Inside Savannah’s Colourful New Hotel Bardo

Urban resort meets clubhouse at the newly unveiled sprawling and picturesque Hotel Bardo Savannah. The 149-key hotel, which opened its doors last month, takes over a 19th-century southern gothic building on two acres just off Savannah’s iconic Forsyth Park for a colourful retreat inspired by the popular seaside resorts and glamourous hotels of the 1960s.

Created by New York real estate development and hospitality firm Left Lane, which specializes in historic revitalizations, Hotel Bardo also includes a private club, offering access to the stylish peach-coloured Club Bardo lounge, fitness facilities, and pool, as well as personal training, small group fitness classes, and discounts, among other perks. “We’ve thoughtfully transformed one of Savannah’s most historic and treasured assets, bringing together the best creative talent spanning design, brand, food and beverage, wellness, and programming to make the adventurous feel at home,” Left Lane managing partner Jon Kully says.

The hotel is designed in the “riot clash” aesthetic, a Wes Anderson-like style that blends traditional elements with a rebellious spirit in bright colours and playful textures. Nowhere is that more evident than at the pool facilities: under the shade of towering palm trees, the 25-metre pool is flanked by retro diagonal green-and-white-striped flooring and peach-and-white umbrellas. Nearby, in cheery sunset hues, Bar Bibi, the hotel’s pool bar, serves a coastal Italian menu and refreshing drinks.

The big sister restaurant of Bar Bibi, Saint Bibiana, named for the patron saint of hangovers, opened last September under the watchful eye of executive chef and culinary director Derek Simcik. Between the bright interiors and the garden, there’s room to seat 123, and a wide range of workshops, guest chef programs, and dinner events are run through the Saint Bibiana Cooking School.

The hotel’s 149 rooms vary depending on their location—ground floors may have private gardens and direct pool access, while upstairs rooms boast views of Forsyth Park, a Juliet balcony, or a large terrace—but all are spacious and stylish with contemporary furnishings and a palette of natural materials, greens, and whites. The 50 suites offer more elbow room, and some include seating areas and kitchens.

Though there’s no shortage of historic and cultural sights to see in Savannah, Hotel Bardo keeps a full schedule of activities for those wishing to lean into the resort aspect and never venture far from the grounds. Guests can participate in wine tastings, yoga, and pilates classes or stop by Saltgrass Spa to try its Overindulgence Club pop-up for a hydrating and optimizing IV drip. Upstairs, Club Bardo regularly has live music by a rotating roster of local musicians.  One of the most popular workshops is the Farmers Market Cooking Class, where aspiring culinary whizzes can take a tour of Forsyth Farmers Market and meet local vendors, learning how to prepare the produce they’ve collected.

Savannah’s thriving art and design scene, centred around Savannah College of Art and Design, is represented with work throughout the hotel. Local muralist Vanessa Platacis completed three installations spanning 1,300 square feet, using stencils of Savannah flora and spray paint. Five bird sculptures by notable surrealist Belgian artist William Sweetlove pepper the grounds, while elsewhere guests can admire the work of SCAD professor and textile artist Kelly Boehmer and SCAD graduate and painter Libby Barret.

The Savannah location will serve as the flagship for the new Hotel Bardo brand, with plans by Left Lane to expand to other U.S. cities, including , in the next five years. But for now, there’s plenty to enjoy in Savannah, where Hotel Bardo is raising the standards for urban resorts everywhere. “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 sun-up to sundown,” Kully says.