Courtesy of the Savannah Philharmonic
Keitaro Harada, the music and artistic director of the Savannah Philharmonic, spends a lot of time on the road. Awarded the 2023 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award, the charismatic conductor serves as associate conductor of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra in his native Japan and also as guest conductor with other orchestras. But all that travel only makes him appreciate his adopted home that much more. Here he shares his perfect day in Savannah.
Joe on the Go
“I like to grab coffee at Cup to Cup Cafe, a small, local take-out coffee shop. The service is extremely fast—you order and then you’re out of there. I order the Black & Tan Nitro Brew. They have pastries, too; I like the apple fritter.”
Morning Walk
“I try to get 10,000 steps a day, and I like to do laps around Forsyth Park. You will see the famous fountain and the amphitheater where the Savannah Philharmonic performs for 25,000 people every October. On Saturdays, the park hosts the Forsyth Farmers Market with close to 60 vendors. My go-to is Isreally Hummus. The owner, Assaf Gleizner, is a fantastic musician from Israel.”
Power Lunch
“Collins Quarter is a hot spot, and both locations are always packed—I highly recommend making a reservation. The owner is from Australia but used to live in Osaka, Japan. His experience there really influenced his taste. The Swine Time Beni is a signature dish at the downtown flagship. It’s a take on eggs Benedict with a bit of funkiness to it.”
Retail Therapy
“I like to go shopping on Broughton Street. At the Paris Market & Brocante, almost everything in the store is from France. The owners travel there frequently to buy things, so every time you walk in, you’re going to find something different. At Savannah Bee Company, I get the signature raw honeycomb. It’s what they’re known for, and it’s the best thing in the world. They serve it at every party in Savannah.”
Courtesy of the Paris Market
Riverside Retreat
“Take a walk along the river and visit the JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District. It’s a wonderful venue with great food and an eclectic vibe. In the hotel lobby there is a huge collection of crystals and quartz, along with a gigantic chrome dinosaur replica hung from the ceiling.”
Moss and Magic
“Wormsloe State Historic Site is the most magical place on earth. It was part of Wormsloe Plantation, the colonial estate of Noble Jones from the 1700s. There’s a museum and a 1.5-mile walk through beautiful Spanish moss and live oak trees. I love going there because time just stops.”
Art Deco Dining
“Dinner options are endless in Savannah, but my favorite is the Grey. Johno Morisano and Chef Mashama Bailey have done a marvelous job with the revival of the 1938 art deco Greyhound Bus Terminal and the creation of seasonal dishes that are meaningful to the location’s history.”
Photography by Chia Chong
High Bar
“Savoy Society is where the cool kids hang out, and it has the best mixologists in town. My favorite drinks are Shower Me In Luxury (Angel’s Envy bourbon, bitters, apricot, and bubbly) and Running on Ice (tequila, agave liqueur, chili pepper, cacao, and cold brew).”
This article appears in the Summer 2024 issue of Southbound.
