The 15 Best Coffee Shops In Savannah, Georgia

There are few southern destinations that are as quintessentially southern as Savannah, Georgia. Oozing with charm, it’s a pedestrian-friendly city for the entire family and one that can be a little more affordable than Charleston and a little tamer than New Orleans. 

As the oldest city in Georgia, Savannah is home to one of the largest Landmark Districts in the U.S. The district serves as the hub of downtown with 22 verdant city squares, cobblestone streets, and myriad 18th and 19th century monuments and buildings. But what locals (and other travelers) know is that the historic district is only the beginning. In midtown, a wave of young business owners, artists, and SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) students add a more colorful and lively atmosphere to this historic city.

In Savannah, there’s no shortage of cozy neighborhood coffee shops, welcoming in customers with frothy cappuccinos and friendly conversation. But while every local has their favorite corner spot, a standout selection of cafes and shops in the city are worth seeking out for expertly brewed cups of coffee, small bites, and warm service.

Below, Lowcountry Style and Living has rounded up a list of exceptional coffee shops across the city.

The List

Have a caffeine craving? Our list will help you get the best fix possible. Here are the best coffee shops in Savannah, Georgia (in no particular order).

1. Gallery Espresso

The oldest coffee shop in town is housed on a corner building from the 1850s facing Savannah’s popular and famous Chippewa Square (yes, the one from Forrest Gump).

Gallery Espresso looks like a “Bohemian” Central Perk from the TV show Friends. The coffee is delicious but its true appeal lies in the eclectic furnishings: slightly over-stuffed yet completely comfortable vintage sofas and velvet armchairs flourish in the central spaces, rotating art exhibitions decorate its walls and fireplaces, and individual tables lining the large windows allow for more weighty work or people watching the square’s spirited crowds.

On the coffee menu you can select from three unique blends, the Gallery Espresso House Blend (a dark French Roast) the Bull Street Blend (a medium French blend) or a flavored coffee of the day. While you won’t find an expansive menu like some of the other shops you can be sure your coffee will be freshly brewed and tasty.

They serve small bites of bagels, muffins, scones, salads, and sandwiches. Gallery Espresso also serves and sells Nivati Tea, which honors Native Americans and Native American artists.

In the evenings, the cafe serves wine and cheese boards as well, making it a great happy hour or post-dinner coffee spot.

The Gallery Espresso
234 Bull Street
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 233-5348
https://www.galleryespresso.com

2. The Paris Market and Brocante

Named the most beautiful coffee shop in Georgia by Architectural Digest, the Paris Market is a must-see on Broughton Street. Tucked amongst its various art books, handmade jewelry, flea market finds, and iconic window display, the cafe on the ground floor of the 1870s grocery store features a variety of coffee and espresso drinks, house-made sandwiches, fresh baked goods, wine, and champagne.

Try one of the French press coffees, an iced Nutella latte, a cardamom cold brew, or a lavender coconut latte.

There are a lot of macaron shops in Savannah, but The Paris Market Cafe serves easily the best macaron in the city. Crunchy, airy, authentic, textbook-perfect….as if they came from a patisserie in the sixth arrondissement of Paris.

Insider Tip: If you feel like lingering, there’s an exceptional selection of art books and unique high fashion and design magazines right around the corner inside the Paris Market Shop. Purchase your favorite then relax with your coffee drink and some macarons in the atmospheric cafe.

The Paris Market Cafe and Brocante
36 West Broughton Street
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 232-1500
https://www.theparismarket.com/

3. Foxy Loxy Cafe

How’s this for an unexpected mix: hip coffee shop, bakery, and….TexMex cafe.

The Foxy Loxy Cafe is a down-to-earth spot inside a house on Bull Street. Given the cafe’s proximity to several SCAD campus buildings the space generates some serious kinetic energy.

Try the Black Fox Cold Brew and pair it with a savory option from the kitchen menu. They even have tacos. The most popular drink – the Horchata Latte made with Mexican sweetened milk and espresso – is not to be missed.

The coffee shop is a SCAD favorite and filled with eclectic fashion and artwork. Foxy Loxy also regularly features live, intimate performances by local and regional artists. They also host campfires every Saturday night at dusk, a great time to transition from coffee to a local craft beer.

Foxy Loxy Cafe
1919 Bull Street
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 401-0543
https://www.foxyloxycafe.com/

4. The Collins Quarter

An Australian take on a Brooklyn coffee house in Savannah? Yes, please. The Collins Quarter is an extremely popular concept in the city. With a new location in Forsyth Park and an established popular downtown spot on Bull Street, this happening cafe is a place to see and be seen when it comes to brunch, curling up with a book, and lazy coffee breaks.

They have great food (it is a restaurant) but we really enjoyed their coffee. For a sweet treat (but not too sweet) try the signature spiced lavender mocha. But don’t sleep on the Madagascar vanilla latte or a traditional French press. Regulars especially like the Vietnamese coffee and the specialty affogato (coffee-based dessert).

If you prefer something cold try their Jumpstart Cold Brew. If you want a quick coffee to go, they also have a walk up window on Bay Street (Bull Street location).

Insider Tip: The decor is modern and welcoming. Fresh flowers everyday. If you are looking for a beautiful cafe to sit and lounge, this is a great spot.

The Collins Quarter
151 Bull Street or 621 Drayton Street
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 777-4147
https://www.thecollinsquarter.com/

5. Savannah Coffee Roasters

A local go-to, Savannah Coffee Roasters has been roasting their own beans since 1909.

The motto here is, “coffee is the best thing to douse the sunrise with,” and the large menu allows you to do just that. From traditional espresso to house favorite Shot in the Dark, brewed coffee with a double shot, a flat white, French press, chai latte, you name it. In addition, you can add flavoring to each drink for a small upcharge.

This is also a coffee shop to visit if you are looking for a delicious meal at a reasonable price. From brunch plates like Belgian Waffles and Eggs, to quick soups, salads, and sandwiches, Savannah Coffee Roasters has a great menu that will hit the spot at various times of day.

The cafe has spacious digs and its seating arrangements are great for working. There are tons of board games to check out. They also offer chess tournaments and high tea.

Savannah Coffee Roasters
215 West Liberty Street
Savannah, Ga 31401
(9120 352-2994
https://savannahcoffee.com/

6. The Sentient Bean

We thought that this was a perfect name for a coffee shop. Locally known as “The Bean,” this coffee shop is located across the street from the south end of Forsyth Park.

All coffee served at the Sentient Bean is 100% fair trade and roasted in small batches by Cafe Campesino. The milk used is from a small dairy farm in nearby Waynesboro, Georgia. Try drip coffee, iced coffee, a Shakeratto-espresso with sugar over ice, a frozen mocha or French vanilla latte.

“The Bean” serves frittatas, quiche, gluten-free personal pot pies made with sweet potato crust and stuffed with oyster mushrooms, butternut squash, bok, sesame and onions. Scrumptious!

Regulars love the vegan breakfast burrito and the fact that the bakery counter is always stocked with a variety of gluten free baked goods.

The Sentient Bean hosts regular events like open mic nights and comedy nights. Visiting this coffee shop is to engage in the most welcoming spirit of Savannah.

The Sentient Bean
13 East Park Avenue
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 232-4447
https://www.sentientbean.com/

7. Mirabelle Savannah

If you’re looking for beautiful Savannah scenery, Mirabelle is magical. Grab a seat outdoors, in front of the cafe, and watch the horse carriages and Olde Savannah Trolleys stroll by the magnificent Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.

The coffee program at Mirabelle’s is run by Stay Golden Roasters and searches for the most interesting beans to serve up innovative and delicious coffee.

This is one of the best coffee shops in Savannah to try unique daily coffee selections from Stay Golden. From Americanos, cortados, and lattes, to pour overs, housemade cold brews, and macchiatos there’s a wide variety of coffee on the menu.

In addition to coffee, Mirabelle prides itself on its authentic Belgian waffles coated with pearl sugar. These waffles can be eaten on their own or serve as a base for the waffle menu, which includes the Lemon Zinger. The Lemon Zinger is a waffle topped with lemon-lavender curd creme with housemade raspberry and cardamom jam. What a way to start the day!

Mirabelle has a few suites available above the cafe, decorated with southern charm.

Mirabelle Savannah
313 Abercorn Street
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 231-3936
http://mirabellesavannah.com

8. The Coffee Fox

This award-winning cafe in the middle of busy Broughton Street is known for its locally roasted PERC coffee and its extensive espresso menu. The Coffee Fox is a mainstay in downtown Savannah, serving pastries, cheese boards, craft beer, and wine in addition to their outstanding and creative coffee selections, which are comparable with the best coffee in Savannah.

With its heavily stickered murals, exposed brick walls, and open beam ceilings, the Coffee Fox has a hip Greenwich Village vibe. This plays into a major part of its appeal. Savannah is a city full of art students, connoisseurs, and hipsters and for them this is a regular stop.

If you’re looking for a craft coffee shop this is the place with a full espresso menu, pour overs, and more.

Try one of the signature coffees such as the Horchata Latte with Mexican sweetened milk and 2 shots of PERC juggernaut espresso, or the Espresso Tonic with tonic water, ice, and shots of espresso, or the Cold Fashioned with 2 shots of espresso, simple syrup, bitters, and a cherry.

The cafe also sells coffee to take home.

Insider Tip: Don’t miss their signature Foxy Blend (rich and sassy). It makes for a great souvenir or gift. The Coffee Fox is the sister location of Foxy Loxy.

The Coffee Fox
102 West Broughton Street
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 401-0399
https://www.thecoffeefox.com/

9. The Drayton

This diminutive, walk-up coffee bar in the back of The Drayton Hotel is a blink and you’ll miss its jewel. The Drayton Coffee Bar has no seats but it’s the ideal place to snag a quick coffee on the go as you get ready to explore Savannah.

This shoebox of a cafe serves excellent coffee and has a small but creative selection of baked goods. The baking menu changes often but make sure you try the root beer doughnuts if they are available.

Service is fast and there is no space to dawdle but this is one of the best places to get an espresso coffee in downtown Savannah that doesn’t sacrifice quality.

Coffee Bar at The Drayton Hotel
7 Drayton Street
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 662-8900
https://www.thedraytonhotel.com/

10. PERC Coffee

Established in 2010, PERC Coffee Roasters has provided seasonally sourced and locally roasted coffee to businesses all over Savannah and the Southeast creating custom blends for dedicated customers. (Foxy serves them exclusively.) They now have their own stand-alone industrial-chic cafe.

At the PERC Shop you will be able to try limited coffee and baked goods provided by Auspicious bakery.

You will be able to sample a large assortment of international coffees. From Drip Ethiopian kayon with blueberry and cocoa, to an Ethiopia Reko with mango and honey, to a Brazil Lagender with cherry and cocoa, a condor mocha, good times latte with lavender and habanero, sugar and espresso brew….the list is endless. The nitro cold brew is a highlight.

PERC Coffee
1802 East Broad Street
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 209-0025
https://perccoffee.com

11. Henny Penny Art Space & Cafe

This local coffee hotspot operates as an art museum and studio. On one side of this unique cafe, patrons order locally brewed coffees and pastries. On the other side Henny Penny offers specialty art classes for children and families who frequent this local artist cafe.

Henny Penny is located within the historic Savannah River Street District. This family-friendly shop consistently serves delicious coffee. It’s a great place to linger over a latte, though the seating is somewhat limited.

Inside Tip: The cafe serves up a classic turtle bar named Hello Dolly. It is a combination of graham cracker crust, milk chocolate, coconut, and pecans. Pair it with a simple black coffee for a special treat.

Henny Penny Art Space & Cafe
1514 Bull Street
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 328-5497
https://hennypennycafe.com/

12. Bitty & Beau’s Coffee

This coffee shop is completely staffed by employees who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. Their tagline is “not broken,” which proves 100% true once you meet these amazing baristas. Although it looks small from the front, the shop goes pretty far back offering plenty of seating. It’s located right behind the city market, making it a great location for a little break between sightseeing.

In addition to seasonal lattes, frappes, and various hot coffee drinks, they also have their own beans for sale. Great iced coffee and muffins. This “radically inclusive” cafe has locations in other cities, too, including Charleston, SC, and Annapolis, MD.

Insider Tip: Make sure you bring your credit card. In order for the baristas to focus on customer service and coffee brewing, this shop only accepts card payments.

Bitty & Beau’s Coffee
319 West Congress Street
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 358-7180
https://www.bittyandbeauscoffee.com/

13. Blends a Coffee Boutique

Blends is a recently opened coffee house that specializes in serving coffee from around the world. Want your coffee harvested in Africa? You got it. Craving a latte from South America? No problem. They hand select all coffees from different regions around the world and roast them locally here in Savannah.

When entering the shop to order coffee, you first choose your coffee bean – there are usually 6 coffees featured ready to be ground for a perfect cup of coffee. Choose your region from Guatemala, Columbia, Puerto Rico, Ethiopia, and Sumatra, then choose size and type: espresso to Americano to cappuccinos, lattes, and cold brews. Getting your caffeine fix has never been so customized.

There is a full breakfast menu served with build-your-own omelet, breakfast burrito, french toast, avocado toast, and more. Lunch options include wraps, paninis, soups, and salads.

Blends a Coffee Boutique
102 East Broughton Street
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 999-7134
http://www.blendsacoffeeboutique.com/

14. Vic’s Coffee Bar

Vic’s Coffee Bar is located on East River Street and is part of Vic’s On The River, an acclaimed restaurant that serves Southern classics from fried green tomatoes to shrimp and grits. (Vic’s made our list for best Romantic Restaurants in Savannah.) Enjoy a wide variety of coffee drinks in their Italian-style coffee bar.

The Cloud Nine is a standout, a beverage made by mixing Irish cream, hazelnut liquor, coffee liquor, and regular coffee. Coffee, alcohol, and desserts are all on the menu.

Vic’s Coffee Bar
15 East River Street
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 721-1000
https://www.vicsontheriver.com/coffee

15. Maté Factor

An absolutely beautiful tea and coffee shop that focuses on maté (a South American tea-like caffeine-rich infused drink) but also serves up excellent coffee and baked goods in an intimate wood-centric setting.

Maté Factor is a peaceful haven in the noisy Habersham neighborhood.

The two-story cafe has a mountain feel (the first location was opened in Colorado) with plenty of natural light and woody accents. It’s owned by the Twelve Tribes Spiritual Community.

This shop is known for a unique beverage called Yerba Maté, a South American tea brewed from a holly tree. It has a caffeine-like fix and it’s a drink that we had never had before. Try it out; it’s very different yet very satisfying.

Along with the Yerba maté, they also serve organic coffee and teas as well as muffins, danishes, and scones. Everything is sweetened with organic sweeteners like honey, agave, and maple syrup. You won’t find any white sugar on the menu.

Mate Factor
401 East Hall Street
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 236-2906
https://www.matefactor.cafe/

How did a shop make our list? 

There were a number of things we considered and each shop on the list met our criteria and provided a great experience.

Great Coffee

This sounds rather obvious, but what some shops had to offer left a bitter taste in our mouths. The type and quality of coffee beans a shop uses goes a long way in determining the end result. Production of superior coffee calls for fresh roasting and grinding and proper brewing expertise. Always check the coffee shop’s selections to know whether they use your favorite coffee beans.

However, don’t discount a shop offering unfamiliar beans. The coffee industry is always in a state of innovation and trying something new could actually expand your list of coffee drinks.

Appropriate Equipment

Though it’s possible to get an excellent latte or espresso from a generic coffee machine, all serious coffee shops (like those on our list) know the importance of investing in state of the art equipment. Quality equipment grinds coffee beans consistently to give you a superb cup of coffee.

Traffic

The number of customers that visit a given coffee shop can help tell if it is successful or not. Save for off hours (such as closing time) there should be a stream of people walking in and out. Steady traffic is an indication that the coffee is so great that customers keep coming back. We found that coffee shops that were short on customers served inferior coffee drinks.

Atmosphere

A good coffee shop offers a comfortable and welcoming setting. We encountered some dirty and messy shops and would never think of returning.

Some customers prefer leaving immediately after enjoying their coffee (or ordering to go) and others like sticking around. The coffee shops on our list all had areas with tables, comfortable chairs, and natural lighting.

Amiable and Knowledgeable Baristas

A barista’s work is not solely about making coffee. Questions about coffee tend to arise when you watch a barista in the course of preparation. Instead of leaving a coffee shop with more questions than answers a good barista will address all your queries. Should you have no idea about coffee beans, for example, the barista should enlighten you. The barista can even help you select a coffee if it’s your first time there. Of course, in a busy shop this might be brief but it should always be friendly. We visited some shops that hit most of the marks but had intimidating or downright rude baristas. But don’t worry, they didn’t make the list.

Convenience Features

Having a steady and strong internet connection and electrical outlets for charging are a must.

Food

Most people have a favorite snack or pastry that blends with their coffee. Excellent coffee shops don’t mind sourcing artisanal sandwiches and baked goods from local bakeries. Some even have bakers in-house. Every coffee shop on our list has food offerings.

Time Is Money

Queuing for a couple of minutes is a small price to pay when purchasing tasty coffee. However, waiting in line for extended periods of time can be exasperating. Quality and efficiency go hand in hand in a great coffee shop.

The best coffee shops in Savannah, Georgia, take a cup of “joe” to another level that huge coffee chains can’t match. The coffee shops on our list all bring more to the beverage than just cream and sugar. So if you are looking for a great coffee experience then Savannah is the place for you.