Joy J.
Yelp
The moment you've all been waiting for has finally arrived... my 1,000th review!! Spire 73 is the tallest open-air bar in the Western Hemisphere. Reservations are required, and there is a $10 entry fee per person daily (waived for hotel guests). On Fridays and Saturdays after 8 pm, the entry fee is $20 per person, which is waived for table reservations with bottle service.
From the moment I stepped into the prestigious Intercontinental Hotel in DTLA, to the moment we left the building, there was nothing left to be desired. I had no idea we were coming here, because my friend set it up as a surprise. He strategically made reservations 3 weeks in advance for our party of 4, so we could catch the sunset at just the right time. The 5 pm reservation was absolutely perfect! We made our way to the 73rd floor, where we checked in with the hostess. We were seated immediately at a table with an amazing view of the City of Angels. This is most certainly a "you have to see it to believe it" kind of establishment. Fernando was our server who was not only super friendly, but very informative as well as entertaining. He also informed us that they have blankets for you if you get cold (and trust me, you'll feel it up there)!
We started off with some cocktails, of course. We did not have complaints about any of them and ordered a second round to go with our food. There is a minimum spend per person, which was around $60 - $65.
We shared the following:
Bavarian Pretzel (during Oktoberfest) 5/5
Bangkok Shrimp 5/5
Mushroom Bisque 5/5
Truffle Parmesan Fries 4/5
Skin Seared Alaskan Salmon 5/5
The fries were seasoned well,, but because of the open-air concept, I feel like they got cold super fast. However, they still had good flavor and were crisp. The pretzel was huge and between the 4 of us, we had a small piece of it left over. The honey mustard and beer cheese dips were delicious! Everyone devoured the shrimp, and they were a good size with lots of flavor. The soup was very mild in flavor, but I love mushroom anything, so I don't have anything bad to say about it. The salmon came last, but it sealed the deal for us. Presentation was on par with the ambiance of the restaurant, and the drinks were kickin'! I believe I ordered a City View followed by a Blackberry Side Car. They tasted just how I like my drinks: fruity, with the not-so-subtle flavor of the alcohol. One of my friends got the Espresso Martini and loved it.
The blankets were a special touch, as it did start getting cold as the evening went on. There are many great photo opps here as well, and a lot of selfie-worthy spots, too. Personally, the only thing that could take this up a notch would be a hot date and a private cabana with a jacuzzi in the corner, no joke!! I'll be ready if and when they decide to make that happen! ;) Don't wait any longer, book that reservation TODAY and live large at least once in your life. Spire 73 is an opportunity not to be missed! enJOY!!