Savannah vs. Charleston: The Ultimate Showdown for Southern Charm
Travelers often debate which city reigns supreme: Savannah or Charleston? This friendly rivalry among Southern "sisters" became evident during a conversation at Charleston's renowned Spoleto Festival, one of the nation's largest performing arts events. A local quipped, "Savannah is the younger sibling aspiring to match us, but it falls short." Intrigued, I explored both cities to determine the champion of Southern charm.
Round One: Food
Photo from Flickr by Jeff Turner
A hearty breakfast of grits, sausage, and eggs at Savannah's iconic Clary’s Café—famous from "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil"—set a perfect tone. Lunch at the elegantly restored 1926 Gryphon Tea Room, with its stained-glass windows and mahogany bookcases, was equally memorable. However, Charleston's culinary scene elevated the competition. The lump crab and Jarlsberg cheese sandwich at Persimmon Café (a café/laundromat hybrid) lingers in memory, rivaled only by the exceptional tasting menu at FIG, a recent James Beard Award winner. Charleston claims victory in food.
Round Two: Drinking
Photo from Flickr by Ewen Roberts
At Charleston's Husk Restaurant, in a late-19th-century carriage house, a Brandy Punch from a 1783 recipe paired beautifully with extensive wine lists at top dining spots. Savannah countered with refreshing spiked sweet tea vodka at Rocks on the River. Yet, Savannah's to-go "traveler" cocktails, enjoyed in historic squares under Spanish moss, proved unbeatable. Savannah wins drinks.
Round Three: Shopping
Photo from Flickr by Sali Sasaki
Charleston's King Street boasts high-end boutiques and antique shops, but Savannah delivers bohemian treasures. Discoveries included a 1890 sculptor's easel at Alex Raskin Antiques, reclaimed furniture at 24e Design Co., and unique student/faculty art at ShopSCAD from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Savannah takes shopping for its originality.
Round Four: History
Photo from Flickr by Matt Howry
Savannah, Georgia's oldest city (founded 1733), preserves a stunning historic district. Yet Charleston edges ahead: Fort Sumter, site of the Civil War's first shots; Middleton Place, America's oldest landscaped gardens rivaling Versailles; and Drayton Hall, an 18th-century National Historic Landmark plantation. Charleston dominates history.
Knockout Round
Who claims the crown for most Southern charm? No clear winner—both evoke Hollywood-perfect settings with hospitable locals. Rather than choose, visit both; they're just a two-hour drive apart. Like siblings, they complement each other, enriching any Southern itinerary.
