If you are looking for a fabulous place to stay in the heart of Savannah, then The DeSoto is where you want to be. It's been a treasured landmark for over 100 years.
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.
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
If you book a room with a balcony, the first thing you are going to notice when you walk into the room is the amazing panoramic views of the city.
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.
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).
Georgia Cobb Salad Fried Green Tomatoes
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.
Nearby The Hotel
Being in the heart of the historic district, The DeSoto hotel is 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
Forsyth Park is rated #8 out of 178 Things To Do according to TripAdvisor. But 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 with 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.
Grilled Apple Pie with Chicken Sandwich Shrimp and Grits Tacos
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
Pandemic Precautions
Due to COVID-19, the hotel has implemented its "SoClean" initiative. In addition to increased cleaning and sanitization, coffee makers and refrigerators are no longer in the rooms. However, if guests would like either, they may request to have them put in their room.
How To Get To The DeSoto
The DeSoto Savannah is located at 15 East Liberty Street, Savannah, GA 31401.
The Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) is 12.7 miles from the hotel. 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. Depending on traffic, the trip takes about 30 minutes.
More About The DeSoto
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.)
Want to bring your favorite fur baby? Guests may bring one dog up to 35 pounds with a $150 cleaning fee.
The DeSoto is a non-smoking hotel.
Parking is by valet and costs $34 per night. (Garage clearance is for vehicles 6'2" or under including cases or racks.)
Heading to Savannah? Be sure to check out these other posts before you go:
Diane Seals
It was exactly as you stated! I enjoyed a long weekend getaway filled with picturesque views and most delicious southern cuisine.
SelfLynda
This trip will go in the books as one of the best!
Kitti
Oh wow the skyline view is stunning! I loved that you showed us the surrounding area too, Jones street is definitely a picture perfect one 🙂
Destiny
Okay, you had me at panoramic view of the city, but then you went on to talk about and show the food...and yep, I'm sold! Looks like an amazing stay.
Jan
I have never been to Savannah but you have sold me the hotel and the city! I would love to go for a room with a balcony where I can enjoy the skyline of the city. The garden omelets and cobb salad sound delicious! Nothing like having a good yummy breakfast while staying at a hotel. Great post! 🙂
Xin
That view from the room is EVERYTHING. I didn't know much about Savannah before, but now I know how beautiful it is! The tips on what to do around the hotel are also really useful. Thank you for sharing.