Where to Stay in Savannah
From a Church Bell Tower to a Rooftop Bar — Our Favorite Picks, so far.
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Savannah has no shortage of chain hotels, but the city rewards travelers who dig a little deeper. We’ve stayed here more times than we can count, and each trip we’ve found something better than the last. Here are the properties that genuinely earned a recommendation.
The Alita Savannah — A Tribute Portfolio Hotel
Steps from Factors Walk and River Street, the Alita is housed in a beautiful building that opened in 2018 and is named after Alita Harper Fowlkes, the so-called godmother of Savannah’s historic preservation movement. The Art Deco-inspired rooms are stunning. Ours had a built-in bar area for a little in-room mixology, and the staff upgraded us to a gorgeous corner room. One of our favorite touches: each room has a record player, and you can go downstairs to swap records from the hotel’s library. It’s the kind of detail that shows somebody actually thought about this place.
The Alita has two notable bars. The Trade Room on the lobby floor is a sophisticated lounge with great drinks. The Lost Square is the Mediterranean-inspired rooftop bar with clear yurt-style tents in the winter and sweeping views of the river, year round. Seasonal craft cocktails, sparkling water on tap in the hallways, fresh fruit available on your floor, this is a well-run hotel that earns every star. Pet-friendly, on-site parking garage, and the restaurant Rhett serves solid low-country fare with river views.
JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District
Directly across from the Alita on the riverfront, the JW Marriott occupies a converted power plant and they’ve leaned all the way into the concept. Inside you’ll find dinosaur fossils, minerals, a stunning art gallery, the Baobab Lounge (African-inspired decor, taxidermy, and seriously creative smoked cocktails), and the Turbine Market, which serves some of the best breakfast in Savannah. Get the campfire hash bowl with sweet potatoes, smoked sausage, Aleppo flakes, and chimichurri. It’ll fuel you for a full day of walking.
The Stone and Webster Chop House is their premier steakhouse, and the outdoor riverside bar has live music and actual smoked BBQ wafting off the river walk. We haven’t made it to the chop house yet, but it’s on the list. If you want a luxury hotel that feels like a museum, this is it.
East Bay Inn — Historic Charm, Rare Parking
If you want to feel like you’ve actually stepped into Savannah’s history, the East Bay Inn delivers. This intimate inn on East Bay Street, a short walk down to the River Walk that keeps everything period-accurate from the lobby to the floor-to-ceiling curtained windows and incredible beds. The staff is warm, morning coffee is fresh, and the connected Tandem Coffee and Bar does coffee in the morning and spirits in the afternoon. It’s one of those places you’d stay at again just because the rooms are so gorgeous. Oh, and it has its own parking lot, which in Savannah is practically a miracle.
Sanctuary Place Inn — Sleep in a Church Bell Tower
This one needs its own post someday. Located in Savannah’s Midtown neighborhood south of Forsyth Park, Sanctuary Place Inn is a converted 1800s church split into three Airbnb-style units. Ours had flagstone floors, gorgeous hardwood stairs that led up to the choir loft where the bedroom was, and we are not making this up, a soaking tub inside the bell tower. The stained glass, the original beams, and the little fountain in the back courtyard really add to the property. It’s one of the most unique places we’ve ever stayed anywhere.
They gave us a first responder discount, which always holds a warm spot in the heart and in the wallet. You can book directly at sanctuaryinn.com rather than going through Airbnb. We added an extra night because we didn’t want to leave. That says everything.
A Note on Parking
Street parking is limited in the North Historic District. East Jones Street is a notable exception. Otherwise, there are several parking garages in the area, just budget for it. Once you’re parked, Savannah is extremely walkable, and the Old Town Trolley makes it even easier to cover ground without destroying your feet.
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Trip Jar Travel Blog — blog.gettripjar.com