The Bootlegger Savannah Speakeasy — Restaurant in Savannah

This is the real deal! A “not cheesy” speakeasy. It’s rare that 5 stars are easy to choose. This was a no brainer.

Where to begin. Growing up in the Great Depression, my grandparents parents’, dog’s, cousin’s brother….may or may not have made their own “holy water.”

I never knew them. Passed down just two generations to my parents….was the absolute necessity of a basement bar. The suburban speakeasy was in nearly every house of every kid that was born between the 50’s and the 70’s. It was just the evolution of the speakeasy itself. Probably because no one had any money to go out.

The one my grandmother had in Jamaica Plain was my favorite. Dirt floors and a stone foundation. Bulbs hot enough to light a cigarette off of.

The MENU!! My god the menu. All I had was a meatball appetizer and I was blown away at the flavors.

This place leaves NOTHING out of the experience. Bootlegger’s feels like you walked into an actual speakeasy that, at a certain point in its life, decided to go legit.

“Bubbles” was my bartender. A proper villain named for the fact that, according to “the boys”, the “job”isn’t over until there’s no bubbles.

The prankster gangster made me a perfect Diet Coke. MANY places you go to, if you don’t order a well drink, or something with alcohol, you get a plastic cup.

“Bubbles” prepared my Diet Coke like it was a complex cocktail. Real crystal glass and all. That was a giant display of The Bootlegger standards of quality service.

I’ve never seen more details attended to in a single task….each one building on the next. Spectacular experience in a fun, relaxed atmosphere.

This is not a “show” and not a “gimmick.” This is a restaurateur with a bit of an obsession with authenticity over theme.

It’s not just a name at The Bootlegger. It’s a way.

I LOVE this place!!

Oh….order Roosevelt’s Smoked Old Fashioned. And tell em Jeff from MAHI Media sent you.

The Bootlegger 115 East River Street Savannah, Ga 31401

+1...

We were greeted and seated and promptly asked for ID. (We are 56 and 53). My friend had a birthday 4 days ago and her license had expired and they would not accept her id. We had paid for an uber and chose this location for a smoked old fashion. We found a hotel that let us use their business center, my friend LEGALLY renewed her license online and printed a VALID STATE OF TEXAS DRIVERS LICENSE. We returned with the valid license ( and new expiration date in 2032)to order the drinks and the manager refused to accept this VALID form of ID. She is wrong and had no reason to refuse drink service to us. She said the ATF would fine her. The ATF does not handle alcohol sales at the state retail level. they are federal! Save your time and money and keep walking down the street to one of the other hundred bars around. The State of Georgia, GABC will accept this temporary paper with the expired photo id as valid. The manager and establishment are rude and...

OK, I’m going to say it right now… I come from a family of bootleggers! Back in the day with prohibition, etc. Even to this day, there are dry counties in Kentucky and so happens that my family lives in a dry county. So yes, they bootlegged -made moonshine! I don’t think I can get in trouble at this point from saying that because that was a long time ago. I don’t mean to digress, this place was amazing. If you are on River Street in Savannah, you have to stop in and at least get one drink. Bonnie and Bugsy are both excellent bartenders. My husband started with the happy hour martini, he got the Manhattan martini, then we migrated to a Negroni best one we’ve ever had. Then we migrated it to a I don’t even know what it’s called. It was some kind of delicious tequila, light and refreshing with cucumber. Oh my God you just have to stop in there and have a cocktail. It’s really refreshing especially on a hot day! Tell Bonnie we sent you! Highly...