Surrey to Savannah

On vacations, as in life, things are seldom perfect. After hours (days) of googling and researching, the hotel is just a bit noisy, the room is too small, the food is meh. But I can say with the utmost delight and surprise that our accommodations on a recent road trip to Savannah were perfect: the hotel, room, location, street, food and staff. I am referring to the Bellwether House, a luxury hotel living inside a historic 15-room bed and breakfast in the heart of the city.

Savannah, Georgia, is an easy seven-hour trip through Chattanooga and Atlanta, and January was a perfect time to visit with temperatures in the 70s.

The Hotel

In adjoining townhouses built in 1876, the Bellwether House has two wings accessible from multiple entrances. Our room, with a large porch connecting three other rooms, was accessible through two large “waltz out windows” that we flung open to and fro. After a quick text, the amazing staff had coffee waiting for us.

The Food

These days, BnBs (and Airbnbs) rarely, if ever, include breakfast. Maybe coffee and a pastry but seldom more. The Bellwether House is an exception.

Chef Ryan Whyte-Buck has designed a menu with Indian flavors and Southern cooking traditions that is so unique and beautiful it rivals brunch anywhere in town (except at his signature restaurant a few miles away, Folklore).

The first morning we had syrniki, three cottage-cheese-enhanced pancakes served with pineapple, kiwi, cream and syrup. It was accompanied by thick-cut, house-cured smoky bacon with a jaggery sugar glaze so good that we licked our plates. The next morning brought egg bhurji: eggs scrambled with spices and served with saag paneer atop a tender paratha (South Asian pancake). Add the bacon...divine!

Plus, enjoy the daily Champagne sabering. And the croissants sitting under glass at the bar? Take a few of those to go.