71Above Ushers in Downtown’s Golden Age

Farley Elliott is the Senior Editor at Eater LA and the author of Los Angeles Street Food: A History From Tamaleros to Taco Trucks. He covers restaurants in every form, from breaking news to the culture, people, and history that surrounds LA's dining landscape.

Downtown's undeniable new destination 71Above floats to life atop the U.S. Bank Tower this Friday, offering sweeping views of the city and endless culinary possibilities on the plate.

Downtown’s newest crown jewel is almost ready to shine, as the long-awaited 71Above lights up for the first time this Friday. The glassy, 360-degree space perched atop the U.S. Bank Tower has plans to help redefine the city's dining scene, one spectacular view — and equally gorgeous meal —at a time.

The project first broke through to the public in 2014 after the U.S. Bank Tower secured some $50 million in upgrade money, but only last summer did news of the primary players start to trickle out. There’s Emil Eyvazoff, the serial restaurateur responsible for putting other high-rise concepts like Elevate Lounge into play over the years. And then there’s Vartan Abgaryan, the stellar former Cliff’s Edge chef who along with GM Alex Hasbany is intent on bringing something special to the building.

And special indeed it is. Draped with in-the-round views that let customers spy everything from the San Gabriels to the ocean (and choose their own particular seat on Tock to maximize the experience), 71Above is unlike any other restaurant in Los Angeles.

Architect team Tag Front designed the room to be contemporary but timeless, technologically advanced but endlessly comfortable. White oak wraps much of the room, including the tables themselves, while subtle golden touches run across the floor and edges of the room. Even the open kitchen has been artfully designed to bring Abgaryan into the space without pulling focus from the view.

71Above officially opens its doors this Friday for dinner service. Hours run 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. nightly, and reservations can be made shortly. Three-course dinners run $70 per person, with lunch and brunch options to come in the following weeks.

71Above
633 W. 5th St.
Los Angeles, CA