New York-based real estate development and hospitality firm Left Lane is set to open Recess Hotel & Club Savannah this September, transforming the Historic District’s Manger Building into a lifestyle hotel and private clubhouse.
Recess is designed as a playground for the creative class, drawing on Savannah’s rich artistic community while channeling the carefree spirit of childhood recess.
A Savannah building reborn
First constructed as the Hotel Savannah in 1912, the Beaux-Arts building was among the city’s first skyscrapers, featuring grand arched windows, decorative cornice, and a tripartite architectural composition.
Left Lane partnered with design firm Atelier Pond to restore the structure and translate its retro-futurist narrative into a 221-key property spanning 136 guestrooms, 23 suites, and 62 bunk rooms. Analog details—including vintage push-button light switches, antique mirrors, natural wood, and original mosaic tile flooring—are juxtaposed with modern finishes and whimsical colors throughout.
Community at Recess Hotel & Club Savannah
The hotel’s social-first ethos is immediately apparent in the lobby, which is anchored by a 10-seat bar and a 47-seat lounge with woven custom chandeliers, layered textures, tiled columns, and lush greenery. Adjacent to the bar, the Servery, a Japanese automat-inspired takeout window, serves quick bites for breakfast and lunch.
Each floor houses a Rumpus Room: lively social hubs outfitted with lounge seating, large flat-screen TVs, custom vending machines stocked with local snacks, wellness products, and disposable cameras, plus vintage board games, video games, and Mahjong tables.
Twenty of the bunk rooms are TV-free, emphasizing the property’s commitment to screen-free, analog experiences. Spanning the 10th floor, suites are defined by 17-foot ceilings, dramatic arched windows, and panoramic city views. All rooms are appointed with custom throws designed by local artist and SCAD graduate Juliana Lupacchino that are also available for purchase in the onsite Shop Recess.
F&B and wellness
Executive chef Zach Chancey and VP of beverage and service Eben Klemm lead a F&B program centered on communal dining. Le Flâneur restaurant reinterprets the Parisian café through a Savannahian lens, pairing the building’s original mosaic flooring and antique mirrors with woven rattan bistro chairs and custom statement lighting. Twelve stories above, Kilter Rooftop Bar is home to Savannah’s highest rooftop pool, which is framed by vibrant greenery, warm colors, and whimsical tile patterns suited to both daytime lounging and evening programming.
Left Lane’s holistic wellness concept, Saltgrass, takes on an expanded form at Recess. Set within the former Savannah Health Club, the spa’s mosaic tiling references the original pool and carries through the property’s cohesive design language. A circuit-based fitness facility anchors the space, complemented by a bioharmony lounge, sound temple, steam rooms, saunas, and cold plunges.
Events and membership at Recess Hotel & Club
Recess’ flagship event hall spans 6,500 square feet across two stories. The first-floor Annex Ballroom accommodates up to 250 guests with soaring ceilings and an outdoor terrace overlooking Johnson Square. The second-floor Conservatory, featuring moveable greenery and statement windows, draws inspiration from Savannah’s gardens. An adjacent Rooftop Lawn adds 830 square feet of open-air event space at Kilter.
Club Recess, the property’s 5,500-square-foot members-only creative clubhouse on the second floor, offers libraries, studios, lounges, meeting rooms, communal workspaces, and a conversation pit. Weekly game nights, biweekly happy hours, and live music events round out the programming. All hotel guests receive honorary membership, while tiered memberships extend access to locals looking for coworking and event access.
