Top of the Hyatt Bar San Diego

With commanding views of Coronado Island, downtown and beyond, the Top Of The Hyatt has long secured its status as one of San Diego’s prime sky-high drinking destinations.

Shuttered since early July as part of ongoing multi-million dollar renovations to the Manchester Grand Hyatt, the 2, 700-square foot penthouse bar has undergone a complete interior overhaul courtesy of architectural and interior design firm ForrestPerkins (Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, Ritz-Carlton San Francisco).

Set to officially reopen at 3 p.m. today, the storied space has been re-imagined into a contemporary lounge designed to capitalize on its panoramic views while offering a wider variety of seating configurations. Two central pillars were fully removed to create a modern, open plan concept, affording unobstructed views from almost every angle.

Communal high-top tables ground the center of the space while low, lounge seating and swivel chairs line the floor-to-ceiling windows. The redesigned bar area offers seating for nine and incorporates several lighting elements, including pendant lamps and backlit paneling; large sectional sofas anchor a more informal seating area towards the southern end of the room. Influenced by its waterfront location, the new look brings the outdoors in with ocean-inspired colors, textures and materials.

The new signature cocktail menu has been designed around a ‘Sunrise to Sunset’ theme featuring the fruit-forward Blackberry Gimlet (Uncle Val’s Botanical gin, lime juice, fresh blackberries, soda), Mezcal Mai Tai (Del Maguey Vida mezcal, Bacardi rum, orange and pineapple juices, cherry float) and the Coucher de Soleil, a classic take on the French 75.

Food-wise, the Chef’s Light Fare Menu features some new additions in the form of marshmallow s’mores pops, grass-fed beef sliders, truffle frites and a mason jar crab stack salad. The updated wine list favors a wide selection of California varietals (Cakebread Cellars, MacMurray Ranch, Clayhouse) alongside international offerings from Europe and the New World. San Diego craft beers are represented by Coronado Brewing Company, Green Flash, Stone Brewing Co. and Ballast Point.