The Olde Pink House, on the western side of Reynolds Square, was built in 1771 and is the oldest surviving mansion in all of Savannah. And, boy, is it pink. Pink as cotton candy.

The mansion was originally built for James Habersham, who committed suicide in the basement after discovering that his wife was having an affair with the architect. This being Savannah, Habersham’s ghost now wanders the halls of the house, which has been converted into one of the city’s best-loved restaurants. Most of the wait staff will claim to have encountered him at least once.

We didn’t see any apparitions during our dinner at the Pink House, but it’s certainly a suitable place for them. Each of the low-lit rooms in this multi-floor restaurant are decked out with original artwork and furniture, and the effect is spooky, especially at night. I felt transported back to the 18th century as we were led to our table, and after ordering I made sure to tour around the entire restaurant to admire the individual rooms (and to ghost-bust).

As fascinating as the history is, and as impressive the decor, the best thing about our experience at the Pink House was the food. Good lord. On a breathless recommendation from a friend, I tried the flounder, perfectly cooked and covered in a rich apricot sauce. It’s one of their specialties, and for good reason. Juergen had pecan crusted chicken breast. We both found collards on our plate — neither of us had tried them before, and after poking around and sniffing at them, we discovered that they’re surprisingly tasty.

The Planters Tavern is a popular bar on the bottom floor of the Pink House, where you’ll often find a jazz singer and pianist. It’s a cool spot to spend a late, relaxed evening. And if you see Habersham’s spirit in the seat next to you, do him a favor and act scared — it’s not easy being the ghost of a big, pink house.

Location on our Savannah Restaurant Map

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