Sun Dial to close for renovations

The Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar & View, the popular rotating eatery above the Westin Peachtree Plaza hotel in downtown Atlanta, is getting a makeover.

The 35-year-old dining establishment, which is a destination for tourists because of its 360-degree view of Atlanta, will begin renovations later this month that will force it to close its doors until sometime in early August.

The update, by Carolyn Auger of Blackdog Studio, will feature soothing textiles, dimensional art, woodwork and pendant lighting throughout. Chef Jason Starnes also plans to update the contemporary American menu with more farm-to-table selections, a spokeswoman for the eatery said.

The closure will be the first for the restaurant since 2008 when a tornado left a path of destruction in the downtown area. The storm knocked out thousands of windows at the iconic 73-story, silo-shaped hotel.

The Sun Dial was closed for a year as windows were replaced and new wheels to keep the eatery rotating were installed.

The restaurant is expected to serve its last dinner April 28 and reopen in early August (an exact date has not yet been determined).

“Thousands of families and couples have dined here to celebrate special milestones and make new memories,” Brad Schoknecht, director of restaurants and bars at the hotel, said in a release. “We look forward to unveiling the new Sun Dial to Atlantans and visitors alike – an updated, modern space with ever-changing, local menu items.”