State Farm Arena, the former Philips Arena and new home of the N.B.A.'s Atlanta Hawks, is slated to reopen in October following a $192.5 million renovation—the second largest in the league's history. The transformed arena will include new seating, the third-largest center hung scoreboard in the N.B.A., and entertainment options including Topgolf Swing Suites and Killer Mike’s Swag Shop, a four-seat barbershop overlooking the court. The arena will also have the Hawks Bar, which will be the N.B.A.’s first courtside bar. The venue, which hosts around 170 events annually, can hold as many as 21,000 people.
A Hyatt hotel in Midtown was rebranded as Hyatt Centric Midtown Atlanta in August. The hotel, which is located between Piedmont Park and the Peachtree Street towers, has 194 guest rooms and a Southern comfort food restaurant and bar. The hotel has 3,343 square feet of meeting space, with the largest room accommodating nearly 200 guests reception-style.
Pin & Proper, a venue that offers “pinfall,” a game that combines football and bowling, opened in Grant Park in August. In addition to space for the game, the venue offers small bites and shared plates of American food, as well as a full bar that includes cocktails created by Rob Floyd, the main bartender on SpikeTV’s Bar Rescue. The venue, which has 8,600 square feet of interior space and 1,200 square feet of outdoor patio space, can seat as many as 375 guests and holds more than 500 guests standing. The space has two V.I.P. lanes with lounge seating to rent for private parties and also offers full and partial buyouts.
Reformation Brewery opened its second location in downtown Woodstock in September. The 6,000-square-foot, five-barrel brewhouse is home to the brewery’s research and development facility, as well as two public bars that serve 16 to 24 unique beers at any time. The brewery can hold more than 200 guests standing inside and has additional space at an expansive outdoor deck and beer garden. The facility is available for special events and meetings.
Grand Lux Cafe, an upscale eatery chain owned by the Cheesecake Factory, opened at Phipps Plaza in August. The California-based chain serves a variety of American fare, including burgers, pizza, pasta, steaks, and seafood. The 10,000-square-foot restaurant seats 340 people.
Hampton Inn & Suites Atlanta Buckhead Place opened in July, just minutes from Phipps Square and Lenox Square malls. The property has 186 guest rooms and features local artwork throughout. Along with three meeting rooms that each seat 46 guests theater-style, the hotel has a 1,952-square-foot ballroom that seats 75 guests theater-style.
Guac y Margys, a bar that specializes in margaritas and Mexican fare, opened on the Eastside Beltline in July. The festive spot serves nine specialty margaritas and also offers chips and guacamole, a rotating selection of tacos, and brunch on the weekend. The 1,300-square-foot venue seats 80 people inside and at an outdoor patio.
Ravine, a production studio and special event space, opened in Midtown in August. The 16,000-square-foot venue features a design inspired by recording studios of the late 1960s and early ‘70s, which is the backdrop for live shows, concerts, live TV shows, and more productions the venue hosts. For special events, the venue can accommodate as many as 750 guests for receptions. The venue is only open when booked and offers catering by Bold Catering & Design.
After months of delays, Fox Theatre opened the Marquee Club in May. The membership-based club, which is presented by Lexus, is available for use during public performances at the theater and offers 10,000 square feet of space featuring a design with Moorish, Arabic, and Art Nouveau influences. The club also offers access to the theater’s rooftop terrace that overlooks the marquee and Peachtree Street. The club, which holds as many as 400 for receptions, can be accessed through annual memberships or on a per-event basis. The club is available for private events where there isn't a show on the main stage.
Bazati, a multi-level market, restaurant, and bar, opened inside the Common Ground development on the Eastside Beltline in August. The 7,000-square-foot venue includes the Brasserie, a 1920s Parisian-style restaurant on the first floor, which serves classic French lunch and dinner fare helmed by chef Remi Granger. The Brasserie has two bars, a lounge area, and a 3,000-square-foot outdoor patio and garden. The Brasserie can hold semi-private cocktail parties for as many as 80 guests standing. For full buyouts, the venue holds 200 people reception-style or 200 for a seated dinner, with 100 people inside and 100 outside.
