Vartan Abgaryan Leaving Cliff's Edge for US Bank Tower's 71Above

New York City's iconic Rainbow Room, where Dale DeGroff helped launch the rebirth of classic cocktails, sits high above Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan. LA's equivalent, which was first unveiled in a teaser video last week, will be called 71Above, and will have (soon to be former) Cliff's Edge lead Vartan Abgaryan as its opening chef, reports LA Mag. Restaurateur Emil Eyvazoff, who also owns Elevate and Takami Sushi in Financial District, will control the towering restaurant, which sits atop the U.S. Bank Tower in Bunker Hill.

Boasting 360 degree views stretching from the San Gabriel Mountains to the ocean, 71Above plans to serve Abgaryan's elemental, seasonal cooking, with influence coming from every part of the city's culinary heritage. Meanwhile, it's a sad loss for Cliff's Edge, one of the best restaurants in town, and a longtime Silver Lake gem. Despite the ambiance and space, the goal is to make an approachable restaurant that won't break the bank. Abgaryan will remain at Cliff's Edge until the end of summer as 71Above continues to build out.

71Above
71st Floor
633 West 5th Street
Los Angeles, CA