Best Food Tours in Savannah

Savannah is one of the most touristic cities in the state of Georgia and its culinary offerings are just as interesting as its history and architecture. Read on to find out more about the city's culinary tours.

Keyvis Montilva

Keyvis Montilva

11 min read

Best Food Tours in Savannah

Leopold's Ice Cream |©jpellgen (@1179_jp)

One of the best things to see and do in Savannah is to explore the gastronomic offerings in the city's historic district. This place is the perfect mix between the typical flavours of the American South with a modern and sophisticated reinvention for the most demanding palates.

With this in mind, I invite you to familiarise yourself with the best food tours in Savannah, Georgia, so that you have the opportunity to join one on your next visit to the city. This way you will know how long it will take you to participate in most of them, what the approximate prices of such a service are and what are the advantages and disadvantages of this type of experience.

The best option

Savannah Food Tour

Savannah's Historic District Food Tours

Meet the city's most talented chefs and the mansions with an interesting past in this southern town.

Recommended if you like the idea of exploring the culinary world of Savannah and especially if you are interested in doing it with a specialist in local cuisine. It's a good plan if you want to visit several restaurants in the same itinerary and with the accompaniment of another group of participants just as interested as you are in exploring the flavours of this city.

It's also a good plan if you want to save money on quality culinary experiences, as it's a fixed amount and this allows you to know exactly how much you'll spend for a memorable and entertaining evening.

Savannah Dining Tours

Savannah Sandwich|©HumongoNationphotogallery
Savannah Sandwich|©HumongoNationphotogallery

Savannah food tours are a great way to explore the city's historic district. Most of the upscale, quality restaurants in this community are located in this neighbourhood. This makes sense, since it is the most touristy area as well as the most architecturally beautiful in the city.

Some of these tours focus on visiting the area's best-known restaurants, while other itineraries seek out some of the city's lesser-known offerings. This is intended to demonstrate that all of the culinary alternatives in Savannah are good places to enjoy authentic southern food of an excellent standard.

These types of tours are just as enjoyable as the historical tours of Savannah, as the guide who accompanies you at all times will take you to where the most talented chefs in the city are located, but you will also pass through specific streets that have some of the most interesting mansions with the most interesting past in this important southern town.

On average, these tours usually visit around 6 different restaurants and at each one you'll sample different dishes so that by the end of the tour you'll be completely satisfied and impressed with the quality of food that defines this city. Keep in mind that this is a relatively private tour, as there is usually a maximum of 12 people per reservation. Vegetarian options are also available.

Interesting details

  • Price: the approximate price for this type of gastronomic tour is usually around 65 euros per person. Please note that there are no age distinctions, as the amount of dishes offered is the same for everyone. Water is included in the price, but alcoholic beverages are charged separately.
  • Duration: this type of tour usually lasts about three hours in total. However, you have to bear in mind that part of that time is spent on the historical tour of the city.
  • Means of transport: these types of gastronomic tours do not usually have any means of transport, as the route from restaurant to restaurant is usually walked by the group of participants. This gives the tour guide the opportunity to tell historical details about Savannah's past.
  • Advantages of this option: 65 euros is a very convenient price considering that you will taste 6 dishes of excellent culinary quality. In addition, you will be accompanied by a guide who will provide entertainment as well as an educational experience.
  • Disadvantages of this option: it may not be the most suitable experience for children, at least for those who are too young and may get bored quickly. There are also very clear limitations on the amount of alcohol that can be consumed at each of the stops. On average only one drink is allowed as an accompaniment to each meal.

Food and cultural tour of Savannah

How to book a food tour in Savannah?

Girl sitting with laptop on her lap|©Sincerely Media
Girl sitting with laptop on her lap|©Sincerely Media

Savannah food tours can be booked in different ways. If you wish, you can buy this service directly from a tourist agency in the city if you have the time and the inclination to do so. However, an online booking is your best alternative and that has to do with several convenient points.

The first one is that you can buy the tour in advance. In fact, from the comfort of your own home you can book it for a favourable time and date of your trip when you know you will have the afternoon free and want to have a guaranteed entertainment alternative. There is also some economic convenience, as through an online booking you can compare prices with other alternatives. You also have the possibility of seeing the references of people who have already enjoyed the service to know if you are getting a good investment.

These advantages associated with online booking of a gastronomic tour in this city also exist for other tourist services. This is why most of the best Savannah tours and specifically Savannah ghost tours are usually booked through online platforms. This is also because of the fact that people want to know the opinions of other buyers to be sure that the tour is worth it and it really is a spooky experience.

Spooky Savannah Haunted Pub Crawl & Walking Ghost Tour

Duration of food tours in Savannah

People outside the ice cream parlour|©U.S. Department of Agriculture
People outside the ice cream parlour|©U.S. Department of Agriculture

Savannah food tours generally last between 2 to 3 hours. However, it should be understood that this number is quite subjective and can be analysed from different perspectives. The tour as a whole lasts that long, but the time you spend eating in each of the restaurants makes up 60 to 70% of that time.

All the remaining minutes are spent walking from one establishment to another and it is in this part that the guide's knowledge begins to shine because he/she shares historical facts and interesting details about the culture of this city. This makes for a much more interesting and entertaining evening for all present.

Depending on the time of year it is possible that the whole event may take a little longer, as in some restaurants there are no reservations and service is on a first come, first served basis. Either way, the fact that it's a group plan makes it a very entertaining experience and a good opportunity to make friends with other tourists who are visiting the city at the same time as you.

On the other hand, if you're interested in a dining experience in the city that is much more rigorous with its timings then you can participate in the best boat tours in Savannah. There are some that are focused exclusively on offering a dinner with live entertainment to the participants of the tour. Which is a pretty exclusive and elegant experience that can become one of the best memories of your trip to this beautiful city.

What will I see on these types of tours?

Burger meat on the grill|©The Food Pornographer
Burger meat on the grill|©The Food Pornographer

In this type of tour there will be two main components. The first is the food, and for this reason they usually choose restaurants that are at the forefront of the city's culinary scene. Every year they change, as the idea is that participants have the opportunity to get a taste of the gastronomic world that locals are enjoying at the time of their visit.

At the same time, there is the fact that this type of tour travels through a good part of the city's historic district. So the chance to see some of the Antebellum mansions as well as stroll through some of the famous squares in this section of Savannah is another great attraction of this type of experience.

So, on this type of tour you not only have the opportunity to see how the culinary world works in the city, but you can also tour the city with a specialist in its history and specifically its gastronomic identity. In fact, many of the details shared in the tour conversations have to do with the development and evolution of food in this city over its 300 year history.

Along the way you'll often pass by some of Savannah' s best museums and this means it's a good idea to visit them before or after participating in these tours. Note, however, that you can only do this afterwards if the tour takes place in the early afternoon.

Tips for a food tour in Savannah

People eating at the table|©esthert
People eating at the table|©esthert

There are several tips I can give you to make the most of a food tour in Savannah, however, the best of them all has to do with a matter of satisfaction. You need to understand that food tours are not a small meal experience where you will only sample snacks at each of the restaurants.

The reality is that at each of the restaurants you will sample a full course meal. Maybe not a two-course lunch but a starter or at least a relatively small main course. That means that on average you will have a starter, a main course and a dessert at a minimum throughout the experience and at each of the stops you have the possibility of accompanying it with a cocktail or a drink.

In fact, that is the other recommendation I can give you, as the idea is that you don't consume too much alcohol throughout the experience. This is for the simple fact that at the slightest hint of drunkenness the guide has the power to remove you from the tour and this would affect your entire group of companions.

Also, keep in mind that it is not an experience that limits the participation of children, but you have to keep in mind that it is configured as an adult entertainment plan. It is therefore preferable that your children only accompany you if they are of an advanced age or if they know how to behave among older people. An alternative plan if you are looking for family activities could be the best trolley tours in Savannah, as it is a fun experience for all ages.

How much does a food tour in Savannah cost?

Cardholders|©Avery Evans
Cardholders|©Avery Evans

The average price for a food tour in Savannah is always between 60 and 70 euros per person. This amount may seem exorbitant when compared to a fast food alternative or a one-course dinner. However, you have to keep in mind that on this tour you are visiting five or six different restaurants with experimental gastronomic proposals that are definitely part of the best of the city's culinary industry.

Therefore, on a food tour in Savannah you are saving money in a way because you are getting the chance to see places that you might not see on your own. That's while you're spending the same amount you would pay if you went to a single, moderately expensive restaurant and ordered a meal and a cocktail there.

In fact, food tours are so convenient that they are a highly recommended activity for those with a three-day visit to Savannah. That amount of time is more than appropriate so that a three-hour event doesn't disrupt the logistics of the group too much. Which at the same time reduces the amount of money you have to spend to explore the culinary world of the city knowing that it's a significantly short trip.

What are the must-see places on a food tour in Savannah?

Man preparing food|©DavezPicts
Man preparing food|©DavezPicts

On a Savannah food tour, you don't really have the power to choose which places you can't miss. This is because the route is set by the guide beforehand according to the restaurants that are in fashion as well as according to the season you are in.

The best thing you can do to enjoy the experience is to let yourself be guided by the knowledge of a Savannah specialist, knowing that you will get to know good restaurants. They belong to the privileged group of the best in the city.

Also, if it is a family trip and you are worried about the places you will visit because you are not sure if they are some of the activities to do in Savannah with children then it is best to check before you book. This is to ensure that the establishments are suitable for people of all ages. Although bars are not usually visited on these types of tours, as the idea is that all types of people can participate in them.

Why take a food tour in Savannah?

Dishes on the table|©Affiliated Distributors
Dishes on the table|©Affiliated Distributors

Taking a food tour in Savannah is recommended for the simple fact that it is a cost-saving experience in every way. First of all, you get to manage your time properly, as you have the possibility to visit several restaurants in a short period of time and enjoy the most famous dishes of each of these establishments.

At the same time, it is a significantly economical tour and this implies a saving for your budget that you could spend on other entertainment activities in the city.

Also, keep in mind that gastronomic tours are a recommended experience in most cities around the world and in a place as diverse and interesting as this one there is no exception to this rule. In fact, for many experts, a food tour is among the top 59 things to do in Savannah, no matter what time of year you visit the city.

What are the advantages of taking a guided tour vs. visiting Savannah's restaurants on my own?

people watching food|©dahon
people watching food|©dahon

On the other hand, there are distinct advantages associated with taking a guided tour versus visiting the same places on your own. If you make this comparison, it starts to become a logistical issue. With a guided tour, you arrive directly at the restaurants with a good chance that you will have a table reserved for you. Or at least that they will give you preferential treatment by speeding up your wait because they are a tour guide.

On the other hand, when you visit a place you have to deal with the situation of being another private customer. This means that you would even have to make a reservation a few days in advance if it is a significantly famous restaurant.

The economic saving is also another distinctive element of a guided gastronomic tour as opposed to a visit to a restaurant on your own. In the second alternative, you would have to pay tips, which are usually quite a high percentage in the United States. Moreover, by visiting a restaurant on your own, you will end up spending much more and consuming a smaller amount of food. At least if you appreciate the fact that on a tour you eat a different dish in at least five different restaurants.

If you're itching for a sightseeing experience that can be organised on your own then I recommend that you take part in Savannah's Hop On Off bus tours. This is because their flexible routes allow you to take advantage of the benefits of the transport system at your leisure.