Dating back to the 1860s, the storied buildings that are now the Kimpton Brice Savannah Hotel housed a livery stable, cotton warehouse, foundry and machine shop, wholesale grocer and Coca-Cola bottling plant, before becoming The Mulberry Inn in 1982. When transformed into the Brice in 2014, the Savannah gray color palette was used throughout the property to provide a calming and neutral envelope for more contemporary layers of interior design elements that are welcoming, charming, sophisticated and playful.
The story behind the general design was to maintain a sense of wonder – ethereal, dreamy and magical – while also uplifting furnishings and finishes to feel curated with a European sensibility. The color palette is soft and subdued with rich textures and a newly added bookcase to tie back to Savannah’s literary history. The art featured throughout the property is a collection of local and national pieces.
You’ll want to take the fun fringe chairs in the lobby home with you. A metal screen pays homage to the iron gates that can be found walking through stately neighborhoods surrounding the Brice.
My favorite nearby historic building is The Davenport House Museum. In 1955, the c. 1820 Isaiah Davenport House was set to be demolished to be made into a surface parking lot. It was saved by a group of seven intrepid women, who blocked the demolition, purchased the property, and formed the Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF). The House opened as a museum in 1963. The HSF saved it and preserves it still today. Be sure to include a tour when you stay at the Brice, which is off the beaten track in historic downtown Savannah, steps from the revitalized riverfront and all the fun, but without the noise and frivolity.
There’s a sweet hidden garden where you can have morning coffee or work (if you must). The hotel restaurant, Pacci, serves southern-inspired Italian classics. We liked the étouffée and southern biscuits for breakfast and short rib marsala for dinner. The menu is impressive and surprising. And, there’s nothing better than a gorgeous meal in your hotel and a nightcap by the pool before wandering up to bed.
