Top Five Places to Drink With a View: Tequila, Fine Champagne, and a Sunset

Courtesy of Panorama

We are dedicated to saving Scotty's Landing, one of the city's best venues with a view, so even though we named the best places for brew with a view last month -- Scotty's was number four -- we are bringing you more.

Short Order scoured the rooftops and beachfronts of Miami -- a tough task for anyone to manage sober -- and bathed in drink after glorious drink. We kept it top-shelf and took advantage of happy-hour rates. The Perry, formerly the Gansevoort, talked to us a little about the effects of its name change from the one made famous in many a rap song. Down in Coconut Grove at Panorama, the new management told us of its dedication to optimize service and focus on presentation and quality. We liked the Rusty Pelican so much we went there again. Management sought our help in reconnecting with the Key Biscayne and Brickell community that might have forgotten the Pelican's wonders during its closing for renovation the latter half of 2011.

Kareem Shaker

5. Copa Verde at Area 31
No, Area 31 is not on the 31st floor; it's on the 16th of the magnificent Epic Hotel downtown at the mouth of the Miami River. Area 31 refers to Fishing Area 31, which encompasses the marine waters of the southeast Atlantic coast, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and South America's northeast coast. We don't set foot in Area 31 without a proper flotation device -- in this case the Copa Verde ($12) specialty cocktail. A base of herradura tequila blends nicely with Cointreau, fresh lime juice, and a flavorful avocado purée with a chili salt rim. Three of these and you might need to be kept away from the railing.

Kareem Shaker

4. Glass of Sangria at Panorama
Panorama is situated on the corner of an ideal bend of land facing the expansive waters of the Atlantic Ocean -- and the new management wants to make sure the space doesn't go to waste. "We know what it takes to make our guests smile -- excellent service and excellent food," food and beverage supervisor Cesar Cadalso says. "Here, we are dedicated to providing both every time we open those doors." Those doors open to a beautiful view that pairs wonderfully with a glass of sangria ($7) and any item from the Peruvian-inspired menu. Executive chef and Johnson & Wales grad Christopher Cramer runs an extremely innovative kitchen with perhaps the best lomo saltado within Miami's borders.