The Gastonian

The Gastonian is the classic Savannah inn experience done at a high level: two adjoining Regency-Italianate mansions built in 1868 on East Gaston Street, joined into a single inn of 17 individually decorated rooms, on a quiet residential block a few minutes' walk from Forsyth Park. It is the kind of place the city is famous for — antique furnishings, fireplaces, high ceilings, tall windows and the sense of staying in a private home rather than a hotel. The inn has long been rated four-diamond and has appeared on Condé Nast Traveler lists of the world's best places to stay. The hospitality routine is the draw: a made-to-order gourmet breakfast each morning, afternoon wine and hors d'oeuvres, and evening dessert with coffee and cordials, with nightly turndown and a concierge who knows the city's restaurants. Free parking — genuinely rare in the historic district — removes one of the most common headaches of a Savannah stay. The Gastonian belongs to the Historic Inns of Savannah group alongside the Kehoe House (this guide's hotel entry), the Eliza Thompson House and the East Bay Inn, which passed to the {verdigreen} hotels company in 2025. Fit: couples above all, especially for anniversaries and romantic weekends; history lovers who want period rooms; and travelers who prefer a calm residential base near Forsyth Park to the bustle of the riverfront.

Location strategy: Gaston Street marks the southern end of the classic squares, so the inn sits between the grandest residential blocks of the historic district and Forsyth Park, two blocks west. Monterey and Calhoun squares, the Mercer Williams House and the cathedral are an easy walk north, and the restaurants of the southern district and the Starland area are nearby. River Street is about a mile away — a pleasant walk through the squares in the cool of the morning, and a short rideshare back at night.

Room strategy: rooms differ considerably in size, layout and bed type, so read the descriptions before booking; ask for a room with a fireplace for winter stays and a garden or street-view room with tall windows for the best light. Some rooms are on upper floors reached by grand but steep historic staircases, so travelers with mobility concerns should ask about ground-floor options. As in most historic inns, soundproofing is not modern, and children are generally better suited to the city's hotels. Book early for spring, October and holiday weekends, when the inn fills with returning guests and wedding parties.

Practicals: 220 East Gaston Street; free on-site parking; complimentary breakfast, afternoon wine and evening dessert included; AAA, AARP and military discounts offered; about twenty-five minutes from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. Rates sit in the inn sector's upper range, with good value once the inclusions and free parking are counted. Fit: romantic weekends, history lovers and Forsyth Park walkers — the Savannah inn as it is meant to be. Booking advice: the Gastonian is the inn to choose for an anniversary, a proposal or a first trip together, and the staff are used to helping with flowers, champagne or a restaurant reservation if asked ahead. Travelers deciding between the city's historic inns can think of it this way: the Kehoe House (this guide's entry) is grander and closer to the riverfront, the Eliza Thompson House sits on the prettiest street, and the Gastonian offers the most complete inclusions with free parking near Forsyth Park. Midweek winter stays are the best value, with fireplaces lit and the district at its calmest. Plan at least two nights so the evening wine, the morning breakfast and the walk to the park become part of the trip rather than a rushed check-in and check-out.