Come for the creative craft cocktails, 20+ local beers on tap, and snackable, chef-driven small plates. Stay for the hip, high energy ambiance, rustic-meets-modern décor, and weekly DJs and live entertainment. Establishment is Midtown’s premier nightlife destination, designed and built with reclaimed Georgia wood from over fifteen counties, antique iron, and historical relics dating back to 1854. Nestle into a cozy booth to order a round with friends or grab a seat on the outdoor patio while overlooking the city streets – the options for indulging are endless.

We chatted with David Reed, Establishment’s operating partner, to learn more about Midtown’s local watering hole. Hear from David below and catch the restaurant’s feature on our Instagram. 

How has your restaurant grown in the past nine years at Colony Square?

Establishment has definitely evolved over the years – we’ve grown our team, expanded our menu, and even added additional bar space. We opened our doors as a sophisticated cocktail lounge, but have really blossomed into a well-rounded dining and nightlife destination.

What’s the biggest difference(s) you’ve seen pre-redevelopment versus Colony Square reimagined? 

Man, it feels like we were in another era pre-redevelopment. We’ve seen the property through a lot of different phases and love the overall energy shift post-redevelopment. There’s more nightlife traffic and the modernized space brings a younger demographic to the heart of Midtown. It’s really become something special.

 Establishment’s menu was recently revamped. What does that process look like? And what are some of your new favorite dishes?

 With the revamp, we’re still serving up a bar menu vibe versus fine dining, but we focused on adding more shareable small plates and happy hour items. We wanted to offer a way for our guests to sample an array of items without breaking the bank. My current favorites are the duck tacos (that mango salsa adds a little extra something special) and our signature Establishment burger. I may be biased, but I think it’s one of the best burgers in the city.

 You’ve incorporated new event programming (like Martini Mondays) into the weekly lineup. How do you decide on what to offer the community?

 Mondays in particular are a good night for activating our space and driving more traffic to the restaurant on a non-typical night out. Martinis are having a real moment right now, so it was a no-brainer to highlight our existing martini menu with a special promotion. We look for opportunities to add fun programming and events to keep things fresh for our Midtown community.