It’s no secret that I love seeing a city from up above no matter where I am in the world (just check my Instagram 😜 ). If you ask me, there’s nothing quite like gazing down over beautiful vistas while enjoying a thirst-quenching glass of sangria or celebratory bubbly. And thankfully, there are now SO many options for rooftops in Madrid.
When I first lived here back in 2011, Madrid’s rooftop scene was pretty scarce. A lot of rooftops in Madrid were seasonal, and there weren’t many to choose from. Today, the classics, like the Azotea at Círculo de Bellas Artes, are still going strong, and now there are a plethora of new rooftop bars and restaurants open year-round, so you never need to worry about missing out on the incredible views over this magical city, no matter what time of year it is!
Trust me. If you’re visiting the Spanish Capital, this is an experience you won’t want to miss out on. There’s something so incredibly special about watching the sun disappear behind the skyline of my favorite Spanish city that never ceases to amaze me.
If you’ve ever heard the expression “de Madrid al cielo,” which means once you’ve lived in Madrid, the only thing better is “the sky,” than you already know I’m not alone in feeling this way.
So, let’s get to it!
**This article has been updated as of January 2022. Please verify all prices, opening hours, and other information before visiting these rooftops in Madrid yourself.
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Here are the Best Rooftop Bars and Restaurants in Madrid 👇
360° Terraza y Sky Bar at Hotel Riu
Location: Calle Gran Vía, 84
Neighborhood: Argüelles
Nearest Metros: Plaza de España (L10 – dark blue, L2 – red, L3 – yellow)
Website | Instagram
Sitting high up on the 27th floor of Hotel Riu Plaza España you’ll find this incredible 360° rooftop bar. As the name implies, you’re granted true 360° panoramic views over Madrid while having plenty of seating options to enjoy a perfectly crafted cocktail.
What sets this rooftop terrace apart from other rooftop bars in Madrid is the newly added balcón de cristal. Sky Bar’s balcón de cristal is a small, glass platform that sits 100 meters high and offers breathtaking views of the city below with its three glass walls and transparent glass floor. (It also offers some pretty Insta-worthy photo opportunities if that’s your thing!)
And if feeling like you’re suspended over the city isn’t your vibe, this Madrid rooftop offers plenty of other seating options including lounge sofas, traditional tables, and bar stools. Hotel Riu also recently announced that they would be opening a new tapas bar one floor below the rooftop, which will offer views just as spectacular as those that can already be enjoyed while dancing the night away at the Sky Bar, with the nightclub located on the same floor.
As one of the most popular rooftops in Madrid, you can expect long lines during peak hours so make sure you get there early if you want to catch one of Madrid’s incredible sunsets! The wait is definitely worth it!
Guests staying at the Hotel Riu can visit the restaurant, sky bar, and rooftop for free. If you are not staying at the hotel you can still visit for an entrance fee. The entrance fee is €5 per person from 11:00-17:00 during weekdays and increases to €10 per person from 17:00-01:00 Monday – Friday as well as on weekends and public holidays.
Ginkgo Restaurante & Sky Bar
Location: Plaza de España, 3
Neighborhood: Argüelles
Nearest Metro: Plaza de España (L10 – dark blue, L2 – red, L3 – yellow)
Website | Instagram
The Ginkgo Restaurante and Sky Bar can be found on the 12th floor of the VP Plaza España Design Hotel and claims to be the highest point in Madrid. This rooftop bar offers spectacular views of Madrid’s skyline and the Royal Palace, which you can either enjoy from their indoor tapas bar and restaurant or from their heated open-air terrace.
The atmosphere certainly matches the menu at Ginkgo. While this year-round rooftop in Madrid is well known for its signature cocktails, its food menu also offers an impressive selection of Asian-influenced Mediterranean dishes for you to enjoy while surrounded by a beautiful combination of Japanese-inspired and vintage decor.
This rooftop is stunning during the day, but the real party starts at night when they often have live entertainment. You can expect to find anything from a DJ to a jazz or pop concert. Check out their website or Instagram for upcoming shows.
*One thing to note about Gingko is that they do have a dress code that is strictly enforced. They describe the dress code as “elegant casual” and provide the following reference on their website:
If you’re planning on having dinner at the restaurant then reservations are highly recommended. Reservations are not needed if you only plan on visiting the tapas bar and the terrace, but you can expect to pay a €3 entrance fee per person Monday – Thursday and €6 per person on weekends, the eve of public holidays, and holidays.
OH- and if you’re on the lookout for that perfect Instagram spot, be sure to snap a photo in front of Gingko’s infamous “angel wings.” I mean, if you don’t get the photo, were you even really there? 🤔 😉
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Azotea del Círculo at Círculo de Bellas Artes (Previously Tartan Roof Bar)
Location: Calle del Marqués de Casa Riera, 2
Neighborhood: Centro
Nearest Metro: Banco de España (L2 – red)
Website | Instagram
This Azotea (or “rooftop” in Spanish), formerly known as the Tartan Roof Bar, is a classic in the city. It’s a gorgeous open-air rooftop terrace that has heated areas so it can be enjoyed all year long. They also have water spritzers to keep you cool if you’re looking to enjoy a cold glass of bubbly up high on a hot summer day.
What makes this one of the best rooftops in Madrid? Well, just see the photo below. If you’ve looked up the Spanish Capital online, you’ve probably already laid eyes on this view over Gran Vía’s iconic Metropolis Building. As I mentioned before, it’s a classic.
Azotea serves a delicious selection of Spanish and Mediterranean dishes as well as wine, beer, sangria, cocktails, and champagne (obviously). You can make reservations for dinner and go onto the rooftop for free. But, if you don’t have reservations, there is an entrance fee of €5 per person to go up.
Another thing that sets this rooftop apart is that they often host different types of events, like painting workshops and yoga classes.
Terraza Cibeles in Palacio Cibeles, 6th floor
Location: Plaza Cibeles, 1
Neighborhood: Centro
Nearest Metro: Banco de España (L2 – red)
Website | Instagram
City Halls tend to be beautiful examples of traditional architecture around Europe, and they’re almost always worth a visit. And, Madrid goes above and beyond with Palacio de Cibeles, which houses City Hall. This government building becomes a little more enticing by having a stylish rooftop with breathtaking views of the Madrid skyline and the Cibeles plaza below.
While Terraza Cibeles is open air, it is still open year-round. They provide heaters and blankets during the colder months so you can stay cozy while taking in the views.
This rooftop terrace is definitely a hot spot in Madrid during peak hours, so make sure you arrive early or make reservations in advance. If you do decide to make reservations, it’s important to note that there is a minimum spend of €50 per person.
Terraza Cibeles runs things a little differently than other rooftop bars in Madrid when it comes to entrance fees for those without a reservation. Rather than charging you an entrance fee that seemingly goes to nothing, you are charged a €10 consumption fee per person at the door. This amount goes towards your food and drinks order, so it actually works in your favor!
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Casa Suecia
Location: Calle del Marqués de Casa Riera, 4
Neighborhood: Centro
Nearest Metros: Banco de España (L2), Sevilla (L2)
Website | Instagram
Casa Suecia is known to be one of the most exclusive rooftops in Madrid. Taking up the top two levels of Hotel NH Collection Madrid Suecia (which used to be the home of author Ernest Hemingway in the 1950s), this rooftop bar offers true panoramic views over Madrid.
Casa Suecia is best enjoyed with a cocktail in hand as you take in the trendy crowd and picturesque sunset. It’s the perfect time to relax while you wait for their resident DJs to start spinning so you can dance the night away (or into the early morning if that’s your style!). It doesn’t matter what time of year you choose to enjoy this Madrid rooftop bar because they recently added glass enclosures to heat things up during the cooler months.
Casa Suecia does not take reservations (unless you’re there for a splurge-worthy celebration and ordering bottle service 🥂 ), so definitely try to get there early.
Oscar’s Terrace at Room Mate Hotel Oscar
Location: Plaza de Pedro Zerolo, 12
Neighborhood: Chueca
Nearest Metros: Gran Vía (L1, L5), Sevilla (L2), Chueca (L5)
Website | Instagram
Oscar’s Terrace is located atop the Room Mate Oscar Hotel, which can be found right in the middle of Madrid’s colorful Chueca neighborhood. Chueca is known as the city’s lively LGBTQ+ neighborhood and I’d definitely consider this one of the best-located rooftops in Madrid. Grab a drink and then head down to the plaza where you’ll find tapas bars, discotecas, restaurants, and a bustling vibrant nightlife lining the streets below!
Like many other rooftops on this list, at La Terraza de Oscar you’ll have an impressive selection of custom cocktails to choose from while you enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Madrid sunset. They also added a full heating system in 2015 so you can now enjoy this beautiful space all year round.
What really sets this apart from other rooftop bars in Madrid is it has one of the cities few rooftop pools. Cocktails, views of the Spanish capital, and a pool? Can you think of a better way to spend a hot summer day in Madrid?
The seasonal pool is free for hotel guests to use or, as a non-hotel guest, you can buy a pass ranging from €40 – €60. This pass will also get you a towel, a tequila, and a glass of cava, which seems like a pretty impressive deal to me.
Oscar’s Terrace also offers brunch on Saturdays, but reservations are required.
Looking for more delicious places to enjoy brunch in Madrid? Check out my post “Best Madrid Brunch Spots”!
Gourmet Experience at Corte Inglés in Plaza Callao
Location: Plaza de Callao, 2
Neighborhood: Centro
Nearest Metro: Callao (L3, L5), Gran Vía (L1, L5), Sol (L1, L2, L3)
Website
On the 9th floor of Gran Via’s “El Corte Inglés” shopping center is a foodie’s paradise. Gourmet Experience is more of a rooftop food court than a restaurant or bar, which means it truly has something for everyone. There are about ten food and drink stalls representing culinary delicacies from all corners of the globe. After receiving your order, you can either eat inside as you enjoy the spectacular views of the iconic Schweppes building from the massive glass windows or go out onto the open-air terrace to people watch over the Callao Plaza below.
Because Gourmet Experience is so centrally located, it is easily one of the most visited rooftops in Madrid. If you’re looking to avoid the crowds as much as possible I would recommend going in the middle of a weekday.
The Hat Madrid Rooftop
Location: Calle Imperial, 9
Neighborhood: Centro
Nearest Metro: Sol (L1, L2, L3), Tirso de Molina (L1- light blue)
Website | Instagram
When most people think of rooftop bars, they probably envision chic (and pricey) establishments on the top floors of boujee five-star hotels. So, this may come as a surprise– one of Madrid’s best and most popular rooftop bars is atop a hostel!
The rooftop at the Hat Hostel used to be one of the best hidden gems in Madrid. Today, the secret’s out, but it’s still worth a visit! This unassuming hostel has an incredible rooftop that has both an indoor space as well as a heated outdoor terrace. Here, you’ll find a fairly affordable selection (at least by rooftop standards) of traditional Spanish drinks and tapas to choose from, great for sharing with a group. And in the typical hostel spirit, you could definitely show up solo, and leave with some new friends!
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Picalagartos Sky Bar & Restaurant
Location: Calle Gran Vía, 21
Neighborhood:
Nearest Metro: Gran Vía (L1, L5)
Website | Instagram
Picalagartos Sky Bar & Restaurant, located at the Hotel NH Collection Gran Via, is one of the highest-rated cocktail bars in Madrid, and it is not difficult to see why. Similar to Casa Suecia, Picalagartos takes up two floors of the hotel with their restaurant on the lower level and the sky bar on the top floor.
Picalagartos offers an extensive selection of both original craft cocktails, like the Skull & Blood, and old classics with a modern twist, like the Coconut Espresso Martini.
Like some of the other rooftops above, Picalagartos also offers Saturday and Sunday brunch at 12 PM. It’s 25€ per person or 30€ with a cocktail by master mixologist Luca Anastasio. You can choose to reserve on the terrace or in the restaurant while enjoying sweeping views of Gran Vía below.
** Reservations are only accepted for the restaurant. The Sky Bar is first come, first served.
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El Viajero, La Azotea
Location: Plaza de la Cebada, 11
Neighborhood: La Latina
Nearest Metro: La Latina (L5 – green)
Website | Instagram
Rounding out the list of best rooftops in Madrid is El Viajero. This is the place to go on Sundays to relax in an urban, ivy-covered oasis for one of the best mojitos in Madrid. You’ll find incredible views of Old Town Madrid and the Basílica San Francisco El Grande, which is especially dazzling when bathed in the golden glow of sunset.
El Viajero is another hot spot (especially on the weekends), and they don’t take reservations. So make sure to get there early or get ready for a bit of a wait.
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Other Rooftops in Madrid Worth a Visit
Terraza de Sabatini – a stylish rooftop bar in the Sabatini Gardens with a view of the Royal Palace. Website | Instagram
Sky Bar at the Axel Hotel Madrid – a hetero-friendly gay rooftop bar with a heated pool for year-round swimming. By night this rooftop transforms into a posh prejudice-free meeting point where all are welcome. Website | Instagram
La Terraza rooftop at The Principal Madrid Hotel – an elegant and upscale rooftop with Mediterranean vibes found atop Gran Vía’s first five-star hotel. Website | Instagram
Nice To Meet You Restaurant & Lounge – a large contemporary rooftop terrace located on the 14th floor of Madrid’s Dear Hotel. Designed by Tarruella Trench Studio this rooftop won an AD magazine award in 2015 for best interior design. Website | Instagram
RADIO ME Rooftop at the ME Madrid Hotel – the Me Madrid rooftop is a classy lounge, club, bar, and restaurant that’s become a social hotspot in the heart of Madrid. It offers cutting-edge music, inventive cocktails, and quality gastronomy. Website | Instagram
Ático 11 at the Iberostar Las Letras Hotel – a small, yet cozy rooftop terrace located on the 7th floor of a boutique hotel in Las Letras. Only open during the summer season. Website
Planning to visit Madrid? Be sure to check out My Madrid Guide for tons of content and ideas for what to do while visiting my favorite European city.
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