Walking through the front door at Bellwether House in Savannah, Georgia is like walking back in time. The building was originally built in 1876 for two businessmen and started out as a pair of townhomes. It’s been many things over the last nearly 150 years, including a doctors office, and today it’s the most charming bed and breakfast in town run by Bellwether Hospitality.
The b&b sits pretty on a street lined in live oaks dripping in Spanish moss just a block away from Forsyth Park. The location is perfect – it is walkable to just about anywhere you may want to explore in town. But, if you aren’t up to a stroll, it’s also just a block or two from one of the trolley tour stops; purchase tickets then you can hop on and off all day long. Just be sure you’re back in time for tea.
Every afternoon from 3-5, Bellwether House offers complimentary tea and coffee, as well as delicious snacks. We’re talking petit fours, tea sandwiches, scones, and tea cakes, all house made of course. This was such a charming addition to our stay and something we looked forward to each afternoon. Often times when staying at a city hotel, it seems you spend all day off property. Afternoon tea gave us a special time each day to come back ‘home’, fuel up, relax, and enjoy the hotel. This light-drenched dining room is also where you’ll enjoy a complimentary breakfast each day from 8-noon (loooove a late breakfast availability). The menu is killer and includes things like eggs with house made sausage and milk bread toast, syrniki (Eastern European pancakes) served with pineapple chutney and Chantilly cream, shrimp and grits, tomato egg Bhurji, and golden oatmeal to name a few. Chef Ryan Whyte-Buck is cranking out some delicious dishes and if you love breakfast, like we did, be sure to have dinner down the street at Folklore, another spot under the Bellwether Hospitality umbrella, with Chef is at the helm.
There are 15 rooms at Bellwether House in a variety of configurations. We were in room 5 and it was lovely. The king bed was so comfortable and beloved that they offered one soft pillow and one firmer one; hotel pillows are often overlooked in our experience and it was really nice to have a choice. The bathroom was adorned in a stunning emerald green tile and the shower was so big (some rooms have claw foot tubs!). Our favorite part, though, was that the huge windows in our room opened up and you could walk through them to access the second floor balcony.
We were told that when the building was built there was a high tax on doors. So rather than spend extra, they installed these huge gorgeous windows and the ones you see here are original! We loved grabbing a coffee from downstairs, sitting on the balcony, and listening to the birds chirp while the city woke up each morning.
The balcony overlooks the backyard area where you’ll find loungers, tables where you can enjoy tea or breakfast, and fire pits for the cooler evenings. This is also where guests will enjoy a glass of champagne every evening, which is sabered open in a festive and ceremonial fashion that really made for a fun experience.
One of the rooms at Bellwether House has been converted into the spa area. You can book a massage, reiki, table Thai, or reflexology but be sure to add on a hot bath. The insulated copper tub is filled with the perfect 102 degree water, filled with essential oils and mineral bath salts and all your worries will soak away.
While the building is full of history, the b&b as been updated to feature every modern amenity you could hope for. It’s the perfect combination of history, charm, elegance and casual luxury and the team there is top notch. This beautiful porch is the longest in Savannah and isn’t it just begging you to come and sit a spell? We promise you won’t want to leave.
Compass and Twine was a welcomed guest of Bellwether House and thanks them for a wonderful stay. As always, all opinion are our own.
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