Today I’m sharing a few of the best seafood restaurants in Savannah.

Being so close to the ocean, you’d expect to find some pretty incredible seafood here in the city, right?

Fortunately, you won’t have to look too hard to find some good spots.

Close-up of a savory bowl of shrimp and grits with a sprig of green garnish

Note: This guide contains affiliate links to my trusted travel partners.

If you’re new around here, first of all… welcome!

My name is Erin, and I authored the Savannah First-Timer’s Guide.

It combines my top Savannah travel tips from this website into one handy ebook.

You might also like:
🍔 A Local’s Guide to the Best Restaurants in Savannah
🍳 Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Savannah’s Historic District
🍖 3 Spots to Add to Your Savannah BBQ Bucket List


Seafood in the Historic District

Let’s start with the options located in Savannah’s Historic District.

These restaurants are ideal if you’re staying downtown and don’t have a car.

I’ve made sure to note which restaurants need reservations far in advance.

NOTE: I support small, locally owned businesses on this website, not national chains.


Chive Sea Bar & Lounge

Location: Historic District
Address: 4 W Broughton St, SAV, GA 31401
Most Known For: Mussels | Chilean Sea Bass
Open: Daily for lunch and dinner
Reservations: First come, first served
Website: Chive Seafood

The friendly staff, fantastic bartenders, and decadent menu options (Lobster on the Ritz anyone??) make Chive a solid choice.

The restaurant’s convenient location on Broughton Street is a perk for tourists — especially if you’re making your way around Savannah on foot.

I’d say the vibe inside the restaurant leans towards romantic — especially at night. The lighting is low and the seating feels intimate.

They also offer outdoor seating options, just make note that the tables are on a busy sidewalk with plenty of hustle and bustle and street traffic in the area.

The food is presented beautifully and the service is usually top-notch, too.

Try the mussels!


The Grey

Location: Historic District
Address: 109 MLK Jr. Blvd., SAV, GA 31401
Most Known For: Tuna Crudo | Steak Tartare
Open: Tues – Sun
Reservations: Make reservations well in advance!
Website: The Grey

If you consider yourself a foodie and are on the hunt for award-winning cuisine in an upscale atmosphere, then The Grey is the spot for you.

Executive Chef, Mashama Bailey, is from NYC but spent much of her early childhood right here in Savannah, Georgia.

Her parents were even married at the Chatham County Courthouse, which is located on the block directly across the street from the restaurant!

The Grey is located inside an Art Deco-style former Greyhound bus station.

It operated during the Jim Crow era in Savannah, which means — like in many Southern establishments — the bathrooms and waiting areas were once segregated. You can still see signage indicating the rules.

The place has come a long way since then.

The restoration of the building is impeccable, and it’s fun to spot all of the vintage design details.

Make note that it gets a little noisy inside, so the vibe is more “place to be seen” vs. “intimate dinner spot.”

The Grey was Eater’s Restaurant of the Year in 2017, one of TIME’s World Greatest Places in 2018, and then in 2019 Chef Bailey brought home the coveted James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: Southeast award. She won top honors as Outstanding Chef in 2022.

It’s definitely a solid spot for delicious seafood in Savannah!


Outskirts of Savannah

Now let’s move on to the outskirts of Savannah…

This set of options stretch from the southern section of downtown out towards the islands. You’ll need a car or will have to arrange for Uber or Lyft to visit them.

Erica Davis Lowcountry

Location: Thunderbolt
Address: 3209 E. Victory Dr, SAV, GA 31404
Most Known For: Wassaw Redfish
Open: Wed – Sun
Reservations: First come, first served
Website: Erica Davis Lowcountry

It’s worth it to make the short trek out to Thunderbolt to give this spot a try!

The Davis family has owned a popular catering business in the area for 15+ years.

As Dwight (the husband half of the team) tells me, most of their dishes are family recipes that have been passed down through the years and customized over time.

This is one of those places that just exudes Southern hospitality. I’d classify it as upscale casual and a very family-friendly spot.

As a bonus, it’s very close to Bonaventure Cemetery and you’ll pass it on the way to Tybee Island, so it’s nice to pair it with a visit to one of those locations.

Pan-seared redfish, heirloom tomatoes, and shrimp over grits in a creamy garlic sauce with green beans visible in the background
The Wassaw Redfish dish features two pan-seared fillets atop a bed of stone-ground grits topped with heirloom tomatoes and shrimp soaked in a buttery garlic sauce.

Insider Tip: Ask to take a peek at their Charlie Teeple book while you’re there to see what the building used to look like.


The Wyld

Location: Southeast Savannah
Address: 2740 Livingston Avenue, SAV, GA 31406
Open: Tues – Sun
Most Known For: Fish Tacos
Reservations: First come, first served
Website: The Wyld

With delicious food, a casual atmosphere, and gorgeous sunset views over the marsh, you can’t go wrong at The Wyld.

In fact, this is one of my favorite spots to eat during the summertime months. I just can’t get enough of the gorgeous sunset views overlooking the water!

There’s even a dock for those of you arriving by boat.

The Wyld is a popular spot for families, since they have plenty of room in their outdoor game area for kids to run around.

It’s a nice place for a casual date night, as well. Oh, and did I mention it’s also a very dog-friendly restaurant? So many perks.

The restaurant offers plenty of outdoor seating.

Tables include umbrellas and misters in the summertime and the occasional heater or two during the winter months.

This is a great spot if you want a relaxing, casual dinner where you can watch the boats come and go.

Insider Tip: If you feel like you’re lost on the way there, that means you’re on the right track. You’ll have to take a traffic circle, cut through a neighborhood, and then head towards the sign at the back of a dead-end road to find it.

Metal tray loaded with crispy strips of okra and fried shrimp. A salad is visible in the background
Yum! I thoroughly enjoyed my strips of crispy okra and golden fried shrimp at The Wyld. | ©ErinClarkson

Driftaway Café

Location: Near Isle of Hope
Address: 7400 Skidaway Rd #E, SAV, GA 31406
Most Known For: Firecracker Shrimp
Open: Daily
Reservations: First come, first served
Website: Driftaway Café

This is another casual spot on the outskirts of the city that’s very popular with locals.

If you’re visiting Wormsloe Historic Site or Bluff Drive on Isle of Hope then this is the perfect place to stop for a meal.

Driftaway Café is a classic seafood restaurant, with good service, great food, and fun drinks.

Their outdoor seating area in the back makes you feel like you’re tucked away in a private garden!

(Although — if the mosquitoes find you as tasty as they do me — you might want to bring some bug spray when you sit back there.)

If you visit for brunch, you can try the Crab Cake Benedict or “The Wayne” — their catch of the day with two scallops served on cheese grits.

A plate of crispy fried green tomatoes sits next to a bowl of tuna tartare at an outdoor table at Driftaway Cafe
Close up of a bowl of tuna tartare on a bed of crispy wontons artfully drizzled with cucumber wasabi cream at Driftaway Cafe
The tuna tartare appetizer features Ahi tuna bites mixed with chopped cucumber and artfully drizzled with a cucumber wasabi cream over crispy wontons. It’s a very generous serving!
A white plate with crispy fried green tomatoes atop a bed of greens. Goat cheese crumbles are sprinkled atop the tomatoes and a side dish of Buttermilk dressing is in the center of the plate
The fried green tomatoes are crispy and flavorful. They’re served on a bed of greens with goat cheese sprinkled on top, and they come with a Buttermilk dressing for dipping.

Book a Savannah Seafood Tour

If you’re interested in sampling from a variety of restaurants while you’re in Savannah, a food tour is a great way to do just that!

The thing I love most about food tours is that you can eat, walk around to burn off some calories, and then head to the next spot to eat some more!

This is the top tour I recommend for seafood lovers.

On it, you’ll get to sample Lowcountry favorites like she crab soup, baked oysters, and shrimp and grits.


Where to Find Wild Georgia Shrimp

If you’ve never tasted Wild Georgia Shrimp before, let me tell you — it’s a real treat! The shrimp are so much more flavorful than foreign, pond-raised shrimp.

When is Wild Georgia Shrimp in Season?

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources regulates the shrimping season along the Georgia coast, and they typically allow it from June through December.

Shrimp harvesting in federally-regulated waters further off the coast is allowed year-round.

Where to Buy Fresh Local Shrimp on the Georgia Coast

In Savannah, Russo’s (in the Starland District) is one of the closest spots to downtown where you can find Wild Georgia Shrimp.

Here are some additional locations:

Dubberly’s Seafood
214 Vernonburg Road
Savannah, GA

Nelson’s Quality Shrimp Company
3516 Old Tybee Road
Thunderbolt, GA

Anchored Shrimp Co
107 Speedy Tostensen Blvd.
Brunswick, GA

Seaside Seafood
Colonels Island
Midway, GA

Sapelo Shrimp Company
1319 Sapelo Ave NE
Townsend, GA

Shrimp Shack
16960 US HWY 17
Townsend, GA

Related Reading: Why Choose Wild Georgia Shrimp?


More Opinions on Local Seafood

Now…I realize these “best of” types of posts are always subjective, so I encourage you to check around and not just go off my opinion.

While I’m a Southern girl who enjoys seafood, I don’t classify myself as a true a “foodie.” Generally, if I don’t have to cook it, I’m happy.

The website Eat It and Like It is a good place to start.

Owner Jesse Blanco stays on top of all the latest restaurant happenings here in Savannah and throughout the Coastal Empire and South Carolina Lowcountry.

However, if you’re enjoying my tips and want to stick around, here are a couple other food-related posts I’ve written…

(You might want to read that last one if you’re considering a trip to Paula Deen’s restaurant.)


Savannah Travel Guide

If you’re planning a trip to Savannah and are feeling overwhelmed with all there is to see and do, I’ve created a few resources to help you out…

  • If you don’t know much about Savannah and want to familiarize yourself with the city, start with my Savannah Georgia Vacation Guide. It provides a brief overview that includes all the high points.
  • My Savannah First-Timer’s Guide has everything you need to start planning your trip! It’s an ebook that includes helpful maps, photos, checklists, and insider tips.

Do you have any questions for me about the best seafood in Savannah? If so, let me know below!