Black Meetings & Tourism - Hyatt Regency Atlanta To Reopen Iconic Polaris

Food Service Beat
Hyatt Regency Atlanta To Reopen Iconic Polaris
Famous Blue Domed Lounge, City's First Rotating Restaurant, "Re-Turns" to the Skyline During Milestone Year for Atlanta Polaris, the legendary rotating restaurant and lounge atop the historic Hyatt Regency Atlanta hotel, a symbol of Atlanta's progress for nearly 50 years, will "re-turn" to the city skyline in June, the hotel announced recently. To celebrate the reopening, the hotel will turn off, and then relight the famous Polaris blue dome before its official opening to the public on Tuesday, June 10, after a series of preopening events. The new Polaris will serve handcrafted cocktails and chef-inspired shared plates with an amazing panoramic view of the Atlanta skyline. Guests will shoot 22 stories up in the hotel's glass elevators and be transported to a breathtaking space that is both completely modern and a tribute to Polaris' retro history (Jim Morrison likened the experience to flying in "Victorian Rocket Ships"). The new Polaris has been a 10-year project for Hyatt Regency Atlanta to restore the iconic restaurant to its hometown, said Peter McMahon, Hyatt Regency Atlanta's general manager. Polaris is reopening as Atlanta enjoys its most exciting year since the Olympics, debuting new projects like the Center for Civil and Human Rights, College Football Hall of Fame and Atlanta Streetcar, and attracting record numbers of visitors, he said. "In its day, Polaris was a symbol of Atlanta's tremendous cultural and economic growth," McMahon said. "Now Polaris is coming back as the city is buzzing with new projects, revived neighborhoods and unprecedented tourism. The timing couldn't be better. And just as it was in years past, we intend for the new Polaris to be a symbol of Atlanta's progress for the next 50 years." Conceived by visionary Atlanta architect John C. Portman, Jr., Polaris is one of Atlanta's most recognized landmarks. It was Atlanta's first rotating restaurant when it opened in 1967, and quickly became a symbol of the fast-growing city, featured on souvenirs, postcards and murals. Polaris was so popular guests lined up just to ride the elevators and take in the view. In its heyday, Polaris hosted dignitaries, presidents and celebrities, as well as everyday Atlantans celebrating birthdays, wedding proposals, anniversaries and prom nights. Inspired Chef's Plates, from the Bee Garden Executive Chef Martin Pfefferkorn will lead the kitchen at Polaris. Pfefferkorn grew up on a farm in Austria, was classically trained in European resorts and has been a creative force at Hyatt Hotels Corp. since joining the company in 2001. He has been widely acclaimed for setting a new standard for hotel dining with his creation of Sway, Hyatt Regency Atlanta's Southern-influenced dining experience based on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. Golden Age Cocktails, with our own Polaris Bourbon Hyatt Regency Atlanta beverage director Mehdi Natanzi heads the Polaris mixology program. Polaris' cocktail menu will celebrate the golden age of spirits, from stiff old fashioneds and dry Manhattans, to mint grasshoppers and tart gimlets, rickeys and tonics - all served in a menagerie of vintage glassware. And the new Polaris will present a modern version of its throwback signature drink, the peach daiquiri. Designed to be an Unforgettable Experience Hyatt Regency Atlanta chose Atlanta's award-winning The Johnson Studio to be the architect and interior designer of the new Polaris. Architects Bill Johnson and Brian Finkel and interior designer Anna McGrady White built a contemporary space with homages to the original design that creates an unforgettable guest experience. Polaris will be open Tuesday through Saturday, from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. The restaurant will not take reservations. Polaris will be available for private events. For more information about Polaris, please visit the Polaris Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PolarisAtlanta .

Food Service Beat

Hyatt Regency Atlanta To Reopen Iconic Polaris

Famous Blue Domed Lounge, City's First Rotating Restaurant, "Re-Turns" to the Skyline During Milestone Year for Atlanta

Polaris, the legendary rotating restaurant and lounge atop the historic Hyatt Regency Atlanta hotel, a symbol of Atlanta's progress for nearly 50 years, will "re-turn" to the city skyline in June, the hotel announced recently.

To celebrate the reopening, the hotel will turn off, and then relight the famous Polaris blue dome before its official opening to the public on Tuesday, June 10, after a series of preopening events.

The new Polaris will serve handcrafted cocktails and chef-inspired shared plates with an amazing panoramic view of the Atlanta skyline. Guests will shoot 22 stories up in the hotel's glass elevators and be transported to a breathtaking space that is both completely modern and a tribute to Polaris' retro history (Jim Morrison likened the experience to flying in "Victorian Rocket Ships").

The new Polaris has been a 10-year project for Hyatt Regency Atlanta to restore the iconic restaurant to its hometown, said Peter McMahon, Hyatt Regency Atlanta's general manager. Polaris is reopening as Atlanta enjoys its most exciting year since the Olympics, debuting new projects like the Center for Civil and Human Rights, College Football Hall of Fame and Atlanta Streetcar, and attracting record numbers of visitors, he said.

"In its day, Polaris was a symbol of Atlanta's tremendous cultural and economic growth," McMahon said. "Now Polaris is coming back as the city is buzzing with new projects, revived neighborhoods and unprecedented tourism. The timing couldn't be better. And just as it was in years past, we intend for the new Polaris to be a symbol of Atlanta's progress for the next 50 years."

Conceived by visionary Atlanta architect John C. Portman, Jr., Polaris is one of Atlanta's most recognized landmarks. It was Atlanta's first rotating restaurant when it opened in 1967, and quickly became a symbol of the fast-growing city, featured on souvenirs, postcards and murals.

Polaris was so popular guests lined up just to ride the elevators and take in the view. In its heyday, Polaris hosted dignitaries, presidents and celebrities, as well as everyday Atlantans celebrating birthdays, wedding proposals, anniversaries and prom nights.

Inspired Chef's Plates, from the Bee Garden

Executive Chef Martin Pfefferkorn will lead the kitchen at Polaris. Pfefferkorn grew up on a farm in Austria, was classically trained in European resorts and has been a creative force at Hyatt Hotels Corp. since joining the company in 2001. He has been widely acclaimed for setting a new standard for hotel dining with his creation of Sway, Hyatt Regency Atlanta's Southern-influenced dining experience based on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.

Golden Age Cocktails, with our own Polaris Bourbon

Hyatt Regency Atlanta beverage director Mehdi Natanzi heads the Polaris mixology program. Polaris' cocktail menu will celebrate the golden age of spirits, from stiff old fashioneds and dry Manhattans, to mint grasshoppers and tart gimlets, rickeys and tonics - all served in a menagerie of vintage glassware. And the new Polaris will present a modern version of its throwback signature drink, the peach daiquiri.

Designed to be an Unforgettable Experience

Hyatt Regency Atlanta chose Atlanta's award-winning The Johnson Studio to be the architect and interior designer of the new Polaris. Architects Bill Johnson and Brian Finkel and interior designer Anna McGrady White built a contemporary space with homages to the original design that creates an unforgettable guest experience.

Polaris will be open Tuesday through Saturday, from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. The restaurant will not take reservations. Polaris will be available for private events.

For more information about Polaris, please visit the Polaris Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PolarisAtlanta .