The best way to get a taste of Savannah is by taking a food tour. Taking a food tour is much more than sampling dishes, though you definitely will do that. Taking a food tour allows you to see the city from a local’s perspective and teaches you about Savannah’s history while enjoying local cuisine and authentic southern classics.
There are no less than 8 tours in Savannah that cover Southern food, gospel music, a pub crawl and ghost tour, as well as a riverboat cruise with dinner.
I took to the streets of Savannah via two food tours with no regrets. No two tours will be exactly alike, but there will definitely be some good food on each.
Famous and Secret East Side Food Tour
The Famous and Secret East Side Food Tour that I took was led by Country – yes, that’s the name she goes by. By and far, she was the best tour guide I have had. She had all of the guests laughing as she took us on a three-hour tour.
We began our journey at Capital Bee Company where we tasted several varieties of honey.
We then made our way to one of Savannah’s beautiful squares and each had a full-size chicken biscuit from Rise Biscuits and Donuts and heard stories about fried chicken and the early Scots and the period of segregation.
We continued on to Cha Bella, a farm-to-table restaurant where microwaves and deep fryers are not used and the food is always fresh. We had a sample of risotto with tarragon and shrimp.
Our next stop was Ashford Tea Company where we learned about the different varieties of tea and were able to sample some that the shop sells.
While there, we also were treated to a sandwich from Zunzi’s (a South African-inspired restaurant) called the Conquistador. It was made with French Bread, Chicken, Romaine Lettuce, Tomato, Provolone, Parmesan, Zunzi’s Sauce, Zunzi’s Dressing.
We then headed to The Common Restaurant, a restaurant and bar that serves bottomless mimosas from 8 AM until 3 PM. It was there that we had a smoked oyster and a sample of fried cornbread.
Our final stop was outside of Leopold’s. Our tour group status meant that we did not have to wait in line. We all got a cup of Leopold’s Butter Pecan Ice Cream and then said our farewells.
This was a tour that I would happily repeat, stories and all. Country typically works Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 11 AM.
First Squares Food Tour
The First Squares Food Tour took a different route and different foods and beverages were sampled. It rained the day of the tour, but that did not stop the three-hour walking tour from taking place.
The First Squares Food Tour began inside the Andaz hotel at 22 Square. There we had a sample of shrimp and grits with pork belly.
We moved on to The American Prohibition Museum where we sampled Artillery Punch along with a bite of pimento cheese sandwich and boiled peanuts.
Making our way through the rain, we arrived at Little Crown by Pie Society, a traditional British bakery/pub, where we noshed on sausage rolls and heard the background story of how a British bakery landed in Savannah.
Our next sample was that of pork belly doughnut sliders from The Ordinary Pub. Because of the downpour, we nibbled on them under the protective cover of Trinity United Methodist Church.
Not to be deterred by the rain, we made our way to Mint To Be Mojitos where we sampled real empanadas. Most of the tour participants opted to purchase a mojito, like the (virgin) watermelon mojito pictured below, in the laid-back environment of their hidden speakeasy.
Our final destination was the flagship store of the Savannah Bee Company. We sampled several varieties of honey and then had apple slices with honey and cheese.
I can’t think of a better way to enjoy delicious bites from distinctive restaurants while learning about the city’s fascinating history at a leisurely pace.
There are a couple of advantages of taking a food tour at the beginning of your trip.
- You sample dishes that you may or may not like. If you find a dish you like, you can go back later to that restaurant and order the full-sized dish/meal. If you don’t like the item, you know to avoid it.
- Tour participants are often offered discounts to the establishments that are visited.
Top 20 Places To Dine In Savannah (According To TripAdvisor)
If you like following trends, then here are the top 20 places to eat in Savannah according to TripAdvisor readers:
- Chive Sea Bar & Lounge
- Joe’s At The Jepsen
- Leopold’s Ice Cream
- Wiley’s Championship BBQ
- Jazz’d Tapas Bar
- Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room
- Planters Tavern
- Fox & Fig Café
- Crystal Beer Parlor
- Driftaway Café
- Cotton & Rye
- The Vault Kitchen + Market
- 45 Bistro
- Savanah Coffee Roasters
- Back In The Day Bakery
- Olde Pink House Restaurant
- Sweet Spice
- Elizabeth On Thirty Seventh
- b. Matthew’s Eatery
- Boar’s Head Grill & Tavern
What’s your favorite restaurant in Savannah?
Moretha Nicks says
I’m a foodie, so dining at Savannah’s fantastic restaurants was a highlight of my trip. I recently discovered a new restaurant at https://www.visitsavannah.com/list/these-5-savannah-restaurants-are-worth-traveling/. Keira Chue, thank you for sharing the link. I’m looking forward to trying their food on my next visit.
keira chue says
My husband and I are planning to drive up to Savannah and we are beyond excited about it! I definitely will be checking out the food tours and visiting the restaurants listed – cannot wait! Also came across https://www.visitsavannah.com/list/these-5-savannah-restaurants-are-worth-traveling for some of the best restaurants in Savannah.
Lynda says
You’ll have a great time, no matter where you eat. It’s such a lovely city.