The Municipal Grand sits at number one out of 131 hotels in Savannah on TripAdvisor.

It has 44 rooms. It opened recently. It is not trying to be the biggest hotel in the city, and it shows — in the best possible way.

What it is trying to be is the best boutique hotel in Savannah's historic district. Based on what guests keep saying, it's managing that without much argument.

Here's what they're actually telling people.

The building

Before anyone checks in, they notice the space. The Municipal Grand is housed in the former municipal offices where Savannahians came for decades to pay their utility bills. That mid-century civic architecture is still very much present — the terrazzo floors, the tilework, the proportions of rooms built to last. One guest described the design and tile work retained from the building's history as genuinely cool. Another called the overall effect "the perfect balance of old and new."

This is not a building that was gutted and turned into something unrecognisable. The history is part of what you're staying in, and guests pick up on that immediately.

The rooms themselves get specific praise. Guests describe them as quiet, spacious, and thoughtfully put together — comfortable beds, gorgeous showers, in-room bars that draw their own compliments, and subtle nods to local culture woven into the decor. One guest said the design made them wish it were their actual home. Another called it a sanctuary.

The location

45 Abercorn Street puts you in the heart of Savannah's historic district with everything walkable. Guests write about stepping out of the hotel and immediately being in the city — the squares, the river, Leopold's Ice Cream nearby, the Telfair Museum, SCAD's Trustees Theater just around the corner, and the Lucas Theatre directly across the street.

Several reviews mention never needing a car for the entire stay. One guest wrote about being able to walk to restaurants, shops, and the riverfront without any effort at all. Another said the location made exploring Savannah feel like a natural extension of staying at the hotel rather than a separate exercise.

From the upper floors, guests get views that newer builds in the city simply cannot offer — rooftops, centuries-old church spires, cobblestone alleys, and the Spanish moss-draped oaks that define the Savannah skyline.

Three bars, each one different

Most hotels have a bar. The Municipal Grand has three, and each serves a different purpose.

The Municipal Bar occupies the lobby — art deco in feel, with a cocktail programme and food menu that guests describe in terms usually reserved for standalone restaurants. The burger comes up repeatedly, described by a guest who has lived in Savannah for sixteen years as the best in town. The same guest said the bar alone was worth stopping in, independent of staying at the hotel. Multiple guests describe eating there for brunch, lunch, happy hour, and dinner across the same stay. One put it plainly: "you could honestly stay on property all day and never get bored."

Downstairs, The Hot Eye is a basement bar with a speakeasy feel. Guests call it a funky surprise — the kind of place you end up staying in longer than planned. Several specifically flag it as a must-visit and recommend not leaving the hotel without going down there.

Above everything, the Sun Club rooftop pool has views across downtown Savannah that guests describe as some of the best in the city. One called it the finest poolside cocktail they had ever had. Another said the pool allowed them to mingle with other guests while taking in the downtown views — a proper reason to stay on the property rather than just sleep there.

The people

This is where boutique hotels either earn their keep or fall apart. A beautiful building with indifferent staff is just an expensive disappointment.

The reviews of the Municipal Grand are unusual in one specific way: guests name staff members. Not in passing — at length, and warmly. Yamila from housekeeping is described as someone who "made each day begin with a smile on her face and love in her heart and pride in her work." Candela at the front desk is called exceptional. Chris, Victoria, Lindsey, Robert, Candice, Chandler, Lucy, and Hannie all get name-checked in individual reviews by guests who clearly wanted specific people to receive credit.

General manager Franck Savoy responds personally to every review — not with templates, but with replies that reference what each guest actually said. That kind of attention does not happen without an operation that genuinely cares about the people staying there.

One guest summed it up simply: "the service is impeccable and the team makes you feel like you're home."

Why it sits at number one

A perfect TripAdvisor score across location, rooms, cleanliness, and service, from guests who travelled as couples, on girls' trips, for work, for weddings, and as solo visitors, is not a fluke. It is the result of a boutique hotel in Savannah doing exactly what a boutique hotel should — giving people a stay that feels considered, characterful, and genuinely rooted in the city it occupies.

One guest, after a girls' trip, wrote: "beautifully designed, impeccably run, unforgettable experience."

That about covers it.

Book your stay at the Municipal Grand