Savannah Bars & Pubs
22 Square
Andaz Savannah
14 Barnard St.
Sun-Thu 3-9pm; Fri-Sat 3pm-12am
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At first you sort of look at the place and say, “Okay, it’s a hotel bar – what’s the big deal?” Then you sidle up and get yourself one of the fantastic, craft cocktails and you say, “Ohhh!!” They take good care of their booze here, using homemade syrup, freshly squeezed juice, and other fresh ingredients to create some truly mouthwatering concoctions.
51 Degrees
121 W. Congress St.
Thu-Sat 9pm-3am
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If dancing is on your list of priorities, look no further than this Congress Street club with three different dance floors playing three different types of music at any given time. It’s a huge space and often packed on busy weekends so personal space can be in short supply but if you want a classic nightclub experience, this is one of your best options.
Abe’s on Lincolon
17 Lincoln St.
Mon-Sat 4pm-3am
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This no frills bar earned a spot on Atlas Obscura for its “art collection,” a series of portraits of Abraham Lincoln drawn on napkins by customers that are tacked to the ceiling. Beyond that, this is just a friendly local pub with a tiny, low-ceilinged bar, a not-much-bigger backroom with darts, and a big outdooro patio all home to amiable bartenders who serve up basic beer and booze (don’t be looking for a cocktail list here).
The Alley Cat
207 W. Broughton St.
Mon-Thu 5pm-1am; Fri-Sat 5pm-2am
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Their menu looks like a newspaper and is almost as long as one with over 150 cocktails and 500 different spirits. It’s all served up in a casual basement lounge space that has a friendly neighborhood bar vibe despite the fact that it draws a big tourist crowd.
Artillery
307 Bull St.
Wed-Sat 4pm-Close
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Let’s start with the gorgeous design, a stunningly restored and redesigned building that was home to a car dealership, various retail spaces, and, yes, an artillery depot operated by the all-volunteer milita group, the Georgia Hussars, in the late 1800s. Today it is one of Savannah’s finest cocktail lounges, with a focus on mixology, fresh and inventive ingredients, and beautiful presentation of both classic and contemporary cocktails. Expensive? Yes. But you’ll feel like you are getting your money’s worth here.
Bar Julian
Thompson Hotel
201 Port St.
Mon-Thu 5-10pm; Fri-Sat 5pm-12am
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Savannah’s great rooftop bar war escalated in 2021 with the debut of this sky-high perch atop the Thompson Hotel in the Eastern Wharf district. Offering a commanding view of most of Downtown and the Savannah River from 12 stories up, this upscale spot has a very well thought out cocktail, beer, and wine list plus a small menu of snacks, spreads, pizzas, and breads if you are feeling peckish.
Club One
1 Jefferson St.
Mon-Sat 5pm-3am; Sun 5pm-1am
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Savannah’s premiere LGBTQ club is a weekend destination for the party-minded regardless of orientation, drawn by the outrageous (and outrageously entertaining) drag shows they put on Thursday through Sunday nights. The club has a big dance club (open weekends), the cabaret for entertainment (open Fridays and Saturday), and a friendly basement bar with a cafe for socializing, billiards, darts, and more.
Congress Street Social Club
411 Congress St.
Mon-Fri 3pm-3am; Sat 12pm-3am; Sun 12:30pm-2am
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This fun indoor/outdoor space draws a rowdy party crowd on the weekends, which can be fun if you’re in the rowdy party mood. Things are a little more laid back during the week and the frequent live bands, games, and other diversions keep things interesting.
Electric Moon Skytop Lounge & Moon Deck
400 W. River St.
Mon-Wed 4-10pm; Thu 4pm-12am; Fri-Sat 12pm-1am; Sun 12-10pm
websitehttps://www.plantriverside.com/venues/electric-moon-skytop-lounge/
Rooftop bars are all the rage in Savannah these days but none of them have the view that this one does. Located directly beneath the giant smokestacks at Plant Riverside, you can see the entirety of the riverfront from one side and a big chunk of Downtown Savannah from the other. Don’t miss the lower level, accessible by stairs, elevator, or a slide (yes, a slide) where you’ll find lawn games and more casual seating. It can get scene-y and it is expensive, but it’s worth checking out.
Jen & Friends
34 Bull St.
Mon-Thu 3-8pm; Fri 3-9pm; Sat 1-8pm
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The big draw to this cute little watering hole is the list of more than 300 martini flavors, which range from Hostess Cupcake to Cocoa Pebbles to Elvis (a buck more for bacon!) and beyond. Are they any good? Well, it probably depends on which one you try. If you get a Cotton Candy flavored martini, you really only have yourself to blame.
Lost Square at The Alida
412 Williamson St.
Mon-Thu 5-10pm; Fri-Sat 2pm-12am; Sun 2-10pm
websitehttps://www.thelostsquare.com/
Comfort is the watchword at this particular rooftop bar, with plush sofas and chairs, a firepit, and some great views of the Savannah skyline to keep you warm. Their seasonal cocktail menu is heavy on the craft cocktail style ingredients and you can tell the bartenders know what they are doing here.
Lulu’s Chocolate Bar
42 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Mon-Fri 6-10:30pm; Sat-Sun 2-10:30pm
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Lulu’s is listed twice on this site – under desserts and drinks, which should tell you everything you need to know. The sweets include delectable cheesecakes, chocolate covered strawberries, cakes, tarts, fondue, mousse, sundaes, and more while their drinks specialize in sweet-tooth satisfying martinis like chocolate mint or raspberry truffle plus wine, beer, and a full bar. Chocolate lovers’ paradise! Note that due to COVID they are only doing to-go orders now.
Myrtle & Rose Rooftop Garden
400 W. River St.
Tue-Thu 4-10pm; Fri-Sat 12pm-12am; Sun 12-9pm
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They call this place a garden and it’s a fitting descriptor with its lushly landscaped rooftop patio creating a swank outdoor vibe. Grab one of the cozy seats (if you’re lucky) and sip on their botanical influenced drinks like the Porch Crusher with Lillet Blanc, St. Germain, and Tonic. Perfect for a warm night libation.
The Peacock Lounge
37 Whitaker St.
Sun-Thu 5pm-1am; Fri-Sat 5pm-3am
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Located in the basement under Flock to the Wok restaurant, this swanky lounge has a speakeasy vibe with cozy seating in multiple rooms, craft cocktails, and a crowd that dresses to impress. The blood orange martini is a signature drink for a reason. Pricey but worth it for the ambience.
Peregrin at Perry Lane Hotel
265 E. Perry St.
Daily 11am-11pm
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Most of the rooftop bars in Savannah are on or near the River, so this one feels unique with some great views of Downtown Savannah and St. John’s Cathedral. There are plenty of seating areas and a limited, but satisfying menu of cocktails and snacks. It’s not cheap and the service, at times, has been “chilly,” but overall a solid option for a drink with a view.
Rocks on the Roof/Rocks on the River
102 W. Bay St.
Sun-Thu 11am-12am; Fri-Sat 11am-1am
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Which venue of Rocks you choose should be based on your mood. Choose the sweeping rooftop bar if you want an energetic vibe and stunning views of the city or choose the “River” bar if you want to relax and sip a quiet(er) cocktail while watching the parade of humanity on River Street. Either way, savor the fantastic cocktails (the Georgia Peach is a favorite).
Saddle Bags
317 W. River St.
Thu-Sat 7pm-3am
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This being the deep south, you’d think there would be more country-western bars in this town but Saddle Bags is one of the few and probably one of your best bets. Line dancing, frequent live bands, drink specials, and fun events keep the party going. And yes, of course they have a mechanical bull.
Savannah Smiles Dueling Piano Bar
314 Williamson St.
Wed-Sat 7pm-3am
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The energy is always high at this dueling piano bar, partly because of the entertainment – which has a decided rock and roll flair to it – and partly because of the frequent shot specials (Jagermeister Bomb anyone?). If you want an intimate conversation over a nice, quiet drink, go somewhere else.
Savoy Society
102 E. Liberty St., Suite 109
Mon, Wed-Thu 4-11pm; Fri 4pm-1am; Sat 3pm 1am; Sun 3-11pm
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Despite its upper crust name, the vibe here is 60s beach bar with casually colorful rattan furniture, a love of vinyl records, and a low-fi attitude. The signature cocktail menu is vast and should satisfy just about any taste and they have an extensive food menu of shared plates, salads, sandwiches, and flatbreads if you get peckish while drinking.
Top Deck at The Cotton Sail
125 W. River St.
Sun-Thu 12-11pm; Fri-Sat 12pm-1am
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One of several riverside rooftop bars, the Top Deck has a much more laid back vibe than most even though it draws more tourists than locals. They have extensive drink and food menus and while the signature cocktails are not exactly what you might call inventive, they get the job done. Expect to pay a few bucks more for the view.
Totally Awesome Bar
107 B Whitaker St.
Mon-Thu 7pm-3am; Fri-Sat 2pm-3am
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If the 80s is your jam, then moonwalk over to this retro shrine to all things awesome. The basement bar is packed with amuseuments from pool tables to arcade games to pinball to skeeball and more and the drinks are strong. Don’t miss their frequent events including an open mic night and a comedy night.
Tree House
309 W. St. Julian St. (City Market)
Mon-Wed 7pm-3am; Thu-Sat 12pm-3am
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The Tree House theme extends beyond the foliage to the actual “up in the air” location, providing an outdoor perch from which to watch the crowds in City Market and nearby Congress Street on the weekends. They have frequent live bands and lots of drink specials, making this one of the must-stop destinations for the party hearty set so if you’re not a member of that particular crowd you might want to skip this one.
Wayward
257 E. Perry St. (Perry Lane Hotel)
Daily 5pm-12am
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This goes beyond the typical hotel bar with a funky atmosphere (check out the motorcycle hanging from the ceiling), offbeat amuseuments in the form of retro pinball machines, and an extensive craft cocktail menu. Feeling indecisive? Let the bartender decide for you with their Shaken or Stirred offering where you pick the base spirit, the style, and the flavor profile and they’ll create something to suit your mood.
Whitaker’s Bar
10 Whitaker St.
Mon-Thu 4pm-1am; Fri-Sat 4pm-3am; Sun 4pm-2am
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Up a flight of stairs above Co restaurant you’ll find this funky space with some Insta-worthy backdrops including a light-draped hallway that shows up on a lot of people’s feeds. There’s a small bar, some comfy seating areas, pool tables and other games, and a generally chill crowd. Service is spotty but the mixology-level cocktails are worth it.