Where to Stay in Savannah

Some of the Hostess City hotels I stayed at and loved in 2024.

Savannah’s greatest hospitality hits, if you will:

The Drayton Hotel

Right off Bay Street near River Street and in the heart of Savannah's historic district, The Drayton Hotel has 50 luxury rooms and suites inside a 19th century building. I absolutely loved my room when I stayed here last March. It was a corner room with windows on two perpendicular walls overlooking City Hall and the Savannah River. Check-in and service was a bit messy, but I will attribute that to visiting the week before Saint Patrick’s Day—visitors and maybe even some locals celebrate the entire month (annoying, and I can say that because I used to live there). The lobby at the Drayton is sunkissed and filled with plants and I had nice cocktails and a delicious dinner during my stay at St. Neo’s Brasserie (steak frites with big sautéed onion on top, a couple lovely salads, and a cheese board) before a nightcap at the Vinyl Room beneath the restaurant. Would stay again, but not on or around a holiday.

Inside the Drayton (and views from my room)

Perry Lane Hotel

Dog friendly (of course), the Perry Lane Hotel is in the middle of town right off Drayton Street not far from Broughton Street/downtown and Forsyth Park, also just steps from fancy Parker’s (IYKYK), that one Irish pub, Pinkie Masters, and the beautiful Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. I’ve visited Peregrin, the rooftop at the Perry Lane for years, but just stayed at the hotel in 2024 for the first time. The lobby’s stunning, they’ve got Byredo products in the guest room bathrooms, and they gave me some cute stuff for Juni when I checked in (locally-made dog biscuits and such). The hotel is big on sustainability initiatives, has partnered with SCAD Pro students who designed Peregrin’s new conservatory inspired concept, and has been named the number one hotel in the city for the second consecutive year by Travel + Leisure. For dinner, do make a reservation at the Emporium Kitchen & Wine Market downstairs—everything was very good.

Lobby, guest room bathroom, a dish at Emporium, and cathedral views from Peregrin

Hotel Bardo

If you’ve visited Savannah in the past you may remember the Mansion on Forsyth Park. After being purchased and renovated, the hotel reopened this past year as Hotel Bardo and boy is it a sight for sore eyes. With the same burnt orangey/brown exterior, the inside and pool area now have a Palm Beach meets Italian-ish meets Sunset Tower feel. The lobby bar here is warm and welcoming, the gift shop, in my opinion, is the best in town, and Corpus Naturals products (a vegan, plant-based shower and skincare line made in California) are stocked in all the guest rooms. Book a first-level room that opens out to a patio overlooking the pool. Juni and I loved this and she was also welcomed with open arms at the bar and throughout the hotel. I’ve been to Saint Bibiana, the hotel’s restaurant, for breakfast only and want to return for dinner next time I travel without the dog. Would also love to experience a treatment at Saltgrass Spa—I’m sure it’s fab—and take part in some on-site activities/workout classes. Would stay again (and again and again).

Tell me this place isn't just stunning

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Other Favorites

The Thompson Savannah
It’s a bit off the beaten path if you will, but dog friendly and a great place to stay with kids or dogs — not because they require the same things by any means, but because you have a big grassy field right in front and an easy parking lot and a riverwalk for exploring, getting energy out, and potty breaks. The Thompson isn’t the best hotel in the city if you want to be in a central location; it can be walkable if you’re really up for it, but can also be a bit dangerous at night heading back without sidewalks. I love the restaurants/bars and rooftop here as well as how lovely all the staff was (to me and the dog). It’s all so pretty and of course even better when decorated for the holidays.

The Kimpton Brice Hotel
A Savannah favorite, The Kimpton Brice was recently renovated. All Kimptons are super dog friendly, the location (I think) is perfect because it’s not right in the center of town, it’s a little quieter, but it’s still walkable to Broughton, Bay Street, River Street, and Forsyth Park. There is a pool here and a daily happy/social hour with free drinks for guests to be enjoyed in the courtyard when the weather is nice.

I’ve written extensively about Savannah as you can see below, and all these posts can be located by using the search bar here.

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Coming soon: One more I can’t wait to visit when it opens in 2025

The Ann Savannah, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy, a brand new apartment-style boutique hotel in the heart of Savannah’s Historic District, is set to open early this year. Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy’s first property in mainland U.S., The Ann will introduce a collection of 157 premium suites, including studios, one- to four-bedroom units, and lofts with full-sized kitchens, in-room laundry, and pet-friendly living, perfect for families, groups, and solo travelers alike. We’re seeing a lot more apartment-style hotels pop up (like Placemakr, which has properties in Atlanta, Austin, Nashville, NYC, DC, and other US cities), and they’re great for short or extended stays.

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Need a few tips/tricks for your next Savannah visit?