SkyCity, originally known as the Eye of the Needle,[1][2] is a revolving restaurant and bar situated atop the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington.[3][4] It features a 14-foot-deep (4.3 m) carousel (or ring-shaped) dining floor on which sit patrons' tables, chairs, and dining booths. The floor revolves on a track and wheel system, which weighs roughly 125 tons, at a rate of one revolution every 47 minutes. It is the oldest operating revolving restaurant in the world.[5][6]

The restaurant was designed by John Graham & Company, patterned after the La Ronde they had built atop the Ala Moana Center in 1963.[7] Due to the balance and precision of its design, the floor's rotation is accomplished using just a single 1½-horsepower motor.[8]

SkyCity serves Pacific Northwest cuisine and new American cuisine, and provides local seafood, steak, chicken and vegetarian menu items.[5][9][10] It is a fine dining restaurant with a casual dress code.[11][12]

As part of the $100 million "The Century Project" renovations to the Space Needle, SkyCity was closed in September 2017 for outfitting with a clear glass floor.[13] The glass floor will enable diners to view the city below them and also the mechanics that operate the revolving floor.[14] When completed, SkyCity will have the world's first revolving restaurant with a glass floor.[13][15]

In popular culture [ edit ]

In a 1976 episode of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?, "A Frightened Hound Meets Demons Underground," the Mystery Inc. gang are discussing a newspaper article about a demon who started terrorising Seattle residents, on SkyCity. At the conclusion of the mystery/episode, the gang is back at the restaurant as well.

References [ edit ]

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