Travel in city Hostess

Savannah is brimming with hospitality from every corner of its many squares.

The cocktail-centric hospitality company, Midnight Auteur, unveils its first boutique hotel in the Hostess City of the South, opening early 2025 

Anyone who’s set foot in America’s Deep South will know ‘Southern charm’ is no myth, and Savannah — Georgia’s oldest city — embodies just this. Situated at the mouth of the Savannah River in the east of the state, the city has retained its ‘olde world’ atmosphere since its founding in 1733 through its well-preserved cobblestone streets, pre-Civil War architecture, horse-drawn carriages and manicured parks. Meanwhile its more modern array of offerings, including quirky ice cream parlours, moody speakeasies, cosy coffee shops and independent bookshops, have all helped earn its more recent nickname of the ‘Hostess City of the South’. Its urban beauty is also undeniable. Though ravaged by naval blockades during the Civil War, Savannah is said to have charmed Union general William Sherman so much that he saved it from the fires being set by his soldiers during the battle, and instead offered the city as a Christmas gift to President Abraham Lincoln. Today, Savannah plays a much larger role than just being easy on the eye; it’s a vibrant cultural and historical hub for the state and the perfect jumping-off point for various coastal adventures.

Charming Savannah is a city as green as they come: recognized for its sustainability efforts, including installation of solar panels on city buildings, and lush greenery that flourishes along city streets. Let’s not forget how the city bleeds green every March to celebrate its large Irish Catholic community, too. 

The Savannah of years past conjures up images of high society and tradition, with grand homes and dramatic oak trees like those featured in the famous book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

It’s a running joke in the South that how you greet someone can reveal volumes about where you are from. For instance, in Atlanta, they ask, “What do you do for a living?” In Charlotte, they ask, “Where are you from?” In Charleston, it’s “What’s your mother’s maiden name?” and in Savannah, it’s “What are you drinking?”

Travelers flock to Savannah, Georgia, to see its picture-perfect scenery – like a time capsule of years past with carefully preserved architecture.

Georgia’s oldest city, not to mention the first capital, was established on the Savannah River in 1733 and, for nearly 300 years, has beckoned visitors to the Spanish moss-lined trees and charming homes. It’s one of the nation’s biggest ports, and its hospitable locals helped earn the nickname the “Hostess City.”

The first ever prohibition museum in the States opened in Savannah, Georgia earlier this year. And it’s a pretty apt place for it. Until recently, prohibition-era laws here prohibited breweries from selling beer directly to punters – but that’s all starting to change. Jacqui Agate goes to meet the new wave of craft brewers shaking up the city’s drinks scene.