Gran Via is the most famous street in Madrid spanning from Plaza Cibeles to Plaza Espana. Here you can find most hotels, restaurants and shopping areas. And of course, also some of the most spectacular rooftop bars Madrid has to offer! We decided to visit 15 of them, so we could narrow it down to the 6 best.
In this article we share our insights, photos, thoughts and much more. Enjoy, what we believe, are the 6 best rooftop bars along Gran Via this year.
This article comes packed with the following info about each rooftop venue:
You can also find some amazing hotels with rooftop pools along Gran Via. We'd recommend booking your stay at any of these hotels, for the full rooftop experience!
Ambiance: 360º Rooftop Bar gives you the chance to discover Madrid from high, high above. Perched on the 27th floor of the majestic and recently renovated Hotel Riu Plaza España, this is just about as close to the sky you can get in the Spanish capital. The 360º panoramic views from the stylish outdoor terrace are breathtaking. Literally all of Madrid and beyond is at your feet, in just about every angle imaginable.
Food & Drinks: From the rooftop bar you can order classic cocktails, wine, beers and coffee, as well as bar bites. The spacious, modern and multi-level rooftop terrace is equipped with lots of comfy lounge sofas, regular tables and front-row bar seats.
What we think: The rooftop is more a tourist attraction than a nice bar. But the view is so spectacular that you need to visit when in Madrid. Guest staying at Hotel Riu Plaza España can visit the rooftop bar for free, while there is a fee for outside visitors: €5 from 11.00 to 17.00 and €10 from 17.00 to 00.00. Don't let that stop you from visiting though, as the views alone make it well worth every penny. Which many already have noticed, and during peak-hours, the line can be quite long outside the Riu Plaza.
Dress code: TThe 360º Rooftop Bar at Riu Plaza Espana dress code is smart casual. Smart casual is an approach to dressing professionally that mixes trendier pieces in with classic staples. The goal is an appearance that’s clean and professional but doesn’t look too formal.
360 RIU PLAZA
Ambiance: Located at the amazing NH Collection Madrid Suecia, the Casa Suecia offers a food and cocktail experience in many different settings. The true gem is the top floor terrace and rooftop bar. Set over two levels, the Casa Suecia rooftop bar is truly a beautiful destination. Equipped with a large and stylish bar and plenty of comfy sofas all along the edge, it is framed by a fantastic 360º view over Madrid, including Cibeles and the Retiro.
Drinks and Food: The rooftop bar menu includes an extensive selection of well-made cocktails, as well as tasty sangria and Mediterranean-inspired finger food and grilled dishes. Try to time the beautiful sunset, and since the rooftop does not take reservations, try to be in good time.
What we think: Casa Suecia is the perfect rooftop in Madrid for pre-dinner drinks or afternoon cocktails. The sweeping views of the city and fantastic Sangria are two great reasons to come here. Offering a relaxing lounge vibe during daytime / afternoon, Casa Suecia turns more vibrant during evenings, with resident DJs creating the soundtrack.
Dress code: The Casa Suecia dress code is smart casual. Smart casual is an approach to dressing professionally that mixes trendier pieces in with classic staples. The goal is an appearance that’s clean and professional but doesn’t look too formal.
CASA SUECIA
Ambiance: Perched nine floors up, at the fantastic NH Collection Gran Vía, Picalagartos Sky Bar offers not only stunning 360-degree views of Madrid, but also one of the best cocktail bars in the city. The entire building is a real architectural gem, designed with a neo-Baroque style that makes it stand out from all nearby structures. And the rooftop bar and terrace are just about as beautiful, with a wonderful bohemian style and a laid-back and relaxed atmosphere that invites guests to remember the 50's.
Drinks and Food: Picalagartos is both a rooftop bar and restaurant, where the indoor dining room is found one floor below the sky bar. Here you can enjoy dishes with a seasonal twist to traditional Spanish cuisine, basing the articles of the menu on the ingredients available at the time of your visit. The top floor rooftop bar also offers smaller bites from the restaurant menu, but focuses mostly on drinks. From mixology cocktails by Luca Anastasio, to a wide selection of Gins, premium spirits and some beers / wine.
What we think: Probably one of the trendiest rooftop bars in the city, we can recommend coming here if you like beautiful people, well-made cocktails and a view to die for. Settle down in one of the comfy lounge sofas and enjoy a great and relaxing atmosphere, fine drinks and lovely views. Reservations are possible for the 8th floor restaurant, but the rooftop bar works on a first-come, first-served basis.
Dress code: The Picalagartos Sky Bar dress code is smart casual. Smart casual is an approach to dressing professionally that mixes trendier pieces in with classic staples. The goal is an appearance that’s clean and professional but doesn’t look too formal.
PICALAGARTOS SKY BAR
Ambiance: Found on top of the fantastic hotel VP Plaza España Design, Ginko Sky Bar is a stylish Madrid rooftop restaurant and bar, offering amazing views over the Royal Palace and the city skyline. Beautiful and trendy in decoration, mixing Japanese inspiration with vintage touches, the 1000 m2 venue holds both an indoor restaurant and tapas lounge with panoramic windows, and a lovely open air-terrace. So the vistas are available all around.
Food & Drinks: Ginkgo Restaurant & Sky Bar offers a menu with Mediterranean dishes mixing traditional preparations with touches of market cuisine and Asian influences. There is also a great selection of creative and expertly crafted signature cocktails, along with good old classic ones.
What we think: Open for sunny daytime visits, nighttime is when Ginko gets extra chic and vibrant. Come enjoy the trendy atmosphere, complemented with everything from DJ sessions to jazz and pop concerts. Reservations are needed for the indoor restaurant, while the tapas bar and outdoor terrace works on a first come, first served basis (with a fee of €3 Monday to Thursday and €6 on weekends).
Dress code: The Ginkgo Restaurante & Sky Bar dress code is elegant casual. It’s all about choosing appropriate quality fabrics, combining two or three colours elegantly and, generally, making you look and feel luxurious and classy.
GINKO RESTAURANTE
Ambiance: The 5-star and beautiful Hyatt Centric Gran Via Madrid offers a 'secret' rooftop bar that is just as beautiful, called El Jardín de Diana. The name comes from Diana the hunter, whose impressive statue you can find looking out from the terrace, seeing what you see: panoramic views over the heart of Madrid. Mixing 270 square meters of indoor seating and lush outdoor spaces, the rooftop feels like a botanical oasis. Lovely in the sun, and equally stylish covered in a cozy and dim evening light.
Food & Drinks: Usually open daily from noon to midnight, here you can enjoy gastronomic bar bites perfect to share, as well as more filling dishes from the grill. There is also a large selection of crafted signature cocktails and classic ones with a twist, also available as pitchers to share.
What we think: Stylish yet relaxing and energetic, El Jardín de Diana is truly a privileged space to enjoy Madrid from above. We’ve enjoyed every time we’ve been here. 5 times and counting.
Dress code: The El Jardín de Diana dress code is smart casual. Smart casual is an approach to dressing professionally that mixes trendier pieces in with classic staples. The goal is an appearance that’s clean and professional but doesn’t look too formal.
EL JARDIN DE DIANA
Ambiance: Set in the heart of Madrid, 150 meters from Gran Via, Inhala Hotel Garden offers an urban and elevated rooftop escape to enjoy the city from above. Called Inhala Terraza (previously La Terraza del Santo Domingo), the rooftop is divided into three spaces: an interior living room with a circular wall overlooking Plaza de Santo Domingo, an airy and glazed lower terrace with views over Madrid de los Austrias and the hotel's vertical garden, and an open-air upper terrace, where the panoramic 360º views over Madrid are simply amazing.
Food & Drinks: Being a rooftop restaurant and rooftop bar, the Inhala Terraza menu features a tasty selection of Spanish and Mediterranean dishes, served as both lunch and dinner, as well as fresh cocktails, brews, wine and sangria.
What we think: Open 365 days a year, thanks to both interior seating and the retractable roof on the glazed terrace, Inhala Terraza is a prime spot to enjoy everything from sunny lunches and beautiful sunset drinks, to cool evenings and charming dinners under the Madrid sky.
Dress code: The Inhala Terraza dress code is casual. Casual dress code refers to clothing that is informal and comfortable, yet clean and professional. It’s best to go with nicer casual wear and avoid the baggier items you wear around the house.
INHALA TERRAZA
Hans has visited over 500 rooftop bars, 200 rooftop pools and 300 rooftop restaurants since 2015. This vast experience has made Hans a true rooftop expert, and one of the most knowledgeable in the field. Today, numerous of travel magazines, bloggers and media websites contact Hans to get his expertise on rooftops.
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