Looking for the best Savannah Historic District hotels?

You’re in the right place!

I live in Savannah and run a private Facebook group where visitors often share their trip reports, so I thought I’d offer some insight about their favorite hotels in the Historic District.

Pinnable graphic showing the oak-lined drive at Wormsloe Historic Site and the front facade of East Bay Inn at night with American flags waving in the wind above the entrance. Text overlay reads "Best Savannah Historic District Hotels" and displays the Savannah First-Timer's Guide logo in white on a blue circle

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

If you’re new around here, first of all … allow me to extend a warm welcome!

My name is Erin, and I authored the Savannah First-Timer’s Guide. It combines my top tips from this website into one handy downloadable guide.

You might also be interested in…
🏠 An Epic Guide to Savannah’s Historic District
📍 Savannah Historic District Map

Savannah Historic District Hotels

To begin, just in case you aren’t familiar with Savannah, I’ve written a very helpful post detailing the pros and cons of each section of the city (the Historic District, Victorian District, Starland District, Plant Riverside, and more). You can find it here: Where to Stay in Savannah

Overall, though, the Historic District is by far the most popular place to stay!

Best Hotels Savannah Historic District

However, because there are so many hotels to choose from in the Historic District, I’m only going to discuss reader favorites (plus a couple of my personal top choices). That way I won’t overwhelm you with options.

Sound good?

Let’s get started!

The Marshall House

The Marshall House | 123 E Broughton Street
Voted Best All Around!
Check rates on booking.com | Check rates on hotels.com

My favorite thing about it:
The Marshall House consistently ranks as one of my all-time favorite hotels in Savannah. I love the historic aspect (it was built in 1851), and I’m also a fan of the people who work at the hotel. From the front desk staff to the bell hops to their historian, I’m convinced the employees at The Marshall House are some of the friendliest in the business!

Why readers love it:
So many reasons…

The location is great. It’s far enough removed from the riverfront that it’s out of the non-stop party zone, but it’s close enough that you can still walk to River Street or City Market in less than 10 minutes.

It’s only a block away from the pickup point for the free DOT shuttles, which makes it easy to get to many landmarks and attractions. An inexpensive city parking garage is located directly behind the hotel, so that’s convenient if you don’t want to pay for valet parking.

The balcony rooms at The Marshall House are quintessentially Southern (imagine sitting in one of their rocking chairs with a glass of sweet tea each night at sunset!), the historic artifacts on display throughout the hotel provide interesting glimpses into the past, and the haunted factor is a draw for anyone who is into ghost hunting. This hotel is definitely a fan favorite!

Reviews of The Marshall House

We spent four nights at the Marshall House over Halloween weekend. What a beautiful hotel! Breakfast is included and tastes very good. There is a wine happy hour every night and live entertainment on Friday. Everyone we encountered was so pleasant and seemed to love their job!

Helene S. via the Savannah First-Timer’s Guide Facebook group

My favorite is the Marshall House. It’s hard to beat the location, the staff, and the history. I absolutely LOVED it there.

Crystal V. via the Savannah First-Timer’s Guide Facebook group

We stayed at the Marshall House and would highly recommend it — great location and wonderful staff. The room was enormous but also cozy. I would stay there again if we went back to Savannah.

Wilma B. via the Savannah First-Timer’s Guide Facebook group
Front entrance to The Marshall House at night with a man standing beneath the hotel's sign, facing away from the camera

Perry Lane Hotel

Perry Lane | 256 E Perry Street
Voted Best Luxury Option!
Check rates on booking.com | Check rates on hotels.com

My favorite thing about it:
Location, location, location. It’s no secret that I love the quieter southern section of the Historic District, and Perry Lane falls within that zone. It’s so easy to walk to restaurants and landmarks using the hotel as a home base!

I also enjoy the art on display throughout the hotel, as well the many comfortable seating areas where guests can sit and chat with company.

Why readers love it:
Readers love the location as much as I do, and they’re also fans of Perry Lane’s modern elegance combined with just the right amount of old-school Southern charm. The rooftop pool and bar is one of the best places in Savannah to catch a sunset.

Reviews of Perry Lane Hotel

I stayed in the Perry Lane Hotel. It has the perfect location near Colonial Park Cemetery, the Cathedral, and Chippewa Square. The parking garage on Liberty Street is only $14 every 24 hours on weekdays and $17 every 24 hours on weekends. Considering that I pay $40 to $50 per day in New York, that is very reasonable.

Blair K. via the Savannah First-Timer’s Guide Facebook group

Perry Lane was great! And they offer a house car, which was such a bonus!

Shana G. via the Savannah First-Timer’s Guide Facebook group
The guest suite bedroom at Perry Lane Hotel shows deep peacock-blue walls with white trim, a king-sized bed with white bedding, a brown leather headboard, dimly lit wall sconces on each side of the headboard, and a personal writing desk in one corner. The windows have white sheer curtains and black-out curtains, and there is an ottoman visible in one corner of the room
The king room guest suites are spacious and elegant.
Photo courtesy of Perry Lane Hotel. Used with permission.
The guest suite seating area at Perry Lane Hotel shows deep peacock-blue walls with white trim, neutral-colored sofas and chairs, a flat screen on the wall. A round dining table is visible in the foreground
Here’s a shot of the seating area in one of the king room guest suites.
Photo courtesy Perry Lane Hotel. Used with permission.
The rooftop pool deck at Perry Lane Hotel features ample seating upholstered in grey and white stripes, teak tables, poolside lounging zones, and a few white tented areas to provide shade for those who avoid full sun
How beautiful is the rooftop pool area?! There’s also a bar on the far side of the pool.
Photo courtesy Perry Lane Hotel. Used with permission.

The DeSoto

The DeSoto | 15 E Liberty
Voted Best Location!
Check rates on booking.com | Check rates on hotels.com

My favorite thing about it:
While I do think this hotel is in need of some updates, the location is the big win for me. (Are you beginning to sense how important it is to be in a good location in Savannah?)

It’s centrally located in the southern portion of the Historic District, which makes it very easy to walk to restaurants, landmarks, and shops. The hotel is only a block from one of the top must-see spots in Savannah — the beautiful Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. (You can see the spires from many areas inside the hotel!)

Why readers love it:
It’s in such a safe area of the city that many solo travelers choose it based on that factor alone. It’s also within easy walking distance to many attractions. Pinkie Masters, which is one of Savannah’s oldest and most historic bars, is kitty-corner to the building, and E Shaver Bookseller, an adorable bookstore that has cats roaming around the shop, is within a 30-second stroll from the hotel’s back door.

The DeSoto’s on-site restaurant, 1540 Room, specializes in farm-to-table dishes sourced from Georgia and the surrounding South Carolina Lowcountry.

Reviews of The DeSoto

It was great! Very central. Rooms were good sized with comfy pillows. Walls were thick enough that we didn’t hear anyone else. The concierge was very helpful arranging a 4:30 a.m. ride to the airport. We were surprised by how nice the pool area was — a real nice bonus.

Michael J. via the Savannah First-Timer’s Guide Facebook group

Loved our room. It had a mini fridge. Beautiful corner room with a balcony facing St. John’s church. Two chairs and a small table on the balcony. Lovely to just sit there and watch the sunrise.

Vi via the Savannah First-Timer’s Guide Facebook group

We thought it was the perfect place to stay! Great walking neighborhood with lots of shops and restaurants! The room was very nice. Only drawback was no coffee pot or microwave in the room. We parked our car in the Liberty Street Garage just down the block rather than paying their valet fees.

Debbie F. via the Savannah First-Timer’s Guide Facebook group

We stayed at The DeSoto and really appreciated the convenience. We had a great balcony view, we could walk to everything, it was close to the trolley stop, and the staff were friendly.

Jennifer G. via the Savannah First-Timer’s Guide Facebook group

Being a woman who was there alone, I felt very safe. The hotel bar had great food and drinks.

LouAnn S. via the Savannah First-Timer’s Guide Facebook group
A walkway made of glass with brass letters spelling out "The DeSoto by Southerly" illuminated from behind by lights
Hotel room at The DeSoto Savannah showing a king-sized bed with a white bedspread. Sliding glass doors lead out to a balcony with beautiful rooftop views of Savannah's Historic District
The views at The DeSoto are hard to beat from practically any direction. It’s one of the taller hotels in the downtown area, so you can see all the way to the Talmadge Bridge! Photo courtesy The DeSoto. Used with permission.
The lobby of The Desoto, a Savannah Historic District hotel, shows white walls with modern art on display, fabric-covered seating areas, and an oversized chandelier. One wall features a historic terra-cotta statue from the original DeSoto hotel
The original DeSoto was built in the late 1890s, but it was torn down in 1968 and this new version took its place. You can still find many of the original chandeliers in the new DeSoto, as well as terra cotta artwork from the original hotel. Photo courtesy The DeSoto. Used with permission.

East Bay Inn

East Bay Inn | 225 E Bay Street
Voted Best Historic Inn!
Check rates on booking.com | Check rates on hotels.com

My favorite thing about it:
East Bay Inn just “feels” like a Savannah hotel. It’s charming and quaint, and it features beautiful exposed brick walls throughout the property. I think it’s beautiful!!

What readers love about it:
Debi’s Restaurant is located on the street level of the hotel, so that’s really convenient for grabbing a homestyle breakfast before you head out for the day. Treylor Park is also nearby, and it’s good spot for unique lunch and dinner options (try the PB&J wings). The hotel itself is popular because of the friendly employees, its close proximity to River Street, and for those beautiful exposed brick walls I mentioned above. The inn is also pet friendly!

Reviews of East Bay Inn

Just checked into the East Bay Inn, and it’s already our favorite hotel in Savannah! The high ceilings! The exposed brick walls! The excellent service! Oh my! Enjoying our free drink tickets in the amazing bar downstairs.

Kat P. via the Savannah First-Timer’s Guide Facebook group

East Bay Inn is wonderful; the only issue is parking. The only have a handful of spaces onsite. The Bryan Street Garage is only about a minute walk away, but it can fill up. As far as staff and amenities, it’s first rate — and it has the historic vibe.

Greg B. via the Savannah First-Timer’s Guide Facebook group

I stayed at East Bay Inn and loved the easy access to River Street.

Michelle F via the Savannah First-Timer’s Guide Facebook group

East Bay Inn — great location, clean rooms, friendly staff, and a nice bar attached 🙂

Kimberly W. via the Savannah First-Timer’s Guide Facebook group
Brick building facade with black shuttered windows and American flags hanging over the front entrance. Antique sign above the entrance reads East Bay Inn and is written in an elegant scrolled style
Those brick walls are beautiful! This is one of those places that feels historic — both inside and out. | ©ErinClarkson

Hotel Bardo

Hotel Bardo (formerly the Mansion on Forsyth) | 700 Drayton Street
Voted Best Park Views!
Check rates on Booking.com | Check rates at hotels.com

My favorite thing about it:
Like many locals, I love spending time outdoors in Savannah — especially in beautiful Forsyth Park. This historic Victorian-era hotel faces the park, so it’s in a great location. It’s an ideal place to stay if you want to feel more like a local than a tourist. (It’s even where Jamie Lee Curtis stayed when she was filming Halloween Ends in Savannah!)

You can wake up in the morning, walk out the front door, and be in the park in less than a minute. In fact, I suggest strolling over there to grab a bite to eat at The Collins Quarter, which is one of my favorite Savannah breakfast restaurants. It’s located inside Forsyth Park and is practically within throwing distance of the hotel. It doesn’t get much more convenient than that!

The hotel is also very close to Kroger, so if you run out of supplies, it’s very easy to walk to the store to restock.

What readers love about it:
Hotel Bardo has an upscale restaurant located on site, as well as a relaxing bar that often features live music. Street parking in the entire area surrounding the hotel is free, which is another huge plus.

Staff at the front desk can arrange for bicycle rentals or a free private shuttle for any guests who want to see River Street or the popular Plant Riverside District. The hotel is also located just steps away from the pickup point for the free DOT shuttles. Those shuttles can take you to the Historic District, Victorian District, or the Starland District — all at no cost to you. Here is a map of the current DOT shuttle route.

Reviews of The Mansion on Forsyth

NOTE: These reviews were written by travelers who stayed at the hotel when it was branded as the Mansion on Forsyth Park. I’ll update with Hotel Bardo reviews once I collect a few. The location near the park hasn’t changed, so many of these reviews are still applicable for that reason.

I stayed at The Mansion on Forsyth, and it was amazing! It was drop-dead gorgeous Christmas week, and I felt like a princess the whole time I was there. I asked my husband if he remembered to bring my crown, but sadly, he didn’t! Bahaha!

Tee T. via the Savannah First-Timer’s Guide Facebook group

We had brunch at 700 Drayton, and it was all so beautiful! You can see the fountain and the park from the windows.

Rachel Y. via the Savannah First-Timer’s Guide Facebook group

The Mansion on Forsyth is my favorite. It’s right across the street from the park. They have a shuttle that will take you to River Street.

Lori M. via the Savannah First-Timer’s Guide Facebook group
Forsyth Park fountain at dusk surrounded by gas-lit lamps and trees covered in Spanish moss
A black iron fence with brick fenceposts is covered in a vine with pink flowers that has naturally formed the shape of an oversized heart. The fence surrounds the back lot of The Mansion on Forsyth hotel

Keep in mind these are just a select few of the best hotels in the Historic District — there are plenty of other great options! I tried to list the ones that get the most-frequent rave reviews from readers, as well as my personal favorites.


Savannah Travel Guide

If you’re planning to a trip to Savannah, my ebook combines my most helpful Savannah travel tips from this website in one handy downloadable guide.

When you purchase the ebook, you’ll also gain access to a private Facebook group where you can ask questions about your trip and get advice from others who have recently visited.