Favorite Spots to Eat Downtown Savannah and Plant Riverside District

Downtown and the Plant Riverside District are jam packed full of spots to eat. There are more restaurants in this six block stretch heading south from the river than any other part of the city. We love popping downtown and to Plant Riverside when we’ve got guests with us because there are so many options. Check out our top picks for each time of day!

Note: this list is ever evolving and is NOT comprehensive. We’ve included places that we really enjoy and return to. If there’s a spot that’s missing, either we haven’t been yet or didn’t like it enough to include it. Feel free to leave a comment or send us a note if we’re missing a great place to eat in Downtown Savannah!

Favorite Downtown Savannah Places to Eat

The lines between downtown and the Historic District are blurry it seems. I mean, you’re walking on Broughton, which is where you find most of the shopping and a fair number of restaurants, and then all of the sudden you turn and you’re in a square surrounded by historic homes. 15 story building towering over you and then one block south it’s wrought iron spiral staircases to peoples’ actual houses. But it’s all great, and some of the best places to eat in Savannah are in this zone of downtown.

Goose Feathers Café and Bakery – Great Breakfast and Pastries

We love coming to Goose Feathers Cafe and Bakery for breakfast. Whether you’re in the mood for scrambled eggs on a croissant or if you want a sweet streuselly muffin, this is the place to go. I also really love their whoopie pies, particularly the coconut one. Goose feathers just does breakfast and lunch, so if you want to get something baked and delicious, add a stop to your morning routine when you’re in Savannah. Or grab a panini to take to a square in the afternoon. Website here.

SUSHI HANA Savannah for Rolls and Udon Noodles

The very first place I ever tried sushi was in Seattle, Washington at a place called HaNa… and the first place we had sushi in Savannah was also SUSHI HANA. Located on Broughton in the middle of Savannah’s shopping district, this is a great place for both sushi and Japanese noodles. Wonderful fresh and clean tasting sushi is complimented by delicious spring rolls and edamame. I also enjoy the chicken Yaki Udon, which is a really nice change up to the brothy udon dishes. Website here.

Maple Street Biscuit Company for Southern Biscuit Breakfasts

You can’t go wrong with Maple Street Biscuit Company. We actually have one here in downtown Saint Augustine and frequent it when we’ve got visitors in town. They really do have some of the best biscuits around, and although they have several locations throughout the South, they have great food and good service.

The go-to in our family is the Sticky Maple Biscuit with fried chicken, bacon and maple syrup, but my favorite is the Iron Goat, which has spinach and goat cheese. Truth be told, I’ve never had a bad biscuit sandwich from Maple Street Biscuit Co. Website here.

Treylor Park for Wild Drinks, Entrees and Apps

The sister restaurant to one of our favorite places in the Historic District, Hitch, Treylor Park is very similar and just as good. With the same concept as Hitch, Treylor Park takes your favorite nibbles and uncouth eats and makes them a bit fancier or more interesting. The PB&J Chicken Wings and Cheesesteak Egg Rolls are the winners at Treylor Park. I love that two of our favorite places to eat in Savannah are the Treylor Park restaurants! Website here.

Best Place to Eat in Savannah for Italian: Corleone’s Trattoria

We so rarely go out for Italian food, but everything I kept reading about Corleone’s Trattoria on MLK was so good, we made a reservation and went. It was marvelous: as good as or better than much of the Italian food I’ve had in New York City. The lasagna and meatball sandwiches were our favorites (we’ve now tried six dishes here), with the cannelloni coming in close behind. The atmosphere is great, and the sangria is lovely. MAKE A RESERVATION if you’re planning a Friday/Saturday visit, because it gets busy! Website here.

Favorite Riverside Restaurant: Olympia Cafe for Greek

I don’t know how many times we’ve eaten at the Olympia Cafe, but it’s one of our favorite restaurants in downtown and Riverside. Between the sit-down dining in the main restaurant and the to-go / informal cafe directly next door, we may have eaten here more than anywhere else in Savannah (except for the Black Rabbit at Forsyth Park).

Of course the traditional gyros are a hit with our family, but also the avgolemono and dolmades are spot on. The value is really good and the service is great. Website here.

Le Macaron French Pastries for Desserts

Until I really get good at making choux pastry, Le Macaron is going to be our go-to place for eclairs and other delicate desserts. I love the selection of macaron and meringue flavors, as well as the unique eclairs they make at Le Macaron. This bakery is actually part of a franchise network, but it’s still a very unique option when it comes to treats downtown.

Grab a coffee and several small French treats and you have the perfect end of dining your way around downtown Savannah. I know this spot isn’t a full-meal sort of place, but the desserts are so good we had to include them in our favorite places to eat in Savannah. Website here.

What’s the Scoop on To-Go Alcoholic Beverages?

Savannah is known for many things, and one aspect of enjoying the best places to eat in Savannah is taking a alcoholic beverage to go as you finish your meal. From the Riverfront to Jones Street through the downtown and Historic District, you can enjoy adult beverages in open plastic containers.

“Can I bring my own drinks for walking around?”

While technically no, many people enjoy wine or champagne picnics in Forsyth Park and the many squares of the city. Yes, Forsyth Park is south of the boundary of the to-go alcoholic drink zone, but it seems to be acceptable. If you leave your hotel room or AirBNB and head out with a beverage, it’s unlikely that you’ll be questioned, but if you are and it’s outside of the zone, don’t blame me if you get in trouble.

“How Do I get a to-go alcoholic drink?”

It’s easy to enjoy a roadie aka walk-tail aka to-go beverage. The best places to eat in Savannah all understand the policy of public drinking and if it’s appropriate to their neighborhood and your own consumption level, they’ll get you set up with a plastic, disposable cup with your drink.

There are also shops you can get to-go alcoholic drinks from. On River Street (the Riverfront) there are a few, as well as in the City Market area. They’ll have their own branded plastic cups and you can select drinks from cold cases. The drinks must be opened in the store and poured into the cups, then or moments later, but then you’re free to wander.