A new luxury hotel is getting ready to open in the heart of downtown Savannah, but Recess Hotel & Club is aiming to be much more than another place to spend the night.
Recess is taking over one of Savannah’s historic hotel properties and transforming it into a 221 room hotel, social club, wellness destination, coworking space and collection of restaurants and bars. Rooms are currently available to book beginning September 23, with more of the property expected to come online as Recess heads into its full opening this fall.
The project comes from Left Lane Hospitality, the group behind Hotel Bardo near Forsyth Park. While Bardo is centered more around a resort style hotel experience, Recess is being designed as a busier social hub where hotel guests and Savannah locals can use many of the same amenities.
And there is a lot packed into the property.
One of the biggest additions will be Kilter, a rooftop bar and pool overlooking downtown Savannah. The rooftop is planned as an all day space, transitioning from poolside lounging during the day to cocktails, food, music and DJ nights in the evening.
Downstairs, Recess will have several more food and drink options. Le Flâneur will serve as the hotel’s French brasserie, while The Servery will offer coffee, pastries and quick breakfast and lunch options through a first-floor takeout window. A lobby bar will serve coffee and drinks throughout the day.
The property will also be home to Saltgrass Spa, with a bathhouse style wellness circuit that includes steam rooms, saunas and cold plunges. A 24 hour fitness center will feature strength, cardio and functional training equipment, along with a separate yoga and meditation studio.
For anyone looking for somewhere other than home or the office to work, Recess is building a substantial coworking component as well. Members will have access to shared work areas, private meeting and work rooms, printing, high speed Wi-Fi and coffee, along with professional and creative programming.
That brings up one of the more unusual parts of Recess: you don’t have to be visiting Savannah to make use of it.
Club Recess will offer memberships specifically designed to make the hotel part of a local’s everyday routine. Different membership levels will focus on the gym, coworking or a combination of both. The most comprehensive Gym + Work + Play option adds access to the rooftop pool, hydro lounge, fitness classes, member events and other Club perks. A separate Teams membership will be available for businesses and organizations.
Membership benefits vary by plan, but can include access to Kilter, preferred seating at Le Flâneur, hotel discounts, Saltgrass Spa discounts, member events and access to a network of more than 50 private social clubs around the world. Memberships require a yearly commitment, with monthly or discounted annual payment options.
The hotel itself has plenty going on beyond the traditional guest rooms. Every floor will have its own “Rumpus Room,” essentially a shared hangout stocked with more than 100 vintage games, large TVs, seating, snacks, drinks and full coffee setups.
Rooms range from standard king and queen accommodations to bunk rooms designed for groups and families. Larger options include Loft, Garden, Family and One Bedroom suites, along with an 820 square foot Presidential Suite featuring separate living and dining areas, a turntable and an in-room bar. Select rooms will also periodically be redesigned by local and visiting artists.
Recess is planning a rotating calendar of programming rather than limiting activity to hotel guests. That includes fitness and wellness classes, creative workshops, professional programming, DJ nights and a Recess Run Club. Fitness classes are expected to be offered twice daily with 15 spots per class at $15 each.
There is also a sizable events component. The property includes spaces such as the Annex Ballroom and Conservatory, along with the rooftop lounge, pool and lawn. Recess plans to host weddings, company gatherings, retreats, private dinners and other events, with the option for permitted outdoor events in nearby Johnson Square.
The building itself also brings the project full circle. The property originally opened as Hotel Savannah in 1912 and later became the Manger Hotel. After the hotel closed in the late 1970s, the building transitioned to office space and eventually housed First City Club. LEFT LANE has now restored the property to its original use more than a century after it first welcomed hotel guests.
With a rooftop pool, four food and drink concepts, spa, gym, coworking areas, event spaces, social programming and a private club all under one roof, Recess is shaping up to be one of Savannah’s more ambitious hospitality openings in recent years. And unlike most new downtown hotels, a significant part of the concept is being built specifically for Savannah residents to use whether they ever book a room or not.
