PERRY LANE,
WITH ITS glorious antebellum squares, vibrant riverfront nightlife and some of the most exciting new restaurants in the American South, Savannah has had plenty to tempt culture vultures — except a suitably hip hotel.
That’s all changed with the arrival of Perry Lane, a stylish hostelry whose relaxed elegance means that dressed-down locals in shorts and sandals are just as welcome in the rooftop bar as those in cocktail wear.
The hotel’s modern, slightly bland twin towers may look at odds with the surrounding architectural gems of Savannah’s central Historic District, but beyond the marble-tiled, antique-filled lobby inside, all is warmth and wit; look closely and the decor is eclectic and more than a little eccentric.
At the foot of the lifts, a pair of statues resembling an infant Donald Trump provide endless entertainment for guests to pose as they fancy, and there’s plenty more disruptive local art to amuse and entertain in the spacious guestrooms and corridors.
Room decor is elegant and understated, evoking apartment living rather than impersonal chain. There are sofas or leather banquettes on which to lounge as you watch the huge TV, while Frette linens dressing the enormous beds are a reminder that branded luxe is a keystone of Marriott’s Luxury Collection properties. Bathrooms are firmly rooted in the 21st century with their large, walk-in wet room-style showers.
With at least a dozen of the hottest restaurants within walking distance and bikes on offer for the few who prefer to venture further than strolling the historic streets and squares, the hotel gym seems somewhat redundant.
Unlike the library, equipped with sofas and an honesty bar; surely an essential in the city of the longeststanding New York Times best-seller — Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, the real-life murder mystery set in Savannah which put the city firmly on the map.
Among the historic attractions nearby, Temple Mickve Israel — one of America’s oldest and most beautiful shuls — is also just an eight-minute stroll from Perry Lane, making the hotel especially attractive for the observant. Founded by congregants from Bevis Marks, both they and any casual visitors will receive a warm “Shalom Y’all” whenever they drop in.
Now Savannah’s former no-go areas have regentrified, it’s also worth taking advantage of the hotel’s free limo service to visit further-flung restaurants like The Grey, in an old Greyhound bus station.
In the bad old days, chef Mashama Bailey would not even have been served at the lunch counter reserved for whites. Now, having honed her skills in France and New York, she holds a prestigious James Beard award for Best Chef in the Southeast, and a seat at her counter is the hottest ticket in town.
It would be hard for Perry Lane’s Emporium Kitchen to compete with an accolade like that, but its coffee counter is a morning delight, and the Peregrin Rooftop Bar beside the pool is currently the city’s most popular skyroom, serving barbecue as well as drinks.
RATES: Doubles from around £197, room only. perrylanehotel.com
ANTHEA GERRIE