Erika + Joel Snayd
Summer in Savannah belongs to the locals.
By May, the humidity has settled in for good. You can see the heat rising off the cobblestones of Jones Street by midday. People move slowly, sticking to the shade, ducking into corners where the breeze still finds its way through.
And then evening comes.
The cicadas start up. Drinks appear. Dinner stretches longer than expected. The city softens after dark in a way that's hard to explain unless you've lived through it.
It's not always an easy city in the summer, but it's one we love deeply. The ocean is close enough for relief, and the best parts of Savannah tend to happen after the sun goes down anyway.
This time of year especially, we find ourselves leaning into the rituals that make living here feel so distinct. There’s entertaining, and then there’s Savannah entertaining. The city was built on the sweat of a rocks glass, after all.
Over the years, people have asked us where we actually go in Savannah. Where we end up after work. Where we take friends when they visit. Where we linger. What we order. So we thought we’d share a few favorites.
Where We Go After Dark
Artillery Bar
This is probably closest to our ideal Savannah bar. Dark, lively, a little tucked away. We tend to settle in here later in the evening, usually ordering martinis or whatever cocktail feels right that night, with a few small plates for the table. Drinks are the centerpiece here, the food is just supporting the mood.
307 Bull Street 31401
artillerybar.com
Drinks at Artillery Bar
Bar Julian
For drinks with a view, Bar Julian is hard to beat. We usually go closer to sunset, when the light starts reflecting off the river and the whole city turns gold for a few minutes. It feels a little transportive up there.
201 Port Street 31401
barjulian.com
Perry Lane Rooftop
Peregrin, the Perry Lane Hotel rooftop bar, has a completely different energy. More relaxed, a little quieter, and one of our favorite places to meet friends for a late drink when the air finally cools down.
256 E Perry Street
perrylanehotel.com/peregrin
Drinks at the Perry Lane Hotel
Bull Street Taco
Bull Street Taco is one of those places we end up at constantly because it’s easy in the best way. Casual, lively, usually full of people we know. We’ll stop in after work, order a round of margaritas and a few tacos for the table, and somehow stay longer than we planned. It feels very Savannah to us, relaxed, social, and a little spontaneous.
1608 Bull Street 31401
bullstreettaco.com
Dinner at Bull Street Taco
Long Lunches + Slow Dinners
Local 11ten + Perch
We’ve always loved Local 11ten, not just because we worked on the interiors years ago, but because it still feels thoughtful every time we walk in. We usually end up upstairs on the porch, lingering longer than expected over dinner and a bottle of wine. It’s one of those places that still feels special, even when it becomes part of your routine.
1110 Bull Street 31401
local11ten.com
Lunch at Local 11Ten
Collins Quarter
The Forsyth Park location is one of our favorite lunch spots when we need to reset in the middle of the day. The Bull Street location feels entirely different to us at night, moodier, slower, more dinner-and-drinks. We love places that shift depending on the hour, and The Collins Quarter does that really well.
151 Bull Street 31401
downtown.thecollinsquarter.com
Crystal Beer Parlor
There’s something timeless about Crystal Beer Parlor. It feels unfussy in a way Savannah does really well. We love it for a casual dinner or a long lunch that accidentally turns into an afternoon. It’s one of those places that feels deeply rooted in the city.
301 W Jones Street 31401
crystalbeerparlor.com
Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room
You really can’t talk about Savannah without mentioning Mrs. Wilkes. It’s one of those experiences that reminds you how much food can bring people together. Passing dishes around a crowded table with strangers somehow always feels familiar by the end of the meal.
107 W Jones Street 31401
mrswilkes.com
Lunch at Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room
Green Truck
Sometimes you just want a really good burger in a place that doesn’t try too hard. Green Truck has always felt that way to us. Simple, consistent, and exactly what you want it to be.
2430 Habersham Street 31401
greentruckpub.com
For Wandering
Picker Joe's
One of our favorite ways to spend a slower afternoon is wandering through Picker Joe’s. It's on Savannah's southside, so you'll need a car or an Uber, but that's part of the charm. You never really know what you’re going to want to bring home. Vintage books, strange objects, old furniture, pieces with history. It feels less like shopping and more like treasure hunting.
66 W. Montgomery Cross Road 31406
pickerjoes.com
Shopping at Picker Joe's
Paris Market
Paris Market is one of those shops that always inspires us. It feels layered and collected in a really beautiful way. We’ll stop in for gifts, books, small objects for the house, and usually leave with something unexpected.
36 W Broughton Street 31401
theparismarket.com
Shopping at Paris Market
E. Shaver Booksellers
There’s something about E. Shaver’s that still feels deeply Savannah to us. Quiet corners, stacks of books, the creaking floors. It’s one of those places we always end up bringing people when they visit because it captures the slower pace of the city so well.
326 Bull Street 31401
eshaverbooksellers.com
PW Short Mercantile
PW Short is one of our favorite places for gifts. It has that rare balance of feeling elevated but still approachable. It’s the kind of shop where you walk in for one thing and leave with five.
414 Whitaker Street 31401
pwshort.com
Terracotta
Terracotta has a really beautiful balance of ease and refinement. The clothing feels thoughtful without being over-styled, which is something we always appreciate. It’s one of our favorite places to stop when we’re looking for pieces that feel personal, wearable, and a little unexpected. Everything feels carefully chosen in a way that still feels very Savannah.
34 Barnard Street 31401
terracottasavannah.com
Where We Send Friends
Hotel Bardo Savannah
Bardo feels like a true escape, even though it’s still Savannah. We love recommending it to friends staying in town because it feels tucked away from the pace of the city, but honestly, we love spending time there ourselves too. Quiet mornings, slow coffee, long afternoons by the pool. It’s become a little oasis for people visiting downtown, but also for those of us who live here year-round. It has its own rhythm.
700 Drayton Street 31401
staybardo.com
Erika + Joel at Hotel Bardo
Perry Lane Rooftop
Peregrin, the Perry Lane rooftop bar, has a completely different energy at night. Relaxed, a little quieter, and one of our favorite places to settle in for a drink once the air cools down. We’ll usually send anyone who wants a good view and a great cocktail. It feels polished without trying too hard, which is part of why it's such a great place to keep going back.
256 East Perry Street 31401
perrylanehotel.com
Savannah changes in the summer. The pace slows down. Dinner starts later. Drinks last longer. The city belongs a little more to the people who stay through the heat.
These are the places we keep returning to because they remind us why we love living here in the first place.
— Erika + Joel
