The Lowcountry's house drink: black tea brewed strong, sweetened heavily while still hot, then chilled and served over ice with a lemon wedge.
Sweet tea entered Southern cookbooks in the 1870s and has been the Lowcountry's default warm-weather drink ever since. The Savannah version is brewed strong (typically Luzianne or Lipton tea bags) and sweetened generously while still hot so the sugar dissolves completely. The drink is served at restaurants in mason jars or tall glasses, with refills standard and free. The unsweetened or half-and-half option is sometimes offered, but the full-sweet version is more common; the Mason-Dixon line is widely cited as a sweet-tea border. Crystal Beer Parlor, Mrs. Wilkes, and every Lowcountry-Southern menu in Savannah serves it.
4 editor picks for Sweet Tea in Savannah, ranked by editorial score. All Savannah signature dishes · Sweet Tea across every city.
Also in: Charlotte, Greenville, Knoxville.
Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room ★ 4.7
historic-district · 107 W Jones St, Savannah, GA 31401
Mrs. Wilkes has run from a Jones Street basement since 1943, Southern home cooking at ten-person communal tables Mon-Fri. Family-style daily-changing dishes.
The Olde Pink House ★ 4.6
historic-district · 23 Abercorn St, Savannah, GA 31401
An institution in the 1771 Habersham mansion on Reynolds Square, serving classic Southern menus in candle-lit upstairs rooms and a Planters Tavern basement.
Sisters of the New South ★ 4.6
eastside · 2605 Skidaway Rd, Savannah, GA 31404
Sisters of the New South on Skidaway runs cafeteria-style soul food with handed-down recipes. Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: oxtails, smothered.
Crystal Beer Parlor ★ 4.3
historic-district · 301 W Jones St, Savannah, GA 31401
Crystal Beer Parlor has run on the corner of Jones and Jefferson since 1933, red booths and dark wood under a long beer list. Burgers, fried green tomatoes.