My Secret Savannah

RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATIONS AND BUILD-YOUR-OWN ITINERARY SUGGESTIONS:

We will be delighted to make your reservation for any trip, tour, or dining accommodation you may desire. Just give us a call. During any special event it is highly recommended that you make dining reservations as early as possible to ensure a seat in the restaurant you want when you want it!

Dinner Recommendations:

Sapphire Grill: – One of our ABSOLUTE favorites, every bite you take will make you think you have gone to heaven. The calamari is tender and flavorful (not rubbery as some may fear). They serve melt-in-your-mouth steaks, lamb, and pork (with five different sauces!). If you are not sure about grits, try the Arugula and Chevre-Spiked grits! For a romantic dine-alone or a quiet dinner with friends, have our staff inquire about the Wine Cellar
Alligator Soul – Jake and I have been very impressed with the food offerings (very fresh, seasonal choices) and with the service! Jake had the signature gumbo and as a main course the Beef Short Ribs while I chose the Georgia Wild Shrimp Plate for my main. The waiter was very helpful in choosing a wine (by the glass in three price ranges) that paired beautifully with my shrimp dish, as well as choices for Jake’s beef.
Vic’s on the River – Avoid the line at Lady and Sons and come to Vic’s for real Southern Cuisine and attention to detail. Spicy Jumbo Shrimp over stone ground grits and Tasso ham gravy; or perhaps a crispy fried trio of shrimp, oysters and local flounder. I love the Fried Green Tomatoes with goat cheese and tomato chutney. Sample southern side dishes favorites of mac n’ cheese and collard greens or take a leap and try the grilled asparagus. Also open for lunch
NEW!! Bistro 45 – I recently dined at the Bistro with a friend (and at her suggestions) who has years of experience in the Savannah dining scene so naturally I left the ordering to her. Mind you, we opted to sit at the magnificent bar rather than in the dining room but you can opt for a more intimate dining experience if you choose. The first course was Roasted Ruby Beets – Belgian endive, praline walnuts, stilton cheese and roasted golden and ruby beets marinated in a champagne vinaigrette. I LOVE beets and these did not disappoint. Next was GRILLED hearts of romaine with garlic croutons, shaved Parmesan and their house made Caesar dressing. I don’t think I will ever have an ordinary Caesar salad again – grilled split romaine is the way to go. Our final course was a shared plate of Duck Two Ways – a succulent pan-seared duck breast and confit thigh topped with whipped Yukon gold potatoes, roasted beets and natural jus reduction.
Jazz’d – A Tapas Bar featuring small portions of a large variety of food – great for sharing when you can’t make up your mind what to eat! Jazz band begins around 9:00. Don’t miss Thursday’s singer Trey Gurley with a voice reminiscent of Frank Sinatra. “Wine’d Down” every Monday and Wednesday, 4-7 p.m. Select bottles will be offered at just $12 per bottle! Live music six nights week and never a cover.
Sundae Cafe on Tybee Island – I have to say, I love a surprise – especially when it’s a dinner that exceeds every expectation for quality, flavor, service, and best of all, price. On one special night we enjoyed jerk BBQ salmon over sweet potato and plantain hash, a lovely strip of beef tenderloin with biscuit bread pudding, lamb chops resting on creamed spinach with a raspberry port demi-glace, jumbo sea scallop with an andouille succotash with a roasted poblano pepper sauce, and dessert, a simple chocolate cake with chocolate mouse, fresh berries and two cheeses. WOW. The food was sublime, but the wildly decadent bread pudding made of buttermilk biscuits and blue cheese brought even more flavors to our palate. The restaurant’s location is deceptive – don’t be put off by the strip mall and gas station.

Great for Lunch:

Mrs. Wilkes’ Boarding House – LUNCH ONLY Monday thru Friday. No stay would be complete without lunch at Mrs. Wilkes -southern home cooking at its best. Served family style – this lunch will keep you full till past dinner. Lines begin forming at 11:00 a.m. and service stops when the food runs out – generally around 2:00 p.m. Open weekdays ONLY!
Zunzi’s – a delightful mix of international cuisines reflecting the very different cultural backgrounds of the owners, Gabriella and Johnny. Enjoy the combination of South African, Swiss, Italian and Dutch every day; vegetarian options also available. One of my favorites is Gabby’s Zesty Chicken – an oven baked boneless skinless chicken thigh served with rice or mashed potatoes and choice of veggie or salad. Jake loves their Boerewors on a roll – Homemade South African sausage served on French bread with gravy, onions and mustard. Be sure to try the South African tea – Rooibos ice cold. Open six days a week 11 to 6 (making it a great place to grab a take-out bite for dinner).
Wright Square Café – An absolute must is this casual European style café with rich coffee, fresh breads, imported chocolates. Enjoy fresh made salads of green beans, pasta, or rice, sandwiches on fresh-made bread or wraps, muffins, bagels, and truly decadent desserts. My favorite is a baked chicken wrap with caramelized figs. The truffles are a delightfully decadent treat to finish off the lunch, or bring back to our inn to enjoy as you relax by the pool, or on your deck or balcony.
Savannah Tea Room – not just for girls anymore! Even my husband enjoyed the cuisine and imagine, a particular tea that matches beautifully with your salad, or your sandwich – and I thought only wine paired up with food!

TOUR SAVANNAH:

Trolley Tours:

Our go to trolley is Old Savannah Tours – www.oldsavannahtours.com, is a home-town company that goes above and beyond in customer service. Our guests rave about the tours, the tour guides and the service. May we suggest you try “The Savannah Experience.

Walking Tours:

Bobby Davis – (www.exploresavannah.com) is our most preferred choice for a private waking tour of Savannah. Bobby will tailor the tour to your particular interests, be it the Civil War, Architecture, Cemeteries, historical homes, you name it! You can’t go wrong with Bobby.
Architectural Tours of Savannah by Jonathan Stalcup – a graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design with a Master of Architecture degree, offers the best Architectural Tour of Savannah, you will not be disappointed. Please see his website at www.architecturalsavannah.com.
Historic Savannah by Foot with Jack Wray - Jack is a close runner up to Bobby and Jonathan, offering a customized tour of Savannah that is sure to make you fall in love with our city. www.historicsavannahbyfoot.com
Savannah Dan Walking Tours – Take a leisurely stroll through picturesque squares with a Southern Gentleman. Hear the history of Savannah in the language of the South. www.savannahdan.com
Old City Walks – Delight in Savannah’s indelicate truths, the lechery, treachery and debauchery …. Savannah Style! Some stories will make you blush others will make you grin, but all will entertain. From Savannah’s Women to Civil Rights, this is a must-do walk! We love it.

Black Heritage History:

A mesmerizing journey beginning with Day Clean Soul Tours. Dey-Kleen is the Gullah-Geechee philosophy of life that “each day is a new day, each day starts anew; no matter what occurred yesterday – today is a new day!” Jamal Toure’, a renowned lecturer, author and living history performer, will guide you through Savannah’s black history with stops at the Beach Institute, Laurel Grove Cemetery South, the Ralph Gilbert Marks Civil Rights Museum which will open eyes to the courageous acts undertaken to ensure equality of all. Take a few steps along the Underground Railroad with a stop at the First African Baptist Church, the oldest black Christian congregation in America followed by a visit to the Haitian Monument also located on Franklin Square. Jamal will fill your 2-1/2 hour journey with enough tidbits to compel one to learn more about our black history.

GHOSTS! In American’s Most Haunted City

Our favorite Ghost Walk is actually at the cemetery! Savannah’s best known cemetery, of course: http://www.bonaventurejourneys.com/ with Scott Shannon. We suggest taking the Dinner and Cemetery tour – no really!

We also recommend these downtown Savannah tours:

Cobblestone Tours – a candlelight walking tour – ghostsavannah.com
Blue Orb Tours – http://blueorbtours.com/
Savannah Walks – www.savannahwalks.com – also great Civil war tours!

Horse Drawn Carriage:

Historic Savannah Carriage Tours…our preferred provider. Public rides daily from City Market. OR…. Let us book you a Private ride from the inn to dinner (or perhaps from dinner back to the inn). Romance and History – what’s not to love?

Telfair Museum Foundation: Visit three museums for the price of two:

Owens-Thomas House and slave quarters
Telfair Museum
Jepson Art Center

MOTORIZED OPTIONS:

SEGWAY! – The hottest craze to hit town: Tour the city on a Personal Transporter. Tours begin promptly at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. daily. www.segwayofsavannah.com
MOTORINI Savannah – Not a guided tour but a fun way to get around Savannah and Tybee; conveniently located at 236 Drayton Street, a short ten-minute walk from our inn. www.vespasavannah.com/acatalog/Scooter_Rentals.html

THEATRE, ETC.

Savannah Theatre – Live professional performances at The Savannah Theatre, matinee and evening performances available. “Jukebox Journey”, “Back to the 50’s” and “Christmas on Bull”. To learn more, please visit their website at www.savannahtheatre.com.

ON THE WATER:

Dolphins abound the waters in the right season. For more information on what to do on the water visit www.tybeeisland.com/dolphin-tours.shtml.
Or perhaps the sea and you, one on one – in a kayak! Visit www.tybeeisland.com/kayaking.shtml.
Coastal Journeys – www.coastaljourneys.com (912-308-6050) Glen Gartner will take you into the marshlands surrounding our coastal area on an ecology/nature-based cruise. Explore an uninhabited barrier island, hunt for old bottles or shark’s teeth along Savannah’s river channel, or perhaps bird watching inspires you. Glen will customize a trip for you, your friends and family.
Wilderness Southeast Nature Tours – www.wilderness-southeast.org Explore pristine beaches or river swamps; discover habitats and exciting wildlife on your own private nature tour.

Deep sea fishing:

A classic about town – www.missjudycharters.com
www.coastalrivercharters.com
www.savannahfishingcharters.com/page2

COOKING!

www.chefjoerandall.com/calendar.htm – Watch Chef Randall as he prepares a full course of delightful dishes – no tiny samples here – a full on tasting experience!
www.kitchensonthesquare.com – Classes include a generous tasting of all the dishes prepared with a beverage, copies of all the recipes and 10% discount on all items bought in the store on the day of the class.

DAY SPA!

Enjoy pampering that is unsurpassed by any other. Teresa always books her massages, facials, and mud baths with Magnolia Day Spa. Michelle, manager of Magnolia, goes above and beyond to ensure that all guests of Azalea Inn and Gardens who book last minute are accommodated within a 3-hour timeframe of their requested hour! Call us to book or contact Michelle directly at 912-373.2039

Visit www.savannahvisit.com for more ideas on what to do and see in Savannah.

CAT Shuttle:

CAT Shuttle: follow this link for more information on the free historic district shuttle.

Monthly Events

JULY 2013:

JULY 1-July 29: Savannah Live and Juke Box Journey (912) 233-7764 or savannahtheatre.com.

July 1: Savannah Sand Gnats $1 Monday

July 3: Savannah Sand Gnats baseball + holiday fireworks

July 4: July 4th Fireworks on the Savannah riverfront

July 13: Free Family Day, Telfair’s Jepson Center (free admission)

July 20: Savannah Derby Devils Roller Derby 5 p.m. & 7 p.m., live music during intermissions, kids’ activities, raffles, giveaways and concessions. Admission is $10 in advance or $12 at the door (military, student & senior discounts available) Located at the Savannah Civic Center. Call (912) 441-9743 or visit www.savannahderby.com.

AUGUST 2013:

AUG 2: First Friday Fireworks on the River

AUG 3: First Saturday on the River

AUG 3-17: The Savannah VOICExperience

AUG 17: Leopold’s Ice Cream 94th Birthday Celebration

AUG 17: Savannah Derby Devils Roller Derby 5 p.m. & 7 p.m., live music during intermissions, kids’ activities, raffles, giveaways and concessions. Admission is $10 in advance or $12 at the door (military, student & senior discounts available) Located at the Savannah Civic Center. Call (912) 441-9743 or visit www.savannahderby.com.

AUG 24: Old Fort Jackson‘s Annual Auction & Low Country Boil (live music, great food and cannon firings)

AUG. 30 –Sept 2: Savannah Craft Brew Fest

SEPTEMBER 2013:

SEPT 1: Labor Day Beach Bash at the Tybee Island Pier – 7:00pm to 10:00pm The annual Labor Day Beach Bash will get underway on Tybee Island on Sunday, September 1st, 2013. Folks can enjoy ocean breezes, live music and fireworks from the Tybee Pier and Pavilion. Free live entertainment from the Swingin’ Medallions will start at 7 p.m. The band has performed live with Bruce Springsteen and has been featured in the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. Visit http://visittybee.com/events/

SEPT 21: Savannah Philharmonic Season Opener: Bernstein, Buckley, & Beethoven

SEPT 21: Savannah Derby Devils Roller Derby 5 p.m. & 7 p.m., live music during intermissions, kids’ activities, raffles, giveaways and concessions. Admission is $10 in advance or $12 at the door (military, student & senior discounts available) Located at the Savannah Civic Center. Call (912) 441-9743 or visit www.savannahderby.com.

SEPT 22 – 28: Savannah Jazz Festival

OCTOBER 2013

Oct. 4-6 – Oktoberfest on the River

OCT 5: Wiener Dog Race (Yes, some inns are pet friendly!)

OCT 6 – Picnic in the Park – An evening of live music, family, and picnics big and small!

OCT 10-13 : Tybee Island Pirate Fest Tybee Island Pirate Fest is your ultimate destination for Columbus Day weekend entertainment. Warming up for our Friday and Saturday night headliners, several bands will keep the crowd moving throughout the afternoons and early evenings. Daytime entertainment includes live music, pirate performers, street performers, magicians, puppeteers, weaponry demonstrations, and a few surprises in between. http://tybeepiratefest.com/. Contact Attn: Casey Slone Po Box 491, Tybee Island, GA 31328

OCT. 11-13 Savannah Folk Music Festival – “To promote the enjoyment, preservation, and continuation of the living art of folk music.” Visit. http://www.savannahfolk.org/festival.htm

OCT 27: Shalom Y’All Jewish Food Festival

OCT 27-NOV 3 – Savannah Film Festival

NOVEMBER 2013:

NOV 7-10 – Rock-N-Roll Marathon, Half-Marathon, and Kids Marathon

NOV 11-17 - Savannah Food and Wine Festival (inaugural Savannah event!)

NOV 22-24” 25th Annual Christmas Made in the South Craft Fair

DECEMBER 2013:

DEC 6 – First Friday Fireworks on the River

DEC 7 – First Saturday on the River

DEC 7 – Enmark Savannah Bridge Run

DEC 6-7: Christmas on the River and Lighted Holiday Parade

DEC 31 – New Year’s Eve Fireworks on the River