The best coffee shops in Savannah are about as charming as they come. Like Savannah’s incredible restaurant scene, the coffee culture here in one of the South’s most hospitable cities is wonderful, both taste-wise and aesthetically.
From charming, artsy cafes to upscale artisanal espresso houses, there’s a come-hither ease to the city’s best cafes that make them worth doting over. If ever there was a city where lingering over a latte felt like fine art, Savannah, like Paris, would rank among the best places for it.
Ultimately, these super hip spots are serving up some of the best coffee in and around Savannah’s lush public squares– and some great breakfast options, too.
Below, we explore what makes the most celebrated local Savannah coffee shops so special– as well as what you should order where for the quintessential experience. Whether you like it hot, iced, cold brewed, or poured over, there’s something in this cute little town for everyone.
Read on for our run-down of the coolest, quaintest coffee shops in Savannah, Georgia– in no particular order. (They’re all great and super charming.) Hop to it, coffee gang!
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The Paris Market Cafe
We adore this charming, tres chic cafe inside Savannah’s loveliest europhilic design shop. The pecan squares alone are a stellar reason to visit The Paris Market Cafe— an intimate, unassuming, gorgeously-appointed cafe inside The Paris Market and Brocante shop.
The interiors here. moreover, are dazzling, if small. The cafe features comfy-chic plush velvet banquettes, marble bistro tables, and tasteful outdoor seating that’s ideal for people-watching. There’s a reason that Architectural Digest once called the cafe “The Most Beautiful Coffee Shop in Georgia”, after all. (^ Just LOOK at that beautiful wooden bar!)
The menu features coffee, tea, espresso drinks, wine, and Champagne, as well as baked goods and house-made sandwiches. And don’t even get us started on the kaleidoscope of delicious macarons!
(Weirdly, there are lots of macaron shops in Savannah– and two other dedicated macaron shops in the downtown area alone. The Paris Market Cafe, however, serves what are easily the best macarons in Savannah. They’re crunchy, airy, authentic, perfectly domed, and footed– executed with textbook prowess the way any true French patisserie should. Even if you don’t want to linger, they’re worth getting to-go.)
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Insider Tip
If you do feel like lingering, there’s a fabulous selection of art books and unique high fashion and design magazines right around the corner inside the Paris Market shop.
Purchase your favorite before curling up with an espresso, tea, champagne, and/or some macarons, and enjoy an aesthetically perfect afternoon. The seating area is limited but lovely.
The Coffee Fox
This award-winning cafe in the middle of bustling Broughton Street is known for its locally-roasted PERC coffee and prodigious espresso menu. The Coffee Fox is a staple of life in downtown Savannah, serving thoughtful pastries, cheese boards, craft beer, and wine in addition to their stylish coffee creations, which are synonymous with the best coffee in Savannah.
With its heavily stickered murals, exposed brick walls, and open-beam ceilings, The Coffee Fox has an overtly “indie” vibe. This is a huge part of the appeal. Savannah is a city full of art students, dapper architecture buffs, and aesthetes, and many of them stop here regularly. It’s a whole scene.
The Coffee Fox is also the originator of several beloved off-shoot cafes around the Savannah (among them: Henny Penny Cafe, Fox & Fig Cafe, and Foxy Loxy Cafe, all of which are detailed in this guide). They are the OG Savannah coffee house, the cafe that launched a thousand local fox-themed espresso shops. Once you’ve been here, moreover, you’ll start noticing their products and coffee everywhere.
Known for their delicious pour-overs and lovely lattes, the cafe also sells coffee to take home. Try their signature Foxy Blend (“Rich & Sassy!”). It makes a great Savannah souvenir.
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Insider Tip
Don’t miss the subtly unique offerings at this go-to Savannah coffee house. In addition to the craft coffee drinks, they also sell locally sourced sparkling spring water from Blue Springs in Hamilton, Georgia, as well as GA-made dry cider. Both are worth trying.
Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a super-unique coffee drink you won’t find anywhere else, try the signature Espresso Tonic, above shown.
This bright and crisp combination of tonic water + two shots of PERC Juggernaut Espresso is poured over ice and garnished with an orange rind. Don’t knock it ’til you try it! (Literally: do not knock it. To quote the cafe, “This drink explodes like Mentos + Diet Coke! Do not plunge your straw into this drink or stir it. Just sip and enjoy.”)
Beyond the novelty, it’s wild. I guarantee you’ve never had a coffee drink like this before! (…Unless, that is, you’ve been to Morning Glass Coffee in Honolulu.)
The Sentient Bean (Forsyth Park)
Location, location, location. The Sentient Bean has an amazing name and a prime location on the South end of Forsyth Park. This no-frills coffee shop is the perfect place to stop after exploring Savannah’s most beautiful green space or better yet– after visiting the weekly Saturday Farmers Market that takes place right across the street.
They also have live music and events during the weeknights and off-hours, when it feels like a real local dive. Otherwise, it can get pretty busy here during peak weekend coffee hours (~10 AM to 2 PM).
Above all, we love The Sentient Bean’s veg-focused artisanal foodie items like vegan persimmon pancakes (above shown) and gluten-free vegan personal pot pies, made with sweet potato crust and stuffed with oyster mushrooms, butternut squash, bok choy, sesame, and onions. So good!
Coffee-wise, try the classic espresso if you’re up for a real jolt. (Note that they serve fair-trade organic coffee!) Also, the iced chai here is incredible.
For a fresh weekend brunch option, look out for the weekly breakfast specials like a Farmer’s Market Brunch Bowl with broccoli, banana peppers, roasted rainbow carrots, and the Bean’s signature home fries.
Regulars also love the ginormous vegan breakfast burritos (the cafe serves breakfast all day) and the fact that their bakery counter is always stocked with a wide variety of pre-wrapped gluten-free quick breads and baked goods that are great for grab-and-go. It’s the ideal fast-casual option for coffee and a snack near the park.
As a frank Yelp reviewer once wrote, this is a “chill spot with tatted hipsters playing scrabble on a weekday.” You get the idea.
Henny Penny Art Space & Cafe
This charming craft-and-latte cafe is good for kids and adults. Henny Penny Art Space & Cafe is a quaint, eclectic Savannah coffee shop ideal for quirky art lovers and those who enjoy a good vegan chocolate chip cookie with their craft coffee.
In addition to their highly-Instagrammable art wall and kids’ craft coloring tables, the cafe sells vegan donuts baked fresh in-house every day. They also have a wide variety of seasonal baked goods and beverages– from Hot Spiced Apple Cider to Thanksgiving kolache to Christmas cookies to Iced Horchata Lattes in the summertime. Yum!
The menu here also features satisfying cafe staples like Cubano paninis, grilled cheese, biscuit sandwiches, and vegan cinnamon rolls. Even the homemade gluten-free energy bites (above shown) are artisanal and delicious.
Ultimately, families and those with kids love the child-friendly art space, craft coffee, and top-notch baked goods. It’s a great place to linger over a latte, though seating is slightly limited. They sell cute mugs and cafe paraphernalia, as well, which honors Savannah’s SCAD-inspired artsy-vibe.
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Insider Tip
For a unique treat, try the signature Hello Dolly Bar, a graham cracker layer cookie topped with sweetened condensed milk, chocolate, coconut and pecans.
Think of it as a Savannah coffee lover’s take on a classic turtle bar. For the full experience, pair with a simple black coffee. (The Dolly Bar is sweet enough on its own.)
The Collins Quarter
An Australian take on Brooklyn coffee house in Savannah? Yes, please. The Collins Quarter is an insanely popular concept in these parts. With a new location in Forsyth Park and an established popular Downtown spot on Bull Street, this bustling cafe is a place to see and be seen when it comes to brunch, basking over a book, and lazy coffee breaks.
They have GREAT food (we adore the signature runny egg avocado toast!) but we especially LOVE the coffee. For a sweet treat, try the signature spiced lavender mocha (above shown). Or, opt for something more traditional, like the darn-good French press.
Regulars also love the Vietnamese coffee, expertly mixed sweet Thai coffee, and the specialty affogato, as well. Ultimately, the cafe specializes in craft coffee drinks, but there is no better place in Savannah to dine with a plain hot coffee on the side. The fact that the restaurant has its own bespoke coffee bar is just a bonus.
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The decor here is intriguingly modern and welcoming. They bring in fresh flowers every day– you get the idea. If you’re looking for a lovely cafe in which to sit and lounge, this is your best bet.
Plus, The Collins Quarter Bull Street location sits in a beautiful, walkable part of downtown Savannah that’s perfect for people watching in between shopping or strolling the squares on a sunny day. It’s gorgeous!
Gallery Espresso
This amazing, homey coffee shop on Chippewa Square is super bohemian and open late. Gallery Espresso looks like Central Perk from the TV show Friends! Not only is it filled with mismatched antique furniture, plush vintage chairs, and crafty paintings, but the atmosphere is warm and the coffee is consistent. It’s a very inviting place.
The cafe stocks an array of gluten-free and large, diner-style baked goods– portions tend to be huge. Gallery Espresso also serves and sells Nuwati Tea, which honors Native Americans and Native American artists.
We love the stained glass windows, which add an element of nostalgic grace. Overall, this is a great place to meet a friend or hang out for long periods with a laptop or book.
In the evenings, the cafe serves wonderful wine and cheese boards, as well. As a result, it makes a great happy hour or post-dinner coffee spot. And did we mention it’s located near the famous Forrest Gump filming site? Savannah’s public squares are always worth exploring.
The Drayton
This tiny, tiny walkup coffee bar in the back of The Drayton Hotel is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it gem. Because it doesn’t have any seating, The Drayton Hotel Coffee Bar is the perfect place to grab a quick coffee on the go as you walk to brunch or prepare to explore the city’s charming streets.
The sleek shoebox of a cafe serves excellent coffee and a limited but always-on-point selection of baked goods, like peach brioche buns (above shown) and rootbeer doughnuts. (<– Yes, both of these are incredible.) The food selection here is seasonal, however, so the bakery menu changes often. Still, whatever they have available is sure to be intriguing. Pay attention!
Again, the service is fast and there’s no real space to linger. Make this your first stop if you’re get-lagged or in a rush. Ultimately, the Drayton is one of the best places to get a fast coffee in downtown Savannah without sacrificing quality.
Fox & Fig Cafe
The espresso bar at this popular planted-based cafe serves excellent single-origin PERC Coffee with various nut milks. They also sell delicious house-made chocolates and local gluten-free baked goods. Ultimately, we love Fox & Fig Cafe not just for the ridiculously good coffee, but for the magical, plant-filled decor and welcoming, artsy vibe.
The come-as-you-are cafe is popular with SCAD students, as the vibe is super hip and the prices are wallet-friendly.
Try their delicious Spiced Lavender Mocha, an Elderflower Espresso Tonic, or their specialty Masala Chai Latte. All milky drinks are made with Oatly oat milk. The cafe is a lovely place to sit and linger or walk around, if you take your coffee to-go.
With its somewhat secluded location on Habersham Street, Fox & Fig Cafe is also situated in one of the most beautiful parts of Savannah’s Victorian District. Strolling around here with a fresh coffee is delightful in any season. If you’re going to make the trip over here, be sure to explore the ‘hood.
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Insider Tip
No matter what you drink, you’ll definitely want to try the homemade Cookie Butter Truffles before you leave. (Trust me.) If it’s too early for chocolate (a subjective assessment, no doubt) then get one to go.
And if you’re also thinking about breakfast– my god, don’t hesitate. The seasonal vegan menu here is excellent!
Foxy Loxy Cafe
Foxy Loxy Cafe feels really “lived in” and down-to-earth. This amazing location inside a house on Bull Street (very near Savannah’s iconic Gingerbread House) is about as homey as it gets. We love their matcha lattes and rich, fudgy goat cheese brownies (above shown).
Mostly, however, we love the youthful energy here. Given the cafe’s proximity to several of SCAD‘s further afield campus buildings, the space palpates with the hustle-bustle of over-caffeinated college hipsters and local writers on deadline.
Try the Black Fox Cold Brew and pair it with a savory option from the kitchen menu. Choose from a wide assortment of cafe offerings, from cream cheese kolache to traditional Tex Mex. They even have tacos! And as with all Coffee Fox offshoots, there’s a great selection of vegan and gluten-free baked goods, as well.
Foxy Loxy also regularly features live, intimate performances by local and regional artists. (Again, it’s the quintessential college town vibe.)
For those who want an evening respite, they also host campfires every Saturday night at dusk. It’s a great time to transition from drinking coffee to drinking local craft beer!
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A few other unique local Savannah coffee gems.
TAD café at the SCAD Museum of Art
The SCAD Museum of Art has a cute shoebox coffee shop that’s part café, part art boutique. They sell gourmet coffee and snacks as well as creative gifts and art books related to the museum’s current exhibits. There’s limited seating, but it’s an engaging, whimsical respite on your way out of the museum. (Which is always worth a visit, especially if you’re an art-lover!)
They offer a limited selection of sandwiches, bowls (Asian salmon bowls, vegan bowls, etc), and desserts, too. I love the lemon poppyseed bread and pumpkin bread, when available. Look for it!
Mostly, however, this is just a fun place to stop if you need a coffee before moving on with your day.
Bitty & Beau’s Coffee
Socially-conscious Bitty & Beau’s coffee shop is staffed entirely by people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. The self-described “radically inclusive” cafe has locations in other cities, too, including Charleston, SC, Georgetown, DC, and Annapolis, MD. Each one is uniquely suited to serve its community.
In addition to seasonal flavored lattes, frappes, and various hot coffee drinks, they also have their own beans for sale. Go here for great iced coffee and tasty muffins, and leave more inspired than ever!
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Related: The 7 Best Breakfast + Brunch Spots in Savannah.
The 15 Best Restaurants in Savannah for Charming Southern Eats.
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