When you walk down Savannah’s famous Riverside district, you might not notice the metal sign that reads Plant Riverside District.
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It’s a small marker that signals the threshold between the public Riverside and the rest of the area—which is owned and managed as part of the JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District. Though it’s still a public walkway, the shops, restaurants, and hotels that close off the north end of the district function as one multi-faceted property.
It’s a vast and complex property—one that includes three distinct hotels, three awesome rooftops, and nine eateries. There’s also a significant number of geodes involved, along with an exotic list of taxidermized animals from Africa’s many safaris… and even a chrome-dipped dinosaur skeleton.
Have I caught your interest yet? Consider this your short-and-sweet guide on what to do at JW Marriott Plant Riverside in Savannah. If you want to stay, I recommend booking directly with Marriott – you’ll get the best rate.
You can stay at the hotel, sip on cocktails on a rooftop, and ponder existence as you stare at geodes inside a repurposed coal power plant. (I don’t know if you’ve heard, but the hotel’s owner is William Kessler—a bit of a character in the hospitality world who’s known for its eclectic Kessler Collection brand.)
JW Marriott Plant Riverside: A three-in-one hotel
Again, to clarify: JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District is mainly a hotel. It’s simultaneously a JW Marriott project, part of the Kessler Collection, a AAA Four Diamond rating holder, and has a designation as a Historic Hotel.
The latter is thanks to the hotel’s original 1912 construction. It was built as a coal-fueled power plant. When you enter the main atrium-style building, you’ll see geodes, the famous Chrome-dipped dinosaur skeleton, and other design odes that track back to the Mesozoic era. The idea is that the geodes and dinosaurs that once roamed the earth would eventually become the coal that powers our modern world.
The power plant is fittingly called The Power Plant. It’s the largest portion of the hotel and is also home to meeting rooms. Because the Plant Riverside District is open to the public and has so many unique, museum-like artefacts, people filter through often.
But there are two other hotels you might not notice. The first is The Atlantic, which is decked out in a nautical theme and has the Compass Pool and Lounge. The second is Three Muses. Three Muses is further inside the Riverside promenade and has an elegant Renaissance-style setup. Some rooms also have balconies that face the promenade and the river.
A triple-threat rooftop setup
All together, the JW Marriott Plant Riverside District has twelve bars and restaurants. You can order dishes at all three locations listed below, but I’m giving them a separate section because they deserve a little more attention thanks to their rooftop views.
- Compass Rooftop Pool and Lounge (The Atlantic): You can access the Compass rooftop pool using one of the elevators in The Atlantic. There’s plenty of space to take a dip, then relax on a lounger or chair. You can also order food and small bites from the rooftop bar. It’s also accessible via ResortPass on select days, in case you want to enjoy the views and water but aren’t staying at the hotel.
- Myrtle and Rose (Three Muses): Both Myrtle and Rose, and Electric Moon (below), have their own dedicated elevators. I love that about the locations—you don’t need to walk through a hotel lobby, then find the elevator to get to the rooftop. Myrtle and Rose fit the Three Muses ambiance thanks to its chic and simple setup. I enjoyed the clams and both of their signature cocktails, which were refreshing. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy river views during the day.
- Electric Moon (The Power Plant): Electric Moon also has its own dedicated elevator. It’s more of a traditional nightclub—one that comes with two separate terraces, along with a lower-level deck that you can reach via a slide. Yes, a slide! There’s also a photobooth that my group used as we enjoyed our drinks. It straddles the line between a casual nightclub and a more upscale bar thanks to its elevated drinks and fine dining-style bites.
A long list of restaurants
There’s something for everyone when it comes to dining. Excluding the three spots listed above, here’s what you can find a stone’s throw from your room. Some restaurants are located on the Riverside promenade, while others are larger.
- Stone & Webster Chophouse: This restaurant delivers on great wine and prime steaks, plus all the fixings. You can even reserve a private room in The Power Plant’s unique defunct smokestack for a stellar date night.
- Savannah Tequila Co.: Want tequilas, tacos, and other Mexican fare? You can sip on world-class margaritas while taking your pick from a diverse list of tacos and other handheld fare.
- Baobab Lounge: If you’ve heard of the JW Plant Riverside District before, it might be thanks to the iconic Baobab Lounge. Using Kessler’s personal collection of taxidermized animals and a range of lush African décor, this bar feels like a movie set. You can even find African specialties on the drink and food menus.
- Graffito: Take a bite out of Italian classics like pizza, pasta, and more at this Neopolitan-style restaurant.
- District Seafood: Enjoy classic seafood dishes like hushpuppies and po’ boys at this casual outdoor eatery located right on the Riverside promenade.
- District Smokehouse: Like the restaurant above, this is a casual eatery located right in the middle of the promenade. You can order up brisket, beers, and other beloved BBQ fare.
- Riverside Burger: Keep it simple with a burger, tater tots, and other classic American dishes. Like the seafood restaurant and smokehouse, Riverside Burger is a casual outside spot.
- Riverside Biergarten: Looking for a specific type of beer? You can find it at the biergarten. In addition to craft beers, you can order up Bavarian favorites like pretzels.
- Turbine Market & Café: When you enter The Power Plant, head left—you’ll find the Turbine Market & Café past the grand piano. You can grab a casual bite there… and check out some of the preserved coal chutes that were once used during the site’s power plant era.
