The DeSoto Savannah: What to Know Before You Stay

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If you’re considering The DeSoto Savannah, the biggest reason to stay here is location. The hotel sits at 15 East Liberty Street in Savannah’s Historic District, putting Forsyth Park, historic squares, churches, restaurants, and many of the city’s major sights within walking distance.

I stayed at The DeSoto in a double-queen room on the ninth floor, and one of my favorite parts of the stay was the view across Savannah toward the Talmadge Memorial Bridge. The hotel also has a rooftop pool, onsite dining, a fitness center, valet parking, and rooms ranging from standard accommodations to balcony and poolside options.

Here’s what I would want to know before booking—including the rooms, location, restaurants, parking, pet policy, nearby attractions, and a few practical details that can make deciding whether The DeSoto is right for your Savannah trip much easier.

The first version of the hotel was built in 1834. In 1879, the hotel was acquired by the Savannah Hotel Corporation and was redeveloped as a cutting-edge boutique hotel.

Opening its doors again in 1890, the hotel was called “The DeSoto” and was a destination in itself with amenities such as a swimming pool, a solarium, a barber, a soda shop, and a lighted miniature golf course.

Today, The DeSoto is still full of charm and even has treasured period details such as its original crystal chandeliers and terra cotta tiles. Modern amenities include a rooftop pool, a fitness center, a Sotherly host (concierge), original artwork by SCAD artists, and on-site restaurants.

Rooms at The DeSoto

We stayed in Room 903, a double-queen room with a view across Savannah.

Guests who stay in rooms that are on Liberty Street are able to see the Talmadge Memorial Bridge that spans the Savannah River as well as the Savannah Theater.

Guests can book a standard room with either double beds or king or opt to enhance their views with a skyline view. They can up that a notch by booking a room with a balcony. Another great option would be to book a poolside oasis and have direct access to the pool.

The rooms have complimentary wifi, flat-screen televisions, marble and glass bathrooms, and an ergonomic work desk and chair. The rooms also come equipped with a safe large enough to stash a laptop.

Aside from lotion, guests won’t find small bottles of bath products in the room. Instead, the bathrooms are stocked with full-size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash which is more convenient for guests and better for the environment.

Which Room Would I Choose?

If the view matters to you, I’d pay attention to the skyline-view and balcony categories when booking. Our ninth-floor room had a wonderful Savannah view, and that became one of my favorite things about the stay.

Dining at The DeSoto

Inside the hotel are a couple of locations to satisfy guests’ hunger and thirst.

For quick breakfast bites, coffee, sandwiches, pastries, salads, and soups, there is Buffalo Bayou Coffee in the hotel lobby. The eatery is open daily from 7:00 am until 4:00 pm.

For brunch and dinner, there’s Edgar’s Proof and Provision.

Starting the day off right is easy with brunch on Sundays at Proof and Provisions with dishes like Biscuits and Gravy (fresh biscuit, sausage gravy, poached egg), Garden Omelet (Spring vegetables, spinach, cheddar cheese, breakfast potatoes), and Croissant Sandwich (fresh croissant, scrambled egg, applewood smoked bacon, cheddar cheese served with breakfast potatoes).

Dinner options include soul-satisfying southern cuisine with dishes like Shrimp and Grits made (cheddar grits, corn, red peppers, andouille sausage, and cajun cream), Steak Frites (grilled New York Strip, fries, baby carrots), and P&P Burger (grilled 8oz. burger, pimento cheese, bacon jam, tomato, arugula, fried onions, Edgar’s Truth Whiskey BBQ sauce).

The drink menu at Proof and Provisions includes beer, wine, craft cocktails, and classic cocktails.

Proof and Provisions is open Monday – Saturday from 4:00 pm until 10:00 pm and on Sunday from 11:00 am until 5:00 pm. Happy Hour is 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm Monday thru Thursday.

In-room dining is available from Proof & Provision from 6:30 am-10:00 pm daily.

While you’re planning your stay at The DeSoto Savannah, be sure to explore more of what the city has to offer. I’ve rounded up the best things to do in Savannah, created a Savannah dining guide to help you eat like a local, and even put together a guide on what to drink in Savannah. If food tours are your thing, you’ll also want to check out my Savannah food tour guide for a taste of the city’s flavors.

Is The DeSoto Savannah a Good Location?

Yes—location is one of The DeSoto’s biggest advantages.

The hotel sits on East Liberty Street in Savannah’s Historic District, within walking distance of historic squares, churches, restaurants, Jones Street, Forsyth Park, and many of the attractions most first-time visitors come to Savannah to see.

I especially liked being able to leave the hotel and start exploring on foot rather than driving from attraction to attraction.

If your Savannah plans are centered around the Historic District, I’d consider the location one of the strongest reasons to stay at The DeSoto.

What Can You Walk to From The DeSoto Savannah?

Being in the heart of the historic district, The DeSoto Hotel is in an ideal location for exploring Savannah. Guests can easily walk to most of Savannah’s attractions.

Within a 5-10 minute walk of the hotel are several historic and popular attractions. Let’s take a quick look at a few.

St. John’s Church

St. John’s Church is a short walk from the hotel and around Madison Square. The episcopal church was founded in 1841 and the Gothic revival building was blessed in 1853. Worship services still take place today.

Once the headquarters of General Sherman, the Green-Meldrim House is the parish house for St. John’s Episcopal Church. St. John’s Episcopal Church currently conducts guided tours of the mansion and the adjacent historical church building.

Scottish Rite Temple

Across from St. John’s Church is the Scottish Rite Temple. Completed in 1923, the building once housed the Freemasons. Today, the building belongs to SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) and houses Gryphon, a cafe serving brunch on Sundays and lunch during the week.

Sorrel-Weed House

Just around the corner from the hotel is the Sorrel-Weed House. Steeped in history and paranormal activity, this home has been featured on Ghost Hunters and is one of the most actively haunted locations in the United States. Book a tour and you might experience something supernatural.

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is a beautiful example of French Gothic architecture. The original cathedral caught fire in 1898 leaving only the exterior walls and spires. The church was rebuilt and the first mass in the new cathedral was on December 24, 1899.

People may tour the cathedra when mass is not taking place for a small donation. (Visitors may also light a candle and say a prayer while there, naturally.)

Forsyth Park

If you like old oak trees draped with Spanish moss, wide open spaces, and beautiful fountains, then this might be #1 in your book of places to explore in Savannah.

Covering 30 acres, the park is picture-perfect and a great place to do yoga, take a selfie, jog, read, meditate, sketch, walk a dog, picnic – you name it.

The fountain was installed in 1858 and modeled after the fountains at the Place de la Concorde in Paris and was ordered from a catalogue.

Jones Street – The Most Beautiful in the United States

Founded in 1733, Savannah is a great city for architecture and history lovers. Thankfully, Georiga’s first city was spared destruction when William T. Sherman took the South by storm and visitors can get a glimpse into what life might have been like for early residents.

Jones Street has been named one of the Most Charming Streets in America by Business Insider. Mid-19th-century homes grace both sides of the street and are flanked by live oaks. With the gorgeous homes on Jones Street that are priced in the millions, it just might be the origin of “Keeping up with the Joneses.”

Nearby Dining Options

Across the street from The DeSoto, Hitch is a cool place to grab something unique for lunch or dinner, like a Grilled Apple Pie with Chicken Sandwich, made with cheddar cheese, cinnamon roasted apples, crispy Applewood smoked bacon, fried chicken, and apple sauce or Shrimp and Grits Tacos made with Crispy shrimp, fried grit bites, chili aioli lettuce & chimichurri, red bell peppers.

Other nearby restaurants:

• Six Pence Pub – traditional American and British fare
• The Public Kitchen and Bar – casual dining featuring farm-to-table 100% grass-fed beef burgers
• Gryphon Take Out – lunch, brunch, and specialty drinks

How Far Is The DeSoto From Savannah Airport?

The DeSoto Savannah is located at 15 East Liberty Street, Savannah, GA 31401.

The hotel is about 13 miles from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV), and driving time is typically around 25–30 minutes depending on traffic. Rideshare and taxi service are available.

The price for Uber rides varies depending on the time and demand. Taxi fare is a flat rate of $29 for 1 person and $5 for each additional person.

The DeSoto hotel is a great place in a great location for exploring Savannah. Once you walk in the doors, you are greeted with genuine Southern hospitality in a thoroughly modern-day style.

Book Direct

If you book directly with the property, you’ll receive their Best Rate Guarantee. If you find a lower rate, you can call their reservations line and they will honor the rate PLUS discount it by 10%. (Click here for more details.)

FAQs

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