Sipping a Drink on the 40th floor of the tallest waterfront building on the Pacific coast is a great way to get your bearings in sunny San Diego.

The panoramic view through floor-to-ceiling windows takes in Point Loma to the north, glistening San Diego Bay and the Pacific out west, and to the south, the iconic Coronado Bay Bridge arching over Tabletop Mountain and Mexico on a clear day.

It’s no wonder this lounge has won many awards from a variety of publications, from “Best Date Spot” to “Best Up-Scale Bar” and, my personal favourite, “Best Place for Locals to Act Like Tourists”, according to the San Diego Weekly Reader, the local alternative weekly.

The lack of draft beers and an outdoor patio is a little disappointing, but the sunset views are hard to beat. Cocktails, wine and bottled beer is on offer, as are appetizers and dessert.

The Top of the Hyatt is located on the 40th floor of the Manchester Grand Hyatt's Harbor Tower, and is open 3:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. daily.