The Olde Pink House: A historic, fine dining experience

Table Of Content

• White House Correspondents’ Dinner red carpet arrivals as Molly Ringwald, Lynda Carter lead the best-dressed
• Washington Hilton Hotel held the 2024 White House Correspondents’ Dinner
• —  THE OLDE PINK HOUSE  —
• The Olde Pink House Restaurant
• THE OLDE PINK HOUSE IS ONE OF SAVANNAH'S MOST ICONIC & HISTORIC RESTAURANTS
• The Olde Pink House
• IT'S CONSIDERED ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF GEORGIAN-STYLE ARCHITECTURE

Guests delighted in dancing the evening away in the grand first floor ballroom or discussing politics and business in the dining room over sumptuous meals. The food draws from regional tradition, but underneath the surface of fried green tomatoes and shrimp and grits lies a storied landmark that has watched over Savannah from Reynolds Square for nearly 250 years. Just as in 1771, the Olde Pink House remains a destination for those who seek to experience Georgian Savannah's splendor. Today, diners can still experience that refined grace as they step inside the Olde Pink House restaurant and enjoy Southern cuisine in spaces that have hosted Savannah society since the city's settlement.

The Olde Pink House: A historic, fine dining experience - District

The Olde Pink House: A historic, fine dining experience.

Posted: Fri, 22 Apr 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]

White House Correspondents’ Dinner red carpet arrivals as Molly Ringwald, Lynda Carter lead the best-dressed

The mansion followed this trajectory when purchased in the 1870s by a consortium establishing a bank. Their tenure left an indelible mark during an important transitional period as Savannah evolved from provincial colony to refined American city. The house glittered with candlelight while well-dressed gentlemen and ladies conversed over cards or music.

Washington Hilton Hotel held the 2024 White House Correspondents’ Dinner

Arched windows flanked by columns, iron-railed balconies, and a signature white ornamental iron fence cast in Savannah all exuded an air of refinement. In exploring the history of the Olde Pink House, we peel back the layers of this Southern icon to reveal its origins, illustrious inhabitants, and evolving identity across centuries at the heart of Savannah. The Olde Pink House (also known as The Pink House and, formerly, Habersham House) is a restaurant and tavern in Savannah, Georgia, United States. Located on Abercorn Street, in the northwestern trust lot of Reynolds Square, the building dates from 1771.[4] It is bounded by East Bryan Street to the north, Abercorn Street to the east and East Saint Julian Street to the south. Adding to the anticipation, President Joe Biden was expected to deliver remarks, highlighting the unique blend of journalism, government, and entertainment that defines this event. This year, the dinner was graced by the luminous presence of stars such as Scarlett Johansson, Molly Ringwald, Lynda Carter and Chris Pine, who brought Hollywood glamour to the politically charged atmosphere of Washington.

—  THE OLDE PINK HOUSE  —

Stepping into the Olde Pink House today, patrons can embark on a culinary journey through Savannah's regional fare thanks to the restaurant’s meticulous attention to heritage Southern cuisine. The Strongs filled the dining rooms with fine antiques and opened the restored cellar as a tavern. Their passion revealed the mansion's beauty once more, while retaining its 18th and 19th century character. During this period, the mansion was less a family home or even hotel—it now bustled daily with patrons conducting business transactions and employees obediently working in their offices. The mansion's parlors and bedrooms now served as guest lodging, losing the elegance of their previous incarnations.

Savannah: Yelp names The Olde Pink House most haunted spot in US - WJCL News Savannah

Savannah: Yelp names The Olde Pink House most haunted spot in US.

Posted: Fri, 22 Oct 2021 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The Olde Pink House Restaurant

The striking pink facade also rendered the mansion instantly recognizable in the local landscape, with the color chosen as a proud nod to Habersham's English heritage. The Olde Pink House’s pink color isn’t a new development – it’s been part of the restaurant’s signature décor for almost 100 years. But the story behind the color is more elaborate than just a standard paint job, so the story can't be explained without diving into the restaurant's history. We specialize in memorable dining experiences ranging from a quaint table for 2 in the Planters Tavern "Wine Vault", to a party of 400 guests reserving the entire mansion. Crisp fried green tomatoes offer another taste of regional delicacies transformed by the Olde Pink House into appetizing works of art.

THE OLDE PINK HOUSE IS ONE OF SAVANNAH'S MOST ICONIC & HISTORIC RESTAURANTS

Servants smoothly attended to every guest's needs and Mary Clay ensured the food and wine were of the finest quality. News of the Clays' parties often appeared in Savannah's society pages, further elevating the family's social status. Through meticulous restoration and devotion to regional cuisine, the restaurant has revived this aristocratic dwelling, allowing modern diners and history aficionados alike to step inside Savannah’s gilded past.

The Olde Pink House

Dishes like the creamy shrimp and grits or silky she-crab soup allow diners to savor two of the Lowcountry’s quintessential flavors. With a vision to revive the mansion to its former elegance, the Strongs commissioned meticulous restorations of the original floorplan, doors, windows, and interior details. This practical chapter, though far removed from the structure's original purpose, became an important part of the historic mansion's story and connection to Savannah's past.

IN THE EARLY 1800S, THE MANSION WAS HOME TO SAVANNAH MAYOR JOSEPH CLAY

Built in 1777 for James Habersham Jr., the Olde Pink House was originally a mansion whose red bricks would bleed into the white plaster, turning the home pink. The appropriately-named Olde Pink House is easy to find, with its iconic shade of pink, right across from Reynolds Square. The stately mansion surely felt livelier during the Clay's residency than in its previous incarnation as a more staid family estate for James Habersham Jr. But the Clays upheld the home's refined atmosphere, using its grand spaces as the backdrop for some of Savannah's most memorable early 19th century social events. Joseph's wife Mary was known as a consummate hostess who masterfully planned lavish dinners, musical evenings, and holiday balls in the mansion's spaces.

IT'S CONSIDERED ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF GEORGIAN-STYLE ARCHITECTURE

This stellar event, an annual highlight for the capital, wasn’t just a celebration of the critical work done by journalists but also a glittering convergence of high-profile celebrities and distinguished guests. When renovations were complete, the Habersham-Clay house had emerged as the Olde Pink House restaurant. By the early 20th century, the aging but still-stately former Habersham mansion had passed through many uses and owners.

From the mansion, tea parlor and haunted restaurant, the Olde Pink House has accrued a long and varied history, making it one of Savannah’s premier landmarks in the city. The Olde Pink House is one of Savannah’s finest dining establishments, offering new Southern cuisine in a sophisticated, yet casual setting. The Olde Pink House is known for specialties like Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Bourbon Molasses, Crispy Scored Flounder with Apricot Shallot Sauce, and Corn Bread Fried Oysters. The kitchen fries the green tomatoes to perfection so diners can experience this Southern staple at its finest. Yet preparation still remains faithful to the way grandmothers and great-grandmothers cooked throughout Savannah’s history.

Patrons dine immersed in the architecture and atmosphere of 18th century Savannah brought to life by one of its earliest leading citizens. Though the interior layout has evolved through various uses, the exterior and many original design elements still transport visitors back to the Georgian era when one of Savannah's forefathers first envisioned this elegant property. Habersham had already amassed substantial wealth as a planter by the time he hired the architect William Jay to design his new Savannah estate.