11 Best Boutique Hotels in Savannah

Founded in 1733, Savannah, Georgia, is iconic as the first planned city in the United States. It’s a city full of history and elegance, with its historic district and architecture, cobblestone streets, live oak trees dripping with Spanish moss, and southern charm. So, we wanted to stay in one of the gorgeous boutique hotels in Savannah to immerse ourselves in its culture and history fully. These intimate stays, which include boutique inns and B&Bs, range from contemporary gems to historic ones. The historic hotels are what the city is primarily known for, sitting in structures dating back to the mid-to-late 1800s. Besides the stunning architecture, these hotels boast fascinating stories and have been restored immaculately. However, whether old-world or modern, they all offered a personalized experience and true Southern hospitality.

The best bit? These hotels lay not only in the historic district but also in other buzzy new locations around. So, staying in these boutique hotels was a discerning experience. Aptly hailed as the Hostess City of the South, Savannah has always been welcoming, and its charming stays take that welcome several steps further. Here’s a detailed guide to staying in boutique hotels in this Lowcountry Southern gem.

East Bay Inn

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Located on Bay Street, right across from River Street, East Bay Inn was within walking distance of everything we wanted to see and do in Savannah. It’s part of the Historic Inns of Savannah collection, and rightfully so, as it was originally built as a cotton warehouse back in 1852. Did you know it’s rumored to be haunted by a resident ghost named Charlie? Yep. He’s said to haunt room no. 325 to this day. Eeek!

Resident ghost aside, this good-value and enticing B&B boasts the most comfortable rooms with beautiful furnishings, exposed brick walls, and old-fashioned wooden beds with comfy mattresses. Luxe bathrooms aside, they also had flatscreen TVs, free Wi-Fi access, and complimentary turndown service. While the front-facing rooms have the best views, it can get slightly noisy, but we loved gazing at the Bay Street and River Street action. Are you traveling with your doggie? This place has as many as six pet-friendly rooms. And since there’s an elevator, there are accessible rooms, too, which is a win in our books.

Now, let’s talk about the amenities at this boutique inn, which were quite impressive, by the way. Firstly, complimentary bottled water was always available at the front desk 24/7. Secondly, the hotel was home to Debi’s Restaurant, which served both breakfast and lunch. Breakfast was also available at the other restaurant, Tandem Coffee & Spirits, which also served tapas, coffee, and signature cocktails.

Eliza Thompson House

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Best adults-only. We were looking for a romantic boutique getaway in Savannah when we stumbled upon the Eliza Thompson House and fell in love with it immediately. And why not? This 1847-built former private residence was the first house constructed on Downtown Savannah’s Jones Street. Moreover, Jones Street is widely considered as “the prettiest street in Savannah!” Today, this adults-only boutique B&B is a prime place for romance in this pretty city.

Don’t miss breakfast at this gorgeous 19th-century townhouse; it includes a mix of Southern specialties ranging from Southern grits to breakfast casseroles. When we were staying, the weather was nice, so we could enjoy breakfast in the tranquil brick courtyard, surrounded by lush greenery and fountains. No matter where we were in the city during the day, we’d head back to the B&B for an afternoon reception. They’d serve appetizers, cheese, wine, sherry, and evening desserts in the atmospheric main parlor every day!

“Of all of Savannah’s historic and unique stays, Eliza Thompson House, its setting, and the experience holds a special place in our hearts.”

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Since it’s a historic house, a boatload of gold-leaf-framed portraits and furnishings shipped over from England dot the well-appointed rooms and suites. All 25 rooms, including the 12 “Main House” and 13 rooms in the adjacent Carriage House, overlooked the lush private garden courtyard. Moreover, they all had private bathrooms and featured vintage found pieces and artwork. Our R. Bruce room was the most elegant, with its original hardwood floors and draped ceiling.

TRYP by Wyndham Savannah

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Best value-for-money. We were looking for a value-for-money boutique stay in the heart of the city’s historic district, and we couldn’t find a better choice than TRYP by Wyndham Savannah. This hotel put us within walking distance of the top things to do in Savannah, including museums and shopping venues. Plus, we also had direct access to the historic City Market.

Despite being a value stay, this TRYP by Wyndham outpost offered many notable amenities. Our days began with delicious Southern la carte breakfasts daily at Vic the Restaurant, which were enough to fuel us for the entire day. We’d return to the same space to enjoy cocktails, local craft beers, and dinner later. Besides more than 1,000 sq. ft of meeting space and banquet facilities, the hotel even had a fitness center for those who wanted to work out. Did we mention that there was also a mini-mart for those who wanted to pick up quick-fix things to eat and other groceries?

We loved the spacious rooms, which featured large flatscreen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and separate seating areas with super-comfy sofas. They also had fridges, plush beds, and luxe bathrooms with premium bath products.

The Alida, Savannah, A Tribute Portfolio Collection

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We loved a lot of things about The Alida, which is part of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio Collection. It sits on River Street in Savannah’s buzzing new Plant Riverside Entertainment District and is a one-stop shop for entertainment, drinking, and dining. This boutique stay isn’t about traditional Southern charm but rather modern and design-focused.

That said, Alida’s amenities are the big draw here. We loved digging into Southern comfort food at Rhett’s signature ground-floor restaurant. Our favorite spot was the chilled and heated year-round saltwater pool, which was flanked by daybeds and private cabanas. After a swim and a lounge, we’d order cocktails and shareable bites from the pool bar-cum-lounge, Cabana Club. A boutique gift shop, free and fast Wi-Fi, complimentary champagne at the reception, and snacks and canapés every evening in the lobby bar complete the place.

Choose from 173 industrial-chic rooms and suites, all of which boast one-of-a-kind artwork by students of nearby SCAD (Savannah College of Art & Design). Rooms either have pool or city views, and they all have mid-century modern and contemporary furnishings.

The Drayton Hotel Savannah, Curio Collection by Hilton

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Best historic. We were traveling with friends and couldn’t find a better boutique stay than the Drayton Hotel, smack dab in the heart of the historic district. It sits in the 1892-built building of the former American Trust and Bank, one of Savannah’s oldest and most historic buildings. Moreover, the meticulous restoration embraces the structure’s 19th-century exterior. On the inside, it struck the perfect balance between honoring its Southern roots and a low-key luxury experience.

The highlight here is the signature restaurant, St. Neo’s Brasserie, which serves typically Southern seafood fare. However, we particularly loved the rooftop terrace and bar, where we could drink amazing cocktails and soak in views of the gorgeous neighborhood. Post-dinner libations were best enjoyed at the Vinyl Room lounge, which also served delicious desserts. Did we mention the small coffee stand that was the perfect way to start a morning? Yep.

All 48 rooms and suites face the Savannah River or the historic neighborhood. Our Chamber Double room was breezy and bright, with reclaimed wood floors and blue and green hues. We especially loved the playful details like standalone tubs, vintage telephones, and mirrored wooden minibars.

Olde Harbour Inn

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The 1892-built Olde Harbour Inn is one of the first riverside warehouses in Savannah. Today, this beautiful all-suite boutique inn is one of the best stays on River Street, especially for discerning travelers like us looking for a place that was more than just a hotel. We were immediately taken in by the friendly, attentive, and excellent staff, who showed us the ropes and explained the amenities. Our days began with morning pastries and coffee in the lobby area. Moreover, they offered us complimentary water and sodas throughout the day. If that wasn’t enough, we even got to mingle with the other guests at the evening hors d’oeuvres, wine, and cheese reception.

If you’re impressed at the sound of the amenities, wait till you see the utterly beautiful suites, of which our favorites were the two-bedroom loft suites. While kitchenettes and bathrooms are from the 1980s, they’ve been spiffed up. The decor is big on mohair patterns and florals, with reproduction four-poster beds that gave us a homey vibe. Plus, all rooms even had TVs, microwaves, and small fridges. If you want to, they’ll even provide a bottle of wine or chilled champagne in your room; all you need to do is add it to your reservation.

The Cotton Sail Hotel Savannah, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

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The Cotton Sail Hotel Savannah, part of Hilton’s Tapestry Collection, is an ode to Savannah’s history of riverside commerce. Not surprisingly, it directly overlooks the Savannah River, but its small size and stately calmness blew us away.

Like many of Savannah’s boutique stays, its gorgeous redbrick exterior hints at its history. Even on the inside, we could see visible traces of its former life as a 19th-century cotton warehouse, like the heart-of-pine floors. That said, it’s thoroughly and assuringly modern on the inside, which is evident in the amenities. There’s a small fitness center and even a popular rooftop bar. Despite there being no restaurant, it serves a wonderful continental breakfast buffet. Beyond the amenities, there’s a cool crowd, personal and warm service, and superb riverside views and tranquility. A friendly concierge even recommended tours and entertainment.

Even standard rooms boasted windows with river views, contemporary bathrooms with bespoke bath products, and a pseudo-rustic vibe. They all even had 200-year-old pine hardwood floors, which we loved. If you have the budget, choose the rooms with balconies and river views.

The Bardo

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The Bardo, formerly the Mansion on Forsyth Park, combines big-city comfort and amenities with quintessential Southern charm in the perfect package. We were charmed by the 1888-built redbrick Forsyth Mansion that looks out to Savannah’s oldest and largest public park. What’s more, it’s a short walk to Downtown and the historic district—it’s Savannah with a modern twist.

The top honor here belongs to the restaurant Saint Bibiana, which serves shareable “coastal Italian cuisine” plates, unlike other hotels that stick to Lowcountry fare. It also serves an amazing breakfast, but we’d recommend Bar Bibi for a hearty poolside lunch (think Mediterranean). What we loved about Saint Bibiana was that it was open for breakfast and dinner each day of the week. This is when many Savannah restaurants are shut down from Monday to Tuesday. The private members club (a la Soho House in concept) has everything from a lobby bar to boot camp classes.

The rooms and suites particularly hit all the right notes for a stylish 2024 hotel room: Think Art Deco curves, rattan wardrobes, and brass light fixtures. We loved the Georgia peach color scheme with punchy white-and-green tiles in the bathrooms. Frette robes, Corpus bath products, Dyson hairdryers—this place had it all. Since we were in the balcony suite, we even had a freestanding bathtub!

Andaz Savannah

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Sitting a block away from River Street, the Andaz Savannah was the best boutique urban retreat for us as we wanted to stay in the thick of it all. The redbrick exterior hints at historical, but the minute we set foot inside the lobby, everything was contemporary cool. We love unfussy and chic spaces, and the lobby and the rest of the hotel emanated the same vibe. Since it’s part of Hyatt’s luxury boutique brand, the hotel’s decor is modern, with pops of rich gem tones and moss-green hues.

Andaz’s decor borders on quirky and eclectic but in a discerning manner. All Andaz stays have animal mascots, and this outpost has a monkey as its mascot, a visual leitmotif that was sprinkled across common spaces and the rooms and suites. We loved dining at 22 Square, its all-day restaurant that had delicious southern-style soul food – pickled devilled eggs, anyone? We loved the cheekily named cocktails at the bar, but our favorite hangout spot was the pool terrace. Guzzling a cold beer here after a lovely swim was the best way to beat Savannah’s humidity. No matter where we’d be, we’d return to the hotel for a complimentary wine hour in the evening. Did we mention the mini-mart and the tour desk? Yep.

That said, we chose Andaz for its residential-style rooms and suites, making it the perfect option since we were traveling with our kids. Our Deluxe Suite had a huge double bed and a sofa bed in the living room for the kids. The checked armchairs provided a good seating area, and the room had all the mod-cons we wanted, from a flatscreen TV to a luxe bathroom.

River Street Inn

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Best location. The River Street Inn on the picturesque Savannah River calls itself the oldest hotel on the river, and we’re inclined to agree. This charming hotel captures the essence of Savannah’s waterfront beauty and rich history, especially since it sits in a 200-year-old cotton warehouse. At the same time, a major 2019 renovation added a slew of modern living amenities. All this, coupled with a prime River Street location, makes this one of the city’s most popular boutique waterfront stays.

We loved the hotel’s coziness and convenience, especially its drinking and dining scene. There are four restaurants, bars, and cafes on the property, with our favorite being the all-day French Cafe M, which served croissants and café au laits with a Southern twist. Both first-floor restaurants, Bernie’s Oyster House and NOLA-style Huey’s Southern Cafe, give discounts to guests staying over. Finally, there’s the second-floor Tubby’s, which serves delicious Lowcountry boil with live music in the background with river views.

The newer rooms have in-room fridges, exposed Savannah Grey Brick walls, and energy-efficient LED lights. Many offer River Street and river views, too, which we ended up choosing, and we had a memorable stay.

Perry Lane Hotel, A Luxury Collection Hotel

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Most luxurious. The Perry Lane Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel in the heart of the city’s historic district, is one of the best boutique hotels in Savannah, GA. Its southern warmth is wrapped in upscale luxury at its finest, and it happens to be one of the best luxury hotels in Savannah, GA.

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The amenities at this hotel are some of the best we’ve seen in the entire American South. We loved digging into Southern-inspired fare like shrimp and grits at the Emporium, its signature restaurant. It also was a wine bar with an extensive wine list, but the other pint-sized ground-floor pub, Wayward, is best for cocktails. But the elegant rooftop bar, Peregrin, and its handcrafted cocktails are absolutely unmissable. That, when combined with lawn games and scenic views, made it the best spot for us to hang out on the property. Our favorite was the light-filled library, which also hosts tea parties with hors’ d’oeuvres, tea sandwiches, and house-baked pastries.

All 167 stylish rooms and suites had delicate design touches like vintage Adelaide Harcourt-inspired ephemera and artwork. The modern details, like Byredo bath products and Frette linens, were to die for, but the old-world charm, like vintage books and art, was indeed one of a kind.

Our Verdict!

While we love every last boutique stay we’ve mentioned, choosing between them all can get daunting. Here’s a specialized list that could help you zero down on a choice.

• Best value for money: TRYP By Wyndham Savannah
• Best adults-only: Eliza Thompson House
• Best historic: The Drayton Hotel Savannah, Curio Collection By Hilton
• Best location: River Street Inn
• Most luxurious: Perry Lane Hotel, A Luxury Collection Hotel

Where to Stay in Savannah?

Savannah, an all-American City, boasts a rich and long history dating back to the Antebellum era. That’s why it has everything from beautiful public parks and Georgian mansions to cobblestone streets, squares, and even horse-drawn carriages! So, which are the best neighborhoods in the city for travelers like us to stay in?

We begin with the city’s crown jewel, Savannah’s Historic District. It’s characterized by cobblestone streets, heritage mansions, and brims with history, culture, and charm. It’s perfect for history lovers, culture vultures, couples, and those looking for something different. Next, there’s City Market in the city’s most northwestern part. This vibrant area is full of restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and cafes that are open until late at night.

Finally, there’s River Street, a historic district that oozes a different kind of modern charm. It sits along the Savannah River in the heart of the town and is lined with lots of shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars.

Why do people go for Savannah’s boutique stays?

Savannah’s boutique staying options are unique and brimming with Southern hospitality while featuring all modern comforts. It’s a unique combination that few other cities in the Deep South have.

What area of Savannah is best to stay in?

The Historic District and the River Street areas are certainly unique to Savannah, so we recommend them as our top recommendations.

What is the best month to go to Savannah, Georgia?

While the weather is mild and sunny from March to June and the city is brimming with flowers, it can get expensive. So, travelers also head to Savannah during the shoulder months, which are less crowded and cheaper.