by lacy morris ~ photographs by robbie caponetto

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t r a v e l + c u l t u r e s o u t h e a s t i n s i d e r

street, savannah’s über-

popular shopping district.

the service

expect welcoming and

warm, with an enthusiasm

matched only at friday

night football games.

guests get the feeling that

the young staff actually

wants to be there. smiles

come at you from every

angle—from the bow-front,

lavender-and-pale gray

check-in desk to the door-

men in crisp seersucker

suits and checkered shirts.

it isn’t forced or cheap,

just pure southern hospi-

tality taking place where

it was born.

C h e C k I n

the BriceA sweet Southern belle gets a modern

makeover with swanky style

To sum iT up

adding funk to function.

601 east bay street,

savannah.

bricehotel.com;

rooms from $199

i n a m e T r o p o l i s T h aT has antebellum

charm and cheese grits to spare, Savannah has a

surprising lack of independent hotels in the middle

of the action. Welcome, The Brice, a spit-shined

Kimpton property that lives up to the brand’s

dedication to approachability and personalization.

Large floor-to-ceiling windows look out onto

Washington Square and Savannah’s historic

downtown, setting the scene for forthcoming

boutiques in one of the South’s most iconic cities.

oTher

hoTels

We love

five more savannah favorites

Hamilton-Turner Inn

a gracious and elegant

retreat with timeless

southern glamour.

hamilton-turnerinn

.com; rooms from $249

The Bohemian Hotel

Savannah Riverfront

laden with luxe details

and set along cobble-

stone streets. bohemian

hotelsavannah.com;

rooms from $260

the sleeping Quarters

outside the hotel’s wide

windows, it’s an overload

of antebellum charm

with moss-draped oaks,

colonial mansions, and

lively public squares, but

inside each room is a high-

class take on a modern

savannah. sink into large

four-poster beds with

luxurious, crisp white

bedding. Wing chairs with

neon piping, cheeky toss

pillows, and pops of color

bring a playful flair to a

muted palette of slate

gray—a nod to the building

blocks that are particular

to the city itself: savannah

gray brick.

the look & Feel

the original building has

been standing since the

1860s and has taken on

many faces throughout

the growth of savannah—

from a cotton warehouse

to a coca-cola bottling

plant. nowadays, the

hotel is sophisticated with

a touch of whimsy, all

while keeping its home

town in mind with bow-

tied staff, seersucker

robes you can take home

with you for $85, and fur-

niture pieces from local

stores 24e Design co. and

the Paris market, both

residents on broughton

From leFt: Pacci italian Kitchen + bar; the Premier King suite; fisherman’s cast iron stew

S C 1 2 | S o u T h e r n L i v i n g | o c T o B e r 2 0 1 4

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the Food & drink

Pacci italian Kitchen + bar, the on-site restaurant

headed by italian executive chef roberto

leoci, is a showpiece in itself. the black-and-

white color scheme is reminiscent of an old

farmhouse with clapboard walls and picnic-

style tablecloths. it’s simple, warm, and inviting,

with a clean and bright aesthetic that is help-

ing Pacci stand out from the sometimes

negative reputation of hotel lobby restaurants.

yes, locals actually come here for a night out.

Pull up a chair, and start with the tuscan

chicken liver Pâté, served in a mason jar with

crisp bread slices. the georgia caviar is a

simple dish, a polished composition of

house-made gemelli pasta and caviar

sourced from the state. the star performer,

both in presentation and sales, is the coca-

cola glazed short ribs, an interesting salute

to the building’s former inhabitants. the

meat perches atop a bed of forest mushroom

risotto, drizzled with cream and set off with a

sprinkle of Parmesan-reggiano.

the extras

take a stroll around the public squares of a

city that’s famed for its lack of open-container

laws with a cucumber collins from Pacci

to-go. the refreshing mix of hendrick’s gin,

muddled cucumbers, fresh lemon, and soda

is great refreshment while strolling on a

southern evening. every night of the week,

oT

he

rs

We

lo

ve The Gastonian

expect to receive

home-away-from-

home hospitality

in two renovated

mansions. gastonian

.com; rooms from $184

Mansion on

Forsyth Park

lavish, upscale charm

mixes contemporary

with classic. mansion

onforsythpark.com;

rooms from $189

S C 1 4 | S o u T h e r n L i v i n g | o c T o B e r 2 0 1 4

Reserve an Explore Del Webb stay at Sun City Hilton Head, The Haven,or Del Webb Charleston today.

It’s a time-honored tradition among Del Webb residents to try out your futurecommunity, meet the neighbors, and get afeel for the rhythm of life here. Join us fora 3-night stay in a fully furnished modelhome with your own golf cart and experiencethe magic of a Del Webb community justlike a resident. Call today for details.

*To participate in the Explore Del Webb program, you must stay 3or more nights at one of our Explore Del Webb homes. Taxes and

other applicable fees will apply. Guests must have a scheduled appointmentwith a sales associate prior to their visit. Guests must be age qualified and onlyone Explore Del Webb package available per household per year. You will alsoreceive a complimentary amenities passport while visiting to access The Resortand experience the lifestyle. Program subject to change at anytime without no-tice. Based on availability. Certain restrictions and blackout dates may apply.At least one resident must be 55 years of age or better, a limited number ofresidents may be younger, no one under 19 in permanent residence. Communityassociation fees required. The developer may change home design, materials,features, methods of construction and price without prior notice. Due to normalconstruction tolerances, square footage may vary. Golf facilities are privatelyowned and operated. Additional fees for golf required. Details available uponrequest. Complete conditions for the homeowners’ association are in a publicoffering statement available from Developer. Offered by Pulte Homes Corpora-tion doing business as Del Webb. Void where prohibited. Not an offer to CAstate residents and no offering can be made to such residents until an offeringplan is filed with the Applicable Attorney General. The CA Dept. of Real Estatehas not inspected, examined or qualified communities outside of CA. EffectiveAugust 1, 2014.

For more information on

Sun City Hilton Head or The Haven,call 1.800.978.9781

Homes from the $180s

For more information on Del WebbCharleston, call 800.541.3443

Homes from the $160s

You’re invited to

come test the waters.

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from 5 to 6 p.m., the brice pours compli-

mentary red and white wine. Just ask for

yours to-go. or sip a house bottled bourbon

& cola in the “secret garden,” a courtyard

evoking the at-home feel of a sunday picnic.

large reclining couches nest under wide-

spread umbrellas in the chalky gray that

carries the hotel’s decor. take the party

on two wheels riding beach cruiser bikes,

available to any guest with the pedal power.

the hotel is just blocks from river street, a

stretch of cobblestone along the savannah

river full of chic boutiques and breezy

cocktail bars. grab a coveted spot on a

waterfront bench and watch the boats

sail by.

From leFt: bookcases line the lobby at the brice; bow-tied staff; a bartender mixes up a savannah summer cocktail at Pacci italian Kitchen + bar

Galloway House

a quaint and quiet

experience tucked

away in a classic

savannah home. the

gallowayhouse.com;

rooms from $199

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