Drop your bags at the Municipal Grand Hotel, a handsome newcomer that’s equal parts refined and relaxed, and enjoy their elevated hospitality. Then take a stroll over to Husk. At the upstairs bar, happy hour runs on weekdays (including Friday) but be sure to arrive right after opening to snag a stool and enjoy some of Savannah’s best bartenders as they work their magic in this gloriously open room with the oyster bar in full view. The menu and cocktail list tilts toward the seasonal and Southern, bourbon, citrus, and herbaceous whispers, and the small plates set the tone for the evening.

Pictured: Husk

From Husk, it’s an easy uber ride, or a leisurely walk back to fetch your car, and then to Fleeting, where the menu reads like a love letter to coastal Georgia’s seasons. Think local shrimp tangled in house-made pasta or charred sunchokes with a depth that belies their simplicity. Fleeting is on the first floor of the Thomson Savannah in the up and coming Eastern Wharf on the east side of river street. 

Pictured: Fleeting

If you’re not ready to call it a night, head upstairs to Bar Julian, the rooftop perch where the skyline shares space with the river. Order something sparkling, settle into a low-slung chair, and watch the larger than life ships glide in under the lights.

Pictured: Bar Julian Rooftop 

Morning starts at The Collins Quarter on the Park, where the avocado toast arrives crowned with a soft-poached egg and the spiced lavender mocha is almost too pretty to drink. Signature Cocktails and specialty coffee options abound. They even have a walkup window for those on the go. Outside, Forsyth Park stirs awake, the grand fountain framed by oak branches.

Pictured: The Collins Quarter on the Park

Just steps away, the Saturday Forsyth Farmers Market offers local honey, fresh-picked produce, local artists, and the occasional busker. Linger long enough to people-watch, then wander north on Bull Street where the squares unfold like pocket gardens.

Pictured: Forsyth Farmers Market

Meander through a few squares as you soak up the history and the beauty. Pause long enough to enjoy Jones street with her picturesque cobblestones. Eventually make your way to Broughton Street and go lose yourself in The Paris Market, part café, part french cabinet of curiosities, and Terra Cotta, a boutique where the wares lean toward the handmade and the beautiful. Pop into Savannah Bee Company for a mead tasting that’s sweet, floral, and just a touch wild. Right in the mix is The Coffee Fox if you’re in need of a quick pick-me-up.

Pictured: Savannah Bee Company

Depending on your mood and how tired you are from walking, I’ll offer two great lunch options. Both are about a half mile walk or a short Uber ride. Crystal Beer Parlor, the oldest restaurant in Savannah, is still a locals’ favorite. Consider the fried flounder or pimento cheese on your pulled pork for a taste of tradition. Or try Zunzi’s on Drayton, once a hole in the wall with messy overflowing sandwiches and its famous and unbeatable “Shit Yeah” sauce that you can’t not enjoy.

Pictured: Zunzi’s on Drayton

After lunch, take an interlude back at the hotel. You’ll need it. Kick off your shoes, freshen up, and let the pace of the city sink in. Savannah rewards the unhurried, and you’ll want your energy for the evening ahead.

Pictured: Municipal Grand Hotel

By early evening, take an uber out to The Wyld Dock Bar, perched on the water just outside of downtown. This hidden gem is worth the extra ride off the beaten path. It’s Savannah at its most laid back; cocktails with a salt breeze, seafood fresh from the coast and the pluff mud smell of the lowcountry. Along with other delicious options, order the succotash to share. Be sure to time your visit for golden hour for a spectacular sunset, because happy hour here is as much about the views as the drinks. 

Pictured: The Wyld Dock Bar

Back in town, dinner awaits at Saint Bibiana, arguably the best Italian in the city and now housed inside the newly opened Hotel Bardo, once the Mansion on Forsyth, reimagined in chic detail. The pastas are delicate but deeply flavored, the seafood reliably fresh, and while the martinis are their signature, the Negroni and old fashioned are equally worthy. The room itself, polished, welcoming, recently reborn, feels celebratory without being stuffy, a perfect crescendo to your day of wandering.

Pictured: Saint Bibiana

If you’re winding down, there’s no shame in slipping back to the Municipal Grand for a quiet wind down. They will take good care of you. But if you’re still chasing the hum of Savannah, avoid the packed tourist bars downtown and Uber out to Moodrights and Late Air where the beer is cold, the energy is real, and the hipster-dive vibe runs strong.

Pictured: The Municipal Grand

Start the day at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, before the crowds arrive. The Gothic spires and kaleidoscopic stained glass reward the early riser with a rare moment of hush.

Pictured: View of Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist from Bar Julian's Rooftop

Spend an hour or two at the Telfair Museums, the stately Telfair Academy and the sleek Jepson Center sit just blocks apart. Together, they frame Savannah’s knack for blending history with the contemporary.

Pictured: Telfair Museum

End on a high note at The Grey, where brunch is anything but ordinary. It is renowned for good reasons. Set in a restored 1938 Greyhound bus terminal, the space is as iconic as the food, biscuits and gravy elevated to art form, seafood that speaks of the coast, cocktails with a nod to tradition. It’s the perfect final taste of Savannah: soulful, stylish, and unforgettable. 

If time allows before catching your flight, slip over to Two Tides Brewing, tucked inside a turquoise house in the blossoming Starland District. It’s your final toast to a weekend well spent.