Each year we spend about a week in Savannah and if you’ve been you know it’s not a very big city. That’s absolutely part of why we like it so much. Yet for a small city there is a surprising amount of diversity in the food scene and it continues to grow year after year. For our trip this year around Memorial Day weekend, we also noticed that the city itself has grown with the addition of the new Plant Riverside District along the river front. Multiple new buildings with hotels, shops, and restaurants have greatly expanded the footprint in the area. We were excited to try some of the new food spots this year as well as visit some of our longtime favorite ones. 

Old Favorite: Savannah Rum Runners Bakery and Cafe

Did I mention that we got married in Savannah? This adorable local bakery made our wedding cake and we order cakes from them every single time we come to town. This year we got a hummingbird cake and a coconut cake – both are divine and were flavors at our wedding reception. They can do any size cake – when it’s been just my husband and I they’ve made us a “smash cake” size which was perfect. Highly recommend for any occasion!

New Taste: Yia Yia’s Kitchen and Marketplace

They put fries in the gyros just like in Greece! This spot was close to our rental by Forsyth Park and all in our party like Greek food so it was an easy lunch decision. Possibly the best gyro I’ve eaten outside of Greece. Delicious! They also have a small shop selling Greek and Mediterranean specialty items. I snagged a bottle of Greek wine!

Old Favorite: The Vault Kitchen and Market

Beyond the bustling Historic District and downtown is an area that has undergone redevelopment in recent years and is more of a “locals” area. The Vault is located here in an old bank (you can eat inside the actual vault!) and showcases a lovely Asian-fusion menu with fresh ingredients. I’m a huge fan of their fish tacos which feature their daily market catch, pickled vegetables, fresh herbs and a creamy sauce. 

New Taste: Hop Atomica

We tried out a new brewery on this trip that I’d discovered through some research. The outside is quite simple and bright but the inside wowed us with it’s incredible detail to mid-century modern decor and design. Lots of different beers to sample and even a hard kombucha on draft!

New Taste: Myrtle & Rose Rooftop Garden

We just so happened to be in Savannah at the same time as my friend Alexander and his partner David so we decided to meet up for a drink at this awesome and beautiful new rooftop bar in the Plant Riverside District. Outdoor garden, comfortable furniture, sweeping views of the river which were perfect for watching the enormous container ships go by, and delicious drinks and food – this is an amazing downtown spot. I had ouzo which I don’t normally see on menus and it was just right for a hot day. Our snack was smoked mussels on brioche with creme fraiche and it was divine. 

Old Favorite: Circa 1875 Gastropub

Interesting fact: I’ve been to the Parisienne-style bar many, many times but have never dined at the adjacent French restaurant. Not sure why – maybe next time! This place has a great vibe. Grab a seat at the bar, order a sparkling wine cocktail and listen to the bartenders chat with locals. Such a gem.

New Taste: Common on Broughton

Sean and I usually have a date night when we visit Savannah and this year I got started on restaurant research too late so our first choices were all booked up for Saturday night of a holiday weekend. We managed to grab a later reservation at Common Restaurant which we’d never been to before. While not as fancy as we’d been aiming for, we had a nice server and a really delicious meal. My Seafood Pesto Mac and Cheese was really, really good – not too heavy and not too much cheese. The Pesto paired well with the scallops and shrimp. Sean’s Eggplant Ba Bim Bop was pretty unique with some interesting ingredients like buffalo cauliflower, spice-roasted sweet potato, and coconut rice. 

There were a few other places we went to that I did not get photos of but want to name.

Old Favorites:
Vinnie Van Go-Gos for pizza (a tradition – although they finally take credit cards!)
Tacos + Tequila (of Tequila’s Town)

New Taste:
Rancho Alegre Cuban Restaurant – amazing Cuban food, fun atmosphere, pitchers of mojitos – how could this be bad? 😉

I hope you’ll try some of these places if you’re in Savannah. Some are off the beaten path which make for a unique experience.