SkyCity

Last updated
SkyCity
Sky city 2006.jpg
SkyCity during a service in 2006
SkyCity
Restaurant information
Established1962
Closed2017 (2017)
Owner(s)Space Needle Corporation
Head chefJeff Maxfield
Food type Fine dining, Pacific Northwest cuisine, new American cuisine
Dress code Casual
Street address Space Needle
400 Broad Street
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
ReservationsYes

SkyCity (originally known as the Eye of the Needle) [1] [2] was a revolving restaurant and bar situated atop the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington, United States. [3] [4]

Contents

Description and history

The restaurant featured a 14-foot-deep (4.3 m) carousel (or ring-shaped) dining floor on which sat patrons' tables, chairs, and dining booths. Its floor revolved on a track and wheel system weighing roughly 125 tons, moving at a rate of one revolution every 47 minutes. It was the oldest operating revolving restaurant in the world at the time of its closure. [5] [6] Due to the balance and precision of its design, the floor's rotation is accomplished using just a single 1½-horsepower motor. [7]

The restaurant was designed by John Graham & Company and styled after the La Ronde they had built atop the Ala Moana Center in 1963. [8] SkyCity was a fine dining restaurant with a casual dress code and served Pacific Northwest cuisine and new American cuisine, providing local seafood, steak, chicken and vegetarian items among others. [5] [9] [10] [11] [12]

The restaurant was closed in September 2017 for the $100 million "The Century Project" renovation at the Space Needle, with plans for the dining area to be outfitted with a clear glass floor. [13] The glass floor would enable diners to view the city below them and also the mechanics that operate the revolving floor. [14] When completed, SkyCity was to have the world's first revolving restaurant with a glass floor. [13] [15] It was replaced with the Loupe Lounge, a cocktail lounge that opened in the restaurant's former space on April 9, 2021. [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space Needle</span> Observation tower in Seattle, Washington, U.S.

The Space Needle is an observation tower in Seattle, Washington, United States. Considered to be an icon of the city, it has been designated a Seattle landmark. Located in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood, it was built in the Seattle Center for the 1962 World's Fair, which drew over 2.3 million visitors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Columbia Center</span> Office skyscraper in Seattle, Washington, United States. Tallest building in Washington (state).

The Columbia Center, formerly named the Bank of America Tower and Columbia Seafirst Center, is a skyscraper in downtown Seattle, Washington, United States. The 76-story structure is the tallest building in Seattle and the state of Washington, reaching a height of 933 ft (284 m). At the time of its completion, the Columbia Center was the tallest structure on the West Coast; as of 2017, it is the fourth-tallest, behind buildings in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunsphere</span> Observation tower in Tennessee, United States

The Sunsphere located in World’s Fair Park in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, is a 266-foot (81 m) high hexagonal steel truss structure, topped with a 75 ft (23 m) gold-colored glass sphere that served as the symbol of the 1982 World's Fair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seattle Center</span> Arts, educational, tourism and entertainment center in Seattle, Washington

Seattle Center is an arts, educational, tourism and entertainment center in Seattle, Washington, United States. Spanning an area of 74 acres, it was originally built for the 1962 World's Fair. Its landmark feature is the 605 ft (184 m) tall Space Needle, which at the time of its completion was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. Seattle Center is located just north of Belltown in the Uptown neighborhood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windows on the World</span> Defunct restaurant in New York City

Windows on the World was a complex of dining, meeting, and entertainment venues on the top floors of the North Tower of the original World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Revolving restaurant</span> Restaurant eating space designed to rest atop a broad circular revolving platform

A revolving restaurant or rotating restaurant is usually a tower restaurant eating space designed to rest atop a broad circular revolving platform that operates as a large turntable. The building remains stationary and the diners are carried on the revolving floor. The revolving rate varies between one and three times per hour and enables patrons to enjoy a panoramic view without leaving their seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Herbfarm</span> American restaurant in Washington

The Herbfarm is an American restaurant serving Pacific Northwest cuisine and an early practitioner of local food. This is a philosophy that promotes the growing, enjoyment, and consumption of foods from a limited region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainbow Room</span> Event space and restaurant in New York City

The Rainbow Room is a private event space on the 65th floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza at Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Run by Tishman Speyer, it is among the highest venues in New York City. The Rainbow Room serves classic and contemporary American cuisine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Four Seasons Restaurant</span> Defunct restaurant in New York City

The Four Seasons Restaurant was a New American cuisine restaurant in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City from 1959 to 2019. The Four Seasons operated within the Seagram Building at 99 East 52nd Street for most of its existence, although it relocated to 42 East 49th Street in its final year of operation. The restaurant was themed around the seasons of the year, with menus, decorations, and vegetation that changed every three months. It attracted numerous high-profile personalities and often hosted "power lunches". Despite mixed commentary of the restaurant's food, the Four Seasons was highly popular, winning the James Beard Award many times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aria Resort and Casino</span> Resort and casino in Las Vegas, Nevada

Aria Resort and Casino is a luxury resort and casino, and the primary property at the CityCenter complex, located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. It is owned by The Blackstone Group and operated by MGM Resorts International.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sixteen (restaurant)</span> Restaurant on the sixteenth floor of the Trump International Hotel and Tower, Chicago

Sixteen was an American restaurant on the sixteenth floor of the Trump International Hotel and Tower in the Near North Side community area of Chicago. It was one of three food and dining options in the hotel's room service offering. Sixteen opened in early February 2008, and an adjoining outdoor patio terrace, named The Terrace at T, opened on June 25, 2009 following the completion of the hotel's construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Founders Tower (Oklahoma City)</span> Residential in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Founders Tower is a Googie-style residential skyscraper located northwest of downtown Oklahoma City in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The tower is one of the most well-known landmarks in the city skyline. It has a height of 275 feet (84 m) and 20 stories, with a restaurant called 360 featuring 360-degree panoramic views of Oklahoma City on its top floor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The 5 Point Cafe</span> Bar and restaurant in Seattle, Washington, U.S.

The 5 Point Cafe is a bar and 24-hour cafe in the Belltown neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, owned by Dave Meinert. It is located by Tilikum Place and is open since 1929. It is considered the oldest drinking establishment in the neighborhood and has received accolades from local media for being one of the best dive bars in the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hyatt Regency Chennai</span> Luxury hotel in Chennai, India

Hyatt Regency Chennai is an 18-storey five-star luxury hotel located on Anna Salai at Teynampet in Chennai, India. Designed in 1986, the construction of the hotel started in the 1990s. However, the completion was delayed for nearly two decades and the hotel was opened on 10 August 2011 at a cost of ₹5.50 billion. Built on 18,510 square metres (199,200 sq ft) of land, it is the first Hyatt hotel in South India and has 327 rooms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SMT House</span> Restaurant in Cheongdam, Seoul

SMT House, commonly referred to as SMT Seoul, is a restaurant in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, owned by SM F&B Development, a subsidiary of SM Entertainment. The restaurant has five stories, each of which has different style and concept. The first and second floors offer a space for lunch, deserts and café in the daytime and for Spanish tapas restaurant at night. On the 3rd and 4th floors diners can order a one course specialty called, "Seoul Tapas Style."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Altabira City Tavern</span> Defunct restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Altabira City Tavern, or simply Altabira, was an American restaurant on the top of Hotel Eastlund in Portland, Oregon's Lloyd District. The restaurant opened in 2015 and closed in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Le Pavillon (Daniel Boulud restaurant)</span> Restaurant in Manhattan, New York City

Le Pavillon is a restaurant in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. The restaurant is owned by the Dinex Group, a restaurant company led by chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud. Le Pavillon opened in May 2021 in One Vanderbilt, a skyscraper completed in 2020 in Midtown East.

Mister Jiu's is a Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant in Chinatown, San Francisco. It specializes in Cantonese cuisine blended with modern Californian twists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bavarian Meats</span> Meat producer in Seattle, Washington, U.S.

Bavarian Meats is an American meat producer and processing company based in Seattle, Washington. The company supplies meats to various delicatessens and grocery stores in the Pacific Northwest. From 1961 to 2020, Bavarian Meats operated a delicatessen of their own in Downtown Seattle, including a space at Pike Place Market.

References

  1. ↑ Shannon, R. (2008). Seattle's Historic Restaurants. Images of America. Arcadia Publishing Incorporated. p. 70. ISBN   978-1-4396-4252-8 . Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Space Needle: Fun Facts". Archived from the original on 2017-03-26. Retrieved 2017-03-25.
  3. ↑ Fraioli, J. (2012). Seattle Chef's Table: Extraordinary Recipes from the Emerald City. Chef's Table. Lyons Press. p. 26. ISBN   978-0-7627-8706-7. Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  4. ↑ Randl, C. (2008). Revolving Architecture: A History of Buildings That Rotate, Swivel, and Pivot. Princeton Architectural Press. p. 111. ISBN   978-1-56898-681-4. Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  5. 1 2 Gunderson, Nick (May 4, 2013). "Food, including that on the Space Needle, soars at Seattle Center". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  6. ↑ American Heritage of Invention & Technology. American Heritage. 2005. p. 55. Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  7. ↑ "A Muse News: Sky City". Archived from the original on 2008-05-10. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  8. ↑ "360° View at the Top of Waikiki". The Tasty Island. November 6, 2009. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
  9. ↑ Clement, Bethany Jean (August 9, 2017). "Sorrow at the Space Needle: Dinner at one of Seattle's most expensive restaurants". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  10. ↑ "SkyCity's Jeff Maxfield Talks Local Ingredients & Fatherhood". Seattle Magazine. September 25, 2015. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  11. ↑ Beckley, Barbara (2002). Hispanic Business. Hispanic Business Publications. Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  12. ↑ "SkyCity at the Space Needle". The Stranger. March 1, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  13. 1 2 Hallinan, Bridget (October 11, 2017). "Acrophobes, Beware: Seattle's Space Needle Is Getting a Glass Floor". Condé Nast Traveler. Archived from the original on November 23, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Space Needle plans glass floors and thrilling views with $100M renovation (Video and Images)". Puget Sound Business Journal. June 12, 2017. Archived from the original on June 19, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Space Needle undergoing seismic upgrade starting Tuesday". KING 5. July 18, 2017. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  16. ↑ Guarente, Gabe (April 5, 2021). "The Space Needle's Loupe Lounge Set to Reopen on April 9". Eater Seattle. Vox Media. Archived from the original on February 28, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2022.

47°37′14″N122°20′57″W / 47.62056°N 122.34917°W / 47.62056; -122.34917

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.