The Culture: A Guide to Black-Owned Businesses in Savannah
You’ve arrived in Georgia, the Southern state that sits at the American epicenter of Black creativity, because you were promised The Culture. Now, where do you go from here? You go to three incredible Georgia cities where the experience is widespread, and you curate that experience to those places preferred by real ones who live The Culture and wouldn’t know how to pretend if it were an option. These aren’t just spots for spectators. These are spaces where The Culture is seen, heard, felt and given life. In these locations, you’ll find Black-owned businesses and Black community among people who identify with an experience that continues to evolve. And they’re waiting for you in Atlanta, Savannah, and Athens.
Eat & Drink
Once the sun hits the sky and the day gets going, start your morning at Kim’s Cafe. Right from the door you’ll feel the vibes, as the Black-owned breakfast restaurant, which describes itself as “Family-Run, God-Led, & Love-Filled,” specifically aims to uplift diners. If the inspirational energy doesn’t get into you, the gourmet PB&J breakfast sandwich or beautifully prepared shrimp omelet with grits will do what they do.
Hit the Victory Heights area for lunch at Sisters of the New South, a soul food dining destination with some of the best fish and grits, smothered shrimp, slow-cooked oxtails, and turkey wings you’ll find anywhere. Another option is family-owned and -operated Geneva’s Famous Chicken & Cornbread Co., a Victory Square institution and community favorite since 1983. Get the lightly hand-battered “Fry Birds” and Ogeechee crab cakes with mixed-in sautéed veggies — they’re notoriously delicious. As happy hour arrives, head to The Public Kitchen and enjoy the scene from behind vine-draped fencing that outlines this intimate mid-century modern bar’s rooftop. It’s just high enough above street level to keep an eye on the Historic District’s evening scene at the corner of Liberty and Bull Streets. Stop in and come up on barrel-aged cocktails, seasonal sangrias, a long list of simple and craft beers, and dozens of wine varietals by the glass.
Push hard to claim a table at The Grey while you’re in town (plan ahead!), even if you don’t get a reservation on your first day. Operating in the site of a formerly segregated Greyhound bus station, The Grey is not just one of Savannah’s best fine dining restaurants; it is literally one of the most heralded places to eat in the U.S., with enchanting decor and an always-welcoming vibe. And when it’s time to take the night to the next level, there’s Good Times Jazz Bar and Restaurant, where live music is a nightly affair. You’ll hear improvisational wizardry and otherworldly jam band compositions coming from instruments and vocalists alike, while enjoying craft beer, classic cocktails from sidecars to old fashioneds, and a top tier selection of wines by the glass or bottle.
Play & Stay
Bringing vibrant new energy to town, the Plant Riverside District has transformed the riverfront, with a variety of ways to experience where the city’s history and future come together. There’s Savannah Tequila Co., a colorful cantina that’s consistently giving “coastal” with a range of cervezas (which can be made as micheladas), along with frozen cocktails like the hibiscus-flavored Watermelon Smash, lots of margaritas and punch drinks, and a range of other tequila-mixed beverages — some spicy, some sweet and tropical, and some traditional. And make sure to stop by during “special hours” for discounted menu items.
Then drop by District Live, a live music venue on the riverfront that constantly books amazing performances ranging from R&B and blues to gospel brunch. You can also vibe inside Electric Moon Skytop Lounge and soak up the striking yellow and gray upstairs interior, or take the adult slide downstairs and vibe outside at the Moon Deck, a rooftop playground where your clique can sit at large tables with embedded fire pits, play giant Twister, sit and sway on LED-lit swings with a bourbon-spiked peach tea or strawberry margarita.
Since you’re already planning an epic evening, go ahead and make it a night on the riverfront at JW Marriott Plant Riverside. Your stay also gives you exclusive access to Compass Pool Lounge on the rooftop (get a cabana; yes, it’s worth it). And don’t miss the elegant and stylish Myrtle + Rose, whose design, a blend of pastel patio furnishings and boxes of planted flora, is inspired by romance and femininity. Overlooking the Savannah River, it’s a perfect haven for your next girls’ or guys’ night out; everything from spritzy cocktails to sweet and sour concoctions are offered here, and reservations can be made for Sunday’s jazz brunch. Score one and order a round of premium absinthe and anise spirits, whose herbal essences pair perfectly with shrimp polenta or bourbon pancakes.