Miss that old New York City charm? So do we. But there's some good news on the horizon: The Rainbow Room, the historic landmark, restaurant and event space at the top of 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Rockefeller Center, will reopen to the public in the fall of 2014.
And when its doors reopen, it will have some major names attached: The team from Tishman Speyer, which operates Rockefeller Center (as well as spaces like the Top of The Rock Observation Deck, the 620 Loft and Garden event space at 620 Fifth Avenue), will oversee the Rainbow Room and run the day-to-day operations. Blau + Associates has been engaged to oversee the reopening process, from the culinary programming to the operations strategy, for the space.
The Rainbow Room itself will be operated as a combination of catered event space as well as a restaurant that is open to the public. In addition, a previously unused outdoor terrace on the 65th floor will be combined with a connecting interior space and transformed into a bar and lounge that will be open to public each day five or more days each week, serving cocktails and light fare.
The Room will be available for private events and group dining five days a week and will offer a range of catering menu options. The famed room, now landmarked, will be operated as a restaurant for Sunday brunch each week as well as for dinner a minimum of one night a week, with the final schedule to be determined once the executive chef and general manager are on board.
The restaurant will also be open to the public for dining on special occasions such as Valentine’s Day, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, and Thanksgiving. Building off the tradition of Rainbow & Stars, occasional live entertainment will return to the Rainbow Room as part of the program. Finally, the executive club on the western end of the 65th floor will be reintroduced, serving weekday breakfast and lunch.
Further details of the comprehensive plan to reopen the Rainbow Room, including the selection of an executive chef, will be announced in the coming months.