7 Amazing Things to Eat and Drink in Savannah, Georgia

When we visited Savannah, Georgia in September 2022, we fell in love with the charming streets and grand squares made up of beautiful Georgian houses and Spanish moss swinging from the Oak trees.

We had a ton of great experiences in the city including the iconic Old Town Trolley tour as well as the spooky History and Haunts Candlelit Ghost tour but in typical fashion, what stuck with us most of us all was the amazing food we had in our short time there.

In no particular order, we’ve listed all of our highlights below.

Some of the sections in this guide contain affiliate links which, at no extra cost to you, provide us with a small commission. We only recommend places we’ve visited personally and all opinions expressed here are our own.

Leopold’s Ice Cream

Leopold’s is a Savannah institution and has been named among the top 10 ice cream parlours in the world for a reason. Make sure you make some time to visit this iconic establishment in the north historic district and be prepared to wait as it’s popular with locals and tourists alike.

The interior is a retro delight with an old-fashioned soda fountain, walls decked out with Hollywood memorabilia and an amazing selection of flavours. We opted for a classic salted caramel as as well the more unusual seasonal flavour of lavender. The ice cream is amazingly smooth and creamy with subtle flavours that balance nicely without being too sweet or overpowering.

If you’re looking to beat the heat next time you’re in Savannah, make sure to stop in at Leopold’s.

Leopold’s Ice Cream – 212 E Broughton St, Savannah, GA 31401.

Sly’s Sliders and Fries

We were looking for a bite to eat a little further south of the main downtown historic areas and were recommended Sly’s Sliders and Fries. It’s a little tucked away but well worth the detour for some of the best sliders we’ve ever had.

The menu is sprawling and ever changing, offering a rotation of traditional beef patties as well as chicken and fish burgers and not to mention an extensive list of slider dogs. On top of this there’s a great selection of toppings to create your own basket of dirty fries.

It was quiet when we dropped in on a weekday evening and the service was speedy (after we’d taken an age to make a decision). We grabbed three sliders each and shared a basket of fries which was perfect for us. We thought the value for money was great especially considering the quality of food on offer.

If you’re looking for a quick but delicious bite, hit up Sly’s.

Sly’s Sliders & Fries – 1710 Abercorn St, Savannah, GA 31401.

Two Tides Brewing Co.

If you’re looking for something to drink before or after visiting Sly’s, drop in to Two Tides Brewing Co., just a ten minute walk away on West 41st Street. Savannah has a lot of great breweries to choose from and we recommend checking out a couple. However, if like us, you’re short on time and IPAs are your thing, then make sure to drop in to Two Tides.

As with most breweries, the menu is on a constant rotation but generally features a great selection of IPAs as well as some unique and interesting sours. I opted for a flight of 3 IPAs plus a lager to round things off. Camilla, not being a beer drinker at all, opted for some of their more creative choices in a mango sour as well as a banana cheesecake sour. Both sours tasted great and and unlike anything we’d ever had so we’d say it’s worth a visit even if you’re not super in to beer.

The space itself is a cool as well, covering the upper floors of an old house with a variety of rooms and balconies to enjoy your drinks. A set of old school pinball machines and some psychedelic wall art complete the vibe.

Two Tides Brewing Co. – 12 W 41st St, Savannah, GA 31401.

River Street Sweets

The beautiful waterfront River Street of Savannah offers a ton of shops, bars and restaurants. The street is regularly heaving with crowds and some of the establishments along here can be a bit of a tourist trap. We avoided eating for the most part for this reasons but we were willing to make one exception.

River Street Sweets offers a huge selection of sweet treats including fudge and pretzels but Savannah is famous for Pecan pralines so we couldn’t leave without sampling some of these iconic treats. The sugary, buttery treat is a true taste of the south and a must when in Savannah.

River Street Sweets – 13 E River St, Savannah, GA 31401.

Clary’s Cafe

If you’re looking for classic diner experience and some good old fashioned southern hospitality, look no further than the iconic Clary’s cafe. We stopped in for breakfast but they’re open 8am-2pm every day so could work for a lunch visit too.

You’ll find all the down-home country classics like country fried steak, pancakes and biscuits and gravy as well as lighter choices like greek omelettes and fresh fruit. Service is warm and friendly, ensuring our drinks were always topped off and we had everything we needed.

After being featured in the novel “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” as well it’s 1997 movie adaptation, Clary’s has become another Savannah institution and can have a line so getting there early is recommended, especially on the weekends.

Clary’s Cafe – 404 Abercorn St, Savannah, GA 31401.

Cotton & Rye

If you’re looking for a more elevated approach to southern cooking, you’re spoilt for choice in Savannah. You’ll see the converted Greyhound bus terminal restaurant The Grey recommended endlessly but it’s so hotly tipped that we were unable to snag a reservation. All was not lost though as we did manage to get ourselves a table at Zach Schultz’s Cotton and Rye.

The menu is made up of classic dishes like shrimp and grits, fried chicken and cornbread taken to new levels with some forward thinking touches like sumac and burnt honey butter. The restaurant makes use of an old bank and has a thoughtfully put together interior, featuring a bar as well tables inside the old vault with original door.

If you’re looking for a modern take on authentic southern cuisine, make sure to book a table at Cotton & Rye.

Cotton & Rye – 1801 Habersham St, Savannah, GA 31401.

Lulu’s Chocolate Bar

We stumbled across Lulu’s one evening whist walking back to our hotel after dinner. We were too full for dessert at the time but made a mental note to check back in once we had the belly space. After an early dinner reservation at Cotton & Rye, we gave ourselves some time to get hungry again then dropped in to Lulu’s for some after dinner goodness.

Being in Georgia, I had to get some pecan pie and Camilla opted for a triple decker chocolate cake. As well their extensive selection of cakes and pies, Lulu’s has a massive dessert cocktail menu to choose from so we ordered a couple of chocolate martinis to wash everything down.

Be warned, portions sizes are large, especially when coupled with the cocktails, so make sure you go hungry.

Lulu’s Chocolate Bar – 42 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Savannah, GA 31401.

Wrapping Up

Whether you’re looking for quick and casual bite or something a little more sophisticated, Savannah has a huge variety to offer you. Our recommendations here only showcase a fraction of the great culinary scene in this city. We honed in on southern flavours whilst visiting but you could just as easily indulge in seafood, BBQ or Asian flavours if you’re looking for something a little different.