After more than a decade as one of Atlanta’s favorite outdoor gathering places along the Beltline’s Eastside Trail, Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall heads west and opened its second outpost in West Midtown at 690 11th Street on Wednesday, October 21, followed by a grand opening “3-Day Weekend” celebration this weekend, October 23-25. Featuring 8,000 square feet of outdoor space, Ladybird West Midtown channels the same laid-back atmosphere in a stunning new open-air escape filled with trees, vines and fresh air, ample free validated parking and special Westside programming for locals, visitors and nearby Georgia Tech fans to enjoy.
Opening 3-Day Weekend Celebration
Long known as the “Home of the 3-Day Weekend,” Ladybird West Midtown will host a weekend-long celebration from Friday, October 23 – Sunday, October 25. Each day will feature a unique line-up of programming, as well as weekend-long specials to enjoy around the clock.
- All Weekend: Enjoy daily brunch Friday – Sunday starting at 11AM. The first 50 guests each day will receive limited-edition “Go West” merchandise and entry to win “The Ultimate Ladybird Tab,” a $1,200 value gift card to use all year long at Ladybird West Midtown. Ladybird will also debut a new retail collection featuring Westside exclusives, including a “Go West” candle created in collaboration with Atlanta-local candle company and neighbor, Brick+Mortar. Dogs are encouraged to make a visit to enjoy Ladybird’s new “Bark Ranger” dog menu. Through November 15, 100% of proceeds from the dog menu and optional roundup from guest checks will benefit the Atlanta Humane Society.
- Friday, October 23: Settle in for weekday “Golden Hour” specials from 3-6PM including $3 Ladybird Lager, $4 rotating off-menu snack and $5 cocktail special. From 5-8PM, Ladybird will host a “Westside Trading Post” market pop-up on the front patio featuring local makers and vendors, and a complimentary “Go West” tote bag while supplies last. Live music will take over the new built-in stage from 7 to 10PM, keeping the energy high and good times rolling into the night.
- Saturday, October 24: Ladybird will host its first official Georgia Tech Football watch party and post-game celebration as the Yellow Jackets take on Boston College at 3:30PM, with the game shown on Ladybird’s new 12-foot screen. Fans are invited to come decked out in their GT gear and sip on game day drink specials, including Ladybird’s Westside-exclusive “Ramblin’ Wrecked” Patio Punch cocktail pouch, made with Pedro Furtivo Blanco, Strega, Georgia peach and honey cordial, lemon and bitters. Enjoy a rotating line-up of live music and DJ throughout the day.
- Sunday, October 25: The weekend will wind down with live music from 12-7PM. At 3PM, the Atlanta Humane Society will host a Puppy Pop-Up with adoptable pups ready to play, while guests are invited to bring their own four-legged friends to support the Humane Society with treats from the dog menu.
An Urban Campground in West Midtown
Located on 11th Street across from the former Six Feet Under space, Ladybird West Midtown has transformed a former industrial building into a sprawling, fully open-air destination with approximately 8,000 square feet of outdoor space. Rather than enclosing the building, the team peeled it open, removing large sections of the roof, planting trees through the existing concrete and inviting climbing vines to reclaim the structure, blurring the line between indoors and out. Flooded with natural light and breeze, the counter-service restaurant features a 50-seat wraparound bar crafted from live-edge wood and reclaimed cladding; a sprawling grove with a live entertainment stage and 12-foot screen; covered dining and lounge areas; and a hidden, moody 700 square foot private dining room. Throughout the space, guests will find familiar camp lodge-inspired details synonymous with Ladybird, including a national park-style welcome campboard, a “Midnight Rider” repurposed Airstream bar, communal beer garden tables, weathered wood, taxidermy, camp artifacts and collected curiosities. Adding to the ease of the experience, Ladybird West Midtown offers two-hour complimentary parking in two adjacent lots and a convenient roundabout driveway for rideshare drop-off and pickup.
Campfire Cuisine, Cocktails & New Dog Menu
Executive Chef Dan Diersen, who has led Ladybird’s menu for the past five years, brings deep roots in barbecue from experiences at Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q, Woods Chapel BBQ and Chicago’s Green Street Smoked Meats. Ladybird West Midtown will feature a new rotisserie-style smoker giving Chef Dan more room to experiment with live-fire cooking and regularly feature smoker menu specials. Guests can expect Ladybird’s signature campfire cuisine including its Fried Chicken Sandwich, Smoked Brisket Pastrami and Smoked Nashville Wings, alongside a handful of new, West Midtown additions including the Trail Pack, a shareable lunchbox filled with housemade meat sticks, cheddar crisps, pickles, deviled eggs, trail mix and fruit roll-up, and Campfire Roasted Chicken, a half roasted chicken, root vegetables and jus served in a foil pack just like on the trailhead. Behind the bar, Ladybird brings a familiar line-up of craft beer, Patio Punch pouches, frozen drinks and signature cocktails such as “Old Faithful” and “Yee-Haw,” in addition to new offerings like “The Long Way Home”, a savory take on a Boulevardier made with Duck Club Bourbon, Select, Agini Balsamico and Walnut Bitters. The menu doesn’t stop with humans, as Ladybird unveils a new $5 Bark Ranger dog special featuring a housemade Puppy Patio Punch made with beef broth and carrot, and Dog Bone made of pumpkin puree and whole wheat flour. 100% of proceeds will benefit Atlanta Humane Society through November 15.
Hours and Opening Details
Ladybird West Midtown will be open Monday through Thursday from 3PM to Midnight; Friday and Saturday from 11AM to 1AM; and Sunday from 11AM to Midnight, offering three-day weekend brunch, happy hour, dinner and late-night service, and plans to expand to weekday lunch after opening. Two-hour complimentary parking is available in two adjacent lots, as well as a front roundabout driveway for rideshare drop-off and pickup. Guests should register their vehicle upon arrival on Ladybird’s parking validation screen at entry. Additional free parking is available along Bellingrath Ave. and Edgehill Ave. For more information, visit www.ladybirdatl.com and follow along on Instagram @ladybirdatlanta.
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