaway written all over it. It's got a super hip and fun vibe and the cutest decor. It has the largest resort pool in Savannah, a fitness center, a spa, and two Saks 5th Avenue styling suites in case you want to schedule a personal shopping and styling session during your visit ;) You can even book cooking classes with the head chef of Saint Bibiana. I was able to see the rooms and suites here too and I wouldn't hesitate booking. I'd say The Perry Lane is better for couples, The Hotel Bardo is where I'd stay with girlfriends.
We left for the airport the next morning after breakfast, green juice and lattes, and we made it thru security and to our gate in exactly 10 minutes after being dropped off. The Savannah airport is a dream.
It was a quick trip but a relaxing getaway. It's always fun exploring a new city, and it's even better when it doesn't involve a long and complicated schlep to get there. DC to Savannah - 1 hour flight. Savannah airport to downtown - 25 minutes. Easy!