‘Midnight in the Garden’ Clary’s Cafe

Written by Colleen Miller/ Photos by Clarissa Wells/ Illustrations by Lily Chambers

Clary’s Café began with humble roots as a drug store founded by Luther Clary in the 1930’s, later becoming a soda shop, and today a traditional diner. Almost 100 years since it first opened, Clary’s Café continues to be a staple of Savannah’s local businesses. Nestled on the corner of Abercorn and E. Jones, it serves both lunch and all-day breakfast in a nostalgic environment while offering outdoor seating and SCAD student discounts. Your four-legged friends are even welcome to come along for a treat. 

It is within this café that some the most eccentric characters of John Berendt’s novel, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” are introduced to the reader, making it an iconic setting for the story. The slow southern atmosphere of the tree-lined street outside and the homey air of the diner makes Clary’s Café the perfect location for the characters to gather and gossip.

Visitors to the café today are greeted by friendly staff, the smell of coffee and cakes on the griddle. As a nod to the restaurant’s past, its soda fountain counter is complemented by a jukebox for patrons to choose the perfect song to accompany their dining experience.

This historic business was also the site of filming for the 1997 film adaptation of “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” directed by Clint Eastwood. To pay tribute to its feature in both the novel and film, Clary’s Café proudly hangs a stained-glass image of the “Bird Girl,” the statue depicted on the novel’s cover, and photos of the film’s actors on the wall. These memorabilia serve to add even more intrigue to a business with such a long and interesting history.

Diners can sit in the same place as characters from the film as well as the multitude of other famous people Clary’s Café has also hosted. Michael Scriven, a life-long resident of Savannah who has bussed tables at the café since 2002, fondly remembers seeing John Travolta and Adam Sandler visit the diner.

“Adam Sandler was sitting right there with his two little girls,” said Scriven as he pointed at a table by the window.

Scriven continued to describe some of the favorite menu items made to order at the café including, “the Rueben, breakfast omelets and corned beef hash.”

With its long past and varied clientele, Clary’s Café has earned its place as a must-visit eatery. If you are interested in an enjoyable breakfast or lunch, stop by Clary’s Café to truly live the story of “Midnight in the Garden of the Good and Evil.” You never know who you may meet along the way.

Edited by Nick Thomsen