What To Drink In Savannah

When in Savannah, you can’t just sip any old drink—you’ve got to dive into the city’s unique concoctions that make every sip feel like an experience. From Southern classics like sweet tea to the infamous Skull Crusher (it’s not your average brunch cocktail), this city’s drinks pack a punch. So, whether you’re looking to get tipsy or just enjoy the best iced tea in the South, Savannah’s got a drink for you. But fair warning: After this, your typical drink menu will seem way too boring.

In John Berendt’s Midnight In the Garden of Good and Evil, Mary Harty is quoted, “We have a saying: If you go to Atlanta, the first question people ask you is, ‘What’s your business?’ In Macon they ask, ‘Where do you go to church?’ In Augusta they ask your grandmother’s maiden name. But in Savannah the first question people ask you is, ‘What would you like to drink?'”

Savannah has plenty of amazing drinks to offer! Whether you’re looking for something light and refreshing, or an alcoholic beverage to kick off your evening, there’s something for everyone in this vibrant city. Here is a list of 7 adult libations to enjoy in Savannah, Georgia.

When in Rome

Savannah has a long history since it was founded in 1733 when General James Oglethorpe and 120 other passengers set sail from England and landed in what would become America’s 13th colony, Georgia. Part of that history does indeed include alcohol.

From A History of Wine in America, we read that “General James Edward Oglethorpe (1696-1785) founded Georgia as a place where neither slavery nor strong drink was to be allowed, but where wine growing was to be a basic economic activity. ‘We shall certainly succeed,’ he affirmed but the best intentions were not good enough.”

While Savannah knows how to throw a party (they have the third-largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the United States), you don’t have to have a special occasion to get out and enjoy an adult beverage.

Now that you have some idea of the history of alcohol in Savannah, let’s explore where it has brought us today. So, grab your red Solo cup, and let’s raise a toast to these drinks that you should drink when in Savannah.

1. Pink Lady Cocktail

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Where to order it: The Olde Pink House

If you want a cocktail that feels classic Savannah—elegant, historic, and deceptively easy to drink—the Pink Lady at The Olde Pink House Restaurant is the place to start. Made with fresh-squeezed lemonade and Absolut Raspberry Vodka, it’s refreshing enough for a warm afternoon and polished enough to match the surroundings.

The Olde Pink House Restaurant is a National Landmark with a history dating back 250 years. The house was originally a mansion and later became part of Georgia’s first bank. Over the years, it has served as headquarters for a general, and housed an attorney’s office, bookstore, and colonial tea room. Over the years, it was neglected and left to decay.

In the 1990s, as Savannah was undergoing a revitalization so was the Pink House. Today, the vaults that used to stand guard over money now “protect” the restaurant’s wine cellar.

Sipping a Pink Lady inside The Old Pink House’s storied walls feels like participating in a very civilized Southern tradition. This is a sit-and-savor drink, not a rush-it-out-the-door situation.

2. Martini

Where to order it: Jen’s and Friends (or many downtown bars)

Savannah’s native son, Conrad Aiken, had a way with words. The poet won several writing awards:  a Pulitzer Prize in 1930, a National Book Award in 1954, and the National Medal of Literature in 1969.

His literary influence by Edgar Allen Poe and the murder-suicide of his parents can be seen in his writings. Aiken wrote, “Separate we come, and separate we go, And this be it known, is all that we know.”

Countless visitors from all around the globe have raised a toast to Savannah’s poet. Although it may seem fitting to pay respect to Aiken by enjoying a martini at his memorial bench (located in the Bonaventure Cemetery which says, “Cosmos Mariner, Destination Unknown”), alcohol is actually forbidden at the cemetery. Instead, grab your solo cup martini and enjoy the other sights and sounds of Savannah.

Savannah has no shortage of martinis, but there’s something especially fitting about enjoying one while wandering through a city steeped in literature and lore. Whether you opt for a classic martini or a dessert-style version like the Snickers Martini at Jen’s and Friends, this is a drink that pairs well with Savannah’s slower pace.

Just remember: while Savannah’s open-container policy is famously relaxed, some places—like Bonaventure Cemetery—are off-limits for obvious reasons. Grab your martini to-go and enjoy the city responsibly as you explore.

3. A Glass of Madeira Wine

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Why it matters: Historic import, colonial favorite

Madeira wine is a fortified wine (brandy is added after fermentation, making it both sweeter and stronger). The wine gets its name from the island of Madeira, a Portuguese island located off the coast of Morocco.

According to an advertisement in Georgia’s first newspaper, Madeira wine has been imported to Savannah since at least the early 1760s. Savannah went on to become a major importer of Madeira wine by the 19th century.

Even George Washington and Thomas Jefferson have been known to enjoy Madeira. Cheers to Savannah and this nation’s forefathers with a glass of this sweet dessert wine.

If you’re interested in tasting history rather than just reading about it, this is one of the most authentic choices you can make in Savannah. It’s less flashy than a cocktail—but far more meaningful.

4. Rum

Where to order it: The Pirates’ House

Raise your glass to pirates of the past, like Captain Flint of Treasure Island fame. While Captain Flint was fictional, pirates were indeed real and sailed up and down the Eastern coast.

Pirates and rum go together like peanut butter and jelly or coffee and doughnuts. As such, rum is better when it is made into a cocktail. Instead of having a shot, enjoy light rum and dark rum mixed with 151 floated on top with cranberry, pineapple, & orange juice in a Skull Crusher. (You can get this tasty concoction at The Pirates’ House on East Broad Street.)

But don’t be like Captain Flint and drink too much rum. (If you don’t remember the outcome, let me remind you – he died in Savannah due to the effects of rum.) This is not a “one more won’t hurt” drink. Order it, respect it, and maybe don’t schedule anything ambitious afterward.

5. Chatham Artillery Punch

Why it matters: Possibly the strongest historic drink in America

Named after the local militia, Chatham Artillery Punch has been enjoyed in Savannah since the late 1700s. There are mixed stories of its origin, but let’s just say that a horse bucket may have been used to make it, regardless of which version you choose to believe.

Known as possibly the strongest drink in American history, Chatham Artillery Punch is made with Catawba wine, rum, tea, lemons, maraschino cherries, oranges, and Champagne. It’s definitely a drink for the history books. If there’s one drink on this list that deserves the phrase “sip carefully,” this is it.

6. Mead

Where to try it: Savannah Bee Company (Broughton Street)

Mead might be one of the oldest drinks known to mankind. While most people associate mead with the Middle Ages, historical evidence indicates that “honey wine” was drunk in China 7,000 years ago. Although referred to as wine, mead is neither wine nor beer.

But what does this ancient “nectar of the gods” have to do with Savannah? That’s where the Savannah Bee Company comes into the picture. Officially established in 2002, Savannah Bee Company has been selling “Queen of the Honey World” Tupelo honey. (Tupelo honey is produced in the Tupelo ecosystem of the Altamaha and Apalachicola River Basins of Georgia and Florida.)

In addition to honey, the Savannah flagship store on Broughton Street has a mead bar and offers mead tastings with six varieties waiting to be sampled.

7. Edgar’s Cup

Where to order it: Edgar’s Proof & Provisions at The DeSoto

Located inside The DeSoto Savannah, Edgar’s Proof & Provisions serves Edgar’s Cup—a smooth bourbon-based cocktail named after the owner’s father. It’s polished without being pretentious and works just as well indoors as it does on the patio.

If you’re staying nearby or wrapping up a long day of sightseeing, this is an easy, comfortable choice.

Past Spirits to Savor: Moon River Brewing’s Haunted History

Occupying the old City Hotel which was built in 1821, Moon River Brewing Company has been serving food and making hand-crafted beer since 1999.

While the building was a hotel, its guest list included War of 1812 hero Winfield Scott, the Marquis de Lafayette, the first three Commodores of the United States Navy, and naturalist James Audubon.

Not all of the clientele at the hotel were as genteel as those men. Fits of violence erupted easily back in the day, especially when alcohol was involved. Yankees were particularly susceptible to being targets while Southerners defended their honor.

Nowadays, it is purported that paranormal activity takes place at the brewery by the likes of bottles being thrown by unseen forces and specters being sighted lingering in the billiard room.

Sadly, the taps at Moon River Brewing Company went dry in June 2024, when the brewery closed its doors. While you can’t sip a pint there anymore, the legends of its ghostly patrons still echo through Savannah’s lore—proving that even if the beer is gone, the spirits remain.

Raise a Glass to History: Savannah’s Prohibition Museum

Section 1 of the 18th Amendment states, “After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.“

Here’s a quick look at the only museum dedicated to all things Prohibition:

FAQs About Drinking in Savannah

If you’re planning a trip to Savannah, be sure to check out a few of my other travel guides. You can start with my list of Things To Do in Savannah, Georgia to fill your itinerary, then take a fascinating stroll through history with a visit to the Bonaventure Cemetery. If food is high on your list, don’t miss my Savannah Dining Guide or join one of the tours I covered in my Savannah Food Tours Guide for an unforgettable taste of the city.

Final Call

In all seriousness, please drink responsibly. Don’t drink and drive. If you find that you have a problem with alcohol, don’t drink any of the aforementioned drinks, and please contact Alcoholics Anonymous, your pastor, or a friend. Get help somewhere today.

So now I want to hear from you: are you team cocktail or team historic punch? Did you play it safe with sweet tea, or go all in with a Skull Crusher?
Leave a comment below and share your favorite Savannah drink—or tell me what I should try next. Cheers!

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