Unique Things to Do in Savannah Ga: Cool & Hidden Spots
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Despite being a relatively small city, there are tons of options for unique things to do in Savannah. As it was my home for three years while I attended school at Scad, I had a lot of time to explore. Of course, I did the typical tourist attractions when I first arrived: walking around River Street, taking photos by the Forsyth Fountain, riding a trolley, etc.
Savannah is an interesting place because amongst the elegant Southern architecture and beautiful oak trees are drunk college kids, groups of cowboy-hat-wearing bachelorette parties, and families on vacation. The open-cup policy allows for public drinking, and we all know what kind of environment that creates.
However, Savannah is much more than barhopping and trolley tours. There are many cool and hidden spots that don’t show up on the usual “Things to Do in Savannah” sites. I’ve included activities, restaurants, and recommendations for visiting Tybee Island!
That being said, let’s get into it!
Unique Things to do in Savannah (+ Insider Tips and Restaurant Suggestions)
1. Play Games and Try Food Trucks at Starland Yard
📍2411 De Soto Ave, Savannah, GA 31401
Starland Yard is a unique and social gathering spot in the Starland District, a bit away from the chaotic downtown. The entire area is cool and trendy with various local art shops, antique / record stores, and restaurants.
Starland Yard: A Local Hub
As a whole, Starland Yard is a food truck park with rotating options, as well as a few staples. The outdoor “walls” are made of old shipping containers, a nod to the large shipping port by the Savannah River. There are many different places to sit, a full bar, TVs, and little nooks to play games. The green square in the center also often holds live music and other events.
It’s a super fun and casual spot where you could spend hours. If you want to see which food trucks are going to be there on any given date, you can check their schedule here: FOOD OPTIONS | Starland Yard.
However, here are my favorites:
👉Uncle June’s Sandwiches
Lucky for you, Uncle June’s is a consistent restaurant at Starland, and they have some of the best sandwiches around. The fried eggplant sandwich is amazing, featuring a sweet pepper jelly.
👉Starship Ice Cream
On the other hand, Starship Ice Cream is not at Starland Yard all the time. If they are, I promise it’s even better than the famous Leopold’s on Broughton Street. They post their schedule here on their facebook page. The flavors are super unique, and the ice cream is high quality.
2. Eat a Smash Burger and Try Local Beer
📍12 W 41st St, Savannah, GA 31401
As I mentioned, there are also many unique things to do surrounding Starland Yard. Literally right around the corner from Starland Yard’s entrance is Two Tides Brewing Co, along with their little smash burger food stand, “Crispi.”
Two Tides Brewing Co.
Located inside a large historic house is Two Tide’s Brewing Company, a brewery serving beer made on-site in their taproom. The cool part about this spot is actually the space itself, as there’s a maze-like series of rooms upstairs, each with cozy seating. I don’t even like beer, but I’d go there just to hangout. If you’re not a beer-drinker like me, downstairs is Smol Bar, Savannah’s smallest bar!
Crispi Smash Burgers
Right outside is Crispi, serving delicious smash burgers that you can then bring up into Two Tide’s. As I was vegetarian at the time, their Veggie Smash Burger was the best non-meat burger I’ve ever had. The burger’s taste and consistency mimicked the Five Guys burgers I admittedly missed on occasion.
Visiting these two local spots is a two-in-one experience allowing you to try local foods in the Savannah’s trendiest district.
3. Try Mead & Enjoy a Free Craft Night at Superbloom Cafe
📍2418 Desoto Ave, Starland District, Savannah GA
Another hidden gem right outside Starland Yard is Superbloom, a part cafe and part gift store that serves an interesting variety of drinks. They have superfood lattes, wine, and Mead, made with fermented honey!
👉INSIDER TIP: the Mead selection is rotating, so you can ask for samples before you order! It’s sweet and delicious!
Free Craft Nights!
In addition to the fun drink selection, Superbloom hosts free craft nights three nights a week from 5-8:00. They provide all the materials, so all you have to do is show up! I’ve listed the activities below, all of which are self-guided and provide unique things to do in Savannah that most people don’t know about!
👉TUESDAYS: Collage Night
👉WEDNESDAYS: Watercolor & Wine
👉THURSDAYS: Clay Day
4. Attempt an Escape Room at a Bar
📍30 Montgomery, Starland District, Savannah GA
In a city known for its drinking atmosphere, it’s only fitting that the best escape room in Savannah is also a bar. “Escape Room Savannah” is an underground escape room and dive bar with a large variety of games as well. My boyfriend and I are big escape room people, so we finished them all eventually and had to move to another company (Encryption Escape) down the street.
Not only were the rooms difficult and well thought-out, but it was also fun to play games outside while we waited for our reservation to start. It was like prepping our minds with an appetizer of Scattergories before the big escape.
If you’ve never done an escape room before, this unique setting is a great place to start. You get better each time, and our last attempt there was our first real escape victory! This would be a super fun activity with a group, just be sure to make a reservation ahead of time!
5. Take a Cooking Class at Chef Darin’s Kitchen Table
📍2514 Abercorn St Ste 140, Savannah GA 31401
One of the most unique things to do in Savannah is take a cooking class! As a birthday present one year, my boyfriend booked us Chef Darin’s “Totally Thai!” class.
Working together with other couples, we learned how to make coconut chicken soup, Thai beef salad, shrimp Pad Thai, and one of my favorite desserts: coconut sticky rice!
Some of the other classes include making pralines and location-based lessons like “Northern Italy” and “Low Country.” The last option would make for a great date or group activity to learn more about the Southern flavors of Savannah!
You can find the full schedule and class options here: Chef Darin’s Kitchen Table.
👉QUICK NOTE: I would definitely book in advance!
The class was well run, Chef Darin was upbeat and funny, and there was wine included! After learning about the ingredients and proper cooking techniques, we sat down for a delicious meal. I remember thinking what a great experiential gift it was!
6. Better Than Sex Dessert Restaurant
📍410 W Broughton St, Savannah GA 31401
This is another one of those places that is just “so Savannah.” An extremely unique experience, Better Than Sex is a dimly lit dessert restaurant on Broughton Street made for Savannah’s core demographic: drunk 20-something-year-olds. When you first walk in, the host will bring you to an intimate table that feels like a setting for a romantic dinner. However, the meal is anything but classy.
An R-Rated Experience
It’s honestly better if you go without knowing exactly what to expect, but let’s just say the wait staff consists of actors who are trained to act like middle school boys. Over delicious, inappropriately named desserts, you get to listen to their hilarious spiels. It’s definitely a unique thing to do in Savannah that you can’t find just anywhere.
Dessert Cocktails
In addition to the fun dessert menu -though I was very sad when they removed the Kinky Key Lime Pie- there’s a list of delicious dessert drinks. The “Rimmed Wines” are the perfect pairing of wine and chocolate, and they also have festive shots like the “Lucky” – Irish cream “licker” 😉 topped with whipped cream.
👉INSIDER TIP: As I did whenever anyone from home visited, this experience is even better when nobody knows about the R-Rated experience. If you can keep it a secret and pretend it’s a normal reservation, you also get to see your friends’ reactions, something that kept the experience fun for me even when I’d been before.
7. Pounce Cat Cafe
📍404 W Broughton St. Savannah, GA 31401
Right by Better Than Sex is a much more wholesome spot: Pounce Cat Cafe. This part cafe part animal shelter allows you to play with their cats as you sip on choice of beverage. As it’s an active adoption shelter, the cats are always coming and going.
Each cat has a name tag with their age and gender for adoption purposes, but you can play with them even without intent to adopt! You do need a reservation in advance, so just keep that in mind. If you are a cat-lover, this is a fun and unique thing to do in Savannah that also has a good cause behind it.
If you don’t like cats, I guess you can just stick to drinking.
8. Cocktail-Making Class at the Prohibition Museum
📍City Market, Savannah, GA 31401
As I’ve mentioned, Savannah is sort of centered around drinking. That being said, it’s ironic that the city has the only museum in the country dedicated to Prohibition: The American Prohibition Museum. There are interactive exhibits inside of the speakeasy, along with other artifacts.
However, you can also book a tour that allows 1-on-1 interactions with modern bartenders in this historic setting, such as the one I listed below!
During the tour, you’ll create two cocktails with your choice or liquor, so you don’t have to sip on something you don’t like. You also get to sample three other classic cocktails. As this activity takes place in a speakeasy, it’s quite literally one of the “hidden gem” activities of Savannah 😉
9. DIY Pancakes at Funky Brunch Cafe
📍304 E Broughton St, Savannah, GA 31401
Okay, this spot may not have the best breakfast in Savannah, but as this post is about experiences, the Funky Brunch still fits the “unique things to do in Savannah” bill.
Located at one end of Broughton Street, the Funky Brunch Cafe is a quirky diner that has tables with built-in griddles! If you choose to, they bring you pre-mixed pancake batter and you can make them yourself right at the table! You can even choose toppings like blueberries or chocolate chips, watching the batter bubble before flipping them yourself.
No matter what age you are, making pancakes is always fun, especially out at a restaurant! The eggs were pretty good too, but the DIY pancakes really stole the show. If for some reason you decided to bring your kids to Savannah, this would be an ideal breakfast spot that doubles as activity.
10. Church and Waffles
Alright don’t be fooled, there is no church in Savannah serving waffles. I’m not religious, but if this was a thing, maybe I’d change my mind. On the other hand, Savannah does have a beautiful church directly across from a charming mini waffle cafe.
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
📍222 E Harris St, Savannah, GA 31401
If you’re interested in Gothic Architecture, or merely enjoy stunning buildings, this church is worth taking a look into. Upon entry, you are immediately greeted by high vaulted ceilings and stained glass. The ornate woodwork is pretty breathtaking, and as the location is very central to everything else, it’s worth stopping in to see.
During my “Building Constructions” class at school -yes, that’s part of an interior design curriculum- I was lucky enough to go below the church during its recent renovation. Inside, I was able to get a look at the complex design of the building and it gave me an even deeper appreciation for the architecture.
Mirabelle’s Waffle Cafe
📍313 Abercorn St, Savannah, GA 31401
As promised, right across the street from the church is the perfect place to share a quick snack. Mirabelle’s is a quaint cafe set inside a beautiful old house, serving a variety of mini waffles (and more)!
These aren’t just basic diner-style waffles either. Some flavors include:
🧇 Peach Cobbler with homemade compote and cinnamon streusel
🧇Ricotta Toast with bee pollen
🧇Lemon Zinger with a lemon-lavender curd and cardamom jam
If you need a pick-me-up from all that walking downtown, they have coffee too! It’s the perfect place to stop before or after visiting the church.
11. Forsyth Park Farmers Market
If you’ve done any research on Savannah already, Forsyth Park is no secret. The large green space with towering oak trees is a must-see in the city. However, I wanted to make note of the farmers market that happens every Saturday morning at the park!
Local Produce and Snacks
During the markets, the path through Forsyth Park fills with both locals and tourists! You can buy a variety of items like fresh produce and bread, such as the white truffle sourdough that became a staple of mine.
There are also Southern souvenirs like hot sauce and honey, or unique real food like gluten-free pastries and Savannah Square Pops (The best hand-crafted popsicle with real fruit to cool you off)!
Here’s an example of my fridge post-Forsyth Farmers Market:
Hand-Crafted Art and Jewelry
Further towards the famous fountain are also vendors selling hand-crafted art and jewelry.
I used to be one of them! During my first year at Scad, before the workload took over my life, I sold handmade necklaces at the market. Every Saturday, I laid my blanket under an oak tree and attempted to sell pieces. I no longer sell jewelry . . . so you can make your own inferences about the success of my business.
However! The point is that the market has many local artists, just like me, selling authentic pieces. The other artists around me were very nice and supportive, and you should support them too!
The Forsyth Farmers Market, as opposed to the souvenir shops downtown, is one of the best places to buy from local businesses and find unique things in Savannah.
12. Pop Into the Indie E. Shaver Bookstore
📍326 Bull St, Savannah, GA 31401
Not just any regular bookstore, E. Shaver is a maze-like space with multiple small rooms to wander through. As you wind in and out the spaces, you’re greeted by friendly cats! (I guess Savannah likes cats . . . my apologies again if you do not).
However, even if you aren’t a cat lover, the bookstore is cute in and of itself and sells other quirky gift items. The location is a bit deeper into the city squares, away from Broughton Street, making it a quiet and unique thing to do in Savannah.
13. Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth at The Chocolate Library
📍236 Bull Street, Savannah, GA 31401
If actually books aren’t your thing, this library might entice you more. Instead of walls of books, The Chocolate Library showcases walls of hand-painted specialty chocolate! Yes, you could stick to the praline-samples sold at the candy shops by River Street, but the quality of this place is much better.
Grab-Your-Own Chocolates
Not only is the setup nostalgic and fun, but purchasing the chocolate is a unique thing to do in Savannah in and of itself! The workers will provide you with a small tray and tongs before you can browse around freely, grabbing the chocolates of your choice!
You know how self-serve frozen yogurt shops are more fun than the normal ones? This place has a similar effect.
There’s a huge variety to choose from, with some flavors remaining constant and others rotating. They’re a tad expensive but worth it. The quality is the best in the city and the act of grabbing them out of the case makes it more of an activity!
Many of the chocolates showcase local Savannah flavors, making them the perfect, delicious souvenir as well.
Some Favorites:
🍫 Savannah Honey Chocolate Bar
🍫 Georgia Peach Cream Truffle
🍫 Mexican Mayan Truffle
👉INSIDER TIP: This shop is located right in Chippewa Square, one of Savannah’s popular green spaces. Like my boyfriend and I did, after purchasing your chocolates, the square is a beautiful spot to grab a bench and taste test each flavor! Parking is hard to come by in this area, but I recommend walking through this lovely part of the city anyway!
The squares are always interesting spots to take a rest, soaking in the quirky contrasts of Savannah: Old-school horse-drawn carriages strolling by, along with groups of animal-hat-wearing segway tours.
If for some reason that piqued your interest, you’re welcome to check out this Savannah Segway Tour to see what I mean. I’m not sure if they all include animal hats, but watching grown adults fly around the city on these things always made me crack up.
14. Watch the Sunset on Top Bar Julian’s Rooftop
📍201 Port St, Savannah, GA 31401
After my first time at Bar Julian, it quickly became my go-to spot to bring family and friends when they visited. This Mediterranean roof-top restaurant sits on top of a hotel, towering over the Savannah River. Take it from my “interior designer” self: the atmosphere of this place is the best in the city for a romantic, yet casual dinner!
The Best Dinner & View in Savannah
Large garage doors open up to an outdoor terrace with seating. This orientation faces the iconic bridge in Savannah. At sunset, the entire sky changes color and the sun sets behind the bridge, creating a beautiful and romantic ambiance. Sometimes there’s even live music!
Delicious Shareables
Not only is the view superior, but the food at Bar Julian beats the other rooftop bars right downtown as well. The menu showcases upscale versions of Mediterranean classics like loaded tahini potatoes, various flatbreads, and a must-have: Syrian Red Pepper Dip + Crudité.
Rooftop Brunch in Savannah
If you already have dinner plans, you can still head to Bar Julian for brunch! I went here one morning for my graduation breakfast, and it was just as delicious. The Sweet Potato Bowl with pistachio dukkha was amazing, and you should definitely share a round of the French Crullers at the end too 😉
👉Quick Note: Bar Julian isn’t walkable from downtown, so you’ll have to take an Uber, and they don’t take reservations for dinner! The patio is first come first serve, but the wait was never too long.
15. Visit Scad Museum of Art
📍601 Turner Blvd, Savannah, GA 31401
If it’s your first time visiting Savannah, be aware that Scad has an almost overbearing presence in this small city. Many of the historic buildings are owned by Scad, and the interiors have been transformed into modern displays of art.
As much as I throw shade at Scad, it is an amazing place for creatives. The Scad Museum of Art is a rotating exhibit space that I tried to visit with each change while I was there. Despite being an artist myself, I hate boring museums! However, Scad has a pretty large network of connections, so the exhibits are often impressive and varied.
For example, my favorite exhibit of all time showcased fashion designer Christian Siriano’s dresses, many of which were worn by celebrities. If you’re into fashion, cinema, photography, or any of the fine arts, the Scad Museum of Art will be an enjoyable experience. It’s a unique thing to do in Savannah that emphasizes the local art scene.
👉INSIDER TIP: If you are doing one of the iconic Savannah Trolley Tours, you’ll have to park in the large parking lot right next to Clark Hall (the Architecture and Interior Design building, AKA my old apartment).
Right on the other side of Clark Hall is the Scad Museum of Art. As you’ve already acquired parking here as part of the trolley tour, I’d take advantage of this and walk to the museum afterwards! This way, you don’t have to search for parking twice.
If you don’t have a car, this tip still applies as it’s an activity to do right before the trolley tour, considering the locations are right next to each other!
16. Watch a Savannah Bananas Game
📍1401 E Victory Dr, Savannah, GA 31401
If you found this site in search of ideas for a bros trip, I’m impressed you made it this far past the cat cafes and art museums. Maybe this sporty suggestion will be more similar to what you were looking for.
Baseball Games Without Baseball Rules
The Savannah Bananas is a team that plays a rule-breaking version of baseball, apparently offering a very fun and upbeat experience. I believe it’s more of a performance than a baseball game, and would be a great family activity.
Admittedly, I think I was in my last year of Scad before I found out they weren’t just a regular local team that happened to be given a terrible name. I remember thinking, “How do the players live with being called the Savannah Bananas?”
I thought it was so embarrassing until I found out the joke, and then I was embarrassed of myself.
How to Get Tickets to Savannah Bananas Game
I never went to one of these games, but as the tickets are in extremely high demand, it seems to be very popular. It works on a lottery system, so this is something you’d have to plan in advance. Sometimes, you can find resell tickets on Facebook groups or on ticket applications.
For more in-depth information, you can visit their website: The Savannah Bananas | We Make Baseball Fun!
17. Take a “Savannah for Morons” Comic Trolley Tour
The tour buses in Savannah have an annoyingly large presence. Nothing was worse than getting stuck behind a tour bus on the road. The typical Savannah Trolley tours are a fine way to learn about Savannah’s history.
However, there is one option I always thought was kind of fun, and that’s the
“Savannah for Morons” Comic Trolley Tour.
This tour is a comedic version of the other trolley ride, involving two eccentric, hilarious guides. There were so many times my friend and I said, “Savannah is such a joke,” during our time living there. This statement wasn’t a diss at the city, just a mere observation regarding all the quirky things going on at all times.
Therefore, in a way, this tour seems like the most authentic way to learn about the city’s history: from two morons wearing wigs!
18. Visit Tybee Island Beach: Near, but Vastly Different
📍Just look up “Tybee Island,” it’s impossible to get lost on your way there
About a 25-minute drive from downtown Savannah sits Tybee Island, a straight-shot towards the ocean past stretches of marshland. Though not geographically far, Tybee has a vastly different vibe from downtown and this getaway offers a relaxing and unique thing to do in Savannah.
Getting to Tybee Island
As I mentioned, it’s not a far drive to Tybee, but if you’re just visiting, you’d have to take an Uber. The drive itself is beautiful as all the sudden, it’s like you’re in the Outer Banks!
Small, shack-like houses are scattered across the marsh and palm trees line the road. You’ll pass over a series of bridges before the “Welcome to Tybee” sign, signifying you’ve entered this quaint beachy town.
Visiting the Beach on Tybee Island
If you’re traveling to Savannah in the summer, you can of course visit Tybee for a typical beach day! There’s one main road going all the way down towards the point of the island, with numerous streets running perpendicular towards the beach.
It’s obvious when you’ve hit the main road, as this is where most of the restaurants and parking is. The main pier is here as well, which has ice cream and other snacks during the summer. I think the waves are most suited for swimming here, explaining the large crowds.
👉INSIDER TIP: If you want to avoid crowds, keep driving past this main strip and pull into one of the smaller streets towards the point of the island. There are other entrances to the beach here, and there are usually much fewer tourists out there.
Parking in Tybee Island
The parking in Tybee all requires payment, and make sure you do because otherwise you’ll get a ticket! On super busy Summer days, the parking can also be a nightmare. I still recommend driving down towards the end, but sometimes you still have to drive around before getting lucky. It can be a pain, but it’s worth it once you snag a spot.
Things to Do at Tybee Island Besides the Beach
If you’re visiting Tybee in the off-season, you can still find unique things to do! Firstly, you’ll be avoiding all the summer crowds and parking won’t be a problem for you.
19. Take a Dolphin Tour!
Who would have thought that you could take a dolphin tour right outside the city? While some people may be used to seeing dolphins on a regular basis, we do not have them right off the shores in Connecticut. Therefore, this was a really unique thing to do in Savannah when my friends from home came to visit me.
With a similar tour like the one below, you can take a quick boat trip out into the Tybee marshlands to see the animals up close.
We saw many dolphins, including babies! The guides also took us around the lighthouse and explained its history. It was a special activity that transported us out of Downtown Savannah and into beach mode.
Click on the Book Here below for more info:
20. Grab Sushi and Watch the Sunset
Whenever my friend and I wanted to escape the hectic downtown and see the ocean, we would drive to Tybee, grab sushi from RAW Ingredients, and bring it to the beach with us. RAW is a beachy shack that has delicious sushi. Its sister restaurant, RIPE, sits directly next door and serves acai bowls and smoothies.
Because Tybee has very specific tourist seasons, the hours can be a little funky. I would check their website before going just to make sure they’re open:
Bring a blanket with you, drive to the quiet end of the beach, and search for seashells while the sun sets! If it’s low tide, look out for starfish and sand dollars (I got lucky one day to see some).
21. Paint Your Own Pottery at Glazed and Confused
📍1213 Hwy 80 E, Tybee Island, GA 31328
My personal favorite Tybee Island Activity is Glazed and Confused, a PYO pottery studio in the cutest spot on the island: The Shops at Tybee Oaks! This area is a quirky spot away from the beaches with a small set of restaurants and artsy shops. Browsing through here is a unique thing to do in Savannah in and of itself!
Create the Ultimate Personalized Souvenir
Glazed and Confused is a humble little studio with friendly staff and a variety of objects to paint. The Paint-Your-Own technique is easier than other types of pottery experiences because the pieces are already molded for you! All you have to do is pick your glaze colors and start!
There are tables outside, which is unique from other pottery studios I’ve visited.
I created this bowl for my friend and sat outside in the sun painting for hours. If you knew me, you’d know this is like my personal heaven. This is true especially because coffee was involved, as I walked right next door to Tybean Coffee Bar.
As I was out there for quite a long time, I also bought a burrito from here. This experience is such a unique thing to do in Savannah and would be a wholesome group activity or way to personalize your own souvenir.
Here’s a before and after of my bowl, showcasing how beautiful their products come out!
👉QUICK NOTE: After painting, the pottery obviously has to be refired! Therefore, you can’t bring the piece home with you right away. If you’re in Savannah for longer than a week, this shouldn’t be a problem but would take some planning. I believe they can also mail items to you, just double check on their website: Glazed and Confused
Other Restaurants on Tybee
- Huc-a-poos: Another quirky spot in the Tybee Oaks plaza, offering booze and fresh pizza! They have an outdoor patio with a lively environment, perfect for social dinner & drinks after a day at the beach. It’s definitely a local favorite.
- Zunzibar: “Zunzies,” as we all called it, has another location downtown, both of which are super casual and offer delicious sandwiches. This would be a great spot to grab food to go and bring to the beach, but their colorful decor creates a lively environment there too.
- Mi Vida: Fresh Acai bowls and loaded toasts!
That’s a Wrap!
Unique Things to Do in Savannah, GA
That list wraps up my suggestions for unique things to do in Savannah, Georgia! Hopefully this provided you with a couple fun ideas, in addition to whatever you already had in mind.
Of course, even the more touristy activities are worth doing, as these experiences are what make up Savannah! However, I hope you also have time to venture out and explore some of these cool, hidden gems of the city as well.
Best Coffee Shops in Savannah
Though I didn’t mention it in this specific article, Savannah is home to a huge variety of delicious coffee shops. Just like the activities, I have my own ranking system for the cafes as well. With each cafe having its own quirks and offerings, cafe hopping is yet another unique thing to do in Savannah.
Below, you can find which coffee shops to sprinkle in throughout the other activities you’ve chosen to do in Savannah!
Best Coffee Shops in Savannah – Hidden Gems & Where to Skip!
Savannah is where I became a “coffee-snob.” While I attended SCAD for Interior Design,…