Let’s clear something up right out of the gate—Savannah’s roots go back to James Oglethorpe, but the story we’re telling today has a much more recent beginning… and a whole lot of butter, sugar, and perfectly baked dough.

Because somewhere between Argentina and Atlanta, Paola Recht-Hirsch found her way to Savannah—and thankfully for all of us, she decided to stay.

Paola is a pastry chef by trade, and not the kind who just picked it up along the way. She owned and operated a café in her native Argentina for about a decade before deciding it was time for a new chapter. The plan seemed pretty straightforward: move to Atlanta and help some friends expand their brand with an empanada shop.

But then Savannah happened.

A visit to friends—also from Argentina—completely changed the trajectory. “When we came to the U.S., we visited them,” Paola told me. “And that friendship turned out to be afterwards a decision for business.”

If you’ve spent any time in Savannah, you already know how this story goes. One visit turns into two, and before long, you’re looking up real estate listings and figuring out how to make it permanent. Paola and her partners didn’t just fall in love with the city—they saw an opportunity to bring something unique to it.

That something is Belen de la Cruz Empanadas & Pastries, now sitting pretty on Liberty Street in the heart of downtown.

And here’s the funny part—the neighborhood knew about it before it even opened.

“We had neighbors walking by while we were still under construction,” Paola said. “They would knock and ask, ‘What are you opening? When?’ So we knew the neighbors before opening… it was very nice.”

That early curiosity turned into full-on support once the doors opened. And even Paola will tell you, the reception has exceeded expectations. “You hope you’ll be well received,” she said, “but it’s been even better than that.”

Step inside and it doesn’t take long to see why.

The empanadas are the headliners, but they’re not your typical fried versions. “Ours are different,” Paola explained. “They are baked, not fried. Everything is fresh—our fillings are fresh, no preservatives.”

That commitment to freshness goes one step further—these empanadas are baked to order. Thanks to specialized ovens, nothing is sitting around waiting for you. You order it, they bake it, and a few minutes later you’ve got something hot, crisp, and exactly the way it’s supposed to be.

Flavors range from classic cheesy beef to lighter options like caprese, making it easy to find a favorite—or three.

But don’t make the mistake of thinking the pastries are just along for the ride.

They’re just as important.

Everything in the case is made in-house, by hand, every single day. And the variety? It’s borderline unfair. Chocolate lovers will lock in on the layered brownie-dulce de leche situation pretty quickly, but there’s also pear and chocolate, toasted almond, raspberry, and more.

Then there’s the apple cake—and a coconut square that’s quietly stealing the show.

It’s the kind of place where you come in planning to grab one thing and leave with three.

And maybe that’s the beauty of it. Belen de la Cruz isn’t just about empanadas or pastries—it’s about the story behind them. A story that started in Argentina, detoured through Atlanta, and found its footing in a city that has a way of making people feel at home.

Savannah didn’t just win Paola over.

It kept her here.

And now, the rest of us get to benefit from that decision.

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