City Market
4.6(9.6K)google
3.9(142)yelp
DowntownLocal LifeCraftMusic
Overview
Operating inside the historic heart since the early 1700s, this multi-block open-air pedestrian historic market marketplace serves as a buzzing artistic hub. Travelers can purchase handcrafted local sweetgrass baskets, visit working artist art studios, and enjoy live music below historic gas streetlamps.
Practical Info
Mon10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Tue10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Wed10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Thu10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Fri10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sat10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sun10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Suggested Duration2-3 hours
Best TimeThis historic four-block open-air pedestrian marketplace is highly vibrant year-round, but Friday and Saturday evenings from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM offer the unrivaled zenith of local street culture. The historic brick carriage houses-turned-art galleries and open-air bistros fully illuminate under cafe string lights; the air fills with the rich aroma of fresh Southern pralines and live outdoor jazz guitar performances, creating an electric, festive evening social block.
Getting TherePerfectly integrated into the absolute pedestrian core of historic Savannah at 219 W Bryan St, spanning the lanes between Ellis and Franklin Squares. The market area is strictly pedestrian-only; drivers should use the central I-16 East express city lanes and pull directly into the massive, automated paid Ellis Square Underground Garage flanking the market gates. For transit users, ride the free 'dot' shuttle loop to the Whittaker Street platform, just a 1-minute stroll away.
Travel Tips
- While vibrant during daylight, the open-air market perimeter experiences a notable increase in alcohol-fueled altercations and opportunistic pickpocketing after 23:00 near bar cluster boundaries; limit pedestrian tracking to evening windows.
- The pedestrian market district enforces the standard municipal open-container framework; leaving tavern thresholds with original glass bottles, aluminum packaging, or containers exceeding 16 ounces triggers immediate law enforcement citations.
- Private surface lots connected to the market square apply extreme premium dynamic event pricing during weekend nights; substitute them by parking inside the municipal multi-level garage structure located on Jefferson Street.
Reviews
Positive
- The commercial core of Savannah since the 18th century; the retro red-brick walls and open-air pedestrian lanes live up to fame, rich with authentic Southern lifestyle charm.
- Completely free to enter, the district gathers numerous excellent independent art studios, live music bars, and pizzerias, maximizing secondary entertainment space.
- Located in the heart of the Historic District, offering excellent public transit and trolley convenience; interior surfaces are flat with well-placed toilets and lounge seats.
- The staff and local artists exude creative inspiration and warm Southern enthusiasm; open-air crowd flow is well-ordered, yielding a comfortable safety vibe.
Heads up
- It completely sheds natural serenity; visitor density overloads severely on weekend nights with loud, tipsy crowds, making it noisy and unsuitable for quiet travelers.
- Commercial upselling pitches are widely visible; select artisan jewelry and souvenirs carry heavy commercial markups, making cost-efficiency subjective.
- Public restrooms outside the main plaza rows are sparse; heavy foot traffic causes delayed cleaning during rush hours, leading to overflowing bins and minor odors.
- Surrounding streets are tight one-way lanes, rendering driving convenience low; dedicated free parking is zero, and metered street rules are tedious.