Bellwether House Savannah: A Historic Hotel

A charming bed and breakfast in the historic district of Savannah, Bellwether House blends southern hospitality with a rich history.

This post is sponsored by Bellwether House, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

No matter when you go, you’ll want to start here planning your trip with this Savannah, Georgia Overview.

With unique character and an inviting atmosphere, Bellwether House is located perfectly on a quiet street, and it is an ideal retreat for anyone visiting Savannah. You’ll find yourself torn between wanting to keep it your own little secret and telling everyone about the great inn you found in Georgia’s oldest city.

Bellwether is the perfect home base to begin your quest to try all of the best dishes in Coastal Georgia or to see how many Fall Events you can hit on one trip.

Located on East Gaston Street a little over a block from Forsyth Park with its iconic fountain, you’ll find the inn perfectly situated for visiting Savannah’s best historic destinations. There are 16 unique rooms and suites, making it easy to find accommodations that will fit your needs and budget.

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Highlights of a stay at Bellwether House include made-to-order breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening champagne (along with other cocktails). A fabulous perk, rare in the historic district, is free parking, and Bellwether also boasts their own in-house spa. Keep reading for all of the details.

As you can see from the pictures of the fountain, we stayed at Bellwether at Christmastime, and I can absolutely say without question that Christmas in Savannah is magical!

Whenever you visit a new place or somewhere you haven’t been in a while, we recommend a tour to get acquainted. This hop-on hop-off trolley tour is the perfect choice in Savannah. Afterwards, you’ll be prepared to choose what you want to go back and see in more detail.

The accolades

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has named Bellwether House a Historic Hotel of America, and it’s only one of 4 in the city of Savannah to have received this prestigious designation.

2024 was a banner year for Bellwether. In September, they were awarded a highly coveted Michelin Key. They’ve also been nominated as a “Best Hotel” by Travel & Leisure.

These awards give you confidence that you are about to make your reservations in a top notch hotel.

While you’re in Savannah… Tybee Island Tour from Savannah: 3 Ways to See the Island A. Tour and Dolphin Cruise B. Beach Day: All details handled for you C. Savannah Historic District + Tybee Private Tour.

The Inn

Originally built in 1876 as two adjoining townhouses, the architectural style of Bellwether House is Italianate. The entrances on the front are still separate, with the left side including the shared areas and guest rooms and the right side entirely dedicated to guest suites.

The common areas

The common areas include a parlor, two dining areas, a magnificently wide front porch, a rear porch and patio, and a small bar area. All are tastefully but comfortably designed to be elegant and cozy all at the same time.

The rooms and suites

At Bellwether, each luxurious room and suite is unique. The sizes range from a spacious 600 square feet to a cozy 150 square feet, but all are comfortable and tastefully decorated. Every room is for guests who are 21 years and up.

The spa and wellness center

A special feature that you won’t find in many (if any) other bed and breakfasts in Savannah is an onsite spa. Experiences available to be curated specially for you include a variety of massage treatments, facials, and private yoga sessions. A hot bath in the insulated soaking copper tub is a luxurious treat.

Ready to plan your trip to Savannah? Book your stay at Bellwether House now. Make Savannah the first stop on your Coastal Georgia Road Trip.

The Bellwether House Savannah location

The spot on a quiet street in Savannah’s historic district is absolutely ideal. It sits a little over a block from the northern edge of Forsyth Park, home to the well-photographed fountain.

There is so much within an easy walk of the hotel. You’ll want to check out all of the fun things to do in Savannah before planning your day.

If you have limitations on your ability to walk, or maybe you just want to get in as much as possible in your day we highly recommend the free Savannah DOT shuttle bus. There is a northbound stop on the east side of Forsyth Park on Drayton St. at Huntington, about 2 blocks from the inn.

Full details for making the most of the Savannah DOT shuttles in the linked article.

Breakfast, tea and cocktails

Breakfast is made to order every day, is served from 8 am to 10 and is included in your stay. The varied menu focuses on southern-style cooking with a spicy Indian twist.

Afternoon tea is a true highlight of any stay. I absolutely fell in love with the egret tea towers that are used to serve up a medley of treats to go with your tea or coffee.

Feel free to grab a cocktail anytime, but the bar officially kicks off its evening opening with a ceremonial sabering of the champagne. What fun!

When you’re ready to head out for the evening, consider bar-hopping at the best rooftop bars in Savannah. If beer is your thing, you’ll want to try to hit some of the best breweries in Savannah.

The history of Bellwether House

Built in 1876 as two attached townhomes, the first owners were cotton factor Henry Dresser and hardware store merchant Samuel Palmer. Both sides were sold several times but always used as residences. The only exception was that Dr. Henry Levington also used it for his medical practice beginning in the 1920s and until his death at Bellwether in 1956.

In 1993, it became a bed and breakfast for the first time. It was known as Gaston Gallery B&B because it also held an art gallery. In 2005, both sides became known as the Dresser & Palmer House.

2020 was the year Bellwether House was born and opened its doors to its first guest on Labor Day Weekend of 2021. For more details we invite you to visit the Bellwether House website.

If you’re really into history, you’ll want to dive into some books on the subject – check out this article on Books about Savannah, Georgia.

Don’t miss out on your preferred dates. Book your stay now.