
Bitvoya Edit
Curating the next chapter
Layering imagery, place, and detail before the page opens.
Bitvoya Edit
Layering imagery, place, and detail before the page opens.
Savannah’s waterfront has undergone a spectacular transformation, evolving into a vibrant hub of modern luxury known as the 'Riverfront Renaissance.' Anchored by the spectacular Plant Riverside District, formerly a power plant and now the city's entertainment heartbeat, this area blends industrial history with contemporary opulence. Our curated collection highlights the finest properties along the Savannah River, from the sprawling JW Marriott to the chic Thompson Savannah in the Eastern Wharf. Guests can wander through the cobblestone streets of the Historic District, enjoy rooftop cocktails overlooking the water at The Bohemian, or experience the boutique charm of The Drayton. This guide navigates the best stays where Southern hospitality meets riverfront sophistication.

Savannah is no longer just a city of quiet squares and hanging moss; the riverfront has exploded with energy. Choosing a hotel in the Plant Riverside District or the broader riverfront area places you in the epicenter of this transformation. Properties like the **JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District** offer an immersive experience with onsite museums and numerous dining venues, while hotels like **The Alida** and **Andaz Savannah** bridge the gap between the bustling river walk and the serene City Market.
Visitors to these riverfront hotels can expect a blend of historic preservation and modern amenities. Many properties, such as **The Drayton Hotel**, are housed in restored historic buildings, offering unique architectural details. Expect world-class rooftop bars—a staple of Savannah nightlife—at properties like **The Bohemian** and **The Alida**. Whether you are here for the culinary scene, the history, or the river views, these hotels serve as the perfect base for your Savannah adventure.
The Plant Riverside District is a $375 million entertainment district anchored by the JW Marriott. It features converted historic power plant buildings, high-end dining, shopping, art galleries, and riverfront parks.
The Bohemian Hotel (Rocks on the Roof), The Alida (The Lost Square), and Thompson Savannah (Bar Julian) are renowned for their exceptional rooftop bars with panoramic river and city views.
Yes, most hotels in this collection, including The Drayton, Hotel Indigo, and Andaz Savannah, are within walking distance to major Historic District attractions, squares, and City Market.
Explore our complete curated list of luxury accommodations, from boutique hideaways to grand dames.
Explore All Savannah HotelsThis isn't just a hotel; it is a shock to the system of Savannah’s polite hospitality scene. Anchoring the riverwalk, the JW Marriott inhabits a repurposed 1912 power plant where the lobby—dubbed Generator Hall—resembles a natural history museum curated by a rock star. A 135-foot chrome-dipped dinosaur skeleton dominates the space, flanked by geodes and the preserved industrial grit of the original twin smokestacks. The accommodations are split across three buildings, but the 'Power Plant' wing is the one to book, offering exposed brick and historic architecture that feels miles away from the standard beige hotel box. In the bathroom, you'll find Aromatherapy Associates amenities and heavy marble vanities. The dining scene is equally aggressive in its ambition. Stone & Webster Chophouse delivers a serious 45-day dry-aged filet, while the Baobab Lounge surprises with authentic African biltong and bobotie hand pies—a rare find in the American South. While the sheer scale can lead to a bustling, sometimes noisy atmosphere, the property succeeds as a self-contained district of cool.
“For a quieter sleep, bypass the main Power Plant building and request a room in the 'Atlantic' wing. It’s further from the lobby crowds and houses the guest-only Compass Pool.”
Insider TipAvg. Nightly Rate
236USD

If the Historic District is a slow-sipping mint julep on a mossy square, the Thompson Savannah is a double shot of espresso served on a concrete bar. Anchoring the developing Eastern Wharf, this Studio 11 Design project offers a sharp, strictly modern corrective to the city’s antebellum nostalgia. You are here for the elevation—quite literally. As one of the tallest buildings in a low-rise city, the views are the primary currency. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the guest rooms frame the massive cargo ships drifting down the Savannah River, a spectacle best observed while wrapped in 400-thread count Sferra linens. The aesthetic eschews doilies for mid-century restraint: herringbone wood floors, jewel-toned velvet headboards, and bathrooms stocked with full-sized D.S. & Durga 'Bowmakers' amenities—a smoky, violin-varnish scent that pairs perfectly with the industrial riverside setting. The social gravity pulls you upward to Bar Julian on the 13th floor. It is currently the city's highest rooftop bar, commanding a panorama of the Talmadge Memorial Bridge that makes the $18 gin-forward 'Pot of Gold' cocktails feel justified. Downstairs at Fleeting, Executive Chef Victoria Shore’s menu avoids the usual heavy Southern fry-up; the NC Blue Crab Cake is a study in purity, devoid of filler. While it requires a 15-minute walk or a quick ride in the house Tesla to reach the tourist-clogged squares, the trade-off is substantial: a saltwater pool deck that actually gets sun, a gym equipped with Pelotons, and a sleep quality entirely undisturbed by ghost tours.
“Book an odd-numbered room on the 8th floor or higher for the best unobstructed river views. For dinner at Fleeting, ask for the Chef’s Counter seats to watch the kitchen team plate the wood-fired oysters.”
Insider TipAvg. Nightly Rate
187USD

Forget the fainting couches and heavy velvet. The Andaz Savannah is the cosmopolitan antidote to the city's antebellum sweetness, serving as the sleek, beating heart of the burgeoning 'Riverfront Renaissance.' Anchored on Ellis Square, this property trades mossy historicism for an industrial-chic aesthetic that feels distinctly now. Step past Alfredo Martinez’s massive lobby mural and you feel the shift—from historic slow-jam to urban uptempo. The rooms are cool, art-filled sanctuaries featuring 400-thread count linens and the brand's signature complimentary non-alcoholic minibar. Bathrooms are starkly modern with large tiled showers and eco-conscious ZERO% toiletries, though the lack of glass doors might surprise traditionalists. Downstairs, 22 Square Restaurant delivers a Modern Southern masterclass with its signature Andaz Shrimp and Grits, but the real play is the second-floor pool terrace. Here, amidst fire pits and cabanas, you are perfectly positioned to watch the city transition from day-tripper bustle to neon-lit nightlife. It’s not just a place to sleep; it is the essential gateway connecting the grit of the working riverfront to the polished hum of the city's new era.
“Request a high-floor 'Terrace View' room to dampen the late-night noise from Ellis Square while keeping the skyline sightlines.”
Insider TipAvg. Nightly Rate
269USD

Savannah has finally shaken off its lace-curtain reputation, and The Alida is the architectural poster child for this grit-meets-glamour evolution. Situated in the pulsing transition zone of the Plant Riverside District, this Tribute Portfolio property rejects predictable B&B tropes for a warehouse aesthetic that feels less like a hotel and more like the loft of your coolest friend. The lobby is a social collision point, anchored by The Trade Room’s whiskey flights, but the real design flex happens upstairs. The rooms are exercises in mid-century restraint—think exposed brick, neutral palettes, and window seats that actually invite you to read, not just pose. The details are sharp and curated: bathrooms stocked with botanical Red Flower amenities signal a commitment to modern luxury, while the hallways feature filtered water stations to refill your provided bottle—a smart, sustainable touch. Dining is headlined by Rhett, where the signature Shrimp & Grits (spiked with Andouille) justifies the calories, though the true energy is found at The Lost Square. This rooftop venue commands the riverfront skyline and demands a reservation if you want a fire pit seat at sunset. While the mandatory $35 amenity fee and $60 valet might induce mild sticker shock, the inclusion of daily wine hours, artisan cookies, and cruiser bike rentals softens the blow. For the traveler who prefers Peloton sessions over ghost tours, The Alida is the city’s definitive modern anchor. **Verdict**: A sophisticated, high-energy base for the traveler who wants to be near the action without sacrificing style.
“Skip the standard Uber; grab one of the complimentary bikes to ride down the River Street connector—it’s the fastest way to the Plant Riverside District.”
Insider TipAvg. Nightly Rate
229USD

While Savannah’s historic district often leans into antebellum romance, The Bohemian Hotel Savannah Riverfront delivers a moodier, more tactile narrative. Situated directly on the water, this Autograph Collection property channels the grit and glory of an 18th-century British maritime warehouse, trading damask for driftwood and brass. The lobby sets the tone immediately with massive oyster shell chandeliers—a striking homage to the Lowcountry’s coastal bounty that feels curated, not kitschy. Upstairs, the rooms continue the vintage maritime aesthetic with rich wood grains and industrial-chic finishes that feel substantial. But the real pulse of the property is found at 'Rocks on the Roof'. This isn't just a hotel bar; it’s a local institution where the Praline Beer and Crab Rangoon Nachos are best enjoyed by the fire pit, watching cargo ships glide under the Talmadge Memorial Bridge. Dinner at Coastal 15 offers a more grounded affair, where the signature Coastal 15 Cioppino justifies the reservation. Verdict: It lacks a pool and the street noise can be energetic, but for travelers seeking a boutique atmosphere with the city’s best river views and immediate access to nightlife, The Bohemian remains an unassailable favorite.
“Street noise from the cobblestones can be intense on lower levels. Request a high-floor River View room to dampen the sound while maximizing the vista.”
Insider TipAvg. Nightly Rate
231USD

While the Plant Riverside District expands with industrial gusto, The Drayton Hotel remains the sophisticated, intimate counterweight in the Historic District. Occupying the 1890s American Trust and Bank building, this property rejects the 'southern belle' cliché for a moody, mid-century aesthetic that feels more Lower East Side than Lowcountry. The juxtaposition is striking: a sunny, floral lobby that gives way to the neon-lit noir of The Vinyl Room in the basement. The rooms are unapologetically compact—averaging 210 square feet—but punch above their weight class with 400-thread count linens and Molton Brown amenities. Critics note the thin walls common to historic preservation, but the trade-off is unrivaled proximity to the river without the conventions of a big-box resort. Dining is a highlight: St. Neo’s Brasserie elevates the obligatory she-crab soup with French technique, while the Pendant Terrace offers the city's best unobstructed view of City Hall’s golden dome. It’s not a sprawling resort; it’s a curated pied-à-terre for the traveler who prefers a Tivoli speaker to a treadmill.
“Skip the street-level noise by requesting a room on the 4th floor facing the river, or retreat to The Vinyl Room for a flight from their curated whiskey collection—rarely crowded before 9 PM.”
Insider TipAvg. Nightly Rate
180USD

Known locally as the 'Grand Lady of the Bay,' the Hotel Indigo Savannah Historic District anchors the neighborhood not as a manufactured resort, but as a genuine piece of 19th-century commerce. Housed in a former dry goods warehouse from 1851, the property trades generic hotel beige for authentic exposed brick and massive arched windows that once framed merchant ships. The aesthetic here is strictly industrial-chic. Book a Loft Suite to experience the architecture properly; these split-level rooms feature black iron spiral staircases that demand attention. While the lack of a swimming pool is a notable omission in Savannah’s humidity, the hotel compensates with Aveda-stocked spa-inspired showers and immediate access to the tree-lined Ellis Square just outside the automatic doors. Downstairs, the Five Oaks Taproom avoids the trap of the hotel restaurant. The zinc bar is a local fixture, and the chef’s Shrimp & Grits—rich with tasso ham gravy—justifies the calorie count. Service manages that difficult balance of efficient and charming, a credit to a front desk team that actually knows the city. It is a sophisticated, rough-hewn alternative to the polished luxury of the riverfront mega-hotels.
“Book a 'Loft Suite' specifically for the spiral staircase experience, and ask for a room on a higher floor facing the river to minimize street noise from Bay Street.”
Insider TipAvg. Nightly Rate
140USD

Forget the antebellum clichés. The Kimpton Brice is a shot of adrenaline in a city often drunk on its own history. Housed in a 1920s Coca-Cola bottling plant, the lobby greets you not with doilies, but with serpentine bookshelves and a vibe that feels like a daring Southern aunt's private gallery. It’s an architectural pivot from the nearby historic district, favoring industrial concrete over gingerbread trim. While the humid Savannah air can sometimes cling to the hallways—a reminder of the river proximity—the rooms themselves are a masterclass in boutique whimsy. Open the shockingly pink wardrobes to find yoga mats and seersucker robes, a sharp contrast to the grey industrial exterior. Dinner requires a reservation at Pacci Italian Kitchen + Bar, where the Chicken Parmesan with gemelli pasta offers a carb-heavy anchor after a day of walking on cobblestones. The real draw, however, is the 'Secret Garden.' It’s here, by the heated outdoor pool, that the hotel truly flexes its muscles, offering a leafy respite that feels miles away from the tourist-heavy riverfront. It’s imperfect, loud, and undeniably stylish.
“Skip the crowded riverfront bars for the hotel's complimentary wine hour in the lobby from 5-6 PM, then snag a spot by the fire pit in the Secret Garden.”
Insider TipAvg. Nightly Rate
148USD