Rooftop Restaurant Now Open to Museum Visitors and Public Skywalker Grill officially opened September 22 atop the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles, bringing a full-service restaurant to the 300,000-square-foot cultural institution in Exposition Park. The restaurant was designed by Rockwell Group and is operated by Rhubarb Hospitality Collection, part of Oak View Group (OVG). Open to both museum visitors and the broader Los Angeles community, Skywalker Grill offers independent access through a dedicated host stand in the museum lobby, with direct elevator service to the fifth-floor restaurant. The space remains open beyond museum hours, positioning itself as a standalone dining destination rather than solely an in-museum amenity.

Menu and Culinary Direction Chef Diego Cardoso, Global Vice President of Culinary for Rhubarb Hospitality Collection and OVG, said: "After four years of developing the culinary program for Skywalker Grill, it is incredibly meaningful to finally welcome guests through the doors. We wanted to create a restaurant that feels special without ever feeling overly formal or precious. The menu is rooted in California ingredients and classic American dishes people know and love, prepared with care and a few meaningful connections to Skywalker Ranch." The menu features modern American fare with deliberate ties to Skywalker Ranch, George Lucas' property. Signature dishes include a Skywalker Ranch Wagyu Burger with beef raised at the ranch, topped with grilled onion and aged cheddar on brioche; Lobster Corn Dogs with tarragon mustard and spicy ketchup; Blue Crab Cake with Persian cucumber and dill tartar sauce; Crispy Chicken Milanese; and Honey Miso Glazed Salmon. The restaurant also serves house-made pastas including Wagyu Bolognese, alongside handhelds and Magic Pan crêpes. Focaccia is served with Skywalker Ranch honey ricotta. The beverage program includes craft cocktails such as the Golden Hour (Tanqueray No. Ten Gin, golden beet, Ancho Verde, red beet, Tajin and lime); Plot Twist (Ketel One Cucumber Mint, Chareau Aloe, fresh mint and lemon); and Night Shift (Bulleit Rye, Mr. Black, Licor 43 and Mexican chocolate bitters), alongside curated wines and premium spirits.

Design and Architecture Rockwell Group's design references the museum's distinctive biomorphic architecture, eliminating 90-degree angles throughout the space. Curved walls feature individually crafted cherry wood panels—no two alike—while finger-raked cherrywood columns echo tambour banquettes lining the perimeter. The centerpiece bar features a crystal silver leaf die and illuminated Corian back bar. Custom furnishings include tables with artisan-crafted glass lenses embedded in their bases that illuminate when occupied. Softly illuminated white onyx-inspired Corian surfaces and contemporary midcentury modern influences balance sculptural architectural elements with detailed craftsmanship. Cherry wood throughout nods to Skywalker Ranch, where the material is prominently featured. The outdoor terrace overlooks Los Angeles with banquette and loose seating nestled among lush plantings and panoramic city views, functioning as a relaxed garden-like escape above the city.

Hours and Access Skywalker Grill is open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The restaurant is closed Tuesdays. Reservations are available on Resy.

Why It Matters

The opening exemplifies the evolving role of restaurants within cultural institutions, where independent public access and extended hours position dining as a revenue stream and community anchor separate from ticketed programming. Museum restaurants with proven culinary direction and design distinction are increasingly functioning as neighborhood destinations, lowering barriers to entry for non-museum patrons and extending brand reach beyond core audiences.

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Written by FBM Publications Editors