OK, this article is a little self-indulgent. I am a massive fan of revolving restaurants. One of the first things I do in a city is to seek out the revolving restaurant situation.
Tacky to some, but a great way to see the city. I have a similar dirty travel secret with the hop on hop off bus.
A revolving restaurant is one that sits upon a platform, usually at the top of a tall tower or hotel, and rotates gently while the building itself stays in place.
The first revolving restaurants were implemented in Germany in the 1950s, and the concept has since spread to tall towers the world over. Most revolving restaurants rotate at the nearly imperceptible rate of one to three times per hour, giving patrons a gentle 360° view of the surroundings below.
Although many rotating restaurants are noted more for their views than their menus, here we’ve compiled a list of some of the best rotating restaurants for both excellent cuisine and stunning panoramas.
These restaurants also change hands often so make sure you check out the website to see what type or style of restaurant it is at that time.
1. Top of the World Restaurant, Las Vegas
Who wouldn’t want to check out the lights of the Las Vegas Strip from on high? The Top of the World Restaurant is located in the top of the Stratosphere Tower (The Strat) at the eastern end of the Strip, some 240 metres above Las Vegas. Bright lights and great food in one of America’s top 10 gourmet restaurants and attracts top chefs.
2. The View, New York City,
New York is a city to see from above, and The View at the New York Marriott Marquis is the only revolving restaurant in Manhattan. Sitting between West 45th and 46th Streets, the hotel’s central location gives The View a prime pre-dinner theatre spot, with excellent vantages of Times Square, Broadway and downtown, all while enjoying the contemporary American cuisine. They also have a Sunday brunch session with unlimited Mimosas. I love this one!
3. Skylon Tower, Niagara Falls,
Enjoy a perfectly cooked salmon fillet or Surf ‘N’ Turf while the roaring cascades of Niagara Falls plummet below you. Wow, what a great location for a revolving restaurant! The food is tasty, the atmosphere is family-friendly, and the view is totally exceptional.
4. O Bar and Dining, Australia Square Sydney
This restaurant is changes chefs every few years, but is generally an amazing fine dining experience. I love this place. It is stunning for cocktails at sunset, dinner or lunch. We have even held a client function here. It always impresses.
5. The Grand Buffet, Hong Kong
Talk about a stunning vista: the millions of twinkling lights that line Victoria Harbour cannot be missed from above. While most people head to Victoria Peak for views of Hong Kong, why not opt for climate-controlled comfort and international cuisine at the only revolving restaurant in Hong Kong. With COVID-19, it has transformed its traditional buffet into a cook before your eyes buffet.
6. The Grand Nile Tower, Grand Hyatt, Cairo
The Revolving Restaurant at the top of the Grand Hyatt Cairo is the highest restaurant in the Middle East. With French-inspired cuisine and outstanding views of the Great Pyramids at Giza and the Nile River, this is one revolving restaurant that has definitely got it right.
7. Olympiaturm, Munich
This restaurant is located at the top of the Olympic Tower in Munich, with amazing views of the city and Olympic Hill and the Olympic Village. Reservations are highly recommended here, but the food and service are excellent, to match the high price tag.
8. Perlan, Iceland
This is perhaps one of the oddest-placed rotating restaurants on earth. Perlan, which means ‘pearl’ in Icelandic, sits atop a series of old water storage tanks, which have now been converted into a uniquely domed shopping mall. Overlooking Reykjavík, this spherical structure makes for a truly unusual dining experience.
9. The Sky, New Otani, Tokyo
The urban jungle of Tokyo is another vista that begs to be seen from on high. The Sky at the New Otani Hotel has received rave reviews for both its food and its 360° views of the skyscrapers that fill the Japanese capital. A concept kitchen, The Sky offers design-your-own meals, where you choose from a range of ingredients and pick your favourite cooking style for a perfect meal.
10. Top of Waikiki, Hawaii
Top of Waikiki is Hawaii’s only revolving restaurant and at the time of writing, has closed due to COVID-19. Do look it up when you are there as it is likely to reopen. I will keep an eye on things here.
