Short List: Best restaurants to watch the sunset

Welcome to The Short List, where each week we pick a topic and share our favorite things about the Bay area.

Sunsets on the Gulf Coast are spectacular from any beachside viewing spot. But you can kick it up a notch by watching the golden orb sink below the horizon from a pub or a restaurant where music, libation and food enhances the experience. And before it gets too hot and humid, now is the time to get out.

Here are our favorite places for closing the day on a pleasant note.

The Hurricane: The Rooftop Patio at the restaurant on Pass-a-Grille has been a favorite sunset viewing spot for years. Located on the third floor of the popular seafood restaurant, the top deck has a full bar and there usually is live music to send off the last rays of the day. Here the sun goes down smoother with a Rum Runner.

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Palm Pavilion Beachside Bar & Grill: The porch on Clearwater Beach has been welcoming beachcombers since 1926, making it the oldest beach pavilion in the state. You can dine on burgers or seafood on the deck that sits right on the beach. Or you can cozy up to the open-air bar for a cold brew or frozen drink. There's usually live music on the porch and sunsets are always free.

Swim Bar and Grill at The Hyatt: The eighth floor of this resort on Clearwater Beach is a secret that's fast being discovered by sun lovers every day. The grill and bar are small but the view of the Gulf of Mexico is sweeping and impressive.

Caddy's on the Beach: This restaurant on Sunset Beach is an old-school, traditional Florida beach bar where many patrons dine in swimsuits because they've walked up from the sandy shore. Caddy's is a favorite watering hole for locals. There's live music, seafood, alcohol and even barbecue ribs (a house specialty) - and the sunsets are viewed from picnic tables that spill out onto the beach.  

Spinners Rooftop Revolving Bistro: On the 12th floor of the Grand Plaza Hotel on St. Pete Beach, this eatery offers a panoramic view that keeps changing because the room slowly revolves in a 360-degree circle. It takes an hour and a half to make a complete lap, time for a steak dinner, a couple of drinks at the bar, or some quiet reflection on how lucky we are to have these kinds of views.

Yeah, we know. You think we're clueless because we didn't include your favorite place in our list, right? Go ahead and let us have it in the comments.