With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today during our fall member drive.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Photos: Spire 73's Rooftop Views Stretch From Catalina Island To The San Gabriel Mountains
To get to Spire 73, the new rooftop bar at the Wilshire Grand (and the tallest open-air bar in the Western Hemisphere), isn't so simple. Enter the building through the hotel entry floor, zip up to the sky lobby on floor 70, and from there (depending on the crowd and wait time), take a second elevator to floor 73, or wait in the increasingly common line to get to that second elevator. If you've ever been to Perch, you're familiar with this process, but unlike Perch (or any other rooftop bar in downtown/Los Angeles/California/North America) the experience from about 900 feet up is staggering.
Not only is Spire 73 one of the highest points in Los Angeles, but it's also located on the outer edge of the downtown loop (the zone circled by the 110, 101, and 10 freeways), meaning that it's a clear view out to the Hollywood sign, downtown Glendale, Dodger Stadium, Orange County, Palos Verdes, Catalina Island, and Santa Monica. Or, if your interest is more architecturally-focused, the crown and spire of the Wilshire Grand still loom over the rooftop bar, giving night-time imbibers a light show and a reason to crane their necks up.
And since watching the Southern California sunset on an empty stomach is a faux-pas, Spire 73 has you covered. The cocktail list is covers a healthy range, and the Korean influence (the Wilshire Grand is owned by Korean Airlines' parent company Hanjin Group) appears in such drinks as the "Korean Paloma", a traditional paloma with the addition of sweet grain-based makgeolli, or the "Seoul Margarita", a tequila and mezcal-based margarita with the addition of Korean pear juice.
Spire 73 also stocks a deep list of beers, wines (yes, rosés, too), and even small plates to tide over your hunger. Order the "FB&J" for some decadent nostalgia (the "FB" stands for "foie butter" and the "J" is balsamic strawberry jam), or go big with the $275 "Ossetra Caviar Sunday".
Support for LAist comes from
Ultimately, your order will be an added bonus to the experience, as Spire 73 is built for the views. Oh, and make sure to bring a light jacket—it gets windy up there.
Spire 73 is located at 900 Wilshire Boulevard in downtown Los Angeles, and is open daily from 4pm to midnight. (213) 688-7777
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
It will be the second national day of protest against President Donald Trump. -
Restaurants share resources in the food hall in West Adams as Los Angeles reckons with increasing restaurant closures. -
The university says the compact, as the Trump administration called it, could undermine free inquiry and academic excellence. -
Metro officials said it will be able to announce an opening date “soon.” -
While working for the county, the DA’s office alleges that 13 employees fraudulently filed for unemployment, claiming to earn less than $600 a week. -
The L.A. County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to declare immigration enforcement actions a local emergency.
Best of LAist