Enter the lobby of the U.S. Bank Tower, a 1,018-foot skyscraper on West Fifth Street, and take the elevator to the 54th floor. But wait, there is more. A second elevator escorts guests to the 71st floor. The doors open into 71Above, a dining experience like no other in Los Angeles.
On many occasions, the first words from diners’ mouths when they see the view is, “Wow.”
“We are very fortunate because we get to share that wow moment,” said general manager Alex Hasbany, who has worked at 71Above since it opened its doors in 2016.
Javier Lopez was hired one month after the opening and quickly ascended from executive sous chef to executive chef after Vartan Abgaryan stepped away.
There are basically four people responsible for creating 71Above’s one-of-a-kind dining experience: the primary owner, Emil Eyvazoff; Hasbany, who previously worked at The Palm Restaurant; beverage director Catherine Morel, the first person hired to join the team; and Javier Lopez, who was hired one month after the opening and quickly ascended from executive sous chef to executive chef after Vartan Abgaryan stepped away.
Although these four comprise the core of this super culinary crew, Hasbany emphasized that the best part of the restaurant is the staff.
“We are a destination restaurant,” Hasbany stated. “This is an incredible LA experience. Guests tell us the food and service are better than they had expected. We like to focus on that. They almost forget about the view. It becomes part of the overall experience.”
71Above is a place where people go to celebrate: birthdays, anniversaries, and special occasions.
According to Hasbany, oftentimes, there are four to five proposals a week, and sometimes that many in one night.
“People will request rose petals on the ground leading to the table and violinists,” he shared. “But I have to explain that there are 200 other people having dinner in the same space. We do have a helicopter company that will fly past our windows with a proposal sign, and we videotape it.”
This surprise sends most brides-to-be over the moon. Except a few weeks ago when, as Hasbany revealed, there were a couple of proposals in the room, and only one was presented via helicopter.
“It was a little awkward for the other couples,” he said.
Because 71Above is located on the 71st floor, Hasbany described it as being similar to working on a boat; being well-prepared is key. And because it’s in LA, where earthquakes happen, Hasbany explained that the building is designed to withstand an 8.2-grade earthquake.
One of its biggest challenges is that every guest requests a window table. Because, of course, it makes for the best Instagram moment. This is a particularly difficult ask on their busiest nights: Friday and Saturday.
Although a restaurant like 71Above seems ideal for tourists — and tourists do frequent it — Hasbany assured that 71Above is for Angelenos. When owner Eyvazoff approached him to be part of his vision, Hasbany would only consent if the result was unique and special, and not a tourist trap.
“We built it for people who live here, grew up here, raise their families here, and work here,” he said. “They can come see the city from a different perspective. People see the U.S. Bank Tower in the news or in commercials. But very few have the opportunity to come up and experience it.”
Guests can view parts of the city depending on where they are sitting in the room, which winds in a complete circle. Every column and table has coordinates for where it faces, such as SW55.
For nine years (excluding 13 months when they were closed during the pandemic), 71Above has delighted diners seven days a week. Hasbany frequently stands at the podium as the elevator doors open to greet guests.
This is the longest Hasbany has worked at any restaurant, from his days with Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Spice Market in New York to being flown to LA to open The Palm Restaurant in Beverly Hills. He said he feels very fortunate to be at the helm of this crown jewel restaurant in DTLA.
When he hears someone say “yes” to a marriage proposal or sees a couple smiling as they celebrate their anniversary, Hasbany knows there is no other place he would rather be than on top of this world.