Tybee Business Spotlight: The Kelpie
Bringing a taste of the Scottish Highlands to the Lowcountry
In August of 2025, Tybee was fortunate to receive a new and novel contribution to its eclectic food scene. Owner and executive chef Gordon Card and his co-owner and wife Whitney opened The Kelpie bistro and pub, located next to the Chu’s Mart on 1st Street, bringing international flavors and unexpected fusions to the island. After serving as the executive chef at Bubba Gumbo’s and having also owned and operated various restaurants between Scotland and Savannah over time, Gordon decided it was time to bring a new culinary concept to our coastal community.
Named for the shape-shifting water spirit of Scottish folklore, The Kelpie has quickly become lauded by locals and tourists alike for their unique cuisine and welcoming atmosphere. The bistro pub offers a small regular menu that represents their commitment to creativity and culinary excellence, along with weekly specials, all artfully made with ingredients sourced from top quality purveyors. Gordon’s culinary approach involves taking traditional dishes from European cuisines and elevating them with inventive ingredients and methods.
“Having lived in a multitude of countries, I’ve drawn inspiration from all those different cultures, from the people I’ve been around to the chefs I’ve worked with and friendships that I’ve gained over the years. I love trying to use all of those experiences to create something new for Tybee,” he said.
Take, for example, their Haggis Quesadilla, a Scottish Spanish fusion that is as unconventional as it is delectable. Guests can enjoy an amalgamation of fares from the U.K., Italy, Spain, Germany, and more reinvented with coastal flair.
In addition to the menu offerings, The Kelpie boasts a robust cocktail program curated in part by Gordon’s longtime friend, local master mixologist Scott Marshall.
“We worked together to create upscale versions of old-timey British and European cocktails,” said Gordon.
Their signature cocktail bears the restaurant’s namesake: The Kelpie Collins stuns every time with its mystical mix of colors that are reminiscent of a mermaid’s tail, made with their housemade blueberry rum.
Much like that rum, essentially everything on the menu at The Kelpie is made from scratch in house, which is just one among many reasons why patrons should dine here.
“It’s an emphasis on something different for Tybee,” said Whitney. “Tybee has so much to offer and we wanted to bring something different, yet comforting and filling and delicious — not just something that tastes good but something that feels good.”
Diners can certainly feel good about supporting The Kelpie because the restaurant regularly gives back to the community through fundraising and sponsorships, having benefitted Renegade Paws Rescue and The Haven at Islands Counseling as well as local veterans groups and other nonprofits. Furthermore, The Kelpie has established itself as a gathering place for community members, hosting family movie nights, whiskey & wine nights, and other events.
“When you walk into our pub it should feel like an extension of home,” said Gordon. “You want to go into a place that feels welcoming, that feels comfortable. Where you can have a conversation with the person that’s sitting next to you, and the bartender, the waiter, and the chef who comes out. The Kelpie is that homestyle, welcoming place to come to.”
Open Thursday through Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., The Kelpie is located at 725 B 1st St. To learn more, visit thekelpiepub.com.
