Planning a trip to Savannah and eager to add a bit of souvenir (and/or gift) shopping to your to-do list… but not sure exactly what to buy in Savannah, GA?
You couldn’t pick a better city to browse in! Shopping in Savannah is an absolute delight, and my souvenirs from Savannah have been cherished for many years.
From traditional foods from Savannah to unexpected original art to classic decor and much more, there is no shortage of unique treasures to bring home from the Hostess City.
Here are the best things to buy in Savannah, GA!
Table of Contents
The Best Foodie Souvenirs From Savannah
Is it any surprise that about half this roundup of Savannah souvenirs is related to food?
As a fantastic foodie city with a distinct cuisine, food-related items are always on my personal list of things to buy in Savannah.
Here’s what to add to your list!
Pralines
Part cookie, part candy (or maybe it’s more accurate to say a cookie-shaped candy), pralines are a traditional sweet in Savannah (and New Orleans).
They’re also very easy to transport home with you!
Traditional pralines are made with milk, butter, sugar, and pecans, though can find versions with all kinds of twists and unique flavors around the city.
They make great Savannah souvenirs to bring home and are also excellent gifts. They’re Jeremy’s favorite gift when I visit Savannah without him!
That being said, nothing beats a still-warm, freshly-made praline, so be sure to sample at least one fresh praline from River Street Sweets and/or Savannah’s Candy Kitchen when visiting Savannah.
Local Honey
Now a rapidly expanding regional brand, Savannah Bee Company is a beloved hometown success story in Savannah, Georgia, and a must-visit when shopping for souvenirs and gifts from Savannah!
From incredible locally-made honeys to mead to just about any bee-adjacent product you can imagine (honeycomb, soap, lip balm, etc.), their stores are a treasure trove.
I’m partial to the original Tupelo Honey that was their first product, and the whipped honey that could better be described as a dessert, but they have lots to choose from.
And, with free honey samples on-site, you can try before you buy!
Locally Roasted Coffee Beans
Savannah is home to an excellent coffee culture, with a wide variety of shops to choose from.
Many of the best coffee shops in Savannah either roast their own beans or buy them from a local roaster, and locally roasted beans make for excellent souvenirs or gifts from Savannah.
A few popular roasters include Cup to Cup, Perc, Savannah Coffee Roasters, and Origin.
Cheese Straws
Imagine the best cheese cracker you’ve ever had… with a bit of spice at the back that only hits as you’re getting ready to swallow.
Those are cheese straws, and they are both delicious and a Savannah staple!
I’ll confess that when I saw the price tags on them on our latest trip, I immediately resolved to make them instead (this recipe from Southern Living is now on my list, you can opt for cayenne instead of paprika if you like spice as much as we do).
For those not inclined to bake, though, they’re definitely one of the best things to buy in Savannah, GA!
Byrd’s Famous Cookies
While they now have locations in South Carolina and Tennesse in addition to Georgia, Byrd’s Famous Cookies got their start right here in Savannah–and they are definitely worth a try!
Small and crisp, these are cookies that are difficult not to eat by the handful–and the stores offer samples to get you started.
There are lots of flavors to sample, but I’ve been partial to the Key Lime Coolers since childhood and highly recommend them!
Lowcountry Cookbook
If you want to bring the taste of Savannah home with you, consider adding a local cookbook to your Savannah shopping list!
There are lots of lesser-known cookbooks in Savannah with a limited or nonexistent online presence, so it’s worth browsing (especially if you’re interested in older/historic recipes).
A couple to consider include, but aren’t limited to, Mrs. Wilkes’ Boardinghouse Cookbook and Savannah Style (an old Junior League publication).
Luxurious Salt and Seasonings
Looking for an interesting foodie souvenir to add to your list of what to buy in Savannah?
Head to The Salt Table for luxurious salts, spice blends, vinegars, and more.
If you’re a creative cook (or an aspiring creative cook), it’s an excellent place to get inspired.
One downside is that The Salt Table currently has very limited hours: it’s only open on weekends as of the time of publishing this post. Check here before you visit!
Anything Peach
Georgia and peaches simply go together!
From peach preserves to jam to peach-flavored ice cream, the options are endless when shopping in Savannah.
If you happen to be visiting Savannah in peach season (mid-May through mid-August, though June and July are the literal sweet spot), don’t miss a chance to try a fresh, local peach!
Decor + Collectibles to Buy in Savannah
SCAD Art
The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is omnipresent in Savanah’s historic center, which means that there is plenty of opportunity to shop for student-created art!
Head to shopSCAD on Bull Street for a wide variety of options (and they have even more on their website, of course).
Other Original, Local Art
SCAD and Savannah may go hand-in-hand, but Savannah is an artistic city in general: even away from the college, there are endless opportunities to peruse original art for sale.
The Art Center at City Market is a convenient place to start, as they have a wide swath of galleries in a two-story building (and since it’s a tourist-centered area, you’ll find lots of art featuring Savannah itself here).
River Street’s Gallery209 also scratches a similar itch.
You’ll find galleries throughout the historic district and beyond, though, including many small, blink-and-you’ll-miss-them options!
Pineapple-Themed Decor
While pineapples aren’t quite as heavily associated with Savannah as they are with Charleston, they’re still a very popular symbol in Savannah (and throughout the South).
While pineapples aren’t commercially grown in Savannah and aren’t indigenous to the area, they became a status symbol starting in colonial times.
Like in Charleston, Savannah’s status as a port city meant that it saw more pineapples than many destinations did, and the association endures today.
Today, the pineapple in Savannah represents friendship and hospitality, and you can find pineapples included on everything from party napkins to handbags!
Miniature Bird Girl Statue
Originally sculpted in 1936 and intended for a garden, Savannah’s iconic Bird Girl called Bonaventure Cemetery home for decades.
In the 1990s, she was made wildly famous by adorning the cover of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and today, she’s something of a symbol of Savannah!
You can see the original statue inside the Telfair Museum today, and if you’d like to bring your own version home as a souvenir from Savannah, you can do that too.
General Home Decor
From antique shops to boutiques, home decor–a fair bit of it whimsical–is a very popular addition to any Savannah shopping list (for myself included).
Options abound for where to go, but one store is always bound to make the list: The Paris Market and Brocante.
Located on Broughton Street, this incredible store is easy to lose time in when you’re browsing! Be sure not to miss the basement while you’re there (it’s where I took the photo below).
More Cool Things to Buy in Savannah
The Book
At the top of this list, of course, is Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil… or what in Savannah is simply referred to as “The Book.”
Told in the form of a nonfiction novel, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a book that is practically synonymous with Savannah travel, and you’ll see it for sale absolutely everywhere in the city.
It features Savannah itself as a main character, which is a big part of the reason for its fame and enduring popularity in the Hostess City (and it was also subsequently made into a movie that spread its fame further).
Savannah Bananas Merch
The Savannah Bananas are a baseball team… but not like you think!
Known as the “Harlem Globetrotters of the South”, the Bananas are known for putting on whimsical, over-the-top shows of “banana ball”–complete with yellow uniforms, of course.
Whether you want to see a show or just pick up a quirky Savannah souvenir that is clearly associated with the city, a piece of Savannah Bananas merch is a fun way to remember your trip.
Easy Savannah Souvenirs to Shop for on a Budget
Looking for something small, budget-friendly, and easy to transport that you can bring home from Georgia?
These easy-to-find items might belong on your Savannah shopping list!
Magnets
A ubiquitous souvenir choice all over the world, Savannah-themed magnets are inexpensive, easy to find, and very simple to pack on your way home.
There is a huge variety of magnets for sale in shops around the city, so if you’d like to buy one, I’d recommend waiting until you see one that sticks out to you.
Mugs
Like magnets, mugs are a favorite souvenir from around the world: inexpensive, personal, and something that is easily incorporated into your daily life back home.
What better way is there to reminisce about your vacation than to be reminded of it every time you go to make a hot drink and pull your Savannah mug out of the cabinet?
Postcards
Postcards are the ultimate combination of inexpensive, easy to pack, and easily personalized, making them one of the best budget souvenirs from Savannah.
For extra personalization, consider filling it out with vacation memories during your trip and sending it home to yourself!
Christmas Ornaments
Christmas ornaments from around the world are one of our favorite souvenirs to collect, and you’ll find beautiful options in Savannah year-round!
(Though if you’re visiting Savannah in winter and can shop at the Savannah Christmas Market, you’ll have even better luck!).
You can find Christmas ornaments for sale in many boutiques around the city, but there are specialty Christmas stores that operate year-round, too.
A Coastal Christmas on River Street, where we took the below picture, is one great option.
Tips for Shopping in Savannah, GA
Head right to Broughton Street.
Broughton Street certainly isn’t the only place to go shopping in Savannah, but it’s absolutely worth your time!
As Savannah’s main shopping street, you’ll find many of the city’s most popular stores here, including The Paris Market, Savannah Bee Company, Byrd’s Famous Cookies, and Locally Made Savannah… just to name a few!
It’s also worth mentioning that the famous Leopold’s Ice Cream is located on Broughton Street too, and makes the perfect mid-shopping-trip snack (and if that snack isn’t enough and you need a frozen souvenir from Savannah, they do ship nationwide!).
Look for locally made souvenirs when you can.
Savannah is a city of artists and food, and because of that, there is an incredible amount of local artwork and food items for sale!
When you can, try to keep your Savannah shopping trips close to home. It’s good for the city and you’ll likely get higher-quality and more unique souvenirs out of it!
If you’re overwhelmed or not sure where to begin, Locally Made Savannah on Broughton is a fantastic place to start your shopping.
Have a plan for what to buy in Savannah before your trip.
You won’t need to stick to your plan exactly, of course–shopping spontaneously can be part of the fun of travel–but having a general idea of what you want to look for when shopping in Savannah can help add structure to your browsing.
In some cases, it can also help limit indecisiveness (for me, anyway)!
Note the trip and date of purchase on your Savannah souvenirs.
You may find it easy to remember when and where you purchased your beautiful souvenirs from Savannah now, but give it a decade or three, and you may be very glad you noted the place and year of purchase with the item!
We tend to write this information on the bottom of all the home decor pieces or Christmas ornaments we purchase around the world, and we love the tradition of it.
It’s also a great way to help bring old memories to the surface when decorating our Christmas tree each year!
Shop around before purchasing simple souvenirs.
When it comes to small, cheap items that are a dime a dozen near River Street, like inexpensive magnets, T-shirts, etc., be sure to visit a few shops before deciding what to buy in Savannah!
Many of these simple souvenirs are sold all over the place, but prices can vary.
It’s worth checking out at least a few shops to be sure you’re getting a reasonable deal.
Read More About Visiting Savannah & the South
Excited to keep planning your trip to Savannah… or even further afield?
If you found this Savannah souvenir guid helpful helpful, we’d love to continue to be part of your travel planning here on Our Escape Clause!
You can browse all our blog posts about the US South here, or check out these guides:
- The Perfect 3 Day Weekend in Savannah Itinerary (+ Travel Tips!)
- NOLA for Bookworms: Best Books About New Orleans + Coolest Bookstores
- 17 Gorgeous Places to Visit in Georgia
- 19 Charming Charleston Photo Spots (Perfect for Instagram!)
- 13 Cool Things to Do on Jekyll Island, GA
About Kate Storm
Kate is the founder and primary author of Our Escape Clause. Since 2016, she has been following her curiosity across the globe and turning her experiences into detailed trip planning advice for you. Her travels have taken her to 50+ countries, most regions of Italy, and most US states. After 4+ years of full-time travel, she enjoyed chapters calling Lisbon, New York City, and Texas home before deciding to base herself in North Carolina (between trips). She lives with her husband and business partner, Jeremy, their son, and their fluffy sidekick, Ranger.