The Olde Pink House – Haunted Restaurant in Savannah, Georgia

The Olde Pink House is where fine dining meets the supernatural, a stunning Georgian mansion turned upscale restaurant where the original owner still supervises operations from beyond the grave. Built in 1771, this iconic pink-hued building is one of Savannah’s oldest structures and home to James Habersham Jr., a Revolutionary War patriot whose spirit apparently never left his beloved home—guests and staff report that he continues to welcome visitors, rearrange furniture, and even express his opinions about the restaurant that now occupies his former residence.

Historical Background

Year Built: 1771

Original Purpose: Private mansion for James Habersham Jr., a prominent merchant and one of Georgia’s first planters

Significant Events: James Habersham Jr. died in the house in 1799, and many believe his deep attachment to his home kept his spirit bound to the property for over two centuries. The building served various purposes throughout its history, including a headquarters for British officers during the Revolutionary War, a bank, and eventually a bookstore before becoming the renowned restaurant it is today—each era has allegedly left its own ghostly residents who coexist within the pink walls.

Paranormal Activity Summary

James Habersham’s spirit is incredibly active throughout the building, with staff reporting candles relighting themselves immediately after being extinguished, as if the meticulous former owner insists on proper ambiance for his guests. Wine glasses move across tables on their own, silverware rearranges itself into different patterns, and chairs are found pulled away from tables in the morning despite staff carefully pushing them in the night before—Habersham seems to have very specific ideas about how his house should be arranged.

The apparition of a man in 18th-century colonial dress is seen regularly throughout the dining rooms and on the staircases, appearing solid and realistic until he walks through furniture or walls, revealing his supernatural nature. Disembodied footsteps are heard constantly on the upper floors and staircases when no one is there, and the sounds of colonial-era conversations and laughter echo through empty rooms as if ghostly dinner parties continue in a dimension just beyond our perception.

Ghost Stories & Reports

James Habersham Jr. is the restaurant’s primary spirit, and staff members speak of him with genuine affection, describing him as a benevolent presence who seems pleased that his home is being used to host guests and create memorable dining experiences. His full-bodied apparition has been seen by dozens of employees and customers, typically appearing in the hallways or on the main staircase before nodding politely and vanishing—witnesses describe him as a distinguished gentleman in period clothing who carries himself with quiet dignity.

A female spirit believed to be a member of the Habersham family or a servant is frequently seen in the upstairs dining rooms, sometimes appearing to set invisible tables or arrange phantom flowers. Servers report feeling someone brush past them in narrow hallways when no one is there, and some have felt gentle touches on their shoulders, as if the ghosts are trying to get their attention or offer encouragement during busy shifts.

The Planters Tavern in the basement is particularly active, with bartenders reporting glasses flying off shelves, bottles moving on their own, and the sensation of being watched constantly by unseen eyes. Some believe this lower level housed enslaved workers during the home’s plantation days, and their spirits remain in the spaces where they labored—witnesses describe feeling overwhelming sadness in certain basement areas, along with cold spots that appear suddenly and inexplicably.

Children’s laughter has been heard echoing through the building despite no children being present, possibly the spirits of Habersham’s descendants who grew up in the house. A Revolutionary War soldier’s ghost has been spotted near the building’s exterior and in certain rooms, believed to be one of the British officers who occupied the house during the war—his presence is described as less friendly than Habersham’s, carrying residual anger or confusion about his circumstances.

Most Haunted Spot Inside

The main staircase is the most reliably active location for sightings of James Habersham’s ghost, where staff and diners frequently see him ascending or descending the stairs as if checking on different floors of his beloved home. The upstairs dining rooms, particularly the room that was once his bedroom, experience consistent paranormal activity including furniture rearrangement, unexplained cold spots, and the sensation of a presence watching diners enjoy their meals—some guests request these rooms specifically hoping for an encounter with the gentlemanly ghost.

Can You Visit?

Open to the Public? Yes—it operates as an upscale restaurant and tavern serving Southern cuisine

Entry Fee: Free to enter (you purchase meals and drinks); dinner entrees typically range from $25-$45

Tour Availability: The Olde Pink House is included as a stop on many Savannah ghost tours, with guides sharing stories from outside the building; dining guests are free to explore the public areas and staff are generally happy to share ghost stories. The restaurant occasionally hosts special paranormal-themed dinners and events.

Photography Allowed? Yes, though discretion is requested to avoid disturbing other diners

Visiting Hours: Open for lunch and dinner daily, typically 5:30 PM-10:30 PM for dinner (hours may vary; lunch service varies seasonally)

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity occurs consistently during both lunch and dinner service, though staff report that the most dramatic encounters happen after closing between 11:00 PM and 2:00 AM when they’re cleaning and preparing for the next day. Late evening dinner reservations around 9:00 PM or later seem to coincide with increased spiritual activity, possibly because the quieter atmosphere allows the ghosts to manifest more freely.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

A server named Michelle reported in 2019 that she was clearing a table in an upstairs dining room when she felt someone tap her shoulder three times—she turned expecting to see a manager or coworker, but no one was within 15 feet of her, and her fellow servers confirmed they’d all been downstairs. A couple celebrating their anniversary in 2020 captured a photograph showing a translucent figure of a man in colonial dress standing near their table, clearly visible in the background despite no one being present when the photo was taken.

Bartenders in the Planters Tavern have countless experiences, with one reporting in 2021 that he watched a wine glass slide across the bar completely on its own, travel about two feet, and gently stop without falling or spilling—security camera footage allegedly captured the incident. A manager shared that on multiple occasions, she’s opened the restaurant in the morning to find all the chairs in one dining room arranged in a perfect circle, as if the ghosts had held a meeting during the night.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

While The Olde Pink House doesn’t typically allow formal overnight investigations due to its operation as a business, several paranormal teams have conducted research during off-hours with permission from management. Investigators have recorded numerous EVPs throughout the building, including a male voice with a colonial-era accent saying “welcome to my home” and what sounds like someone humming a tune popular in the 1700s.

Thermal imaging cameras have detected human-shaped cold spots on the main staircase that move up and down the steps in a walking pattern, with temperature differentials of 15-20 degrees. EMF detectors show significant spikes in the upstairs dining rooms and on the staircase, with no electrical sources nearby to explain the readings—these spikes often occur in response to investigators’ questions, suggesting intelligent interaction.

Full-spectrum cameras have captured shadow figures moving through the basement tavern and what appears to be a transparent human form standing in a doorway on the second floor. Audio recordings made during quiet periods have picked up sounds of silverware clinking, chairs scraping across floors, and muffled conversations despite the building being empty and secured.

Local Legends & Myths

The most charming legend claims that James Habersham is a perfectionist who critiques the restaurant’s service and food—staff members say that when things go wrong in the kitchen or dining room (dishes breaking, orders getting mixed up), it’s Habersham expressing his disapproval, but when service is excellent, candles stay lit and the atmosphere feels warm and welcoming. Some servers swear they’ve received supernatural assistance during busy shifts, finding items they needed mysteriously appearing in convenient locations or feeling guided toward tables that needed attention.

Another popular tale suggests that Habersham hides objects from staff members he doesn’t like or approve of, with items disappearing and reappearing in strange locations—servers who treat the restaurant and its history with respect allegedly receive his blessing, while those who are disrespectful experience increased paranormal harassment. Local psychics claim that Habersham is proud his home has become a gathering place for Savannah’s residents and visitors, fulfilling his original vision of hospitality and community.

Stories persist about a hidden room or passage in the building that Habersham’s spirit guards jealously, possibly containing family treasures or documents he wants protected. Some believe the pink color of the building—which came from white stucco mixed with red brick dust—has mystical properties that trap spirits within the walls, explaining why so many ghosts remain rather than moving on.

Cursed or Haunted Objects

An antique mirror on the second floor is said to show reflections of people who aren’t physically present, with multiple guests capturing photographs that show faces or figures in the mirror that weren’t visible to the naked eye when the picture was taken. Some staff members refuse to look directly into this mirror, claiming it gives them unsettling visions or shows them dressed in clothing from another era, as if the mirror is reflecting their appearance across different time periods.

A particular chair in one of the upstairs dining rooms is known to staff as “Habersham’s chair,” and legend says that anyone who sits in it will feel either welcoming warmth or sudden cold depending on whether the ghost approves of them. Several antique candelabras throughout the restaurant are believed to be original to the Habersham family, and these seem to be focal points for paranormal activity—candles in these fixtures allegedly relight themselves with unusual frequency, and some have been seen flickering in patterns that seem deliberate, as if someone is using them to communicate.