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Footsteps, voices, and moving objects remind visitors that while the Olde Pink House offers a glimpse into the past, some aspects of its bygone eras may continue to inhabit the present day. Patrons and staff have reported mysterious happenings and encounters with a ghost named James, believed to be the spirit of a worker from the early 1800s. Habersham had already amassed substantial wealth as a planter by the time he hired the architect William Jay to design his new Savannah estate.
The Olde Pink House Restaurant
At a time when Savannah society was flourishing, the Clay family used the house to host elegant soirees and entertainments befitting their station. The ornate brick and pink stucco edifice with its symmetrical layout exemplified the Georgian style then fashionable throughout the colonies. Arched windows flanked by columns, iron-railed balconies, and a signature white ornamental iron fence cast in Savannah all exuded an air of refinement. We specialize in memorable dining experiences ranging from a quaint table for 2 in the Planters Tavern "Wine Vault", to a party of 400 guests reserving the entire mansion. As Savannah’s food scene evolves, the number of restaurants that continue to dot the dining...
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“For anyone who wants to come back and see it exactly as it was before the fire, you’re going to have to wait a few weeks. We wanted to get our staff back to work, so there will be some finishing touches that aren’t in place,” said Jeffress. A baseboard that was installed 240 years ago- there’s a person who knows what to do with that, and luckily, we found that right person,” said General Manager Craig Jeffress.
THE OLDE PINK HOUSE IS ONE OF SAVANNAH'S MOST ICONIC & HISTORIC RESTAURANTS
When guests savor the cuisine, they take part in the continuing story of Southern food that fills this landmark with legacy. Through painstaking technique and time-honored family wisdom, the Olde Pink House kitchen channels history onto every plate. The kitchen fries the green tomatoes to perfection so diners can experience this Southern staple at its finest. The kitchen’s expertise with these Satisfying coastal classics comes through in every bite.
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Only two bars and the main floor will be open initially, but the general manager says more will follow in the weeks to come. Crisp fried green tomatoes offer another taste of regional delicacies transformed by the Olde Pink House into appetizing works of art. The menu draws deeply from traditions and recipes perfected in local kitchens across generations. During this period, the mansion was less a family home or even hotel—it now bustled daily with patrons conducting business transactions and employees obediently working in their offices. The banking offices situated upstairs in the former bedrooms, while the ornate dining and drawing rooms of the Clay family became the public-facing spaces for bank transactions.
The house glittered with candlelight while well-dressed gentlemen and ladies conversed over cards or music. Between the food, decor, and architecture, the senses pick up on the echoes of Georgian and antebellum life that still linger within the Olde Pink House. The basement Planters Tavern transports guests back to 1855, when it first opened as an underground bar and billiards hall frequented by Savannah's gentlemen. Patrons dine immersed in the architecture and atmosphere of 18th century Savannah brought to life by one of its earliest leading citizens.
Standing stately in Reynolds Square, the Olde Pink House restaurant inhabits one of Savannah's finest examples of Georgian-style architecture. The Olde Pink House’s pink color isn’t a new development – it’s been part of the restaurant’s signature décor for almost 100 years. But the story behind the color is more elaborate than just a standard paint job, so the story can't be explained without diving into the restaurant's history. The Olde Pink House is one of Savannah’s finest dining establishments, offering new Southern cuisine in a sophisticated, yet casual setting. The Olde Pink House is known for specialties like Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Bourbon Molasses, Crispy Scored Flounder with Apricot Shallot Sauce, and Corn Bread Fried Oysters. That’s what history deserves, that what’s the community deserves, and that’s what the many guests that are going to visit us in the future deserve,” said Jeffress.
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Sturdy counters and railings were installed while the original delicate interiors were hidden away behind the pragmatic trappings of a Gilded Age bank. The parties perfectly reflected the sophistication and gentility of Savannah's elite in that era. During Clay's tenure as mayor of Savannah from 1805 to 1806, he and his family took up residence in the mansion. As Savannah progressed into the 19th century, the stately Habersham house passed into the hands of prominent political leader Joseph Clay. The rich heritage woven into every detail remains palpable, both in the physical and perhaps the supernatural.
The room we were seated in was so dark we couldn’t read our menu without our flashlights on our phones. We asked for recommendations from our server, who suggested the flounder for an entree ... An almost-identical house was built in 1928[20] at 102 East Gaston Street,[21] just beyond the northeastern corner of Forsyth Park. If you need your guests to have an unforgettable experience, the Hayden Collective will deliver.
But the Clays upheld the home's refined atmosphere, using its grand spaces as the backdrop for some of Savannah's most memorable early 19th century social events. The food draws from regional tradition, but underneath the surface of fried green tomatoes and shrimp and grits lies a storied landmark that has watched over Savannah from Reynolds Square for nearly 250 years. Just as in 1771, the Olde Pink House remains a destination for those who seek to experience Georgian Savannah's splendor.
Stepping into the Olde Pink House today, patrons can embark on a culinary journey through Savannah's regional fare thanks to the restaurant’s meticulous attention to heritage Southern cuisine. The Olde Pink House transports modern patrons back through centuries of memories made within those walls. If only the walls could speak of Habersham's grand parties, the Clays' lively gatherings, or the bustle of Victorian bank tellers - all long gone but not forgotten.
The seafood choices connect back to Savannah's traditions as a port city that has long drawn bounty from the Atlantic. When renovations were complete, the Habersham-Clay house had emerged as the Olde Pink House restaurant. By the early 20th century, the aging but still-stately former Habersham mansion had passed through many uses and owners.
The war had taken its toll on Savannah, so operating the old house as a hotel provided much needed accommodations. The Habersham-Clay mansion led a utilitarian existence for many decades following Savannah's antebellum era. As the Civil War plunged the nation into chaos, the grand house transitioned into more practical uses aligned with tumultuous times. Its brick walls, burled wood accents, and dim atmosphere evoke 19th century revelry, likely not so different from when city leaders and planners would discuss business over cards and whiskey.
