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Curating a guide to the most unique places to stay in Savannah is pretty challenging, as most of the accommodations in the “hostess city of the South” have a story to share!
Throughout this guide, we present cool hotels and historic inns located in or near the Historic District.
You may also like our haunted hotels’ guide and all of our Savannah travel articles.
Cool Places to Stay in Savannah
Thunderbird Inn
At first glance you can tell the Thunderbird Inn (611 W Oglethorpe Ave) is a fun place to stay with its colorful exterior and vintage sign.
This budget-friendly accommodation was built as a roadside motel in 1964, and it has retained the retro vibe with its interiors too.
Another aspect of the hotel that firmly secures it on our unique list is its commitment to echo tourism through the use of solar panels and electric car charging.
Rooms come in all sizes, from single-bed suites to family rooms, and each features a TV, refrigerator, and air-conditioning.
Complimentary snacks such as donuts, popcorn, Moon Pies, coffee, and lemonade are on offer to guests.
The Thunderbird Inn is pet friendly, so, for an additional fee, your furry friend can come along the ride too.
There is a daily fee for hotel parking at the front of the building.
Location-wise, River Street’s bar, restaurants, and tours are less than 15 minutes away by foot.
Check for rates and dates at Expedia and Booking.
Visitor tip: for a very popular photo spot, nip around the side of the motel, where you’ll see the trademark “Welcome to Savannah” mural.
The Thunderbird Inn is also featured in our boutique hotels article.
Perry Lane Hotel
If you prefer a modern hotel with a secret pool, consider Perry Lane (256 E Perry St).
Located near one of the prettiest streets in the US, East Jones Street, this hotel leans towards the more elegant Southern charm side of hospitality while racking up cool points with its secluded rooftop pool and bar.
The bar has the most exceptional views of the cathedral, Savannah Theatre, and Talmadge Memorial Bridge.
One of my favorite nights in the city was watching the sunset over the skyline with a very strong seasonal cocktail in hand.
Don’t ask me what is in it, but I had two!
Perry Lane’s rooms are uniquely styled, but they all have a contemporary, calming aesthetic, giving house goals worthy of a place on DIYers’ decorating mood boards.
Rooms start at 440 sq ft and go up to the Celebration Suite sized 1,080 sq ft, a luxurious choice for those visiting during a special occasion.
Amenities in all rooms include air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV.
Guest tip: find the library and burrow away with a borrowed book!
If you plan to stay onsite, the hotel has a restaurant and two bars.
Alternatively, it keeps great culinary company with Clary’s Cafe, J. Christopher’s, and Collins Quarter nearby.
Reserve a room at Expedia or Booking.
Hamilton-Turner Inn
Live like the Lord of Lafayette Square at the Hamilton-Turner Inn (330 Abercorn St), which was built in 1873 for the renowned businessman Samuel Pugh Hamilton.
The Hamiltons were known for their exuberant parties and hospitality, and while you will experience the same level of care and attention by staff, you don’t have to worry about party noise while you enjoy a decent night’s sleep.
That’s unless you hear the hotel spirits that roll billiard balls down the hallway or the man who smokes on the roof!
Yes, Hamilton-Turner Inn is one of the city’s prominent haunted hotels, which is why we’ve nominated it as one of the more unusual places to stay in Savannah.
The inn also features on the silver screen, starring in the movie adaptation of the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: A Savannah Story by John Berendt.
Fun fact: This was the first house to have electricity, and locals loved to watch the nightly light switch on from Lafayette Square!
Guests can choose from 17 individually decorated rooms that start at 290 sq ft in the main house or the carriage room that offers three bedrooms with three baths.
Some rooms have 11-foot windows, four-poster beds, working fireplaces, and clawfoot tubs to soak in – hence why it also features in our romantic hotels guide!
Pets under 25 pounds are allowed in the Casimir Pulaski, Eli Whitney, John Habersham, and Isaiah Davenport rooms for an additional fee.
A very cool perk is the daily wine and hors d’oeuvres event in the hotel parlor!
Reserve a room at Expedia or Booking.
Foley House Inn
Stay in Savannah’s very first bed and breakfast at the Foley House Inn (14 Hull St), which was built for Honoria and Owen Foley, a wealthy Irish immigrant.
This is the second version of Foley House; the first was a victim of the Great Savannah Fire in 1889, and the current structure was built on top of the ashes in 1896.
It is said a spirit wanders the gardens of the inn; staff have named him Wally, and it is believed that his skeleton was found in the walls of the building in 1987.
Savannah is full of these bizarre stories, just one of the things that makes this city so special!
If you like history, consider this Savannah trolley tour, which features visits from live actors!
Visitor tip: take a selfie with the portrait of Ms Foley that hangs in the hallway – do you see any strange images in the background?
Foley House Inn also features in our guide to dog-friendly hotels.
Check rooms and rates at Expedia.
17Hundred90 Inn and Restaurant
Dine at one of the original culinary venues in the city and then stay the night at 17Hundred90 Inn and Restaurant (307 E President St).
The inn is a collective of houses built between 1821 and 1875, with 14 rooms spread out over the complex.
Each room has a king or queen-sized bed — with most in the form of four posters — a TV, a refrigerator, and air conditioning.
Select rooms have working fireplaces and spa baths, too.
There is also the possibility of a ghost sighting — just call on the heartbroken Anna or friendly Thaddeus to summon them.
17Hundred90 Inn is a few blocks away from Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters, which comes highly recommended by us as it portrays the reality of what life was like for all living in the house.
Check rates and dates for the inn at Expedia.
You may also enjoy our restaurant guide.
The Marshall House
For a hotel with heaps of Civil War history and memorabilia, check out The Marshall House (123 E Broughton St), which was built in 1851.
This building was first a hotel, then a hospital from 1864-65, and it survived two yellow fever plagues!
Rooms start at a compact 180 sq ft and go all the way up to 500 sq ft for the suites.
Some rooms have views over Broughton Street, and there is a terrace overlooking the bustle below.
Rooms offer a TV, refrigerator, Wi-Fi, fireplace, and a private bath, including a pedestal sink.
Broughton Street is a great location where you’ll find independent and brand stores, Leopold’s Ice Cream, and the Trustees Theater (SCAD).
A nice perk is the hot breakfast served in the red-bricked bistro.
This is one of the most darling Christmas hotels in Savannah, as it does its own unique take on decor through its Christmas pineapple tree!
Reserve your stay at Booking or Expedia.
JW Marriott
Moving down towards the River Savannah, the JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District (400 West River St) is more than just a hotel.
The hospitality brand has opened very wide doors to an entertainment complex housed in an old 1912 plant building.
Dragging the riverside up to the modern day, the hotel features locally-owned shops, popular chain stores, art galleries, restaurants, rooftop bars, a pool, a spa, and live music and is the spot for the annual Christmas market.
You could seriously spend all of your time here.
However, there’s also an overwhelming amount of Savannah activities on the hotel’s doorstep, so you will want to save some time for bar hopping with open containers along River Street, hopping aboard the Georgia Queen, and souvenir shopping at the market.
Rooms kick off at 325 sq ft and are contemporary with TVs, air conditioning, and Wi-Fi; some rooms have river views.
Another aspect of the hotel that makes it stand out from the accommodation crowd is its lobby, with its art, artifacts, and a humongous dinosaur — one of the most unique hotels in Savannah, I think you’ll agree!
Check availability at Booking and Expedia.
The Westin Savannah
Leaping across the river, we come to The Westin Savannah (1 Resort Dr), with its skyline photo spots, hotel garden with fire pit, heated outdoor pool, three on-site restaurants, and 18-hole golf course.
It is also the closest hotel to the Savannah Convention Center.
While the hotel is a vacation in itself, guests can easily jump on the free river ferry to access all of the Historic District attractions.
For more free things to do, read our budget-friendly guide.
Check availability at Expedia and Booking.
Final Words
Which of the above unusual places to stay in Savannah will you book?
Tell us in the comments!