Municipal Grand | Savannah, Georgia | USA
Where Mid-Century Modernism Meets Southern Hospitality
Why DNA Hotels Loves It
● A masterful adaptive reuse project that celebrates Savannah’s overlooked mid-century architectural heritage.
● Interiors that blend Southern character, tropical modernism, and contemporary design with remarkable confidence.
● A hotel where cocktails, culture, and community are as important as the rooms themselves.
A Mid-Century Landmark Reimagined
Savannah is often celebrated for its historic squares, grand mansions, and Spanish moss-draped streets. Municipal Grand tells a different story. Occupying the former First Federal Savings and Loan building, completed in 1961, the hotel shines a spotlight on a lesser-known chapter of the city’s architectural history. What was once a civic landmark has been thoughtfully transformed into a 44-room boutique hotel that embraces modernism rather than disguising it. The project comes from Midnight Auteur, the hospitality group behind acclaimed destinations such as Death & Co and The Ramble Hotel. Their vision was clear from the beginning: preserve the building’s character while creating a contemporary social hub that feels unmistakably Savannah. The result is one of the city’s most exciting new openings.
Preserving the Past, Designing the Future
Designed by AAmp Studio in collaboration with Lynch Associates Architects and Ward Architecture + Preservation, Municipal Grand carefully balances restoration and reinvention. Original terrazzo floors, granite walls, mosaic tiles, structural columns, and elegant curved aluminium railings remain central to the experience. Rather than covering these details, the designers elevated them, allowing the building’s modernist identity to shine once again. To soften the strong geometry, the interiors introduce influences from Brazilian tropical modernism and Scandinavian design traditions. Rich materials, curved forms, lush planting, and warm textures create spaces that feel sophisticated yet relaxed. It’s mid-century modernism viewed through a distinctly Southern lens.
Rooms Designed for Living
Municipal Grand’s guestrooms feel more residential than hotel-like. Each begins with a rich green vestibule before opening into spaces filled with custom millwork, plush banquettes, velvet headboards, natural wood finishes, and carefully curated artwork from artists connected to Savannah’s thriving creative community. Bathrooms add another layer of personality through hand-cut Moroccan-inspired tiles, striking red marble vanities, and beautifully curved shower entrances. Many rooms include private terraces overlooking downtown Savannah, while suites feature generous layouts and deep soaking tubs. The overall atmosphere is tactile, comfortable, and quietly luxurious. A place to settle into rather than simply sleep.
Cocktails at the Core
Like many Midnight Auteur projects, hospitality here revolves around social spaces. At ground level, Municipal Bar acts as the beating heart of the hotel. Anchored by a dramatic semi-circular bar, the space serves seasonal dishes inspired by Southern and coastal traditions alongside a serious cocktail programme developed by the renowned Death & Co team. The atmosphere evolves naturally throughout the day. Morning coffee becomes lunch. Lunch becomes aperitivo. Aperitivo becomes dinner and cocktails. Then there is The Hot Eye.
After Dark at The Hot Eye
Hidden below ground, The Hot Eye offers a completely different mood. Dark, intimate, and seductive, the subterranean cocktail bar combines deep red walls, blackened mirrors, vintage-inspired lighting, and leather banquettes to create one of Savannah’s most compelling nightlife destinations. Cocktails range from perfectly executed classics to inventive house creations that push the boundaries without becoming overly serious. It’s the kind of place where a quick drink often turns into a very late night.
A Rooftop Above Savannah
At the top of the building, the Sun Club brings yet another dimension to the experience. Surrounded by greenery and lined with candy-striped loungers, the rooftop pool feels worlds away from the streets below. Guests can spend afternoons moving between the water, the bar, and shaded seating areas while enjoying panoramic views across Savannah’s historic rooftops. It’s playful, relaxed, and refreshingly social. Exactly as a Southern rooftop should be.
A New Face of Savannah
Municipal Grand succeeds because it understands that great hotels are about more than accommodation. It honours an important piece of Savannah’s architectural history while creating spaces that feel relevant, welcoming, and alive. The design is thoughtful without being precious, the atmosphere sophisticated without feeling exclusive, and the hospitality rooted in genuine connection. For travellers seeking a fresh perspective on Savannah—one that goes beyond the expected historic narrative—Municipal Grand offers something rare: a hotel with a strong sense of place, a distinctive point of view, and enough personality to become a destination in its own right.
