The Ultimate Guide to Downtown Savannah
Everything to know about living near The Helmsman, from museums and River Street to the restaurants, shops, and nightlife just steps from E Broughton Street.
Living at The Helmsman means living inside the largest National Historic Landmark District in the country, with cobblestone squares, River Street, and Broughton Street's shops and cafés all within an easy walk. Whether you're headed to class, to a downtown employer, or just out to explore, downtown Savannah is a neighborhood built for walking.
Here's a closer look at what's around The Helmsman: the arts and culture, the food and coffee, the shopping, the nightlife, and how to get around it all.
A Historic District built as a museum
Savannah's Historic District is often described as an open-air museum in its own right, and it's anchored by several institutions worth knowing about.
Telfair Museums
Spanning the Telfair Academy, Jepson Center, and Owens-Thomas House, with rotating exhibitions and free admission for all visitors on the first Friday of each month, 5-8pm.
Jepson Center for the Arts
A contemporary art space with interactive exhibits, free every Saturday for Chatham County residents.
SCAD Museum of Art
Contemporary art exhibitions on Turner Blvd, with free admission for Savannah-area residents on the second Sunday of every month.
Forsyth Park & the Historic Squares
Savannah's 22 public squares and Forsyth Park's fountain and walking paths anchor downtown's public art, festivals, and everyday street life.
River Street
The cobblestone riverfront promenade lined with galleries, shops, and views of cargo ships passing on the Savannah River.
A short walk to a lot of good food
Downtown Savannah's restaurant and coffee scene is dense enough that most nights, dinner is a walk rather than a drive.
Husk
A Southern-focused menu in a historic building at the heart of the district, known for its fried chicken and seasonal Southern classics.
Sorry Charlie's Oyster Bar
City Market. Fresh seafood and oysters, with seating on both the main floor and rooftop bar.
Zunzibar
A longtime downtown favorite for wings, sandwiches, and cocktails in a lively setting.
The Sentient Bean
A community coffeehouse at the edge of Forsyth Park, known for its vegan-friendly menu and rotating local art on the walls.
Foxy Loxy Cafe
A coffee shop, bakery, and Tex-Mex cantina in a restored Victorian home on Bull Street, with a courtyard for lingering over PERC coffee.
Broughton Street, right outside the door
The Helmsman sits right on E Broughton Street, downtown Savannah's main shopping corridor, mixing vintage and boutique shops in with national retailers.
Avalon Exchange
20 E Broughton St. A vintage and resale clothing shop with a rotating selection of men's, women's, and plus-size pieces.
Glory Days Vintage
3 E Broughton St, tucked behind The Copper Closet. Specializes in 70s, 80s, and 90s fashion.
Broughton Street Corridor
A few walkable blocks of boutiques, thrift shops, and national retailers, most within a 10-minute walk of The Helmsman.
Live music, trivia, and a good dive bar
Downtown Savannah's bars range from historic dive bars to rooftop lounges, most within an easy walk of home.
The Rail Pub
Known around town as "the city's favorite dive bar," a no-frills spot for a casual night out.
Savannah Taphouse
E Broughton St, blocks from The Helmsman. Hosts trivia nights on Tuesdays at 7:30pm.
Abe's on Lincoln
A longtime local dive bar with a free Open Mic Night every Monday, 9pm-1am.
The Wormhole
Rotates open mic, karaoke, and trivia nights in a relaxed neighborhood pub setting.
Walkable, and easy without a car
The Historic District is built on a walkable grid, and downtown Savannah's free transit options make it easy to go car-free.
On Foot
River Street, City Market, Forsyth Park, and most of downtown's restaurants and shops are within a short walk of The Helmsman.
SCAD Bee Line
SCAD's free shuttle connects downtown SCAD buildings, residence halls, and dining, with live tracking via the SCAD Bee Line app.
CAT Bus & Zero Fare
Chatham Area Transit's fixed routes reach the wider city, and Chatham County students ride free with a student ID.
Downtown dot Shuttle
A free shuttle loop connects the Historic District's main attractions, parking areas, and visitor sites.
Bike
Flat downtown streets and a SCAD Bike Share program make cycling a practical option for getting around the district.
Downtown Savannah, the essentials
The Helmsman sits inside the Historic District, within walking distance of Savannah's museums, galleries, restaurants, and River Street. The Telfair Museums, Jepson Center for the Arts, and SCAD Museum of Art are all close by, along with Forsyth Park, the Historic District's 22 public squares, and the shops and cafes along Broughton Street.
Downtown Savannah has a dense mix of restaurants and coffee shops within a short walk of The Helmsman. Husk offers a Southern-focused menu in the heart of the Historic District, Sorry Charlie's Oyster Bar in City Market serves fresh seafood with both a main floor and rooftop bar, and Zunzibar is a longtime favorite for wings and cocktails. The Sentient Bean, near Forsyth Park, is a community coffeehouse known for its rotating local art and laid-back atmosphere.
Yes. Downtown Savannah is built around the Historic District's 22 public squares and a grid of shaded, tree-lined streets, making it one of the most walkable neighborhoods in the country. The Helmsman sits on E Broughton Street, putting River Street, City Market, Forsyth Park, and most of downtown's restaurants and shops within an easy walk.
Yes. Beyond walking, SCAD's Bee Line shuttle connects downtown SCAD buildings at no cost, Chatham Area Transit's Zero Fare program lets Chatham County students ride CAT's fixed routes free with a student ID, and the free downtown dot shuttle loops connect the Historic District's main attractions and parking areas without a fare.
Broughton Street, just steps from The Helmsman, is downtown Savannah's main shopping corridor, mixing vintage and consignment shops like Avalon Exchange and Glory Days Vintage in with national retailers and local boutiques, all within about a 10-minute walk.
Yes. The Rail Pub is a longtime downtown dive bar, Savannah Taphouse on E Broughton St hosts trivia nights just blocks from The Helmsman, and Abe's on Lincoln and The Wormhole both host regular open mic and live music nights in the Historic District.
Make The Helmsman Your Home Base
Museums, River Street, restaurants, and a walkable Historic District are all within reach of E Broughton Street. Come see what home base could look like.
Tour The Helmsman