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If you love staying in historical buildings with lots of character, then Marshall House in Savannah, Georgia is right up your alley. This beautiful relic of a hotel is located on Broughton Street, which is known for its top-notch shopping scene. The bright brick expanse of Marshall House takes up most of a block, and is a convenient retreat from bustling downtown Savannah.
My husband and I chose Marshall House for a recent trip to Savannah after pouring through many a Tripadvisor review. As one of the city’s most famous hotels, chances are you’re considering Marshall House for your stay as well. But is it as nice as it looks? Worth the price? As haunted at they say?
After our recent stay at Marshall House, I have plenty to report. Allow me to clarify any questions you may have on what a stay here is really like.
What to Know About Marshall House in Savannah
To give you a little context about my hotel preferences, I normally seek out historical charm or character. I like when a place has a good story behind it.
I’m not usually one to stay in popular (or haunted) hotels, but I couldn’t resist the history of Marshall House. The hotel was built in 1851, and has since served as a hospital during the Civil War and two yellow fever epidemics. Despite the haunted rumors, Marshall House had great reviews and drew me right in. Here are my thoughts on the other big perks they advertise.
Great Location
I can confirm that Marshall House is a great base for walking to all the best sights in Savannah. First of all, it’s located on Broughton Street, which is known to have some of Savannah’s best shopping. “Savannah Dan”, from our walking tour, even confirmed that there are plenty of local mom-and-pop shops on this street.
Marshall House is also an easy walk to attractions like The Olde Pink House, the riverfront, and Forsyth Park. We didn’t miss having a car, and appreciated the quick walk back to the hotel whenever we needed a rest.
Balcony Rooms
The balcony rooms may be the very thing drawing you to Marshall House. They indeed look like the perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine while watching the world go by below on Broughton Street. Balcony rooms are by far the most popular choice, and in my opinion, the views from the other rooms simply don’t measure up.
If a balcony room is your top choice, book as early as you can, as these will be the first to go. I know, as I was booked for one, but needed to reschedule due to COVID-19. When I finally got around to rebooking, unfortunately all the balcony rooms were already taken.
They did still put us up in a suite, as prices were much lower due to the pandemic. However, I still missed the balcony – our less impressive windows looked onto an interior atrium and back alleyway.
Wine & Cheese Hour
One really fun perk that Marshall House offers is nightly wine and cheese that runs from 5:00 to 6:30 pm in the library. I will note, library is a bit of a strong word, as it’s more of a social space right off the lobby, with some decorative books on shelves. It was a lovely space for wine sipping though!
As we visited during COVID, there were some modifications in place. First off, there were no cheese snacks. Second, a masked staff member stood at the library entrance and poured each guest’s wine as they entered. Note that this perk does come complimentary with your room, and yes, you can have refills.
The seating was spacious enough for social distancing, though I can’t say it was perfect. Of course, no guests were wearing masks, as they were consuming beverages. Nevertheless, Aaron and I did sit at a fun table that doubled as a checkerboard, where he proceeded to decisively beat me in two very quick games.
Breakfast
A complimentary breakfast for two guests also comes with the price of your room. This is typically a buffet, but was being served in sit-down fashion during our stay for COVID reasons.
Additionally, tables were spaced six feet apart in the atrium, meaning seating was a tad reduced. In fact, if you arrive for breakfast between 9 and 10 am, you may have to wait for a table, though not very long. When you are seated, you’ll be presented with a menu checklist, where you can choose your buffet items.
Your server will grab your list, and bring all your chosen items to you. I personally didn’t mind this, since I always seem to grab more food from a buffet than I need. Do not overdo it – the breakfast at Marshall House is just okay, and your calories are better spent exploring Savannah’s food scene.
Ghosts at Marshall House Savannah
I get very freaked out by the idea of haunted anything, so I’m not quite sure why I chose to stay at a hotel rumored to be one of the most haunted places in Savannah. After all, Marshall House served as a hospital during two yellow fever epidemics, as well as during the Civil War. Thankfully, I can affirm that we saw zero spooks, although I did lose some valuable sleep thinking about it.
That said, that’s just our experience, and a look through the reviews on Tripadvisor will show you others sharing their strange experiences at Marshall House. Guests have claimed to hear children laughing and rolling marbles in the halls at night, faucets turning on by themselves, and several people even encountered unexplained odors.
If you are trying to see ghosts, rumor has it the fourth floor is the most haunted. Some reviews even suggest that a couple of rooms up there require a waiver. That’s a hard pass for me, but if you like a good thrill, perhaps a stay on the fourth floor is for you.
Friendly Marshall House Staff
The staff at Marshall House were so courteous, and were always ready to help with any questions we had. They overall seemed to be a younger bunch, and kept things fun and cheerful.
These kind folks quickly provided us with new toothbrushes after both Aaron and I forgot ours. They also readily offered up restaurant suggestions, with one of them, Treylor Park, being among our favorites of the entire trip.
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Despite my uneasiness with the haunted aspect, I can’t say enough good things about our stay at Marshall House. It’s a charming, classy establishment in one of the best parts of Savannah, with everything you could want or need just footsteps away. Plus, this historical hotel is an attraction in and of itself, so a stay here can only enhance your Savannah experience.
