Is Savannah the South’s Best Bachelorette Party Destination?

There are a few elements a great bachelorette party or trip calls for: a fun location, maybe a pool or beach, a lively after-dark scene, and great cuisine and cocktails. Savannah, Georgia checks all of those boxes and then some.

Though it’s been simmering under the radar for years, the historic city is about to reach its boiling point, and brides-to-be are noticing. There’s a noticeable uptick in bachelorette festivities in the walkable, incredibly scenic coastal destination where boutiquey, design-forward hotels are on the rise and the restaurant scene is nothing short of amazing.

Think Savannah may be the best bachelorette party destination for your big bash? Read on for where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in this charming city.

Where to Stay

At the forefront is the Perry Lane Hotel, a perfect choice for those seeking sweet Southern luxury. It’s steps from great shopping—Savannah is especially known for antiques, vintage, and independent artisan boutiques—and amazing bars and eateries. Plus, the beach is an easy jaunt. Its open-air Peregrin Rooftop Pool & Bar is totally Instagrammable, and it's the place to gather with the girls during the day with rosé or at night, all year round (spring to early summer is when the azaleas bloom). There’s even a karaoke room and arcade at the hotel, because all great bachelorette parties should probably involve a tipsy Spice Girls sing-along.

The Alida, Savannah is another great option, overlooking River Street in the Historic District and again providing an idyllic scenario for daytime—private cabanas around the pool—and after dark. Note that, like New Orleans, you’re allowed to drink publicly outside in this area. Bars are open until 3 a.m. and offer to-go cups! The Trade Room and The Lost Square Rooftop Bar are innovative dining and drinking options if you don’t want to leave the building, while a plethora of others are within walking distance.

Right by the river, there’s the eclectic Andaz Savannah with 151 redesigned modern-meets-Southern guest rooms in Ellis Square. There’s a revolving gallery of artwork by local artists, along with the 22 Square Restaurant & Bar, where Southern-inspired dishes are given a contemporary twist. Meanwhile, The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa is on the banks of the Savannah River, a 90-second ferry ride from the downtown area with its buzzy food scene. Even farther off-site is Montage Palmetto Bluff, about half an hour from the city, for more of a beach trip with the option of dining out in Savannah.

What to Do

Rooftop bars are a thing in Savannah, and rightly so—the weather is pretty great most of the time. Rocks On The Roof, at The Bohemian Hotel Savannah Riverfront, Autograph Collection, is an elevated, scenic place to start a long evening which might end at the next-door piano bar. There, the rooms feel grand in an 18th-century way, with original artwork and plush amenities on the riverfront. Anyone appreciating a vintage sense of history will love the sense of place it creates. Ditto with the Victorian-Romanesque look of Mansion on Forsyth Park, Autograph Collection, where Poseidon Spa hosts groups for pampering sessions during bachelorette weekends and its 700 Kitchen Cooking School makes for a fun activity for foodie friends.

Renaissance Inn Savannah Downtown/Historic District transports guests with unique architecture featuring private Courtyard Cottages complete with full kitchens. These are ideal for hosting an epic bachelorette blowout, since everyone can stay together and enjoy a fire pit and outdoor pool. They offer gratis grocery delivery service, which is a super appealing perk when there are half a dozen personalities involved, and alcohol being consumed.

Speaking of, the bar scene is fun and trendy, punctuated by speakeasies—the latest trend in nightlife. House of Mata Hari is one where you’ll need a password to enter a world that feels very 1920s—think strong absinthe libations and authentic decor.

Small and secretive, Artillery is another favorite for craft cocktails with a strong dose of ambiance. Savannah is a town known for its ghosts, and whether it’s a nighttime ghost tour or daytime food tour, you’ll undoubtedly hear the haunted stories that add another element of fun. There are also hybrid tours, like the historical ghost tour with bar stops on a group bike “slow ride,” or haunted mansion tours at Sorrel Weed House, where paranormal junkies will love the terrifying experience.

Where to Eat

The food scene is collecting acclaim from across the country, thanks in part to celebrity chefs opening restaurants there in recent years. It’s the place to eat Southern food, from super traditional fried chicken and grits at the favorite family-style, communal-table hot spot (open since 1943), Mrs. Wilke’s Dining Room, to modern interpretations like at The Grey, described by one food critic as “game-changing.” A former bus depot is now a playground for chef Mashama Bailey, who turns Southern staples on their heads with au courant ingredients and techniques.

You can soak up last night’s alcohol with a typical Southern breakfast at Nairobi’s Grits & Gravy (beware of the lines on Saturday mornings) before geeking out on celeb chef–conceived bites at Sean Brocks' Husk. Because ultimately, the appeal of Savannah is that it’s delicious, beautiful, intoxicating, and fascinating—it’s impossible not to have fun. And isn’t that what a bachelorette shindig is all about?