Black and white drawing of a girl playing a video game with a controller, sitting on a bed, in a room with a window and a potted plant.

fine dining

Black-and-white illustration of a person with a magnifying glass and a star-shaped badge, wearing a suit and tie, depicted in a cartoon style.

casual dining

Black and white sketch of a man wearing sunglasses, a cap, and a hoodie, with a serious expression.

Social media

Diagram of a human arm showing muscles, bones, and tendons, with labels indicating parts such as biceps, triceps, radius, ulna, and humerus.

website and menu design

MERCHANDISE and GRAPHIC DESIGN

A cartoon illustration of a cherubic child with curly hair, loosely holding a flower in one hand, surrounded by an ornate decorative border.

OUR STORY

Poolside Agency was founded in 2022 by David Ottestad and Johnny Hamilton, longtime collaborators who first met in college and spent years touring in a band together. After pursuing branding and marketing separately—and often hiring each other on projects—they decided to formally join forces and build an agency focused on creativity and collaboration.

David’s 9 years of experience as a bartender sparked Poolside’s hospitality focus, and today the agency has grown into a 14-person team working with dozens of restaurants across Orange County.

WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT

Unlike large, traditional PR agencies that move slowly, we’re a young, nimble, and creative team that thrives on adaptability. Speed, creativity, and deep industry insight set us apart.

We’re not chasing hundreds of clients or building automated one-size-fits-all platforms. Instead, we work with select chef-driven restaurants where we know we can deliver real impact.

FULL SCOPE MARKETING

Poolside is more than a digital agency. We provide comprehensive marketing services that cover every touchpoint:

· Social Media Management

· Graphic Design, Photography & Videography

· Website Design & Development

· Print, Email, and SMS Campaigns

· Custom Merchandise & Branding

This full-scope approach gives our clients a strong marketing foundation that adapts as the industry evolves.

OUR ADVANTAGE OVER IN HOUSE TEAMS

Hiring in-house marketing talent can be limiting—too focused on a single restaurant and insulated from the larger industry. At Poolside, we work with 25–30 restaurants weekly, giving us a broad perspective on what works, what doesn’t, and where the market is heading. Our clients lean on us not only for execution, but also for strategic insight and trend awareness.

LONGTERM PARTNERSHIPS

We’re not in this for quick wins. Most of our clients choose to work with us on a retainer basis, because marketing success comes from consistency and evolution over time. We value building long-term relationships with restaurants that inspire us—and in return, we provide hands-on support, strategic vision, and measurable growth. 

  • A graphic design with the word 'Descanso' integrated into a logo featuring a flame and a baton or stick.

    Working with Poolside has been an incredible experience. Their passion for their craft is clear in everything they do, from social media to graphic design. They’re responsive, creative, and always bring fresh ideas to the table. On top of that, they’re genuinely friendly and fun to work with, which makes the process enjoyable and impactful for our restaurant.

    - Caroline Waren, Descanso Restaurant

  • Logo for 21 Oceanfront Restaurant with black text and decorative elements in an oval shape.

    Poolside Agency came highly recommended to me to redesign our businesses’ websites and they absolutely delivered. They revamped our two websites in less than thirty days, constantly communicating with us on design preferences and structural suggestions. Our new sites are professional and clean, exactly what we wanted. I could not recommend anyone more qualified and efficient to design a website than Poolside Agency.

    - Sevan Levonian, 21 Oceanfront

  • Neon sign of a cartoonish rooster with a green body, red comb, and red beak, set against a black background.

    Poolside has undoubtedly enhanced the public visibility of my restaurant through their consistent social media, web, print digital media, and advertising campaigns. Their industry expertise is evident in the sales goals we have surpassed during my six-month tenure with Poolside. Poolside is characterized by professionalism, creativity, and engagement. I wholeheartedly recommend Poolside to any restaurant owner seeking to elevate their company to new heights.

    - Matthew Hanna, Zecto Hot Chicken

  • A man with long, wavy blond hair wearing sunglasses with a reflection of a tree and sky, standing outdoors with sunlight behind him.

    Poolside Agency has been a godsend and a breath of fresh air. They produce the best quality content and they take the thinking out of it for me. They’re so good at identifying my brand and helping me display it in a way I never could have on my own. I couldn’t be happier with the content they produce or the results it gets.

    - Niko Loyotha, Nosotros Tequila