Savannah’s reputation as one of America’s most haunted cities brings it countless tourists all year long.
Maybe it’s the veil thinning between worlds or maybe the longer nights put people in the mood for a little fright with their food, but every October people ask for haunted local restaurants.
You’ve probably been told about the ghosts at Moon River Brewing Company, Pirates’ House, and the 17hundred90 Inn, but here are a few that don’t get mentioned as often.
Circa 1875
This French bistro and gastropub is certainly most known for its food and atmosphere, but it seems the owners had to make a deal with the dead to keep it that way.
The owner’s told Jesse about that night while he was working on his Halloween special. They told him that shortly after the restaurant opened they dealt with items mysteriously going missing and phantom noises.
This could have easily been shrugged off until one night when the lights went out and they couldn’t get them back on. It turns out that a locked electrical box had been tampered with.
A spiritualist was called in. The spirits reportedly told her the building had been used as slave storage prior to the Civil War, and they wanted assurance from Circa’s owners that it would never be used as that again.
An agreement was written up and is still on display in the wine cellar.
Six Pence Pub
If you’re in the mood for English pub fare, this is where many people go. Ghostly encounters aren’t usually a reason to stop by for a pint, but at Six Pence, you never drink alone.
Before it was Six Pence Pub, it was Wally’s Sixpence. The owners were originally from Manchester, England and loved to share time with other British expats in the pub.
The stories about the restaurant today follow the usual stories of strange happening in the kitchen and dining area. There’s speculation that when the owner’s of Wally’s sold it, they left a little piece of themselves behind.
The Olde Pink House
This restaurant is easily recognizable by its distinct pink exterior, but it’s what’s inside that intrigues some diners.
One night, a family with twin daughters was seated at a table. An employee watched as one little girl’s hair was lifted up as if someone was grabbing it. The girl screamed. When the employee ran over to check on her, she told him someone had touched her neck, but no one had been behind her.
There are plenty of other stories to be told about this building originally built as a home in 1771. The next time you visit you should ask your server about their experiences.
Tondee’s Tavern
Tondee’s doesn’t try to hide its ghosts. In fact, they have their own section of the restaurant’s website. One of the stories told is about a ghostly warning that likely saved some lives.
A fire broke out one night right outside Tondee’s. It was caught on surveillance video, but employees were unaware of it until one was woken from a cat nap up by an unseen hand. The fire, which had spread inside, was put out.
Betty Bombers
When you think of this all-America eatery located inside American Legion Post 135, you may expect to hear about the ghost of a World War II soldier left behind when it was the Chatham Artillery. This one is a bit more of a head-scratcher though.
Owner Seth Musler told me he isn’t a big believer in ghosts, but he can’t deny what he’s seen.
“There is a little girl in an old fashioned dress who walks up and down the [back] stairs there.”
Seth said he isn’t the only one who has witnessed this stairway specter. When he told a member of the America Legion about the ghost, Seth said the man just asked if it was the little girl.
Savannah is a city that hangs on to its history and sometimes that means dining with a ghost or two.
Circa 1875 48 Whitaker Street Savannah Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 6 - 10 p.m. Fri. and Sat. 6 - 11 p.m.
Six Pence Pub 245 Bull Street Savannah Hours: Mon. - Sun. 11 a.m. - Midnight
The Olde Pink House 23 Abercorn Street Savannah Hours: Mon. and Tues. 5 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Wed. and Thurs. 11 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. Fri. and Sat. 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Tondee's Tavern 7 East Bay Street Savannah Hours: Sun. - Thurs. 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Fri. and Sat. 11 a.m. - Midnight
Betty Bombers 1108 Bull Street Savannah Hours: Tues. - Sat. 11 am. - 9 p.m.
