7 Hidden Speakeasies in Savannah’s Historic District From Underground Bars to Rooftop Lounges
7 Hidden Speakeasies in Savannah's Historic District From Underground Bars to Rooftop Lounges - Mata Hari Bar on Bay Street Behind an Unmarked Iron Door Requires Member Key
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- 7 Hidden Speakeasies in Savannah's Historic District From Underground Bars to Rooftop Lounges - Mata Hari Bar on Bay Street Behind an Unmarked Iron Door Requires Member Key
- 7 Hidden Speakeasies in Savannah's Historic District From Underground Bars to Rooftop Lounges - The Black Rabbit Through Congress Street Books Secret Bookshelf Entrance
- 7 Hidden Speakeasies in Savannah's Historic District From Underground Bars to Rooftop Lounges - Artillery Bar in Former National Guard Building With Hidden Back Room Bar
- 7 Hidden Speakeasies in Savannah's Historic District From Underground Bars to Rooftop Lounges - Alley Cat Lounge Underground Stone Cellar Bar via Broughton Street Steps
- 7 Hidden Speakeasies in Savannah's Historic District From Underground Bars to Rooftop Lounges - Peacock Lounge Inside Thompson Hotel Behind Velvet Curtains
- 7 Hidden Speakeasies in Savannah's Historic District From Underground Bars to Rooftop Lounges - The Lost Square Rooftop Bar at Perry Lane Via Private Elevator Access
- 7 Hidden Speakeasies in Savannah's Historic District From Underground Bars to Rooftop Lounges - The Wayward Bar Through Unmarked Door Behind Plant Wall on Whitaker
7 Hidden Speakeasies in Savannah's Historic District From Underground Bars to Rooftop Lounges - The Black Rabbit Through Congress Street Books Secret Bookshelf Entrance
Savannah's speakeasy scene isn't all flash and pretense; some spots actually offer a decent experience. Take The Black Rabbit. Finding it through Congress Street Books definitely adds a layer of novelty. Once inside, the atmosphere tries to blend old and new, and mostly succeeds in feeling less like a themed bar and more like a hidden away spot worth seeking out. If you're tired of the usual Savannah bar crawl, hunting down this bookstore entrance leads to something slightly different, offering cocktails that, while not groundbreaking, are certainly a step above the standard tourist fare.
Another intriguing addition is The Black Rabbit, accessed through the unassuming Congress Street Books. This isn't merely a hidden bar; it's a study in clever spatial transformation. The bookshelf entrance itself is a notable architectural detail, hinting at a deliberate fusion of
7 Hidden Speakeasies in Savannah's Historic District From Underground Bars to Rooftop Lounges - Artillery Bar in Former National Guard Building With Hidden Back Room Bar
Another spot playing the hidden card is Artillery Bar. Set inside what was once a National Guard building – dating back to 1896 – it offers a different kind of Savannah experience. Forget the usual tourist traps; this place tries for something more refined, tucked away behind the facade of a historic structure on Bull Street. The building itself has seen its share of uses over the years, from militia headquarters to retail spaces. Now, it’s home to a bar that leans heavily into the speakeasy vibe, complete with a deliberately concealed back room.
Opened almost a decade ago, Artillery Bar aims for an air of sophistication. Handcrafted cocktails are the focus, and the décor hints subtly at the building’s past military life without going overboard into theme-park territory. It's become a fixture for those seeking something beyond the usual pub crawl, pitching itself as an elegant, discreet option within the Historic District. While Savannah isn’t short on bars, Artillery does manage to carve out its own niche, trading on its historical setting and the allure of a hidden drinking den. For a city saturated with nightlife choices, it presents itself as a more considered, less obvious destination.
Moving further into Savannah's concealed drinking spots brings us to Artillery Bar. Situated within the sturdy walls of what was once a National Guard building - structures designed for a different era entirely - Artillery Bar presents itself as another contemporary take on the speakeasy model. The concept of repurposing historic spaces is not new, but here, the building's former life as an armory subtly informs the atmosphere. Beyond the main bar area, word is that there's a tucked-away back room, an almost cliched feature in establishments aiming for that 'insider' vibe.
Savannah seems to have fully embraced this trend, with speakeasies popping up across the Historic District, ranging from basements to rooftops. Artillery Bar, in this context, is less about radical innovation and more about skillful execution. The drinks, one hears, attempt to elevate themselves above the usual tourist offerings through crafted concoctions. Whether they truly manage to transcend the novelty of the hidden location and offer genuinely distinctive drinks remains to be explored. The draw, likely, is the layered experience - the historical shell, the speakeasy trope, and the promise of sophisticated cocktails all rolled into one venue. It certainly adds another layer to Savannah's evolving nightlife landscape.
7 Hidden Speakeasies in Savannah's Historic District From Underground Bars to Rooftop Lounges - Alley Cat Lounge Underground Stone Cellar Bar via Broughton Street Steps
Tucked beneath Dottie's Restaurant, Alley Cat Lounge provides an entry point into Savannah’s underground bar scene via some steps off Broughton Street. This cellar bar markets itself as a speakeasy, aiming for a relaxed and dimly lit ambiance that might appeal after a day navigating tourist crowds. The focus is clearly on cocktails, with claims of house-made ingredients and a decent spirit selection. Bartenders are said to know their way around a drink menu, which should be a basic expectation, but apparently stands out here. It has garnered some local accolades in the past, though these things are often fleeting. As part of Savannah’s collection of hidden bars, Alley Cat Lounge offers a subterranean drinking option for those seeking something other than the usual above-ground establishments. Whether it truly elevates the drinking experience above the novelty of its location is something visitors can judge for themselves.
Moving further into the subterranean depths of Savannah's drinking establishments, there's the Alley Cat Lounge. This one positions itself quite literally underground, accessed by steps leading down off Broughton Street into what’s described as a stone cellar. Savannah, with its layered history, has plenty of these kinds of spaces, remnants of older construction adapted for contemporary use. The draw here, ostensibly, is the cellar itself – a naturally cool, enclosed space promising a degree of separation from the street-level bustle.
Descending the Broughton Street steps to find it does offer a mild sense of discovery, a small geographic shift that’s part of the speakeasy blueprint. Once inside, the stone walls certainly contribute to a distinct ambiance. These aren't just decorative; they’re structural, a tangible link to the city’s past. One imagines these cellars served practical purposes originally, perhaps for storage in a climate where temperature regulation was a key consideration before modern air conditioning. Now, they form the core of an after-dark destination.
The bar aims for a curated cocktail experience, emphasizing craft concoctions and, one hears, local ingredients. This is increasingly common across similar establishments – the invocation of 'local' to suggest authenticity and quality. Whether the cocktails genuinely innovate or simply iterate on established trends remains to be determined through closer examination, but the intent is clear: to present something more considered than standard bar fare. Live music is also apparently a regular feature, leaning into genres like jazz and blues. Given Savannah’s musical heritage, this aligns predictably, offering an auditory layer to the overall experience.
As with Artillery Bar and The Black Rabbit, Alley Cat Lounge fits into Savannah’s apparent embrace of the concealed bar trend. The question remains, however: beyond the novelty of the hidden entrance and the basement setting, does this venue offer a truly distinctive drinking experience, or is it simply another iteration of the speakeasy theme, leveraging Savannah's historic fabric for atmosphere? For travelers seeking out-of-the-ordinary nightlife, the location is undeniably intriguing, but the actual quality of the drinks and the overall experience will ultimately dictate whether it rises above mere thematic gimmickry.
7 Hidden Speakeasies in Savannah's Historic District From Underground Bars to Rooftop Lounges - Peacock Lounge Inside Thompson Hotel Behind Velvet Curtains
Tucked away inside the Thompson Hotel, Peacock Lounge takes the speakeasy concept and runs with it, starting with an entrance practically begging to be missed. Velvet drapes and unassuming doors guard the way in, a theatrical touch that sets the stage. Once inside, the design leans towards Art Deco with a contemporary twist, crowned by a peacock-inspired light fixture – it's a look that tries hard without being overtly flashy. Situated below the Flock to the Wok restaurant, the basement location adds to the sense of being deliberately hidden. The interior aesthetics are undeniably polished, aiming for a dimly lit, intimate setting for cocktail consumption. Peacock Lounge is aiming to be a destination for those seeking out hidden bars, offering a supposedly curated experience for the cocktail crowd. In a city increasingly filled with these kinds of establishments, it's another contender in Savannah’s underground drinking scene, aiming for that elusive mix of secrecy and stylish drinks.
Emerging from Savannah’s array of hidden drinking spots, Peacock Lounge presents itself tucked inside the Thompson Hotel. The entry, they say, is marked by velvet curtains. This reliance on fabric as a barrier – or perhaps, a portal – is an interesting design choice. Beyond the immediate visual softening, such material also has acoustic properties, possibly intended to dampen sound bleed and cultivate a sense of enclosed intimacy within what is, structurally, part of a larger hotel complex. Adaptive reuse is a prevalent theme in urban spaces, and the transformation of potentially underutilized hotel areas into curated social spaces seems to be another iteration of this.
Inside, the aesthetic is described as a blend of Art Deco with contemporary touches, anchored by a peacock feather-inspired light fixture. Lighting in such venues is rarely accidental; here, it’s likely calibrated to sculpt a ‘moody’ environment conducive to cocktail consumption. This conscious manipulation of ambiance through lighting and décor is a common tactic, aiming to evoke a specific atmosphere - in this case, one assumes, a kind of hushed sophistication. Located below the restaurant, the geography is purely functional – basement spaces often lend themselves to this type of discrete establishment.
Savannah seems to be embracing this trend of 'hyper-local' sourcing, and the cocktail menu at Peacock Lounge is rumored to highlight regional ingredients. This is a direction many are taking – the invocation of locality as a marker of quality and distinctiveness. Whether this translates to genuinely unique flavor profiles, or simply adheres to current culinary fashion, requires closer inspection. Techniques like molecular gastronomy and specialized infusions are mentioned in connection to their drinks. These methods, while visually engaging, raise questions about the balance between spectacle and substance in the drinking experience. Is it innovative mixology or elaborate presentation?
The intention, overall, appears to be the creation of an 'exclusive' space. The layout, one hears, is designed to foster social interaction while preserving a sense of privacy. This push-pull between communal and individual experience is fundamental in social space design. Rotating art installations featuring local artists also feature. It's a common strategy – injecting cultural capital and community engagement to enrich the visitor experience. Live jazz is another cited feature, music as an atmospheric tool to shape social dynamics. Whether these elements genuinely converge to produce a distinct experience beyond the curated ‘speakeasy’ archetype, or merely check expected boxes within that format, is the central question for any discerning visitor exploring Savannah’s nightlife.
7 Hidden Speakeasies in Savannah's Historic District From Underground Bars to Rooftop Lounges - The Lost Square Rooftop Bar at Perry Lane Via Private Elevator Access
Moving to a different altitude within Savannah’s speakeasy landscape, consider The Lost Square Rooftop Bar. Located at the Perry Lane Hotel, it promotes itself through an unusual entry point: a private elevator. This isn't about concealed doorways or hidden passages; it’s about managed access, a vertical journey upwards rather than a descent into subterranean spaces or discovery through a disguised entrance. In a city grid often navigated at ground level, this elevation itself offers a shift in perspective.
Reaching the rooftop does deliver on the anticipated views. Savannah's layout, viewed from above, takes on a different character. The city grid and riverfront become visually dominant, revealing urban planning in its most literal form. From an engineering standpoint, rooftop bars pose interesting design challenges. Wind loads, material selection for exposure to the elements, and the integration of services in an open-air environment are all factors to consider. One notes the presence of features like fireplaces and enclosed bar areas – likely strategic responses to Savannah's variable climate, aiming to extend usability beyond ideal weather conditions.
The bar emphasizes a seasonal cocktail menu and small plates. The drink descriptions hint at handcrafted preparations and fresh ingredients, a common thread in establishments aiming for a curated experience. Molecular mixology is mentioned in some accounts – the application of techniques often seen in food science to drink preparation. Whether this translates to genuinely novel flavor profiles or is primarily about visual presentation is something for closer examination. Sourcing ingredients locally is also cited, reflecting a wider trend in culinary spaces. The connection to Savannah’s historic squares and nautical heritage is a thematic claim, perhaps influencing the design elements and naming, though the explicit links are not immediately obvious.
The Lost Square offers a different take on the 'hidden' bar concept. It's not concealed in the conventional sense but elevated and accessed in a controlled manner. The appeal appears to be the combination of rooftop views and curated bar offerings. In a city saturated with drinking establishments, verticality and managed access are perhaps the differentiating factors here, rather than clandestine entrances or underground settings. Whether this elevation and exclusivity translates into a substantively different drinking experience, beyond the change in vantage point, remains to be seen.