If you can handle the pollen, there isn’t a better time to enjoy fresh air and a meal in Savannah than the Spring. The temperatures obviously cooperate in the Fall as well, but this time of the year, Savannah is in full bloom. Which makes it as picturesque as it does enjoyable to be outside for lunch or dinner.

We’ve got a ton of options in Savannah to enjoy the sunshine and good food. It would be impossible to list them all. Beginning with our rooftop venues. All of them are outdoors (duh)…but there are too many to list. Our favorites for food, however, would be Bar Julian at The Thompson, Peregrin at The Perry Lane, The Lost Square at The Alida and Myrtle and Rose at Plant Riverside District. Solid eats and views at all four.

Instead here, we are going to list some of our favorite options to enjoy lunch or dinner outside.

The Wyld Dock Bar

The Wyld is quintessential outdoor eating in Savannah. In fact, except for a smallish dining room off to the side, all of their seating is outdoors. The views are spectacular, especially at the right time of day. During the Summer when the tide is right, the boats are lined up for a pit stop of some food and drink. In fact, I had one boat owner tell me that in all of his years riding up and down the Georgia coast, The Wyld is the best ‘boating food’ you will find out there. Everything on the menu here is great. The fried shrimp are in the discussion for Savannah’s best. The burgers are delicious as well. Casual vibe, casual eats…but they are very good at The Wyld.

Desposito’s Seafood or Flying Fish Bar and Grill

You get an ‘either or’ here because these spots are similar and both incredibly popular with locals. Desposito’s sits tucked away under the Thunderbolt bridge and offers the better proximity to the water. Flying Fish on the other hand sits directly on the highway out to the beach on Tybee Island. The views aren’t great, but the food is. Desposito’s Seafood features an outdoor bar area with plenty of seating and televisions of you are interested in keeping an eye on a ball game. Ask 100 locals which they prefer, you might get a 50/50 split or at the very least a 60/40 split in opinions for one reason or another. So they both get a mention here.

Finches Sandwiches and Sundries – Thunderbolt, GA

The claim to fame at Finches when they first opened (besides great food) was the fact that they were far removed-about 3 miles or so-from the heart of Downtown Savannah. There was space to move about, there was parking, there was a comfort level with the neighborhood. Finches was a quality hang away from the congestion of the heart of town. The good news is, it still is all of those things, even if their rise in popularity has made parking a bit of a challenge at peak times. The ladies who own it have created a beautiful colorful oasis right in the middle-very literally-of a residential neighborhood. The space was a gas station once upon a moon and they’ve embraced every detail to create a wonderful and very kid friendly outdoor space to enjoy year round. The grilled cheese might be Savannah’s best. True story.

The Collins Quarter – 2 locations in Downtown Savannah

I consider The Collins Quarter to be at the top of a number of categories in Savannah. Most people would put them at the top of Savannah’s Brunch scene. A lot of people would include them at the top of any restaurant’s coffee program. Meanwhile, just as important for this listing, it is also at the top of any list of places for great people watching. CQ fits the bill all the way around.

Their original location at Bull Streets and Oglethorpe in the heart of downtown opened in 2014 and revolutionized the brunch scene in Savannah. There are options for any diet, there are coffees for any desire. The food is all great. The vibe is about as ‘big city’ as Savannah gets at times. Mid week, you are just as likely to see a student having a ‘coffee’ with a friend as you are a business person catching up on emails before heading back out into the world. On the weekends, you need to allow yourself some time. It’s jammed. Their 2nd location in Forsyth Park is almost as popular. You can probably get a table a little easier because it is a larger restaurant, but then again, more people flock to the park because parking is generally easier. Pick your poison. Either way, you win.

Urban Deli -Troup Square

Urban Deli is newish to downtown Savannah, but it is exceptional. We are including them on this list because, while most of their seating is indoors, there are some tables outside with one of the best views in the city. Troup Square is 100 feet away and it is beautiful. In fact, it’s the only location on our list that looks out on Savannah’s famed squares. This one is special. The square also has a nickname, the “Jingle Bells” square. The popular Christmas tune was written at a church across the street from Urban Deli. A plaque in the square tells you all about it. The food? Sandwiches and salads for every diet. Vegan, gluten free and more. I have yet to have a sandwich from Urban Deli that I didn’t immediately think was among the best in town. Legit eats here.

Wexford Pub -City Market

Wexford Pub is one of Savannah’s shiny new pennies. Opened in Summer of 2024, it is a 14,000 square foot restaurant that doubles as a museum that tells the story of Savannah’s connection to Ireland and its significant Irish heritage. Wexford sits at the foot of City Market in the heart of town, facing the very popular Ellis Square. They fit a lot of seats in that 14,000 square feet, but they also have roughly 100 seats outside as well with live music every day. They’ve not even been open a year, but there will be a time when Wexford Pub becomes synonymous with Savannah. It’s a must see. Standard pub fare here and it is all good. The pot roast and the Irish Mac and Cheese are the stars in our book. That mac and cheese is the stuff legends are made of, as the photo below reflects.

Vinnie Van GoGo’s Pizza -City Market

At the other end of City Market, is Savannah’s OG for pizza, Vinnie Van GoGo’s. After all these years, it is still the most popular pie in town. The best? Depends on who you ask, but “Vinnies” still gets plenty of votes with the local crowd and for good reason. It’s a throwback. In an age when Savannah has grown up all around us featuring menu items that are impossible to pronounce and cocktails that take 15 minutes to prepare, a lot of people prefer the laid back grungy vibe of a solid pizza and a PBR while watching tourists go by. Vinnie’s is very much a draw, however, because the pizza is good. Dare we say you will eat it and like it.

Other spots worthy of mention include: Sixby, Brochu’s Family Tradition, Starland Yard or Zunzibar.

On Tybee Island: Sea Wolf, North Beach Grill, AJs and The Deck get our votes. Look ’em up.

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