If you’ve driven by Westport Plaza in recent months, you may have noticed something curious. Its gilded office tower, the iconic shimmery gold structure that has defined the northwest county skyline for decades, looks a little different thanks to a rectangular slice that’s been carved out of its west-facing facade. It’s a striking enhancement, one that’s about to help Westport Plaza take a massive leap toward its reinvention courtesy of LHM hospitality group and its brand-new restaurant and bar, 360 Westport (111 Westport Plaza, Suite 1200).
That cutout is not merely for aesthetics but represents 360’s outdoor patio, a gorgeous outdoor area that takes up the entire west side of the building’s 12th floor. It’s a stunning space, but it’s just one of the many unique components of the brand-new restaurant and lounge from the minds behind the 360 location at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark in downtown St. Louis, the reinvented Union Station, and all of its offerings at the Cheshire.
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With 360 Westport, which opened January 31, LHM is hoping to continue elevating the options at Westport Plaza. Here’s what to know before you go.
The Atmosphere
LHM set the standard for rooftop bars in St. Louis with downtown’s 360, and its sophomore effort at Westport is every bit as impressive. The space is sprawling—double the size of its sister bar downtown—and consists of six main areas, each with their own personality, where guests can mingle, sink into soft seating for a cocktail, enjoy the best view in town for a sunset from the covered patio, or enjoy a full meal at a fireside table in the dining room. The rooms flow seamlessly into one another, thanks to the room’s open space. Areas are separated by gauzy floor-to-ceiling curtains that can be drawn or left open.
The centerpiece of 360 Westport is a large rectangle-shaped bar, topped with black stone and lined with shiny golden-black tiles. Eighteen muted dark-green leather chairs provide bar seating, though guests can also soak in the atmosphere from the upholstered couches and chairs that make up the bar’s lounge section. Just off the bar and lounge area is a large yet intimate corner, filled with chairs and couches and adorned with a brass, mid-century ceiling chandelier that is more like a light installation than a single piece; 360 Westport’s south-facing side offers more of a dining room–style vibe with tables and upholstered chairs, as well as a modern fireplace that casts a warm glow over the space. All of the restaurant and bar’s spaces are outfitted in a cool-toned sage green and muted pastel color palette, dark wood paneling, and exposed concrete, giving it a mix of Art Deco-meets-industrial.
360 Westport takes advantage of its rooftop location with its large covered patio, filled with a mix of soft seating and painted metal tables and chairs. Plants hang from the ceiling, giving the room a botanical feel, while round brass and glass pendant lights cast a golden glow. The patio’s most notable design element is the scenic elevator, flanked in semi-circle mirrors, which brings guests from the ground floor to the heart of the action.
“It’s a cool entry point,” says LHM operations manager Blaise Pastoret. “At night, we dim the lights in the downstairs lobby to make it more of an experience. We’ve been working on the scenic elevator for months; when it’s finished, it will be all glass and will give this cool experience because it runs slower than the main elevator, so you can enjoy the view on the way up.”
The Menu
Pastoret describes the menu at 360 Westport as being similar in both style and substance to the downtown menu, though with its own unique dishes. Guests can expect fusion-style dishes in a mostly small-plate format, allowing guests to order multiple selections to make a full meal or simply graze while enjoying a cocktail at the bar. Lettuce wraps, filled with Korean barbecue and pickled vegetables, offer a substantial nosh, as do the Mexican-inspired shrimp tostada, which pair the marinated shellfish with black beans and mole rojo. Luscious lemon oil and giardiniera-spiked whipped ricotta is served alongside large square pillows of fried gnocchi, while a classic thick-style cheeseburger offers a more substantial meal.
One of the biggest menu differences between the downtown and Westport locations is the new spot’s oyster program. 360 Westport offers a daily selection of both East Coast and West Coast raw oysters, as well as either fried or Rockefeller versions. As for his particular favorite, Pastoret points to one of 360’s more decadent offerings. “We have these really good cheddar chive drop biscuits and can add osteria caviar and creme fraiche,” says Pastoret. “Who can go wrong with drop biscuits, caviar, and champagne?”
LHM partnered with Bangers Only, the cocktail consulting group owned by esteemed bar pros Kyle Mathis (Taste, Niche) and Tim Wiggins (Retreat Gastropub, Yellowbelly), to create 360s signature cocktails. Pastoret says he’s recently noticed a resurgence in demand for espresso martinis, which inspired the R.E.M., or Rooftop Espresso Martini. Other sippers include the tiki-inspired Stone Cathedral (pairing Appleton Jamaican rum with kola nut, pineapple, and lime), the tequila and rum-based Hummingbird (accented with sage, pineapple, and lime), and the Highbanker (a grapefruit, ginger, and lemon bourbon libation).
360 Westport also offers an expansive wine selection and a locally focused craft beer program. Lower-ABV cocktails and N/A beers, wines, and cocktails are also available.
“These are approachable but upscale cocktails that are a little inventive and that you can’t get anywhere else,” says Pastoret.
The Backstory
LHM bought the 42-acred, mixed-use Westport Plaza roughly a decade ago with grand plans to breathe new life into an area that was the epicenter of the St. Louis County entertainment scene not that long ago, thanks to its numerous restaurants, bars, nightclubs, shops, and entertainment venues.
“Westport was hot in the 1980s and ’90s, with a lot of bars and restaurants,” recalls Pastoret. “It was a beacon where you could spend all night and day; there was a lot of stuff to do, but it’s been kind of dormant and waiting for someone to paint it in a modern fashion, so there is a reason for someone to come in and explore it again.”
LHM’s first real project on the property—combination bar, restaurant, and recreation space Westport Social—opened in 2017 and has been a roaring success. Late last year, Soda Fountain Express followed in its footsteps. With 360 Westport now open, renovation of the property’s two hotels, and the installation of a lush green space that’s currently underway, LHM’s Bob O’Loughlin is poised to realize his vision for a reinvigorated Westport Plaza.
“This has a special place in his heart,” Pastoret says. “Westport Social has been really successful, and this is just adding to everything here. We have so much more to come in the Westport Plaza area.”
