Summer is synonymous with terraces, so we are just a snap of the fingers away from the official opening of the season of terracing at Madrid. There is nothing a Madrilenian likes more in his free time than having an aperitif or a drink at sunset. If you want to escape from the hustle and bustle of the streets and enjoy the best views in summer, we suggest you climb a few metres above the asphalt and discover the most amazing rooftops in Madrid. This is what is known as rooftop, which has become popular in recent years. More and more hotels are opting to put a little piece of paradise on the roof of their buildings.
We have made our own selection: hotels, markets, museums, cafés and restaurants that offer visitors the opportunity to get to know Madrid from a different perspective. Come and see!
FROM MADRID TO HEAVEN
There's no doubt that roof terraces are in fashion. Any excuse is a good excuse to go up at sunset and have a cool drink in good company. With live music, on deckchairs or on metal stools... there is something for everyone. From the most popular to the least known.
San Antón Market
Let's start with the city's most popular and lively markets. This one is located in the heart of the Chueca neighbourhood. Leaving its gourmet stalls downstairs, the rooftop terrace is on the third floor, with two terraces, one covered in case it rains, and the other open-air. Entrance is free and you can enjoy everything from a mojito to typical Spanish dishes such as Iberian cured meats or a good salmorejo. The average price for lunch or dinner here is around 25 euros and it is open from Monday to Sunday from 10am to 1.30am on public holidays.
Forus Mercado Barceló Rooftop
In this other market we can also enjoy privileged views. The rooftop of this building, which was remodelled a few years ago, has been converted into a garden with sun loungers and lots of plants. Here you can enjoy breakfast, affordable daily set menus and cocktails in the evenings. Open from 10am until 1am and the average price is around 15€.
The Traveller
On a corner of the Latina neighbourhood is this busy terrace. It probably has the best views of Old Madrid. Those who have tried it say that its mojitos are the best, based on lime, fresh mint, aged rum and the secret touch of the house. It is a meeting point for many Madrilenians all year round, but in summer it becomes an almost obligatory stop for every visitor.
The Paratrooper
If you are shopping or strolling around Chueca, you can go up to another of the coolest terraces in Madrid. This Neoclassical building has two terraces with very different atmospheres. On the third floor you will find the cocktail bar CubanísimoThe restaurant has a vintage style, where you can have a drink among palm trees and antique furniture. If we go up one more floor we will find the restaurant Parq; The restaurant has a picnic style with wooden benches, where you can enjoy pizzas and a variety of snacks. The average price is 20 euros.
The Cibeles Palace
It is one of the few city councils in the city that has a bar-restaurant in the same building and a cosy terrace for a cocktail. Here you will mainly find tourists looking for the most typical views of the city: the Cibeles fountain, the Puerta de Alcalá and the main avenues of Madrid. The terrace is located on the sixth floor, with the restaurant on one side and a bar on the other. If you don't want to drink anything and just want to enjoy the views, access costs €2 for adults and €0.50 for children under 12. Access is closed on Mondays.
The rooftop of the Círculo de Bellas Artes
Very close to the Cibeles viewpoint on Calle Alcalá is this emblematic place in Madrid. Theatre, café, exhibition hall... and upstairs a terrace with the best views of Madrid. It has several atmospheres, whether to eat in its restaurant Tartanroof, There is a glassed-in area and another outside area with high tables for the drinks area. If you don't want to stay for a drink, you can walk around the large roof terrace. And don't forget your camera because you'll be impressed by the scenery. But whatever you do, you'll have to pay an entrance fee of 3 euros.
The Thyssen Viewpoint
This Madrid museum opens its terrace on the fifth floor every summer. The people in charge of this initiative offer visitors a fun gastronomic offer with a variety of live music, from soul, pop, rock, jazz and experimental music. Open from 1 June to 3 September. Free access.
La Casa Encendida's Magnetic Terrace
A little further away from the centre of Madrid and therefore quieter, we find this rooftop terrace located in a cultural building par excellence. In summer you can come to its open-air cinema, enjoy a good concert or have a drink. In the cafeteria of the Terrace you can enjoy natural juices, beers or drinks while watching the sunset. Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday, from 5.30pm to 9.30pm. On Saturdays from 9.30pm and Sundays from 7.45pm, entrance to La Terraza cafeteria will be exclusively for those with tickets for the cinema or concerts.
Café del Río
Strolling along the Manzanares is a pleasure in the summer months thanks to its fountains and water jets that can be found along its 7 km of course. But if we want to make a stop along the way, there is nothing better than going up to this terrace with spectacular views. When we take a seat we will have in front of our eyes, the Royal Palace, La Almudena or the church of San Francisco el Grande. The atmosphere here is relaxed. You can come for dinner (there is a set menu on the terrace for 12 euros) or just for a drink. A different bet that won't disappoint anyone.
Gymage
Former cinemas converted into a multi-purpose venue. At the top of the building in Plaza Luna is its terrace. You can go upstairs to enjoy its Italian cuisine, try its varied cocktail menu or take a dip in its swimming pool. The season starts from the 1st of June. Opening hours from 12 to 18 h. From 7pm the terrace is only open for drinks and dinner until 1.30am. Prices are different for members than for the general public.
Granada House
This semi-hidden bar is located in the heart of the Lavapiés neighbourhood. It is accessed from a doorway overlooking the Plaza de Tirso de Molina. To access its terrace, you have to first ring the buzzer and then take an old lift up to the sixth floor. It used to be an Andalusian tavern, but has now been converted into a more modern restaurant. Its specialities include marinated dogfish, grilled cuttlefish, fried fish and shrimp omelette. It is well worth going up at sunset to see Madrid's most traditional rooftops.
Terrace of the Casino de Madrid
On the fifth floor of this exclusive building is its magnificent terrace. Its haute cuisine under the direction of Paco Roncero, together with its design, decoration and champagne list, make it an exceptional place. To access the terrace, an elegant touch is obligatory: men must wear a tie and women must be well groomed. The views are spectacular, you can see the domes of the city's most emblematic buildings. But all this magic has to be paid for: the average price is around 180 euros.
To end the terracing Madrid, I wanted to highlight this terrace, which if it is not special for its views, it is special for its peculiar location.
The Garden of Salvador Bachiller
It is located inside a fashion and accessories shop. There is nothing to suggest that if you walk through the shop and go up to the fifth floor, you will find an oasis of palm trees, plants, fresh flowers and garden furniture. And just a few metres from Puerta de Sol. To combat the heat they have water foggers and in winter they have cookers to keep the heat in. Every day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. they offer a brunch for 19.95€.
HOTELS
They are probably the ones who have made summer roof terraces fashionable. Most of them are concentrated in the centre of the capital: Gran Vía, Sol, Chueca, La Latina or Lavapiés; all the neighbourhoods have their own particular terraces. Some even have swimming pools for the enjoyment of non-guests. They are ideal for watching the Madrid sunset.
Hotel Índigo
Behind Gran Vía and on its twelfth floor you'll find paradise when the heat is on. Even if you're not staying here, you can enjoy its terrace and its wonderful views of the centre of Madrid. Hammocks and colourful sun loungers where you can rest from your stroll through the city while sipping an exotic cocktail or eating in its restaurant. It has an Infinity Pool, but only for hotel guests.
Jardines de Sabatini Apartosuites
Luxury and majesty on a terrace-solarium in front of the Royal Palace of Madrid. If you're looking to relax, go upstairs and lie down on the sofas while you listen to chill out music and try one of their varied summer drinks. Spectacular sunsets.
Hotel Vincci The Mint Roof
What makes this terrace stand out is its originality. Tastefully decorated, stripes and floral prints cover this roof terrace, which is open from 1 May to 31 October. An American-style food truck presides over this rooftop terrace, which presents its menu with themed gastronomic proposals. Thursdays are special because they organise the Freshsessions, dancing while the sun goes down. Sessions from 9 p.m. to midnight.
Hotel Nice to Meet You
On the Plaza de España itself stands this hotel whose rooftop terrace enjoys privileged views. The entire Madrid skyline at your fingertips. It is divided into two areas: an area lounge , which is one level above the terrace, and has a cocktail bar. It also has a small swimming pool, only suitable for hotel guests. And downstairs, there is a restaurant with a glassed-in area. At your feet, the Gran Vía, the Princesa street and if you look beyond, the Casa de Campo or the Pardo.
Room Mate Óscar Hotel
Chueca is one of Madrid's favourite neighbourhoods for locals and tourists alike. Here you will find one of the most fashionable terraces. Its Balinese beds, sun loungers, chaise longue and large bar make it a classic for summer evenings. It also has a swimming pool and solarium, which can be freely accessed. Another of its advantages is the enjoyment of its roof terrace all four seasons of the year, because its owners have fitted it out to perfection. A note for if you go with children, the entrance is not allowed for children under 18 years old.
Hotel Radio Me
It has a terrace in the purest Rooftop Bar style in the Plaza de Santa Ana. Divided into several areas, it has an open-air restaurant, live cooking, bars and a club area... and always with DJ music. To go up to the rooftop of this hotel is to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse yourself in an oasis where the vegetation refreshes the atmosphere.
Roof Garden of the Emperador Hotel
It probably has the largest swimming pool, garden and solarium of all the terraces in Madrid. Spectacular views of the Gran Vía, the Almudena or the Royal Palace, which you can contemplate lying in a hammock while enjoying lunch or the sunset with a drink. Admission is free, but prices are higher if you are not staying at your hotel. Monday to Thursday: 48€. Fridays, weekends and public holidays: €63.
Hotel INNSIDE Sweden The Balcony Pool
It is just around the corner from one of the busiest terraces in Madrid, the Bellas Artes. The advantage of this balcony is that it is free to enter and there are hardly any tourists. At its feet the Paseo del Prado and the Plaza de Cibeles. This rooftop has two floors. On the lower floor there is a bar, tables to have a drink and a small pool to soak your feet in on the hottest nights. The upper part is dedicated to relaxation thanks to its Ibiza-style sofas.
The Hat at the Imperial Hostel
It is perhaps the most trendy of all of them. A concept that you hear a lot in the world of terracing. And if it has become so fashionable it is because it is one of the most beautiful in Madrid. In the heart of the Latina neighbourhood, you can feel its traditional atmosphere mixed with the most varied and fun activities. The proposal that stands out is that every Wednesday there are dinners for only 40 diners at a shared table, tasting the cuisine of Triciclo, one of the best restaurants in the city. The rest of the week, you can go upstairs to share a snack, some toast, have a cool sangria or enjoy their barbecue. Don't miss them!
Penthouse 11 Hotel de las Letras
Next to Gran Vía is this terrace from which we can contemplate the emblematic Telefónica building. In summer it is dressed up with metal chairs and stools, mini methacrylate bars, flowerpots, plants and an area where you can enjoy the view of the Telefónica building. chill out It is highly recommended to go up at sunset and watch the Madrid sky change colour, listening to music in the background, while you have a bite to eat or your favourite cocktail. On Friday and Saturday nights there are DJ sessions. And very important, the entrance is free even if you are not a guest.
And so much for our coolest suggestions for contemplating Madrid's skyline. A different way of seeing the city's urban landscape, with its skyscrapers, towers, domes, monuments and the most traditional rooftops when the heat arrives.
