Savannah Unveiled

Hidden Gems

Savannah's Best-Kept Secrets

The squares, bars, bookshops, and backstreets that most visitors never find.

These are interesting Savannah places that visitors may want to consider — none of them are on the standard itinerary, but each one offers something worth seeking out.

Columbia SquareHidden Square1
Parks & Squares

The Square the Tour Buses Skip

Columbia Square

Savannah has 22 historic squares, but most visitors see only four or five. Columbia Square, on East State Street, is one of the most beautiful and consistently overlooked. The centerpiece is the Wormsloe Fountain, a replica of the original at Wormsloe Plantation, and the surrounding architecture — including the Davenport House, one of the finest Federal-style houses in America — is exceptional. On a weekday morning you may have it entirely to yourself.

East State Street at Habersham. A 10-minute walk east of the main tourist corridor.

Free

Visitor Tip

The Davenport House Museum on the square is one of the best house museums in the city and far less crowded than the Mercer Williams House.

Rocks on the RoofRooftop Bar2
Bars & Nightlife

The Best View in Savannah

Rocks on the Roof

The rooftop bar at the Bohemian Hotel on River Street is the worst-kept secret among Savannah locals — but it's still largely unknown to visitors who don't know to ask. The views over the Savannah River and the historic district are extraordinary, especially at dusk when the light turns golden and the container ships slide past below. The cocktail list is solid, the atmosphere is relaxed, and the sunsets are genuinely spectacular.

Atop the Bohemian Hotel, 102 West Bay Street. Take the elevator to the roof. No reservation needed.

$$

Visitor Tip

Arrive 30 minutes before sunset and claim a spot on the west-facing side. The light on the river at that hour is unlike anything else in the city.

Alex Raskin AntiquesAntique Shop3
Shopping

Five Floors of Extraordinary Junk

Alex Raskin Antiques

Alex Raskin Antiques occupies a crumbling five-story mansion on Monterey Square — the Noble Hardee Mansion, built in 1858 — and the experience of browsing it is unlike any antique shop you've been to. The rooms are packed floor to ceiling with furniture, art, silver, and objects accumulated over decades, and the building itself is in a state of magnificent, intentional decay. The owner is famously eccentric. It's one of the most atmospheric spaces in Savannah.

432 Abercorn Street at Monterey Square, directly across from the Mercer Williams House. Open Tuesday–Saturday.

Free to browse

Visitor Tip

Don't rush. The best things are on the upper floors, and the building itself is worth the visit even if you don't buy anything.

The Starland MuralsStreet Art4
Art & Culture

An Outdoor Gallery Nobody Talks About

The Starland Murals

The Starland District has accumulated one of the most impressive collections of street murals in the American South, and almost none of the city's official guides mention them. The murals rotate — local and visiting artists add new work regularly — and the quality is consistently high. The best concentration is along Bull Street between 38th and 41st, but there are pieces scattered throughout the neighborhood on side streets and alley walls.

Bull Street between 38th and 41st Streets, plus the surrounding blocks. Best explored on foot — allow an hour to wander.

Free

Visitor Tip

The murals on the side streets off Bull are often more interesting than the ones on the main drag. Turn down every alley you see.

Foxy Loxy Café CourtyardCafé5
Cafés & Food

The Prettiest Place to Have Coffee in Savannah

Foxy Loxy Café Courtyard

Foxy Loxy is a well-known Savannah café, but most visitors who go there sit inside or on the front porch. The secret is the back courtyard — a lush, overgrown garden space with mismatched furniture, string lights, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to stay for three hours. It's attached to a print studio and gallery, and the coffee is excellent. On weekend mornings it fills with locals who know to head straight to the back.

1919 Bull Street in the Starland District. Walk through the café and out the back door.

$

Visitor Tip

The breakfast tacos are exceptional and the cortado is one of the best in the city. Come before 10am on weekends to get a seat in the courtyard.

Businesses, hours and availability can change. Confirm current information directly with each location before visiting.

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