The sun is beaming down on Spain’s capital with typical vigour. Though the city may be beach-free, madrileños know exactly where to head on those long, lazy summer days – the roof terraces that dot the metropolis are the cosmopolitan way to make the most of Spanish weather. Picture yourself soaking up the rays, cocktail in hand, serenaded by breathtaking panoramas of the Madrid skyline… and then read on for Splendia’s top three sun-splashed rooftop haunts.
Círculo de Bellas Artes
Exhibitions, films, dance shows, cultural conferences – and the view’s not too bad on the eyes, either. The spot where the famous Gran Vía meets calle de Alcalá is where the Círculo de Bellas Artes calls home, and it should not be missed for those seeking that elusive panoramic city vista. Enter the lift’s crystal doors to ascend and see Recoletos, La Puerta del Sol and the paseo de la Castellana from a bird’s eye perspective. Dusk is perhaps the best time of day to catch the little cars and even littler people making their way down Gran Vía, as the darkening sky gapes before you and the city’s day folds into night.
Gau & Café
This bar and restaurant certainly makes the most of its city-central location in Lavapiés, 
on the top floor of the Escuelas Pías building. Inhabiting an area rich in culture, not for nothing is it one of the city’s most popular roof terraces, overflowing in the summer months thanks to its views of the Corrala and eclectic rooftops of the surrounding area. The bar offers drinks, snacks and more than 30 different types of tea, whilst the restaurant serves its signature aubergines and courgettes with honey and parmesan, as well as a variety of other Mediterranean flavours. And Gau & Café is more than just a pretty view, offering photography exhibitions, poetry readings and even cooking lessons for those culture vultures.
Hotel Urban
Last but by no means least, Splendia’s very own Hotel Urban. Those accustomed to luxury will not feel out of place in this oasis of 5-star contemporary cool, buried at the city’s heart and minutes from the Prado museum, the Reina Sofia and the Puerta del Sol. Interiors showcase chic modernity, whilst the roof terrace plays host to the fashionable restaurant, swimming pool, cocktail bar and – need we say it? – some pretty divine panoramas. Mingle with Madrid’s elite under the moonlight and watch the country’s nightlife capital get ready for yet another nocturnal adventure.
To book a stay in Madrid, click here. For more information about Splendia, or to view our worldwide selection of unique Luxury & Character Hotels, click here.
Alicia
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