Atlanta’s “Rotating Restaurant” Experience: What Still Exists and What to Know Now

If you search for an Atlanta rotating restaurant, you’re almost always thinking about one thing: the revolving restaurant that used to sit high above downtown, slowly turning to give you a 360-degree view of the city.

That restaurant no longer rotates—and its classic form has closed—but there are still a few ways to get a similar “dinner with a skyline view” experience in Atlanta. This guide explains:

• What happened to Atlanta’s famous rotating restaurant
• What the space is now
• The best Atlanta restaurants and bars with skyline views that give you a comparable feel
• Practical tips on reservations, dress codes, and parking

Did Atlanta Have a Rotating Restaurant?

Yes. For decades, Atlanta was home to a well-known revolving restaurant atop the Westin Peachtree Plaza in Downtown Atlanta.

• The restaurant sat near the top of the cylindrical hotel tower.
• The floor slowly rotated, usually completing a full 360-degree turn roughly once an hour.
• Diners could enjoy views of Downtown, Midtown, and beyond while staying seated.

Over time, the concept shifted away from a traditional full-service rotating restaurant to more of a view-focused bar and lounge setup. The rotating function and the original restaurant concept are no longer operating in the way many longtime residents remember.

If you heard about “the spinning restaurant in Atlanta” from a friend or an older guidebook, this is most likely what they were referring to.

Is There a Rotating Restaurant in Atlanta Right Now?

No – as of recent years, Atlanta does not currently operate a true rotating restaurant.

You can still eat and drink with sweeping views of the city, but:

• No major Atlanta restaurant floor is rotating today.
• Most skyline venues are fixed rooftop restaurants, lounges, or observation decks.
• The classic revolving dining-room experience is now a piece of Atlanta nostalgia.

However, you can recreate much of the feel—city lights, high elevation, special-occasion energy—by choosing one of Atlanta’s standout rooftop and high-floor restaurants.

Where to Go Instead: Skyline & Rooftop Dining in Atlanta

You might not find a spinning floor, but you can definitely find memorable skyline views while you eat or drink. Here are some popular Atlanta options that locals and visitors use as an alternative to the old rotating restaurant experience.

1. Polaris (Historic, Currently Not the Classic Rotating Restaurant)

Location: 265 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30303 (Westin Peachtree Plaza area)
Best for: People curious about the building’s history and skyline vibes

Polaris, the famous “blue spaceship” lounge that once turned atop the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, is often mixed up with the Westin’s venue in people’s memories. For many locals, Polaris + Westin = the era of spinning, futuristic Atlanta dining.

Today:

• The original rotating, futuristic concept is no longer the primary dining option people once knew.
• The space and building remain part of downtown’s skyline story, but it’s no longer the guaranteed spinning, one-of-a-kind experience older visitors might remember.

If you’re specifically chasing that “I ate in a spinning blue spaceship over Atlanta” story, it’s important to know this is not the current experience.

2. The Sun Dial Restaurant & Bar (Status Has Changed)

Location: Top floors of the Westin Peachtree Plaza, 210 Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303
Best for: Skyline views and special-occasion vibes (when open in its latest form)

The Sun Dial was the revolving restaurant most visitors think of. Over the years, it evolved:

• The rotating mechanism was at times paused or modified.
• The restaurant and bar operations changed more than once.
• Public access and format shifted, sometimes leaning more toward an observation or lounge-style experience.

If you’re planning a trip now:

• Treat Sun Dial as a historic name rather than assuming it is a currently rotating restaurant.
• Check the Westin Peachtree Plaza directly for the most current details on:
  • Whether any public dining or bar service is operating on the upper floors
  • Hours, reservation rules, and dress expectations
  • Any observation-style access or special events

This is still the building most associated with the old “Atlanta rotating restaurant” concept, but the experience is no longer the classic rotating dinner many people imagine.

3. Skyline-View Restaurants and Rooftop Bars (Non-Rotating)

If your priority is great Atlanta views while you eat or sip a drink, these types of venues deliver much of the same magic without a moving floor:

Common features across many Atlanta rooftop spots:

• Open-air patios or terraces for warm-weather evenings
• Indoor seating with floor-to-ceiling windows in some locations
• Dress codes that range from casual-smart to dressy, especially at night
• Reservation systems that can fill up quickly on weekends

While specific restaurant names, chefs, or menus change over time, you’ll generally find:

• Rooftop lounges perched on top of hotels in Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead
• City-view patios attached to steakhouses, modern Southern restaurants, or cocktail bars
• Seasonal rooftop setups with heaters, fire pits, or covered spaces in cooler months

Because individual restaurants come and go, the most reliable approach is to:

• Search within neighborhoods like Downtown, Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, and Buckhead for “rooftop restaurant” or “city view bar”
• Filter by:
  • Distance from where you’re staying
  • Noise level (lively vs. quiet date night)
  • Menu type (small plates vs. full dinner)
  • Age rules (21+ only later at night in some spots)

Quick Comparison: Classic Rotating Restaurant vs. Today’s Options in Atlanta

How to Get a “Rotating Restaurant–Style” Experience in Today’s Atlanta

Even though the actual rotating restaurant is gone, you can recreate much of the feeling with some smart planning.

1. Pick the Right Time of Day

For the most memorable views:

• Golden hour / sunset:
  • Soft light, great skyline photos
  • The city gradually lights up as evening sets in
• After dark:
  • City lights, reflections, and a more romantic or nightlife-focused atmosphere

If you want to see the city in different moods—daylight, sunset, then night—book a reservation 30–60 minutes before sunset and linger over a full meal.

2. Reserve Ahead

Atlanta’s higher-up restaurants and rooftop bars can be busy, especially:

• Friday and Saturday evenings
• Dates tied to concerts, sports games, or conventions downtown
• Holidays and major event weekends

Tips:

• Look for “patio,” “rooftop,” or “window” seating when you book or call.
• Ask how early you should arrive if you want the best vantage point.

3. Ask About Dress Code

Many skyline venues in Atlanta lean toward smart casual at night:

• Collared shirts, nice jeans or slacks, dresses or dressy tops are usually safe.
• Athletic wear, very casual sandals, or extremely casual outfits may not fit in some locations, especially later in the evening.

When in doubt, call the venue or check their listed expectations.

4. Plan Transportation and Parking

High-rise and rooftop venues are often in busy parts of the city:

• Downtown & Midtown:
  • Consider MARTA to Peachtree Center, Five Points, Civic Center, Midtown, or Arts Center stations depending on the venue.
  • Many hotels and garages offer paid self-parking or valet.
• Ride-shares (Uber/Lyft):
  • Helpful if you plan to drink or if you’re unfamiliar with downtown driving and parking.
• Walking:
  • In the core hotel cluster of Downtown and Midtown, several view-oriented spots can be reached on foot from major hotels.

Tips for Locals vs. Visitors

If You Live in Atlanta

• Use skyline restaurants for:
  • Anniversaries, birthdays, proposals, or visiting guests
  • Post-theater or post-concert drinks with a view
• Explore different neighborhoods:
  • Midtown and Old Fourth Ward often have a livelier, trendier rooftop scene.
  • Downtown tends to skew toward hotel-based rooftops and bars.

If You’re Visiting Atlanta

• Staying in Downtown or Midtown makes it easier to reach at least one good view spot without renting a car.
• Ask your hotel concierge or front desk for:
  • Closest rooftop options
  • Any partnerships or discounts they might have with nearby venues (some hotels point you toward their own in-house rooftop).
• For families:
  • Call ahead to confirm age policies; some rooftop bars switch to 21+ in the evening.

What to Expect Cost-Wise

Prices vary, but compared to ground-level casual spots, most skyline or rooftop venues in Atlanta:

• Charge more per entrée and per drink
• May add:
  • Valet fees
  • Service charges or automatic gratuity for larger parties

To avoid surprises:

• Check sample menus in advance when possible.
• Ask about minimum spend requirements if you’re reserving a special space or going during peak hours.

If You Specifically Want a “Rotating Restaurant” Experience

Because Atlanta no longer offers an operating rotating restaurant:

• You won’t find a current venue where the entire dining room slowly spins.
• The best you can do locally:
  • Enjoy high-elevation dining with a view.
  • Move between window seats, outdoor terrace rails, and different angles as your meal progresses.
• If a rotating restaurant is a must-have rather than a nice-to-have, you may need to look at other cities during future travels that still maintain this type of attraction.

Key Takeaways for “Atlanta Rotating Restaurant”

• There is no active, fully rotating restaurant in Atlanta today.
• The once-famous rotating venues in the Westin Peachtree Plaza and distinct skyline spaces like Polaris are now part of Atlanta’s history rather than a current, spinning dining option.
• Atlanta does still offer plenty of rooftop bars and high-floor restaurants with sweeping skyline views, which many locals and visitors now choose instead.
• For a modern equivalent:
  • Book a rooftop or high-floor restaurant in Downtown, Midtown, or Buckhead.
  • Time your visit around sunset.
  • Reserve in advance and confirm dress code, age rules, and parking.

By planning around these details, you can still enjoy an impressive Atlanta skyline dining experience, even if the floor itself no longer moves.