Crystal Beer Parlor

"As author Ali Dunworth describes in her 2024 book, A Compendium of Irish Pints: The Culture, Customs and Craic, a place doesn’t have to scream “I’m Irish!” to qualify as a great pub. Rather, it’s all about the drinks served, the company, and the atmosphere. “The older, the better,” she writes, citing cabinets full of curios, brass bar taps, dark wood, and straightforward service among the characteristics she prefers. With this list in mind, Dunworth would surely find comfort in Crystal Beer Parlor. What began as an early 1900s family-owned grocery is now a Savannah institution owned by John Nicols. Choose from dozens of beers on tap, including Guinness Draught and Nitro Stout, while chowing down on blue cheese-covered crisps, fried duck wings, creamy crab stew, and sandwiches." - Colleen McNally

"Housed in a former grocery store dating back to the early 1900s, this mainstay opened in 1993, and is also rumored to have hidden a speakeasy during Prohibition. Inside, relics of Savannah’s past adorn the walls while regulars belly up to the bar for craft beer, crab stew, burgers, gyros, and fried duck wings tossed in a sweet chili sauce." - Colleen McNally

"Crystal Beer Parlor started as a family-run grocery store and Prohibition-era speakeasy. These days, photos of past customers cover the walls, and the place feels relatively unchanged from the early days. While the burgers and beers no longer cost under a dollar, they’re still great—whether you’re going with the classic option, or the Mountain Jam that comes topped with beer cheese and grilled onions. Consider ordering the crab stew and pimento pig sandwich if you’re really hungry." - caroline eubanks

"The Crystal Beer Parlor was once a grocery store, then a speakeasy, then the Crystal, and now it’s one of Savannah’s most popular and enduring restaurants with a rich history. Known for its extensive bar menu and massive onion rings, anyone can find something to eat on its three-page menu. It’s both family-friendly and great for a night out, and be sure to check out the Crystal Trading Company goods in the adjacent gift shop." - Elizabeth Bowers

"Crystal Beer Parlor started as a family-run grocery store and Prohibition-era speakeasy. These days, photos of past customers cover the walls, and the place feels relatively unchanged from the early days. While the burgers and beers no longer cost under a dollar, they’re still great—whether you’re going with the classic option, or the Mountain Jam that comes topped with beer cheese and grilled onions. Consider ordering the crab stew and pimento pig sandwich if you’re really hungry." - Caroline Eubanks