Savannah has no shortage of beautiful places to stay, but every once in a while, a hotel comes along that feels like a destination in its own right. Enter Hotel Bardo, a design-forward luxury resort set in a historic mansion overlooking the iconic Forsyth Park. Think old-world Southern charm meets the glamour of the Italian Riviera, with beautiful interiors, a dreamy pool, elevated dining, and all the little luxuries that make a getaway feel extra special.
Opened in February 2024 following an extensive transformation, Hotel Bardo is more than just a place to rest your head. It’s part boutique hotel, part private social club, and part Mediterranean-inspired escape in the heart of Savannah. And for anyone who appreciates architecture, interiors, and a hotel with a little personality, this one is worth adding to your travel list. I have wanted to stay here since it opened and this past October I had the chance, spending five days at the resort.
A Historic Savannah Mansion Gets a New Chapter
One of the most interesting things about Hotel Bardo is its history. The hotel occupies the former Forsyth Mansion, a grand Victorian-Romanesque residence built in 1888. With its distinctive red-brick exterior and imposing architectural presence, the building feels right at home among Savannah’s historic streets and moss-draped oak trees.
Over the years, the property has served several purposes, including a private residence, a funeral home, and eventually The Mansion on Forsyth Park, a hotel that operated until 2022. Rather than erase that history, the team behind Bardo chose to give the landmark a new life.
The historic facade remains a defining feature, while new additions and redesigned outdoor spaces bring the property into a completely different era. What I love about this concept is that it doesn’t try to make Savannah feel like somewhere else. Instead, it takes the city’s architectural heritage and gives it a fresh, unexpected twist. (Read our Savannah Travel Guide here)
The hotel’s design philosophy, described by its developers as “riot clash,” is all about combining styles and eras that don’t necessarily seem like an obvious match. Traditional Victorian-Romanesque architecture sits alongside contemporary artwork, playful furnishings, rich colors, and unexpected decorative details.
Inside, the atmosphere shifts from the stately grandeur you might expect from a historic Southern mansion to something much more relaxed and fashion-forward. There are warm, layered interiors, sculptural furniture, tactile materials, and carefully considered lighting that makes the spaces feel intimate rather than overly formal.
The inspiration also draws heavily from the golden age of European resort travel, particularly the glamorous seaside hotels of the Mediterranean. Picture the spirit of a summer on the Italian coast, translated into a historic Savannah setting. I especially love the way the property balances statement-making design with a sense of comfort. It feels polished without being stuffy, and luxurious without taking itself too seriously.
Understated Luxury and Thoughtful Details
With natural materials, warm textures, and a serene palette, the accommodations are designed to feel like a retreat from the bustle of the city.
The luxury is in the details. Beds are dressed in Frette linens, while custom Corpus Naturals bath amenities bring a considered, wellness-minded touch to the bathrooms. Rather than relying on excessive ornamentation, the rooms focus on comfort, quality, and an atmosphere that feels effortlessly chic.
Our room was a haven on the ground-floor offering a private garden area and lounges off of the pool.
For anyone who loves a hotel room that feels both beautiful and genuinely livable, these details are part of the appeal. It’s the kind of place where you can spend the morning exploring Savannah, return for a little downtime, and feel just as happy staying in for the evening. We did that on two days and it was pure bliss.
The Pool: A Little Slice of the Mediterranean
The Pool: A Little Slice of the MediterraneanIf there’s one feature that really captures Hotel Bardo’s resort-like atmosphere, it’s the pool.
Tucked behind the historic mansion, the outdoor area feels like a hidden oasis in the middle of the city. Lush gardens, cabanas, and thoughtfully designed lounging areas create a setting that feels far removed from the busy streets just outside the property.
The 25-meter pool takes its cues from Mediterranean coastal resorts, and the surrounding courtyard makes it easy to imagine spending an entire afternoon here. It’s the sort of space that encourages a slower pace: a leisurely swim, a few hours in the sunshine, and a cocktail enjoyed without any particular plans for the rest of the day.
Bar Bibi, the poolside bar, adds to the experience with coastal Italian-inspired food and drinks. Think fresh salads, crudo, pizzettas, and spritzes that feel especially appropriate on a warm Savannah afternoon.
The setting is also one of the hotel’s most compelling design contrasts. On one side, you have the historic brick mansion; on the other, a contemporary resort environment that feels more like a Mediterranean hideaway. Somehow, the two work beautifully together.
Dining at Saint Bibiana
A great hotel is about more than the room, and Hotel Bardo makes a strong case for lingering over a meal. We delighted in breakfast each day at the restaurant in the garden room, having the most lush vanilla bean Greek yogurts and omelettes. We also had one of our best dinners of the trip at Bardo’s restaurant.
Saint Bibiana, the property’s signature restaurant, brings coastal Italian cooking into the historic mansion. The concept feels perfectly aligned with the hotel’s overall aesthetic.
The menu draws inspiration from Italy’s coastal regions, with an emphasis on quality ingredients and dishes that balance familiar flavors with a more contemporary sensibility. It’s the sort of restaurant that works equally well for a special dinner or a leisurely meal that becomes the highlight of the day.
The restaurant’s interiors add another layer to the experience, pairing the hotel’s creative design approach with an atmosphere suited to long dinners and lingering conversations.
Wellness at Saltgrass Spa & Fitness
Wellness at Saltgrass Spa & FitnessFor those who like to build a little wellness into their travels, Hotel Bardo’s Saltgrass Spa & Fitness offers another reason to stay on property.
The wellness concept combines spa treatments with fitness programming, giving guests options whether they’re in the mood for a restorative afternoon or want to maintain their usual workout routine while away.
Treatments include massages and facials, while fitness offerings have included yoga, Pilates, running, and group training sessions. The hotel’s location beside Forsyth Park also makes it easy to incorporate a morning walk or outdoor workout into your stay.
I like that the wellness experience feels integrated into the larger resort concept rather than treated as an afterthought. You can spend the morning exploring Savannah on foot, return for a spa treatment, and then transition straight into a leisurely afternoon by the pool.
It’s a nice reminder that a luxury getaway doesn’t have to be packed with activities to feel special.
A Hotel That Feels Connected to Savannah
Perhaps the most compelling thing about Hotel Bardo is that it aims to be more than a beautiful place for visitors to stay. Its concept blends a luxury hotel with the energy of a neighborhood clubhouse, creating spaces where travelers and locals can gather around food, drinks, art, and events.
The private Club Bardo is part of that vision, while the property’s restaurants, courtyard, and social spaces give the hotel a lively atmosphere beyond the guest rooms.
Its location is another major plus. Sitting at 700 Drayton Street, directly beside Forsyth Park, the hotel puts guests in one of Savannah’s most picturesque settings. The park’s broad walking paths, mature trees, and historic surroundings make it an ideal starting point for exploring the city.
You can spend the morning wandering Savannah’s squares and historic streets, then return to the hotel for an afternoon that feels more like a resort vacation than a city break.
That combination is what makes Bardo stand out. It embraces the history and architecture that make Savannah so special, but it also feels contemporary, creative, and a little unexpected.
Our stay exceeded already very high expectations. The hotel truly delivers on every detail and I will definitely be returning. Is it a splurge? Absolutely, but in my view it is worth it, especially if you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve card, as booking with it comes with a number of perks such as: early check in and late check out, daily breakfast at the hotel’s grgeous restaurant, a $100 resort credit, a gift and a room upgrade.