There are plenty of places to shop in Savannah, but there is something about the little stretch of Whitaker Street known as Savannah’s Design District that just gets me every time.

Maybe it’s because it combines so many of my favorite things in one place—beautiful interiors, independent boutiques, flowers, fashion, coffee, old buildings, good design and, of course, Savannah’s ridiculously pretty streets.

But if I had to describe this area of downtown in one sentence, it would be:

It feels a little like walking through a real-life issue of Southern Living magazine.

You can start your morning with a coffee, wander into a home store and leave completely inspired to redo a room in your house, pop into a clothing boutique, walk past a gorgeous flower shop, and somehow find yourself standing under an oak tree on Jones Street a few minutes later.

It's very Savannah.

And it can easily get overlooked when you're planning your first trip. So, consider this my little nudge to add an afternoon of wandering Whitaker Street to your Savannah itinerary.

Savannah's Design District

Savannah's Downtown Design District is tucked into the southern end of the Historic District, with many of its shops clustered along Whitaker Street around Jones and Taylor Streets. The area has been growing as a shopping and design destination for more than two decades, with locally owned boutiques, interior shops and creative businesses giving this little pocket of downtown its own personality.

And while I love a good shopping list, this is definitely not an area where I would map out every stop and rush from one to the next.

The whole point is to wander.

Wear comfortable shoes, give yourself a few hours to explore and don't forget to look up from the storefronts every once in a while. Honestly, the walk is half the fun.

Where to Start

If I were planning the perfect Design District morning, I would start at Asher + Rye. It sits right at the corner of Whitaker and Jones, and it is basically all of my favorite things wrapped up into one very pretty space.

Part home store, part design studio, part café, part garden. It's one of those places where I could happily linger for far too long. There are beautiful pieces for the home, furniture, lighting, tabletop, gifts, clothing and all of those little things you didn't know you needed until you saw them sitting perfectly styled on a shelf. There's also a café, so naturally, we're getting coffee before we shop.

This is also where the whole Southern Living feeling really starts for me.

Grab a latte. Walk around the shop. Sit in the courtyard for a minute. And then head out to explore Whitaker Street.

Madison on 5th

Madison and 5th is a luxury designer consignment shop tucked right into Savannah's Design District, and walking through the doors feels a little like joining a secret society of fashion lovers.

You'll find pre-loved designer clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories from names you know and love, but because it's consignment, you never really know what might be waiting for you.

Darling Lemon

Darling Lemonis a paper lover's dream.

This sweet little paperie and design shop is filled with beautifully illustrated stationery, greeting cards, art prints, notebooks, linens and gifts, many featuring founder Ksenia Phillips' own hand-painted designs.

It's colorful and whimsical and just feels happy inside.

Hannah E.

Hannah E. feels like a little lesson in true Savannah style. It is effortless and polished, with just enough personality to make it interesting.

After more than a decade as a personal stylist and shopper, Hannah has built the boutique around the idea that your wardrobe should feel personal, creative and actually wearable. Her style mixes simplicity and minimalism with pieces that still feel bold and current.

It's the kind of shop that inspires you to play with what you wear, try something you might not normally reach for, and somehow leave wanting to reinvent your entire wardrobe, but still feeling completely like yourself.

Paris Laundry

Paris Laundry is one of those shops that makes you want to completely revamp your self-care routine the second you walk through the door.

Founded by a fellow breast cancer survivor who turned her own journey into purpose, Paris Laundry is all about helping women transform not only their skincare, but the way they approach wellness and everyday life. Think clean beauty, elevated skincare, wellness, and all of those little rituals that make taking care of yourself feel a little more special.

It's beautiful, thoughtful, and such a different stop to add to your Design District afternoon.

Calle Las Ferias

Calle Las Ferias is such a fun newer addition to Whitaker Street and brings something completely different to Savannah's Design District.

The boutique highlights emerging and exclusive Latin American designers, with clothing and accessories sourced from places like Medellín and Bogotá. The pieces feel special, colorful and a little unexpected. I love that many of the designers aren't ones you're going to find in every other boutique.

I think that's what I love most about this shop. Everything feels like it has a story behind it, and you can find those really unique pieces that inevitably make someone ask, "Where did you get that?"

The Printed Peach

You really can't miss The Printed Peach and not just because of the bright pink doors.

The Printed Peach is Savannah's Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store, filled with all of those colorful prints, dresses, resort wear, swim and accessories that just feel right at home in Savannah.

It's bright, happy and unapologetically colorful. It’s the kind of shop that makes you feel like you suddenly need a new dress for cocktails, a beach trip, or honestly just because.

And if you're already a Lilly girl, consider this your warning.

P.W. Short General Store

P.W. Short is Savannah’s modern-day take on the old-fashioned general store.

You'll find a mix of new and vintage kitchenware, barware, home and garden pieces, cookbooks, local foods and beautifully designed everyday objects. Think French copper pots mixed with vintage barware, cocktail tools, pantry finds and all those things you didn't know you needed until you spotted them on the shelf.

It feels nostalgic without feeling old-fashioned, elevated without being too precious, and is exactly the kind of place where you go in to browse and leave with the coolest little find to bring home from Savannah.

One Fish Two Fish

One Fish Two Fish is a Savannah classic and actually part of the story of how this little area became known as the Design District.

The shop originally opened in 1998 before moving to Whitaker Street, helping establish the cluster of design-focused businesses you see here today.

Inside, it's the kind of shop that has everything you didn't know you needed: home décor, furniture, gifts, jewelry, candles, accessories and all those little finishing touches that make a house feel collected.

It has that coastal-meets-modern, slightly Southern feel we all secretly want our houses to have.

The Annex

Right across Whitaker is The Annex, the sister boutique to One Fish Two Fish. It brings fashion into the mix, with women's clothing and accessories alongside that same collected, stylish feeling.

Madame Chrysanthemum

Could there possibly be anything more Southern Living than stumbling across a beautiful little flower shop while wandering the Historic District?

Madame Chrysanthemum is a little flower shop with a lot of personality. Inspired by the flower shops of Paris, it’s filled with gorgeous, artistic arrangements alongside locally sourced art, jewelry, stationery, Christmas ornaments and gifts. It feels whimsical, creative and perfectly Savannah.

Custard

Custard is one of those boutiques where you're almost guaranteed to find something a little unexpected. Since opening in Savannah in 2008, they've focused on fashion-forward clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories, with a big emphasis on small, women-owned, handmade and eco-friendly brands.

The pieces are fun, eclectic and have a little personality, which feels very Savannah. It's the kind of shop where you go in looking for nothing in particular and somehow leave with the coolest pair of earrings or something you never would have found anywhere else.

Peaches

If you have littles to shop for, Peaches is such a sweet stop.

It's a whimsical but sophisticated children's boutique filled with beautiful clothing, baby pieces, gifts and those precious little treasures that you don't necessarily find everywhere else.

If you need a baby gift, something special for your own little one, or simply cannot resist tiny clothes, be sure to stop in here!

This is one of my favorite pockets of Savannah because the shops are only part of it.

You're walking through the Historic District. There are oak trees overhead, old brick under your feet, beautiful doors and shutters, ironwork, window boxes and historic homes tucked into the blocks around you.

And then there is Jones Street.

Jones Street is one of those places that somehow manages to look exactly like you imagined Savannah would look before you ever visited. Much of the street was developed in the 19th century, and today it's lined with beautifully preserved townhomes and row houses in a mix of architectural styles, shaded by mature live oaks and set behind those classic Savannah stoops, iron railings and little courtyard gardens.

The street itself was named for Major John Jones, an American Revolutionary War officer, and it runs through the heart of Savannah's National Historic Landmark District. Over the years, the homes have been carefully preserved and restored, which is part of why walking Jones feels almost like stepping into another era.

Take time to slow down and notice the different front doors. The old brick. The gas lanterns. The ironwork. Peek down the lanes behind the houses. You'll see carriage houses and little courtyards tucked away that you would completely miss if you were just trying to get from one place to another.

It's Savannah at its prettiest and it happens to run straight through your shopping afternoon.

You're So Close to Forsyth Park

Another reason I love this area? Forsyth Park is right there too.

From the shops around Whitaker and Jones Streets, you're only a few blocks from the north end of the park, making the Design District incredibly easy to pair with a visit to one of Savannah's most iconic spots.

If you haven't been to Forsyth yet, I would absolutely work it into the same afternoon.

After shopping, walk south toward the park and make your way to the famous Forsyth Fountain. The park dates back to the 1840s and eventually expanded to the 30 acres we know today, with the fountain added in 1858. Between the huge live oaks, Spanish moss, historic homes surrounding the park and all of the people out walking dogs, reading, picnicking or just enjoying Savannah, it's one of those places that really gives you a feel for the city.

Design District → Jones Street → Forsyth Park.

That's a pretty perfect Savannah afternoon if you ask me.

Spend the day shopping, wandering, and soaking up this little pocket of Savannah. Between the beautiful boutiques, historic homes, oak-lined streets, fresh flowers, and a stroll down Jones Street to Forsyth Park, it truly feels like stepping into the pages of a real-life Southern Living magazine

—Unit the next Check-In

Alyssa