Savannah’s best bars in 2025

Abe's on Lincoln

17 Lincoln Street, Reynolds Square

A Savannah institution that's been serving drinks since 1852, Abe's has earned its place on the must-visit list through sheer staying power and a complete absence of pretension. The walls are covered in napkin art contributed by regulars over the decades, the drinks are straightforward, and the vibe is exactly what you want from a classic dive bar in a city that takes its history seriously. Go early, find a spot, stay longer than you planned.

The Original Pinkie Masters

Drayton & Harris Streets

Pinkie Masters has the kind of lived-in charm that money can't manufacture. Known for its jukebox, its no-frills cocktails, and its unpretentious crowd, this is the bar that people who've lived in Savannah for decades still call their go-to. The music is loud, the drinks are cold, and the history — Jimmy Carter once campaigned here — gives it a character that modern bars spend years trying to fake.

Artillery Bar

Bull Street

On the more refined end of the Historic District spectrum, Artillery is the kind of bar where the drinks get real thought and the room earns its dim lighting. The "Bit of a Pickle" has become something of a calling card — the kind of drink that makes you realize you should probably order another before you leave. The setting, inside a historic space on Bull Street, does most of the atmospheric heavy lifting before you've even opened the menu.

Bar Julian

201 Port Street, Eastern Wharf

Bar Julian has quickly established itself as one of the best places to watch the sun go down over the Savannah River. The rooftop setting at Eastern Wharf puts the water right in front of you, the Mediterranean-inspired cocktail menu is more interesting than the view needs it to be, and the food holds up well enough that you might end up staying for dinner. Go early — the best seats fill fast once the evening crowd arrives.

The Lost Square

The Alida Hotel, Plant Riverside

The Alida's rooftop lounge is the kind of place that makes a strong case for staying in Savannah a few extra days. The cocktails are creative without being fussy, the room has a chic, unhurried atmosphere, and the views of the river at sunset are exactly as good as the photos suggest. It runs toward the quieter, more composed end of the Savannah nightlife spectrum — ideal if you want a great drink without having to shout over a crowd.

Savannah Tequila Company

Plant Riverside District

Sometimes you just want a well-made margarita and somewhere to stand by the water. Savannah Tequila Company handles that assignment reliably, with specialty tequila cocktails and a walk-up to-go option that takes full advantage of Savannah's open-container laws. A good spot to kick off an evening or wind one down without overcomplicating it.

Starland Yard

Starland District

A converted storage-unit courtyard that has somehow become one of the most reliably fun places to spend an evening in Savannah. Food trucks rotate through, the craft beer selection is solid, and the open-air layout means there's almost always something happening without it feeling overwhelming. It's the kind of place that locals bring their out-of-town friends specifically because it doesn't feel like a tourist attraction — it feels like Savannah actually lives here.

Lone Wolf Lounge

Lincoln Street

Neon-lit, unpretentious, and genuinely fun — Lone Wolf is the neighborhood dive bar that Starland deserves. Karaoke nights pull a crowd that ranges from shy first-timers to committed regulars who clearly treat it as serious business. The drinks are cheap, the atmosphere is warm, and the bar has a nostalgic energy that feels authentic rather than manufactured. A great way to end a night that started somewhere more polished.

Common Thread

Renovated 1897 Victorian house, Midtown

Common Thread is the kind of place that makes Savannah's food and drink scene look bigger than a city its size should be able to sustain. Operating out of a beautifully renovated 1897 Victorian home, the bar program here earned a 2025 James Beard semifinalist nod — which is not a small thing. The cocktails are ambitious and precise, the service is genuine, and the setting is exactly right. It's worth planning your evening around rather than just stumbling into.

Repeal 33

Historic District

A modern American restaurant that earns repeat visits as much for the bar as for the food. Repeal 33 has quietly become a local staple — the kind of place where you can have a solid dinner and a couple of genuinely good cocktails without the evening feeling like an occasion. Reliable, well-run, and consistently better than its relative lack of tourist buzz would suggest.

Crystal Beer Parlor

Historic District

Savannah's oldest bar, operating since around 1900, Crystal Beer Parlor has survived Prohibition, multiple waves of urban change, and the rise and fall of more trends than anyone can count. The draft beer list is extensive, the food is comfort-oriented and satisfying, and the room carries that specific weight that only genuinely old places have. Not the flashiest stop on the list — but one of the most Savannah ones.