The Pirate’s House Restaurant: Where History and Haunts Meet Savannah’s Hospitality

Eating out for me has taken a different turn lately. I’ve discovered that after countless fine dining experiences and other restaurants that, aside from being great and unique, can be found in any city in any part of the world. In other words, they aren’t specific or impactful to the place I am visiting.  This time, I visited The Pirates House Restaurant in Savannah.

And, I’ll be even more honest with you: I’m not exactly a huge foodie so eating masterpieces by well-renowned chefs is certainly a fun thing to do, but it isn’t what I look for when I travel – especially to historic cities, in this case, Savannah.

Just like when I visited Boston and had the rare opportunity to eat in the oldest restaurant in the United States, I searched for Savannah’s restaurants in the same way.

And this is how I found The Pirates House – a World Famous Restaurant (it’s world-famous because it actually is a member of the International World Famous Restaurants organization – how exciting is this). The Pirates House is so much more than just a restaurant; the history of this place can write volumes upon volumes.

Location & Opening Hours

The Pirates House is located in the heart of Savannah, which is, you know, Georgia’s oldest city. The city has some spiritual hot spots sprinkled among its beautiful, well-kept streets. The exact address of Pirate House Restaurant is 20 East Broad Street, Savannah, GA 31401. It’s merely a short stroll from the Savannah River.

The restaurant remains open every single day of the week, so it doesn’t matter if you’re planning a weekend break or looking for a midweek adventure. The restaurant is open from 11 am to 9 pm, giving you plenty of time to enjoy a delicious meal and explore other nearby attractions.

Tour of The Pirates House Savannah

There are basically three things you can do at The Pirates House; one of them is not a known fact, and many people miss this awesome freebie that is offered to all guests.

1. Food

The restaurant claims to have one of the best Savannah and Southern-style buffets in the city. If you are a seafood lover, this place is perfect for you. They offer a wide range of seafood dishes, including, Savannah crab dip, shrimp & grits, Parmesan Tilapia with Jumbo Lump crab, Shrimp gumbo, and a lot of other dishes. But that’s not all! They also have options for vegetarians and meat lovers. Plus, their desserts, cocktails, and salads are to die for! And after having a taste, I can honestly say that is the truth. It was so delicious.

But they are also known for their Chatham Artillery Punch. The bartender, who has been working with The Pirates House for eons, is super proud of her mix, which is most true to the Chatham Artillery’s original recipe from the Civil War. (Watch the video below to get more fun info on it).

2. Museum (like)

The Pirates House is home to the oldest home in Georgia which is part of the restaurant. With Savannah having such strict laws about their historic buildings, the house is still fully intact like it first was built.

When the owners of the Pirates House bought the land and the buildings they had an incredible surprise. During the days of the Pirates, since Savannah was 160 feet above sea level and there was no easy way to get to the land other than to climb the cliffs, importers, and pirates built tunnels under the city to bring up the goods easier.

These tunnels have long been abandoned until The Pirates House started to do some renovating in other parts around the ‘Oldest House’ area. That’s when they discovered them. You can now see them on display.

Plus, below the restaurant is the Tavern, which has many legends of Piracy to the most horrible degrees – almost slavery – where they would get patrons so drunk that they would wake up hog-tied on a boat going to China.

The most famous legend of all was of a Savannah policeman who stopped by The Pirates’ House for a friendly drink and awoke on a four-masted schooner sailing to China, from where it took him two years to make his way back to Savannah.

3. Bonus – Freebie

While eating you will notice there are actual Pirates strolling around the restaurant. Well, these pirates, when asked, give free tours that are around 15 minutes long. (That’s how I actually learned all these cool facts that I’m telling you about). And this is all done for free. And the best part is that it’s so engaging and interesting that it’s great for all ages.

History of The Pirates House

• Savannah’s Pirates House is located in the Trustees Garden, the first experimental garden in America.
• When General Oglethorpe and his little band of colonists arrived from England in 1733, they came ashore in the vicinity of the present City Hall approximately seven blocks west of The Pirates’ House.
• There, they pitched their tents to found the City of Savannah.
• A suitable site of land was located on the eastern boundary of Oglethorpe’s city plan on which an experimental garden would be developed.
• The plot of land was dedicated as Trustees Garden in honor of Oglethorpe’s men whom he considered the Trustees of the new colony.
• The garden was modeled very closely after the Chelsea Botanical Garden in London.
• Botanists were sent from England to the four corners of the world to procure plants for the new project.
• From this garden were distributed the peach trees, which have since given Georgia and South Carolina a major commercial crop, and also the upland cotton, which later comprised the greater part of the world’s commerce.
• The small building adjoining the Pirates’ House was erected in 1734 and is said to be the oldest house in the State of Georgia.
• The building originally housed the gardener of the Trustees’ Garden.
• Around 1753, when Georgia had become firmly established, and the need for an experimental garden no longer existed, the site was developed as a residential section.
• Since Savannah had become a thriving seaport town, one of the first buildings constructed on the former garden site was naturally an Inn for visiting seamen.
• The Inn became a rendezvous of blood-thirsty pirates and sailors from the Seven Seas.
• The property was acquired by the Savannah Gas Company in 1948, and the buildings soon fell under the magic of Mrs. Hansell Hillyer, wife of the president of the company, who with great imagination and skill transformed the fascinating museum into its present use as a restaurant.

Fun Facts About The Pirates House Savannah

• There are stories of a tunnel extending from the Old Rum Cellar beneath the Captain’s Room to the river through which these men were carried, drugged, and unconscious, to pirate ships waiting in the harbor.
• Hanging on the walls in the Captain’s Room and The Treasure Room are frames containing pages from an early, very rare edition of the book Treasure Island.
• Savannah is mentioned numerous times in this classic by Robert Louis Stevenson.
• In fact, some of the action is supposed to have taken place in The Pirates’ House!
• The validity of The Pirates’ House has been recognized by The American Museum Society, which lists this historic tavern as a house museum.

Information for Visiting The Pirates House Savannah

Address: 20 East Broad Street | Savannah, GA 31401

Phone: (912) 233-5757

Hours:

Lunch Menu 11:00am-4:00pm

Southern Style Buffet 11:00am-3:00pm

Dinner Menu 4:00pm-9:30pm Fri-Sat 4:00pm-10:00pm

Conclusion – The Bottom Line!

After visiting this prestigious restaurant, it’s easy to see why The Pirates House is a must-visit for anyone in Savannah. Not only does it boast delicious food and drinks, but it also has a rich history that is deeply intertwined with the city’s past. From its origins as an experimental garden to its current status as a popular tourist attraction, The Pirates House has truly stood the test of time and continues to be a beloved spot for locals and visitors alike. I highly recommend adding Pirates House to your itinerary when planning a trip to Savannah!

Video Fun

Last Updated on June 27, 2025