LEFT LANE introduces Hotel Bardo Savannah, a Leading Hotels of the World property, and new urban resort at the heart of Savannah’s Forsyth Park. Inspired by the leisurely luxury of the Mediterranean coast and the 1960’s retro primetime of glamorous travel, Hotel Bardo will be a beacon for the adventurous–a place to disconnect from the everyday where rare experiences rule. The project will be the flagship property for the Bardo brand, leading the way for LEFT LANE’s expansion of the brand to additional high-growth secondary U.S. markets over the next five years.

Saint Bibiana, the resort’s coastal Italian restaurant and cooking school, will open September 2023, followed by the resort opening in February 2024. Hotel Bardo is the fourth project in Savannah for LEFT LANE’s Managing Partner, Jon Kully, who led the team behind the 2013 completion of the Drayton Tower, 2018 debut of The Perry Lane Hotel, and 100 & 111 Ann Street to be completed in summer 2023. LEFT LANE’s forthcoming transformation of Savannah’s Manger Building will follow Hotel Bardo’s opening, and bring a new lifestyle hotel and clubhouse concept to the market that LEFT LANE will also scale. 

“With Hotel Bardo we are evoking a sentiment often found along the Mediterranean and Adriatic coastlines, in treasured resorts where service is exceptional and understated,” says Kully. “Saint Bibiana offers locals and visitors the first glimpse at what’s to come–reflecting our dedication to the food and beverage program and capturing the interplay between the comfort of the familiar and the thrill of the singular. Through our decade in the market, we’ve cultivated an understanding and appreciation for this duality, with Hotel Bardo reflecting LEFT LANE’s overarching intent.”

Throughout the 2-acre resort, the vertically integrated real estate development and design firm weaves together the historic and the novel for a “riot clash” aesthetic. Hotel Bardo highlights to come include 149 luxury guest rooms, with 20 being suites; a sprawling 25-meter Pool and Bar Bibi–the pool bar which plays the cheeky younger sister role to restaurant Saint Bibiana; Saltgrass–a holistic gym and wellness spa; Club Bardo, a membership-based social club; standout food and beverage locales including The Courtyard and The Green Room lobby bar; Shop Bardo–curated retail; and event spaces like the elegant and modern Carriage House and The Ballroom, which encompasses 3,500-square-feet.

LEFT LANE Chief Brand Officer, Jess Berkin describes the firm’s intent to fill a gap in the luxury travel category. “The Bardo ethos is rooted in discovery and connection, which we know our guests seek at home and when they travel,” says Berkin. “At Hotel Bardo, we embrace wit and spontaneity while delivering the impeccable, attentive service our guests expect. We are grateful for the Savannah community who have been so supportive of this concept from inception, and we are thrilled to deliver a space that allows our guests to disconnect from the day-to-day and transcend the ordinary.”

Saint Bibiana draws its name from the 4th Century Roman Virgin and Martyr–known as the Patron Saint of Hangovers–and is simultaneously formal and playful. It evokes timeless glamor, with impeccable food and effortless energy. The 140-seat restaurant spans indoor and outdoor garden seating, complete with 21 seats at the bar.

Acclaimed Executive Chef Derek Simcik sits at the culinary helm for the property at large. His menus at Saint Bibiana reflect a modern approach to classic coastal Italian cuisine and transform simple, high-integrity ingredients into sublime menu offerings. Highlights include Chef Derek’s Prosciutto Di Parma D.O.P y Lardo with fermented persimmons, marcona almonds, and aged balsamic; Puntarelle Salad with hearty chicory greens, preserved artichokes, anchovy-lemon dressing; handmade pastas like the Campanelle Nero with octopus puttenesca, black pepper garlic crunch, pork rind; Maccarello Sgombro with guanciale, gigante beans, and fresh herbs; and Porchetta with caramelized fennel, granny smith apples, and a pancetta vinaigrette, among others.

Saint Bibiana’s beverage program follows suit, with cocktails and aperitifs that highlight the various coastal regions of Italy alongside non-alcoholic drinks and classic craft cocktails. With its extensive, low intervention wine program, Saint Bibiana will extend a revolutionary brand of hospitality to its guests with novel offerings that showcase the exciting developments in viticulture happening throughout Italy.

Reservations will be available via Resy for breakfast and dinner, as well as weekend brunch. Additional details may be found at www.saint-bibiana.com and on Instagram at @saintbibiana.