apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Stop by the SCAD store. Full of great art, housewares, and other work by SCAD students and alumni. Very inspiring.

I haven't been in a number of years, but I was also going to suggest the SCAD store. Amazing, local, one-of-a-kind work.

Check out Broughton Street - what was downtown blight 10 years ago has turned into an interesting shopping strip. There are the predictable Starbucks and Gaps, but there are also some small design shops and even a few holdovers from the old days - I think the Wig Store might still be there.

Also, in addition to walking around the downtown area, check out some of the outlying neighborhoods. The neighborhoods on the sides of Forsyth park have been coming into their own in the past decade, and there are some interesting businesses and houses to see that aren't on the usual tourist beat. There's a wonderfully funky little house on Jefferson Street, just one block south of Gaston. It's a hidden gem in what is otherwise a barren street.

Oh, and eat eat eat. Savannah has tons of great restaurants.

Shop SCAD definitely, @ Home on W. Broughton St, and One fish two fish and circa lighting on Jones and Whitaker St.

Shop SCAD, such unique jewelry, art, and home wares. Broughton Street is a great little shopping area too.

If you want real Southern cooking, eat at Lady & Sons.

I live in Savannah, and I love visiting @home Vintage General: http://www.vintagegeneral.com/
It's on Broughton Street, and it is the cutest little shop.

24e is also a great shop to visit: http://www.twentyfoure.com/home.html

oh I'm so jealous - Savannah is gorgeous and a good time of the year to go too!

Oh, another interestin place to check out is Universal Salvage, it's on the west side of Franklin Square - near the City Market area. Lots of vintage furniture and odd knick knacks.

I live in Savannah, too! All of the suggestions are great, also check out Paris Market on Broughton, Clipper Trading o Broughton, and Johnson Lighting on Waters. I'd also recommend the no-frills, strictly take-away BBQ from Randy's on Wheaton.

I went to college in nearby Statesboro and spent every weekend in Savannah. Talk to the local SCAD students for ideas on places to visit. I miss Savannah!

The Paris Market & Brocante on Broughton is my absolute favorite shop. Also, the Gryphon Tea room has a great atmosphere. I agree with brookberrys and Neujeramic's recs. (SCAD and Lady & Sons only if you must.)

Soho South Cafe is my favorite place to eat. It's a cafe in a warehouse that is designed like a vintage home/ garden decor shop. So you can eat and shop at the same time! The specialty sandwiches are to die for...

Oops sorry the address is 12 West Liberty Street.
http://www.sohosouthcafe.com/

You must have breakfast at Clary's!

http://www.mydesignsecrets.com

I am so happy to see A.T. is heading this way and I can't express how excited I was to see my shop on the recommendations list. I would be honored if you stop in for a visit. There are a few other places that have not been mentioned so I thought I should add them.
Eating:
Back in the Day Bakery
The Pink House
Zunzis
Shopping:
Number Four Eleven
Red Clover
Terra Cotta

See you in Savannah.
Liz Demos
@home
vintage general

I lived in Savannah for three years, and recommend avoiding the "River Street" trap, and hit some of these lesser known sights...

Shopping:
Keller's Flea Market (a bit of a hike, but well worth it)

Sights:
Telfair Museum which recently expanded with a new contemporary collection and new building.

Owens-Thomas house tour. Fascinating home designed by one of the first professionally trained architects practicing in the US, and has some very unique and inspiring architectural features and interior design choices.

Tybee Lighthouse Museum. Filled with "artifacts" that include pretty much anything from old light house-keeper's diaries to oddities (like a dozen mannequin heads) that washed up on the beach.

Victorian and Ardsley Park districts. Victorian dist: South of Park to Victory Drive, between Montgomery (w) and Waters (e). Grand old houses mostly in various states of disrepair with some amazing new renovations (mostly east of Drayton); Ardsley Park: South of Victory to 53rd st, between Bull and Waters (definitely drive down 44th through 49th streets east of Abercorn). More modest homes, mostly bungalows built in 1900-1930s. Very charming area.

Isle of Hope: A tiny, old, marsh-front community nestled under ancient live oaks, and guarded by picturesque white picket fences just southeast of Sav (drive down Bluff Drive for the real stunners).

Nightlife:
You can't pass up Pinky Masters, a total dive bar with the best jukebox in town. Named after a former owner and one time boxing promoter, this is THE BEST bar in Sav. It's tiny, packed, cheap, and has an indescribable decor: from iconic vintage advertisements to photos and press clipping of Pinky and his boxing pals (and some former presidents).

Venus de Milo, a intimate wine bar near city market, is also off the beaten path (for tourists at least) and features some interesting decor and an extensive wine list, and usually a DJ spinning chill lounge tunes. Check the calendar, they also offer some interesting fetish/theme nights.

Food:
Pass on the Lady and Sons. Food is horrible, service is crap, lines are atrocious. Paula Dean's brother has a much better restaurant, Uncle Bubba's, out on Whitmarsh Island but the best seafood experience is going be the Crab Shack on Tybee Island.

If you are up for fine dining, it's hard to beat Elizabeth on 37, or the (haunted) Pink House.

Vinnie van Go Go's is the best place to people watch. Despite the touristy location in City Market, it's still a local favorite (and the pizza is good too. Cash Only!).

Parkers Market on Drayton and Hull is billed as an "Urban Gourmet" market. Really it's an upscale gas station/convenience store with a nice selection of imported wines, cheeses, and a full hot/cold deli, but still has all the convenience store standards like cigarettes and tabloids. Great place to grab a picnic lunch.

If some of the streets you drive down seem sketchy it's because they are. Don't walk alone at night, even in the most crowded areas, and stay away from Bull St (south of liberty) after dark, unless you want to pick up male prostitutes turning tricks for crack money. I'm not exaggerating. Don't forget Ms. Savannah 2003 shot her boyfriend in the face. It's that kind of town.

Test

http://www.savannahoffthebeatenpath.com/

There's a design district north of Forsyth Park along Whitaker Street (near Jones Street). Broughton Street/City Market are good stops as well, and I believe there are also a few shops near Liberty and Abercorn streets. If you do decide to venture to River Street, avoid the steep steps and take advantage of the elevator near the Hyatt!

Don't go to the Lady and Sons unless you're wearing a fannypack - if you wish to eat cattle-style try Mrs. Wilkes instead. Also try Back in the Day Bakery for some rad banana pudding, and grab a coffee at the Sentient Bean.

If you head out to Tybee Island this weekend, beware of pirates.

And I'll second kennjamin's suggestion to be cautious. For a smallish city, Savannah has more than its fair share of crime.

You MUST go to The Paris Market and Brocante it's an amazing store! http://www.theparismarket.com/
also,
One Fish Two Fish, 401 Whitaker Street
La Paperie, 409 Whitaker Street
DC2 Design, 104 W. Broughton Street
@home Vintage General - 7 W. York Street
ShopSCAD, 340 Bull Street
Moss, 137 Bull Street

ZUNZI'S!!!!!!!!! -favorite restaurant
One Fish Two Fish -favorite store
24E second -favorite store

OMG I wish I'd known this was going on. Next time you come to Savannah.... let me know! There are tons of amazing places not on this list!