10 Top-of-the-World Revolving Restaurants

Enjoy a bird’s eye view as you dine.

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The idea of eating a gourmet meal or drinking craft cocktails while rotating in a 360 degree circle might not sound very practical or conventional but when you add a spectacular view to the mix, what’s not to like (unless you have vertigo)?

The Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel in Atlanta

The Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel in Atlanta

Situated in the 71-73 floors of The Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel is the iconic Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar and View.

Photo by: The Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar & View, www.sundialrestaurant.com/

The Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar & View, www.sundialrestaurant.com/

The popular trend of revolving restaurants and bars in the U.S. began sometime in the early Sixties after the successful launch of such towering creations as La Ronde (above the Ala Moana mall in Honolulu) and the Space Needle (created for the Seattle World’s Fair in 1962). But as the novelty wore off, the mechanical upkeep and maintenance of such ventures proved to be too costly for some entrepreneurs over time and many once-famous icons like Encounter Restaurant at the Los Angeles International Airport have since closed.

Sunset from the revolving bar/cafe known as The Polaris in Atlanta

Sunset from the revolving bar/cafe known as The Polaris in Atlanta

The Polaris first opened in 1967 and then was remodeled and relaunched in 2014. It is the crowning glory of the Hyatt Regency Atlanta.

Photo by: Hyatt Regency Atlanta

Hyatt Regency Atlanta

But there are still plenty of first rate venues in cities across the U.S. and they continue to offer a unique dining/cocktail experience combined with a stunning scenic vantage point. Here are just a few of the most famous and iconic.

A View from The Sun Dial Restaurant in Atlanta

A View from The Sun Dial Restaurant in Atlanta

A rotating view of downtown Atlanta and the surrounding area can be enjoyed at The Sun Dial Restaurant on the top floors of The Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel.

Photo by: The Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar & View,www.sundialrestaurant.com/

The Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar & View,www.sundialrestaurant.com/

Atlanta is at the top of the list because it is the only U.S. city to currently feature two revolving restaurant/lounges - the Polaris and the Sun Dial. When it first opened in 1967, the Polaris was the signature bar atop the city’s highest hotel at that time - the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. Over the years, the Polaris was eclipsed by other towering luxury hotels with scenic restaurants and was shuttered by 2004. But the blue-domed flying saucer-shaped wonder reopened in 2014 with a complete redesign that includes a rooftop area for a fruit and vegetable garden and beehives. The revolving view, which is 723 feet above the street, makes a delightful backdrop to the inspired cocktails and small gourmet dishes being served such as Steak Oscar with crabmeat and kale and blood orange salad.

An interior view of the Top of the World Restaurant in Las Vegas

An interior view of the Top of the World Restaurant in Las Vegas

Want a spectacular revolving view of Las Vegas at night while you dine? Top of the World Restaurant in Las Vegas's Stratosphere Hotel fills the bill.

Photo by: Francis & Francis, stratospherehotel.com

Francis & Francis, stratospherehotel.com

In 1972 The Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel became Atlanta’s tallest skyscraper and the Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar and View, occupying the 71-73 floors, became a major attraction. Since then One Atlanta Center has become the city’s highest building but the Sun Dial remains a top draw for its spectacular views and cuisine. 

Perched 844 feet above the Las Vegas Strip and rotating a full 360 degrees every 80 minutes, Top of the World offers the ultimate in a romantic dinner date.  The restaurant offers steaks, seafood and specialty dishes with a French accent and is world renowned for its cuisine. Sharing the same location at the top of the Stratosphere Hotel is the 107 SkyLounge where you can enjoy one of the designer cocktails such as “Lemon in the Coconut” (coconut vodka, lemon juice, honey) as you gaze at the Las Vegas skyline by night.

Twilight at RIVUE restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky

Twilight at RIVUE restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky

Here is an interior view of RIVUE, a revolving restaurant at the top of The Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky.

Photo by: RIVUE, www.rivue.com

RIVUE, www.rivue.com

Restaurants with magnificent views of the New York City skyline are not uncommon but it would be hard to top the scenic splendors of The View. Located in the New York Marriott Marquis, the iconic restaurant is situated 48 stories above the city and is a favorite among locals and tourists for its three course prix-fixe dinner and seasonal tasting menus. The lounge is also an ideal place to enjoy cocktails or dessert as the room makes a 360 degree turn every hour. 

The Harbourview Restaurant in Radisson Hotel Duluth

The Harbourview Restaurant in Radisson Hotel Duluth

Nighttime is the right time for a revolving view of Duluth, Minnesota from the Harbourview Restaurant

Photo by: Radisson Hotel Duluth Harbourview, www.radisson.com/duluth-hotel-mn-55802/duluth/hotel/dining

Radisson Hotel Duluth Harbourview, www.radisson.com/duluth-hotel-mn-55802/duluth/hotel/dining

Louisville is best known as the home of the Kentucky Derby, the Louisville Sluggers and some of the best bourbon distilleries in the state. But a lesser known but highly recommended attraction is the RIVUE restaurant and lounge. First launched in 2007, the fine dining establishment sits 25 stories above the city in the Galt House Hotel and offers lovely views of downtown and the Ohio River. A raw bar, local fish, broiled steaks, creative salads and decadent desserts are among the offerings and the Sunday brunch is always a hit attraction.

Overlooking Lake Superior in the heart of downtown Duluth, Minnesota is the Radisson Hotel Duluth-Harbourview which is famous for its rooftop restaurant, JJ Astor. The revolving room, located on the 16th floor, offers plush banquettes or comfortable armchairs for casual dining and drinks. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served alongside the panoramic views. 

SkyCity at the top of the Space Needle in Seattle

SkyCity at the top of the Space Needle in Seattle

One of the first revolving restaurants in the U.S. was at the top of the Space Needle in Seattle - SkyCity.

Photo by: Space Needle, www.spaceneedle.com/information/

Space Needle, www.spaceneedle.com/information/

Need a reason to visit downtown Los Angeles at night? Consider the BonaVista Lounge, located on the 34th floor of the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites, where you are treated to a rotating view of the city’s skylight while enjoying an intimate, upscale dinner and cocktails. An extra bonus is live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights.

Since the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, the Sky Needle has become one of the iconic landmarks of this major port town in Washington State. The observation deck is, of course, a popular tourist destination but the Space Needle’s restaurant, SkyCity, is also worth a visit for its trademark revolving cafe/bar at an elevation of 500 feet. Enjoy Pacific Northwest specialities like Penn Cove mussels, Snake River Farms steaks and morel mushroom risotto along with a wide selection of local and international wines.

An interior view of Cloud Nine Cafe in Dallas, Texas

An interior view of Cloud Nine Cafe in Dallas, Texas

Photo by: Reunion Tower, www.reuniontower.com

Reunion Tower, www.reuniontower.com

Billing itself as “the only rotating restaurant on the west coast of Florida,” Spinners is an extremely popular local and tourist favorite, located on the 12th floor of the Grand Plaza Hotel & Beachfront Resort in St. Petersburg, Florida. Open for lunch and dinner, the restaurant serves up  surf and turf combos, a signature crab cake appetizer with snow pea pods, a Jack Daniels chocolate cake and other specialities while treating customers to superlative views of the Tampa Bay and Gulf of Mexico.

Your best option for getting really high (literally) in Dallas is the Reunion Tower where you can choose between the Cloud Nine Cafe or the Five Sixty Five Restaurant, both of them 50 stories above the street in downtown Dallas. Cloud Nine Cafe is the more informal of the two dining options offering light meals and cocktails while the Five Sixty Five is one of Wolfgang Puck’s creations serving new twists on Asian dishes. Either option offers an amazing rotating view of the city’s skyline.

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