The Pirates' House

The Pirates' House is one of the most famous tourist attractions and restaurants in Savannah. Dating back to 1753, it is believed that it is Georgia's oldest surviving building. It originated in the 1730s as a garden which grew mulberries, peaches and the famous Georgia cotton. The original structure was constructed as a gardener's Herb House in 1734, and as Savannah morphed into a sea town and port, the building was refurbished as a tavern for sailors voyaging from faraway lands. Just like numerous buildings in the city, the tavern is replete with trap doors and secret tunnels. Soon, it became notorious for the baffling disappearance of seafarers, who were thought to be tortured and murdered, shipped off to China or coerced to join a pirate's ship. Today, this attraction is a restaurant serving quintessential Southern American food and boasts 15 historic dining rooms. The Treasure Room and Captain's Room contain historic sheets from one of the first editions of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel Treasure Island. Locals believe that the fabled Captain Flint was in fact a real character who died within The Pirates' House and his ghost still haunts the tavern. For the best experience, head here on a guided tour or during the Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre, where actors stage a dramatic play and diners are asked to solve a mystery that involves multiple murders.