71Above Elevates Downtown L.A. Dining to a New Level

Fiona Chandra

At 1,000 feet above the ground, high-end dining in the form of 71Above will open on the 71st floor of the US Bank Tower; currently, the tallest building west of the Mississippi River, giving it the highest view of any other restaurant in Los Angeles. The restaurant will offer a 360-degree view of the city, from the ocean to the mountains. It also sits above the newly opened Skyspace and the Skyslide, which gives Angelenos the thrill of gliding down an all-glass slide from the 70th to the 69th floor. There are almost 200 windows with tint in the restaurant allowing for a fully controllable fine-tuned mood.

Many high-rise restaurants around the country boast astonishing views but offer subpar food and drinks but as one of the most anticipated restaurant openings of the year, 71Above will definitely not be one of them. A project from Emil Eyvazoff, the man behind another restaurant, Takami Sushi and Elevate /Lounge, 71Above will have chef Vartan Abgaryan (recently of Cliff’s Edge) helming the kitchen as a chef-owner. Chef Abgaryan promises that the menu will incorporate the multicultural diversity of Los Angeles and the region’s bountiful seasonal produce. The chef’s Instagram posts gave a sneak peek of what may be coming: a stunning bouquet of summer squash, basil, garlic, pine nut, pumpernickel and parmesan. There’s also the extravagant oysters topped with uni and caviar along with Champagne because if you’re going to dine above the clouds, you might as well do it right. Desserts will be created by pastry chef Gregory Baumgartner, previously at E.P. & L.P.

The eatery will also have a curated wine list and craft cocktails. The vino offered is courtesy of master sommelier Reggie Narito and Catherine Morel (Bourbon Steak). The cocktails from rising star Darwin Manahan are sure to complement every meal. With the food, the wine, the cocktails, and the view, 71Above is set to be the hottest dining destination in L.A.

71Above opens on July 15.