Hotel Bardo will serve as the Southeast’s newest jewel when it opens in February 2024. The highly anticipated adaptive reuse project transforms a 19th century Southern Gothic structure sitting at the heart of Savannah’s Forsyth Park into Hotel Bardo Savannah—a timeless urban resort and private club focused on creating community and connection.
A new urban resort concept from New York City-based real estate development and hospitality firm, LEFT LANE, which specialises in the transformation of historic properties, Hotel Bardo Savannah is a magnetic cultural and social hub built on history, subtle modern-day rebellion and a lustrous future. The sprawling, two-acre resort houses 149-guest rooms—inclusive of 50 suites, coastal Italian restaurant, Saint Bibiana; holistic fitness and wellness spa, Saltgrass; kids program Camp Bardo; and a membership and social club Club Bardo. Within the next five years, LEFT LANE will expand the Bardo brand to high-growth secondary markets including Pittsburgh, PA and Providence, RI, among others.
“We’ve thoughtfully transformed one of Savannah’s most historic and treasured assets, bringing together the best creative talent spanning design, brand, food & beverage, wellness and programming to make the adventurous feel at home,” said Jon Kully, Managing Partner, LEFT LANE. “We are ready to provide something fresh for the city–a coming together of good company in incredible spaces with impeccable service and dynamic programming from sunup to sundown.”
Inside Hotel Bardo, all are encouraged to do just that—meander through the resort grounds and happen upon new discoveries at every turn. Upon arrival, guests are immediately locked into a sense of grandeur with the resort’s iconic park-facing front drive and lobby bar—The Green Room—named for the room in a theatre where performers relax when they are not on stage. A warm, living room-style arrival is anchored by a dramatic oval-shaped bar serving as an intimate, transitional space to start or end the day. Think cocktails like Spy vs. Spy (tequila, elderflower and celery) and Least of Your Worries (rum, kumquat and makrut) paired with the Salt Cod and Fried Capers Crostini and Black Truffle Arancini.
Past the lobby, guests get a glimpse of the heart of the resort. The oasis-like Courtyard surrounded by its intimate gardens, leads to an expansive 25-meter Bardo branded pool, inspired by the Mediterranean coast (complete with poolside cabanas). The Courtyard, the keeper of breezy mornings and sun kissed afternoons, can also play host to a wedding party the same evening. Step beyond The Courtyard into the pool with a shallow area for sharing drinks and conversation. The pool bar, Bar Bibi, offers an effortless Coastal Italian menu with bright salads, crudo and pizzettas from its exposed brick oven. Bibi cocktails include Passionfruit and Turmeric Mimosas, and the Spicy Green Margarita while groups can opt for Bibi’s Spritz Service—prosecco bottle service with Italian aperitivos and seasonal mixers.
Bar Bibi plays the cheeky younger sister role to Bardo’s marquee coastal Italian restaurant, Saint Bibiana–led by Executive Chef and Culinary Director Derek Simcik. Following its debut in September 2023, St. B transforms simple, high-integrity ingredients into awe-inspiring dishes like a Sicilian Arancini with saffron risotto and tomato stewed pork and Dover Sole Piccata with lemon, capers and Italian parsley. In February, St. B will introduce weekday breakfast and weekend brunch with must-orders like Executive Pastry Chef Kate’s Sigel’s Maritozzi, a traditional Roman brioche bun with whipped fillings including lemon, honey or pistachio cream. In March, The Cooking School will open, featuring interactive workshops and a guest chef series.
Hotel Bardo Savannah’s 149 guest rooms and suites evoke a quality of feeling. The guest rooms on the ground floor that flank the pool feature a series of outdoor living rooms with private gardens and direct pool access. Guests who prefer a different view, can book a suite upstairs with a park view, private Juliet balcony or more expansive terrace. Some suites offer chef’s kitchens and dedicated living rooms. The Family Suite, for example, features a dedicated dining area, king bedroom, ensuite bath with dressing area and grooming vanity, a separate bunk room with two twin beds and powder room. Bardo guest rooms have a subtle design sensibility with a thoughtful and clean palette of natural materials and textures used to create a feeling of warmth and serenity. Linens are Frette and amenities are custom to the resort by Corpus Naturals.
The design language of Hotel Bardo Savannah brings together old and new. LEFT LANE’s “riot clash” aesthetic mixes traditional styles seen in Savannah—like the hotel’s Victorian-Romanesque exterior—with the firm’s vision of contemporary expansion. This celebration of unresolved design evokes a feeling that the resort was built up over time. Community is even the focus on the walls of Bardo. Savannah muralist, Vanessa Platacis, brings her signature stencilling work in motifs of Savannah flora to the private member’s club walls and resort elevator lobbies. Contemporary Belgian sculptor William Sweetlove’s five bird sculptures sit on pedestals by pool and garden. Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) professor, Kelly Boehmer, leads the way up the stairs to Club Bardo with a playful installation depicting the Patron Saint of Hangover’s quest to cure a rowdy evening. SCAD graduate Libby Barret’s large-scale, panoramic painting sits in the main floor dining room.
The launch of Hotel Bardo also brings the debut of Saltgrass, a new holistic gym and wellness spa concept—home to grounding massages, restorative facials, and a dynamic athletics program. Facial treatments utilise CODAGE elixirs and serums across five signature facials, including one designed specifically for men. Body treatments span modalities with massages, wood therapy, and heat-based experiences tackling muscle recovery, enhanced circulation, and rehydrating the body. Bardo’s dedication to wellness extends beyond its indoor fitness facility with personal training and small group classes across the resort grounds and in Forsyth Park. Director of Fitness & Activities Cameron Scott will lead daily bootcamp/HIIT classes alongside a run club, pilates and yoga classes hosted by a rotating roster of the city’s best instructors. Italian Bone Broth, Farm Vegetables with Cannellini Bean Hummus and Protein Bites are just a few of the wellness-oriented refuel options available at Saltgrass.
The brand’s exclusive membership club, Club Bardo, will be unlike anything Savannah has seen. Members of the sophisticated and stylish club will have access to a private lounge above Saint Bibiana, preferred room rates, priority reservations, access to the pool and fitness facilities as well as perks like personal training and small group fitness. The Club will offer special events, personal shopping services, house car benefits, Camp Bardo, a kids club for children ages 5 to 12, and more. The Club Bardo menu includes juleps and punch bowls on the beverage side, and playful plates of caviar and chips, burgers, and of course, a club sandwich.
Even event spaces will be different—each with indoor/outdoor opportunities and flexible layouts. The Carriage House, which opens to its own Event Lawn, pays homage to the former mansion’s original use as a private home in the late 1800’s and has its own street-side entrance. The Ballroom, which opens to The Courtyard, will be 3,500 square feet of event space that can accommodate weddings and events up to 200 guests. Private dining rooms and high-design spaces are tucked across the grounds, and bookable for intimate gatherings and celebrations.
Hotel Bardo Savannah aims to celebrate the spirit of building community and connection with a dynamic and effortless guest experience, soon to become a neighbourhood clubhouse for those seeking discovery and adventure. The property is located at 700 Drayton Street in Savannah, GA. Rooms are expected to start at $450 (£353) per night.
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