Destination Guide
Savannah
Georgia
The most walkable city in the South is also, quietly, one of the most dog-welcoming places in America.
Savannah does not merely tolerate dogs — it embraces them with the same unhurried generosity it extends to everything else. This is a city built around 22 public squares, each one shaded by live oaks draped in Spanish moss, and in nearly every one of them you will find someone sitting on a bench with a dog at their feet. The squares are not just parks; they are the connective tissue of daily life here, and dogs are woven into it completely.
What makes Savannah different from other “dog-friendly” cities is the infrastructure of welcome. Water bowls appear outside shops on Broughton Street without anyone asking. Hotels skip the pet fee because they consider it inhospitable. Restaurants do not just allow dogs on the patio — they bring out treats before the menus. The culture here is one of genuine hospitality, and it extends to four-legged guests without qualification or asterisk.
Here is everything we know.
Savannah has more genuinely dog-welcoming hotels per square mile than almost anywhere in the country. These are the ones that go beyond a token policy.
Every Kimpton hotel is dog-friendly by corporate policy, but the Brice in Savannah takes it further than most. No pet fee. No weight limit. No deposit. No second-class treatment. The lobby hosts a nightly wine hour where your dog is welcome to lie at your feet while you sip a complimentary glass of something local. The location is ideal — one block from Bay Street, three blocks from River Street, and within a five-minute walk of half a dozen squares. The rooms are modern-industrial with exposed brick, and the courtyard pool area is a genuine retreat after a day of walking the district. The staff keeps treats at the front desk and will happily recommend their favorite dog-friendly restaurants. If you are bringing a dog to Savannah for the first time and want zero friction, this is where you start.
Perry Lane is Savannah’s design-forward hotel, a Luxury Collection property that opened in 2018 and immediately became the city’s most stylish address. The rooftop bar, Peregrin, offers sweeping views of the skyline and allows dogs in the outdoor lounge area. The rooms are magazine-worthy — brass fixtures, custom millwork, art curated from local galleries. The pet fee is $100 per stay with no weight limit, and the staff provides a bed, bowls, and a list of nearby dog-friendly spots. The location, between Monterey and Troupe Squares, puts you in the quieter southern end of the historic district, which means calmer walks and fewer crowds. The only reason it is not the top pick is that $100 fee; the Brice matches the experience and charges nothing.
If location is the priority, you cannot beat the Mansion — it sits directly on Forsyth Park, the 30-acre green heart of Savannah where dogs are everywhere, all day, every day. The hotel itself is a maximalist experience: 400 pieces of art in the collection, a full-service spa, a grand ballroom that doubles as a gallery. The rooms vary in size but the park-facing suites are genuinely spectacular. The pet fee is $75 per stay with an 80-pound weight limit, which is the one drawback for owners of larger breeds. But the trade-off is waking up, walking out the front door, and being immediately in the best dog park in the city. The on-site restaurant, 700 Drayton, has a dog-friendly courtyard that is worth a dinner reservation on its own.
Savannah’s restaurant culture is built around outdoor seating. These are the spots where the food, the patio, and the dog welcome converge perfectly.
The Collins Quarter is what happens when Melbourne coffee culture meets Southern hospitality, and somehow the combination works perfectly. The Broughton Street location has sidewalk tables shaded by awnings and umbrellas, and your dog is not merely tolerated — the staff brings water before they bring menus. The lavender mocha is iconic (they ship it nationally now), and the brunch menu is thoughtful and well-executed: thick-cut avocado toast, ricotta hotcakes, a lamb burger that has no business being as good as it is. Come on a weekday morning when the tourists are still in bed and the locals are out with their dogs. The Bull Street location also welcomes dogs on the patio and has a quieter, more residential feel if you prefer that energy.
You cannot write about dining in Savannah without the Pink House. This 1771 Georgian mansion on Reynolds Square serves the city’s definitive low-country cuisine — crispy scored flounder, shrimp and grits, BLT salad with fried green tomatoes — and the outdoor tables facing the square welcome dogs. The setting is genuinely special: gas lamps, Spanish moss overhead, the kind of atmosphere that makes you slow down and order another glass of wine. The catch is that the outdoor tables are limited and in high demand, so call ahead and mention the dog when reserving. The Planters Tavern downstairs has live piano and a different energy, but the patio is where you want to be. Best at golden hour.
Sean Brock’s Savannah outpost occupies a restored Victorian on West Oglethorpe and has become a pilgrimage for food-obsessed visitors. The menu changes daily based on what the local farms deliver, and the cooking is Southern ingredient-driven at its most refined. Dogs are welcome on the spacious front porch, which is shaded and genuinely comfortable — not a token gesture. The fried chicken skins and cheeseburger at the bar are the moves if the full dinner feels too ambitious. Reserve the porch specifically; it fills up fast, especially on weekends.
Zunzi’s is Savannah’s most beloved quick-service spot — a South African takeaway counter on Drayton Street with outdoor picnic tables where dogs are part of the furniture. The Conquistador (a chicken wrap with their signature Zunzi sauce) has been named one of the best sandwiches in America multiple times, and the line at lunch proves it. This is the ideal grab-and-go option for a square picnic: order at the counter, sit at the outdoor tables or carry it two blocks to one of the nearby squares, and eat with your dog on the grass. Unpretentious, fast, delicious, and completely dog-friendly.
Located at the Westin Savannah Harbor on Hutchinson Island, a.Lure offers waterfront dining with a dog-friendly patio overlooking the Savannah River. The seafood is among the best in the city — oysters, shrimp, catch-of-the-day preparations that let the ingredients lead. The ferry ride from River Street to Hutchinson Island is itself worth the trip (and dogs are welcome on board). This is the special-occasion dinner with a view, and the patio is spacious enough that your dog will not be underfoot. Best at sunset when the light hits the river.
Offers Food Bowls, Pet menu, Dog walking, Pet sitting.
Offers Food Bowls, Welcome treats, Dog walking, Pet sitting.
Offers Food Bowls, Pet menu, Dog walking, Pet sitting.
Offers Food Bowls, Dog walking, Pet sitting, Grooming.
Offers Food Bowls, Pet menu, Dog walking, Pet sitting.
Offers Food Bowls, Dog walking, Pet sitting, Grooming.
Savannah’s 22 historic squares are the backbone of daily dog life. Beyond the district, there are beaches and historic sites worth the drive.
Forsyth Park is the undisputed center of dog life in Savannah. Thirty acres of flat, shaded ground anchored by the iconic white fountain that appears on every postcard of the city. Dogs are allowed on-leash throughout the entire park, and on any given morning or evening you will see dozens of them — this is where Savannah’s dog community gathers, informally and without coordination, simply because the park is that good. The walking paths loop through massive live oaks, the Saturday farmers market sets up along the southern edge, and the park’s café has outdoor seating where dogs are welcome. The southeast corner has a fenced dog park if off-leash time is what you need. Start your mornings here. End your evenings here. This park is the reason Savannah earns a perfect score.
Twenty minutes east of downtown, Tybee Island is Savannah’s beach escape and it is remarkably dog-friendly for a Georgia barrier island. Dogs are allowed on the beach year-round but must be leashed. The north beach and south beach areas near the Tybee Island Light Station tend to be less crowded than the central strand. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, dogs are not permitted on the beach between the jetties during peak hours, but early morning and evening access is reliably open. The water is warm, the sand is wide, and the drive from downtown is an easy straight shot down Highway 80 with marshland views the whole way. After the beach, AJ’s Dockside on the way back has a massive dog-friendly deck.
If you have seen a photograph of Savannah, you have probably seen the entrance to Wormsloe: a mile-and-a-half avenue of 400 live oaks forming a cathedral-like canopy of Spanish moss. It is even more stunning in person. Dogs are welcome on-leash throughout the grounds, which include nature trails through maritime forest, marsh overlooks, and the tabby ruins of the 1739 Wormsloe Plantation. The light in the late afternoon, filtering through the moss, is extraordinary for photographs. Come on a weekday to avoid the tour buses. The trails beyond the famous avenue are where the crowds thin and the real beauty emerges — quiet paths along the Isle of Hope with views of the intracoastal waterway.
Savannah’s grid of 22 historic squares is the single best urban dog-walking experience in the American South. Each square is a small, shaded park with benches, and stringing them together creates a walk that can run anywhere from 30 minutes to three hours depending on your ambition. Our recommended loop: start at Johnson Square (the oldest), continue south through Wright, Chippewa, and Madison Squares, and end at Forsyth Park. The entire route is flat, shaded, and lined with some of the most beautiful architecture in the country. Dogs are welcome in every square, on-leash, and water bowls appear outside shops along the way. This is not a hike — it is a civilized promenade, and it is the single best way to experience Savannah.
A great outdoor option for you and your dog.
A great outdoor option for you and your dog.
A great outdoor option for you and your dog.
A great outdoor option for you and your dog.
A great outdoor option for you and your dog.
A great outdoor option for you and your dog.
A realistic long weekend in Savannah — built around what is actually open, actually dog-friendly, and actually worth your time.
Check into Kimpton Brice Hotel by IHG and let Ashton decompress — new smells, new room, give them 30 minutes to sniff everything. Then take an easy walk to Oliver Bentleys Historic Dog Walk Tour to stretch legs after the drive. Nothing ambitious — just let Ashton set the pace. For dinner, head to J. Christopher's. Request outdoor seating when you book and mention you are bringing a dog. Bring a portable water bowl and a chew toy to keep Ashton occupied while you order.
Start early. Grab coffee and head to Skidaway Island State Park before the crowds — go before 9 am if it is a beach. This is Ashton's highlight of the trip, so let them lead. Brunch at Treylor Park after. In the afternoon, explore Savannah Cruzers at a relaxed pace. Ashton will be tired from the morning — keep it mellow. Back to the hotel for a rest. Dinner at Driftaway Cafe — sunset seating if they have it. Ashton gets the best seat: under the table with a view.
Sleep in. Ashton earned it. Take a morning walk to Georgia State Railroad Museum — somewhere familiar feels right on the last day. Breakfast at Six Pence Pub. Request late checkout (most dog-friendly hotels are flexible about this). If you have time before heading out, Forsyth Park is worth a quick visit. Take a final photo of Ashton in front of the hotel. You will want it.
A realistic long weekend in Savannah — built around what is actually open, actually dog-friendly, and actually worth your time.
Check into Kimpton Brice Hotel by IHG and let Ashton decompress — new smells, new room, give them 30 minutes to sniff everything. Then take an easy walk to Oliver Bentleys Historic Dog Walk Tour to stretch legs after the drive. Nothing ambitious — just let Ashton set the pace. For dinner, head to J. Christopher's. Request outdoor seating when you book and mention you are bringing a dog. Bring a portable water bowl and a chew toy to keep Ashton occupied while you order.
Start early. Grab coffee and head to Skidaway Island State Park before the crowds — go before 9 am if it is a beach. This is Ashton's highlight of the trip, so let them lead. Brunch at Treylor Park after. In the afternoon, explore Savannah Cruzers at a relaxed pace. Ashton will be tired from the morning — keep it mellow. Back to the hotel for a rest. Dinner at Driftaway Cafe — sunset seating if they have it. Ashton gets the best seat: under the table with a view.
Sleep in. Ashton earned it. Take a morning walk to Georgia State Railroad Museum — somewhere familiar feels right on the last day. Breakfast at Six Pence Pub. Request late checkout (most dog-friendly hotels are flexible about this). If you have time before heading out, Forsyth Park is worth a quick visit. Take a final photo of Ashton in front of the hotel. You will want it.
A realistic long weekend in Savannah — built around what is actually open, actually dog-friendly, and actually worth your time.
Check into Kimpton Brice Hotel by IHG and let Ashton decompress — new smells, new room, give them 30 minutes to sniff everything. Then take an easy walk to Oliver Bentleys Historic Dog Walk Tour to stretch legs after the drive. Nothing ambitious — just let Ashton set the pace. For dinner, head to J. Christopher's. Request outdoor seating when you book and mention you are bringing a dog. Bring a portable water bowl and a chew toy to keep Ashton occupied while you order.
Start early. Grab coffee and head to Skidaway Island State Park before the crowds — go before 9 am if it is a beach. This is Ashton's highlight of the trip, so let them lead. Brunch at Treylor Park after. In the afternoon, explore Savannah Cruzers at a relaxed pace. Ashton will be tired from the morning — keep it mellow. Back to the hotel for a rest. Dinner at Driftaway Cafe — sunset seating if they have it. Ashton gets the best seat: under the table with a view.
Sleep in. Ashton earned it. Take a morning walk to Georgia State Railroad Museum — somewhere familiar feels right on the last day. Breakfast at Six Pence Pub. Request late checkout (most dog-friendly hotels are flexible about this). If you have time before heading out, Forsyth Park is worth a quick visit. Take a final photo of Ashton in front of the hotel. You will want it.
The south end of Forsyth Park hosts an unofficial dog social hour every evening at golden hour. Between 6 and 7 pm, the entire southern lawn fills with off-leash dogs while their owners drink from open containers — perfectly legal in Savannah, one of the few American cities where you can walk the streets with a cocktail in hand. It is not organized, not posted anywhere, and not something the tourism board advertises. It just happens, every single evening, because Savannah’s dog culture runs that deep. This is the most dog-friendly hour in the most dog-friendly city in America, and it will change how you think about traveling with your dog.
Emergency vets, dog parks, groomers, and supplies in Savannah — saved so you do not have to Google it at midnight.
Developer resources - Jobs - Advertise with us - Terms of use - Privacy policy - Data and licenses - About our ads ... A...
DetailsSavannah, Georgia, is not only a fantastic place for humans tolivebut also an excellent city for our four-legged friends...
DetailsAddress: 1500 E Victory Dr Savannah Georgia 31404 United States A large and very popular park centrally located within t...
DetailsEmergency vets, dog parks, groomers, and supplies in Savannah — saved so you do not have to Google it at midnight.
Developer resources - Jobs - Advertise with us - Terms of use - Privacy policy - Data and licenses - About our ads ... A...
DetailsSavannah, Georgia, is not only a fantastic place for humans tolivebut also an excellent city for our four-legged friends...
DetailsAddress: 1500 E Victory Dr Savannah Georgia 31404 United States A large and very popular park centrally located within t...
DetailsEmergency vets, dog parks, groomers, and supplies in Savannah — saved so you do not have to Google it at midnight.
Developer resources - Jobs - Advertise with us - Terms of use - Privacy policy - Data and licenses - About our ads ... A...
DetailsSavannah, Georgia, is not only a fantastic place for humans tolivebut also an excellent city for our four-legged friends...
DetailsAddress: 1500 E Victory Dr Savannah Georgia 31404 United States A large and very popular park centrally located within t...
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Hyperlocal intel from the Savannah Morning News, Visit Tybee Island, and City of Savannah records