Featured Image: Perry Lane Hotel
When it was time to form the concept of the Perry Lane Hotel in Savannah, developers decided to tell a story. They created a fictional Savannah native, Adelaide Harcourt, living in New York as a dancer and falling in love with the world through travel.
Walking through the hotel gives a glimpse of this muse, from the performance of a grand piano in the library to the collection of over 3,600 pieces of art throughout the hotel. The space is warm and slightly feminine with a taste of the cosmopolitan, a reflection of Adelaide, but also of Savannah, as any local will tell you.
The art pieces are whimsical and often like a keepsake. The items crowding the library shelves look like mementos of an interesting life. Andrea Locorini, Perry Lane’s Director of Marketing, sees symbolism in the creativity.
“A lot of our art represents travel and breaking free, so you see a lot of birds throughout the hotel,” she said.
The hotel’s signature restaurant, The Emporium, is designed to foster connectivity. It achieves that with an open space where diners can find a large, well-set table with friends or pull up a chair in a nook to get some reading time. While the restaurant began with a French concept, they are stepping into the idea of reflecting their Lowcountry roots, combined with international flair. The menu will soon be updated throughout the property, offering Southern fusion in the bar, restaurant, and catering spaces.
A city known for exceptional weather, Savannah’s hotels focus on rooftop experiences, and Perry Lane is no different. A short trip up an elevator gets you to Peregrin, which has incredible sunset views and a verdant garden conservatory. Behind the bar, liquor and glassware is nested in bird cages with green plants trailing vines over the backdrop. A floral mural stretches across the wall while gargoyles sit, gazing over any celebrations. The handcrafted cocktails are botanical, fresh, and ready to enjoy in spring with a dip in the adjacent pool.
“I find a lot of places, not just in the house, have greenhouses on the end of their homes and we went with that. We usually have fresh flowers and the mural has birds. The peacock represents growth and transformation, which is what you experience when you travel,” said Locorini.
The hotel is in two parts, with a driving lane and attentive valets dividing the buildings. On the left, near the river, is the check-in area, while the South Tower on the right is home to Wayward—a dark, moody lounge where talented bartenders create custom cocktails inspired by your favorite flavors. If you need a late-night snack, the popcorn machine offers a salty treat right as you come through the door, and there’s a game room (complete with Skee-ball) to further fuel the nostalgia.
“People will tell you that we have the best espresso martini in the city. We have a local collaboration with Savannah Bee where we’re going to be putting their hot honey in our drink,” said Locorini.
If you’re exploring the South Tower during the day, you’ll find a boutique ready to furnish your next outfit. Muse draws inspiration from the story of Adelaide Harcourt to bring her luxurious, international style to life.
Like the entire hotel, art covers the walls of the South Tower, making each hallway a museum experience. Just outside of the doors of Muse, a piece by Marcus Kenney is hung. “Exiled (in Reverse)” is made entirely of canceled checks, portraying a boy on a dock playing a trumpet with a flock of ducks flying into his instrument rather than away from his tunes.
A Southern belle from Savannah is always social, as the city is known for its numerous parties and active entertainment scene. Perry Lane couldn’t accurately reflect a story if they didn’t follow suit: monthly wine dinners, movie nights, tea services, a Benedetto guitar factory experience, and even reindeer on the roof during the holidays. And this spring, there are plans for a live peacock to strut around the space in the spring to match the wall mural. At Perry Lane, the creative events keep flowing right alongside the sweet tea.
Perry Lane creates an atmosphere that echoes Savannah: welcoming, curious, and ladylike with a sense of mischief. Conversation flows naturally as guests use the comfortable spaces to relax. With ample room, a convenient location, and above all, downtown parking, the Perry Lane Hotel is a fantastic way to experience the Hostess City as both a tourist and a local.
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