HOW TO SEE SAVANNAH AS A CONTEMPORARY MINIMALIST

Jepson Center for the Arts, Moshe Safdie

Savannah, Georgia’s oldest city is best known for its rich history, massive oak trees dripping with Spanish moss, and great comfort food. That is what most tourists seek when visiting the city. However, arriving contemporary minimalists will be pleasantly surprised by the many options that Savannah offers for their design and art preferences.

MUST-SEE CONTEMPORARY ART

If you like contemporary art, you must make a stop (or multiple stops as the school has a few locations throughout the city) at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Start with the downtown location that showcases student work both throughout the college hallways and in the adjacent and always-intriguing shop. Once you’ve gotten a little taste, head to the SCAD museum located near the bus terminal a few blocks away. The choices there will blow you away. During my visit, you could lose yourself in Chiharu Shiota’s red threaded maze, get mesmerized by the pulsating lines of Carlos Cruz Diez, admire the sparkly world of Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, take in the street art of José Parlá, and ponder the identity-based philosophical work of Hank Willis Thomas.

SCAD will satisfy even the most demanding contemporary art enthusiasts, but Savannah offers more. You just need to take a stroll through its picturesque squares to the Moshe Safdie-designed Jepson Center for the Arts. The building itself is worth a quick look and hosts many contemporary art shows. We were able to see the imaginative costumes and sound suits of Nick Cave, the monumental work of Anne Ferrer, and the “Bird Girl” statue that relocated to the Jepson from the Bonaventure Cemetery.

SAVANNAH’S MODERN FOODIE SCENE

Savannah offers an ever-growing range of options for the modern foodies and the restaurant décor is often as interesting as the food on your plate. Here are a few places worth checking out:

The Grey: the self described high-end retro restaurant located in the refurbished old bus station serves up a menu full of modern takes on Southern food; Atlantic: a place to go for great cocktails and comfort food that gives a nod to its international influences; The Collins Quarter: Australian-inspired coffee place that is also terrific for breakfast and brunch; and Leopold’s Ice Cream where the lines go out the door, and for good reason. Try it despite the more traditional décor! Head to Treylor Park for tasty sandwiches, tacos and flatbreads and be prepared to wait for a while, or go to Prohibition to try craft cocktails and yummy food in a nicely redesigned setting with old tin ceiling, leather bar stools with wood and metal accents. What’s not to like! Finally, stop by The Public Kitchen & Bar that has impressive craft beer, wine, and cocktail menu, burgers and po’ boys, best consumed upstairs on the spacious patio with a great view of one of many Savannah’s squares.

SAVANNAH HOTELS: SLEEP WELL WITH NO DOILIES IN SIGHT

If you are like me and look for hotels that are more on the minimal side, sleek side of design, you can now find good options in Savannah. I stayed at the Andaz that is both centrally located and has cute local art displayed throughout its modern and comfortable lobby. You can also try the Kimpton Brice with a great rooftop deck and nice views of the promenade and the river. 

FINALLY… A FEW TIPS FOR THE REGULAR TOURIST

Savannah has long and colorful history. Explore it and learn some important lessons by visiting the Telfair museum’s Owens House and Slave Headquarters. Take a stroll through the city’s 24 picturesque squares, take a peek at the beautiful Forsyth Park fountain or, if you don’t fancy walking, hop in a horse-drawn carriage and take one of the guided tours. Pick an evening one that will share a few ghost stories along the way… Make the quick trip to the storied Bonaventure Cemetery, made famous by the “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” book and the resting place of Savannah’s beloved son, songwriter Johnny Mercer. You will encounter plenty of the famous moss-covered trees along the way. Savannah, picture-perfect.