Abe's on Lincoln – Savannah, Georgia - Gastro Obscura

Tucked away on a quiet corner within Savannah’s National Historic District is Abe’s on Lincoln. A bar favored among locals and the kind of off-the-radar hangout one craves as a tourist, it is more than your average corner pub. It offers a combination of what has defined Savannah: history, drinking, and art. The latter comes courtesy of its ever-evolving installation of napkin art.

Napkin after napkin of illustrations cover the wooden beams of the bar’s low, centuries-old ceiling and tuck themselves among eclectic objects on the walls. Each slip offers an artistic take on the same subject: the country’s 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. There is Abe riding a bike, as a zombie, as SpongeBob Squarepants, among others. Many depict the image ingrained into historical memory: a man stoically gazing out under thick eyebrows, distinct cheekbones, and signature top hat. 

While the bar itself is named after Honest Abe, the street where it sits are named for Benjamin Lincoln, a Revolutionary War general who fought in the Siege of Savannah in 1779.

Know Before You Go

To Draw: Order a drink and ask the bartender for extra napkins and pens. Drawings referencing bigoted, racist, or sexist imagery will not be displayed. A stick figure will likely not be either. Drawings should be signed and dated. For those that find art intimidating or their drink more fulfilling, there is no pressure to draw except maybe from your overly enthusiastic travel companions.

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January 23, 2019

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  • Michael Petesch, the bar's long-time manager
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