Food · Savannah · United States
What to eat in Savannah
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Savannah, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Seasider53, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Shrimp and grits, Southern fried chicken, family style and Lowcountry boil. Queue for a communal table at one of the historic family-style dining rooms and share a dozen Southern sides with strangers. Popular family-style lunch spots do not take reservations, so join the queue before they open.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Shrimp and grits
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 5
- Tipping
- Tip 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, $1–$2 per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis, pedicabs…
- Food experiences
- 4
10 foods to try
Dish
1.Shrimp and grits
Georgia shrimp over stone-ground grits with a gravy of bacon, peppers and onion; a Lowcountry staple served for brunch and dinner across the city.
Where: Restaurants around the City Market, Broughton Street and River Street.
Dish
2.Southern fried chicken, family style
Lunch at long shared tables loaded with bowls of fried chicken, collard greens, black-eyed peas, okra, mac and cheese, cornbread and banana pudding. Strangers pass dishes to each other like family.
Where: Long-running family-style dining rooms in the historic district, where queues form before opening.
Dish
3.Lowcountry boil
Shrimp, smoked sausage, corn and potatoes boiled together and spilled out onto the table, eaten with fingers. Common on Tybee and at casual seafood spots.
Where: Seafood restaurants on Tybee Island, Thunderbolt and River Street.
Dessert · Vegetarian
4.Pralines
Pecan-and-brown-sugar candies, still warm when made in the window of River Street candy shops, where staff hand out free samples. Bear claws and pecan log rolls are close relatives.
Where: Candy kitchens along River Street and around the City Market.
Dessert · Vegetarian
5.Leopold's ice cream
An ice cream parlour founded in 1919 by Greek immigrant brothers, known for tutti-frutti and seasonal flavours served in an old-fashioned soda fountain setting.
Where: Broughton Street; expect a queue on summer evenings, though it moves quickly.
Dish
6.Deviled crab
Blue-crab meat mixed with spices and breadcrumbs and baked in the crab's shell or a tin, a long-standing Savannah and coastal Georgia dish.
Where: Seafood restaurants on Tybee, in Thunderbolt and some downtown menus.
Dish
7.Brunswick stew
A thick tomato-based stew of pulled pork or chicken with corn and lima beans, served as a side at Georgia barbecue joints.
Where: Barbecue restaurants in Savannah and on the road to Tybee.
Dessert · Vegetarian
8.Peach cobbler
Georgia peaches baked under a soft biscuit crust and served warm, often with vanilla ice cream; best in early summer when local peaches are in season.
Where: Southern and soul-food restaurants throughout the city.
Drink · Vegetarian
9.Chatham Artillery Punch
A potent historic punch of brandy, rum, whiskey, tea and Champagne linked to the city's militia, still mixed by some bars. Savannah also allows to-go drinks in plastic cups in parts of the historic district.
Where: Cocktail bars in the historic district; order it by the glass and pace yourself.
Snack · Vegetarian
10.Fried green tomatoes
Cornmeal-crusted slices of unripe tomato fried crisp, often topped with goat cheese, pimento cheese or a remoulade.
Where: Brunch spots and Southern restaurants downtown.
Food experiences
Family-style Southern lunch
Queue for a communal table at one of the historic family-style dining rooms and share a dozen Southern sides with strangers.
Saturday Forsyth Farmers Market
Local produce, baked goods and prepared food at the south end of Forsyth Park on Saturday mornings.
Seafood on the marsh
Drive to Thunderbolt or Tybee for crab, shrimp and oysters on decks overlooking tidal creeks and shrimp boats.
Starland food trucks and breweries
The Starland District has a food-truck yard, coffee roasters and taprooms popular with students and locals.
Quick bites and street food
- Fried green tomatoes — Brunch spots and Southern restaurants downtown.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 5 are usually vegetarian: Pralines, Leopold's ice cream, Peach cobbler, Chatham Artillery Punch and Fried green tomatoes. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Popular family-style lunch spots do not take reservations, so join the queue before they open.
- Book dinner ahead for weekends, St. Patrick's Day and the spring festival season.
- To-go cups for alcoholic drinks are allowed in a defined part of the historic district; glass bottles are not.
- Free praline samples on River Street are a Savannah tradition; buy a box if you take a few.
- Tybee seafood spots are casual; shorts and sandals are fine.
Tipping
Tip 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, $1–$2 per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis, pedicabs and ride-hailing, and a few dollars per person for walking and ghost-tour guides.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Haint blue | Pale blue paint used on porch ceilings, traditionally to ward off spirits |
| Go cup | A plastic cup for carrying a drink in the historic district |
| Tabby | Coastal building material of lime, sand and oyster shells |
| The Hostess City | Savannah's long-standing nickname |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Savannah famous for?
Shrimp and grits, Southern fried chicken, family style, Lowcountry boil and Pralines. Georgia shrimp over stone-ground grits with a gravy of bacon, peppers and onion; a Lowcountry staple served for brunch and dinner across the city.
+Is Savannah good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Pralines, Leopold's ice cream and Peach cobbler.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Savannah?
Tip 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, $1–$2 per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis, pedicabs and ride-hailing, and a few dollars per person for walking and ghost-tour guides.