Madrid terraces and rooftops
What to order, where to go and the little things worth knowing.
- 01
Café de Oriente
The terrace staring straight at the Royal Palace. You're paying for the view, and once it's worth it.
OrderCafé con leche and the house torrija with toffee and vanilla ice cream.
- 02
El Anciano Rey de los Vinos
Tiled 1909 bodega facing the Almudena cathedral: vermut de grifo, torrijas and a terrace by the palace.
OrderVermut de grifo and a regalito de torito, the oxtail-filled filo parcel. Torrija when it's in season.
- 03
Cervecería Alemana
Hemingway's old haunt on Plaza de Santa Ana: wood panelling, white-jacketed waiters, a terrace on the square.
OrderA caña or doble, boquerones en vinagre, jamón ibérico and a ración de tortilla.
- 04
Azotea del Círculo de Bellas Artes
The rooftop with Madrid's best postcard: the Metrópolis dome, Gran Vía and the sunset straight ahead.
OrderA vermut with the skyline; for a meal, the menu includes alcachofas asadas with romesco and Idiazabal.
- 05
Mercado de San Antón
Chueca's modernised market: groceries downstairs, food stalls above, and a rooftop terrace on top.
OrderGildas at La Real Gilda's Gallery, then a drink at the rooftop's 11 Nudos Terraza Nordés.
- 06
Café Gijón
Recoletos's literary café since 1888, reopened in March 2026 under Cappuccino with a new menu.
OrderCroquetas de jamón from the new Cappuccino menu.
- 07
La Pequeña Graná
Granada's beer-and-tapa ritual on Embajadores, with the pleasing complication of choosing your own tapa.
OrderCaña de Alhambra, berenjena con hummus y miel de caña, and sirenita XL de sepia y gamba.
- 08
Atrapallada
A Galician seafood lunch on Acacias that can happily start when most Madrid kitchens have shut.
OrderPulpo a la gallega con cachelos, arroz de carabineros en paella and sorbete al albariño.
- 09
Bodega Salvaje
Manchego craft beer and grandma's meatballs in a small bar with a very loyal neighbourhood following.
OrderAlbóndigas de la abuela Gabriela, oreja Salvaje and tabla de quesos manchegos.
- 10
Bar Toboggan
A plaza terrace near Matadero for vermut de grifo and torreznos, with a €15 weekday menú del día.
OrderVermut de grifo, torreznos fritos de la casa and oreja a la plancha.
- 11
La Cantina de Matadero
Matadero’s old boiler room feeds filmgoers with vegetable dishes and a courtyard terrace worth lingering on.
OrderHummus de remolacha, buñuelos vegetales and berenjena asada con scamorza.
- 12
Merinas Bar y Ultramarinos
An old grocery reborn as the neighbourhood's meeting place, with Cádiz snacks and a very Valencian sandwich habit.
OrderBocadillo Merinas de sobrasada, cebolla y queso, mojama de Barbate and a vermú.
- 13
Vegania Veggie Bar Carabanchel
A vegan neighbourhood bar where homemade seitán and hefty burgers make a convincing dinner near Eugenia de Montijo.
OrderKebab de seitán, hamburguesa de avena, tofu y tomate seco, and brownie con helado.
- 14
Cervecería La Chata
A churrería beside Vistalegre where breakfast comes with a proper cup of chocolate and a neighbourhood soundtrack.
OrderChurros and chocolate a la taza.
- 15
El Secreto de Dora
A big taberna beside the arena, useful for generous shared raciones and a terrace table with the whole family.
OrderCallos a la madrileña, lacón a la gallega and calamares a la romana.
- 16
El Sexto Sol
An informal Oporto stop for tacos, generously filled quesadillas and a terrace drink when dinner can take its time.
OrderTacos de cochinita, quesadilla de res and a margarita.
- 17
Devinums
A roomy local vinoteca for weekday lunch, family rice feasts and the sort of terrace meal that swallows an afternoon.
OrderArroz caldoso con bogavante, setas empanadas con paletilla ibérica and huevos estrellados con jamón ibérico.
- 18
La Ancha
The Armando escalope is absurdly big; the family cooking around it is the reason to keep coming back.
OrderEscalope Armando and tortilla española guisada con almejas.
- 19
Samm
A family rice house where paella valenciana and a long lunch are still perfectly sensible weekend plans.
OrderPaella valenciana and ensaladilla rusa con ventresca.
- 20
La Fonda de la Confianza
Proper table service, orange-scented skate and offal make this a good excuse to linger off Doctor Fleming.
OrderEscabeche de raya a la naranja and mollejas de ternera apoteósicas.
- 21
Coalla
A wine shop with tables where excellent tins and clever tostas can derail a supposedly quick aperitivo.
OrderTosta de morcilla Matachana con sardinas Güeyu Mar and mollete de pastrami.
- 22
Taberna La Mina
A neighbourhood bar built around hot prawns, pinchos morunos and the possibility of another caña on the terrace.
OrderGambas a la plancha, pincho moruno and una caña.
- 23
Hotel Santo Mauro
Gresca's bikini and natural wines in a palace garden, with chestnut trees doing most of the decorating.
OrderBikini de lomo ibérico and ensaladilla rusa con buey de mar y caviar.
- 24
Méntrida
An Olavide terrace for tortilla and calamares, with gluten-free versions of much of the tapas menu.
OrderTortilla de patatas con pimientos, patatas bravas and a bocata de calamares to share.
- 25
Cervecería Santa Bárbara
Cañas, gambas cocidas and a terrace on the square: Santa Bárbara has been pouring here since 1966.
OrderGambas cocidas, media ración de torreznos and a caña clásica.
- 26
Azotea Barceló
A fourth-floor garden above Mercado de Barceló for a gilda, a small tortilla and a long afternoon.
OrderGilda Barceló and tortilla con queso trufado; the tortillas are small enough to add something else.
- 27
La Taquería de Birra
Madrid's early taco pioneer still makes a good excuse for cochinita and a margarita on Comendadoras.
OrderTacos de cochinita pibil, quesadillas de huitlacoche and a margarita.
- 28
La Taberna de Corps
A corner tavern for mojama and a terrace seat overlooking the old Conde Duque barracks.
OrderCaña, callos and mojama.
- 29
Café Moderno
A long terrace on Comendadoras for a tinto de verano, with an old café interior worth a look too.
OrderCruasán de jamón y queso in the morning; tinto de verano for an afternoon on the terrace.
- 30
Taberna Los Gallos
An entire house off Jorge Juan for terrace lunches that can acquire a very late second act.
OrderChanquetes con huevo y pimientos asados, ensaladilla rusa delux and queso majorero con miel de palma.
- 31
Berria Wine Bar
A serious wine cellar with a Puerta de Alcalá view and enough by-the-glass choice to derail dinner plans.
OrderGilda con doble anchoa, pepito de solomillo and a copa de Saca Berria Fino Viejo.
- 32
La Leyenda del Agave
A Mexican neighbourhood veteran where cuitlacoche and tamarind margaritas deserve the table space.
OrderCochinita pibil, quesadillas de cuitlacoche and margarita de tamarindo.
- 33
Horchatería Alboraya
Horchata and fartons on Felipe II: a Valencian answer to Madrid's hot pavements.
OrderHorchata de chufa, fartons and leche merengada.
- 34
Cañadío
Santander sends its rabas south, with a busy bar and a cheesecake worth keeping room for.
OrderRabas como en Santander, croquetas de lacón y huevo cocido, and tarta de queso.
- 35
Colósimo
The tortilla gets you through the door; the Romero brothers’ slow cooking makes you stay.
OrderPincho de tortilla de patatas, canelón de carrillera y queso payoyo, and steak tartar.
- 36
Puerta Bisagra
Three-course cocido and a proper neighbourhood dining room give chilly days in Numancia a purpose.
OrderCocido madrileño en tres vuelcos, or callos a la madrileña and croquetas de jamón.
- 37
Pancipelao
Cocido starts with a croqueta de pringá here; cancelling your afternoon plans seems only sensible.
OrderCocido madrileño en cuatro vuelcos, callos a la madrileña or rabo de toro a la cordobesa.
- 38
Portacos Bar
A tiny Mexican dining room on Numancia market's outer edge, with serious tacos and margaritas.
OrderTaco de panceta, tacos al pastor and a margarita.
- 39
Farah
Heba Kharouf's Eastern Mediterranean cooking on Mancebos, with muhammara and a sea bass built for sharing.
OrderMuhammara, lubina con tahini para dos, and knafé de queso y pistachos.
- 40
Achuri
A neighbourhood co-operative with a daily menú, serious croquetas and its politics on the walls.
OrderBerenjenas andalusí, milanesa napolitana and flan de coco, when they appear on the menú del día.
- 41
África Fusión
Senegalese rice dishes and peanut sauce bring a very good reason to eat properly on terrace-lined Argumosa.
OrderMafe de ternera, thiebou djenne de pescado and bissap.
- 42
Portomarín
A dependable Galician table beside the plaza, with pulpo, lacón and enough dishes to feed the whole family.
OrderPulpo a la gallega, croquetas de lacón con grelos and Martín Códax albariño.
- 43
Juan Raro
A sociable neighbourhood restaurant where teriyaki sneaks into the carrilleras and supper can drift into drinks.
OrderCarrilleras de ternera teriyaki, berenjena asada con tahini y za'atar, and tiramisú raro.
- 44
El Rincón Guay
A sociable corner facing San Fernando market, with breakfast until one and a terrace for watching Embajadores wake up.
OrderTosta Guay con queso fresco, jamón, aguacate y pera, or huevos Benedict con salmón.
- 45
El Imperfecto
Mojitos, piña coladas and walls crammed with film posters: a cheerfully cluttered stop before a night out in Huertas.
OrderA mojito or a piña colada; these are the drinks people come back for.
- 46
Cabreira
A Dos de Mayo fixture where garlic-and-vinegar potatoes and Fina’s callos outlast the neighbourhood fashions.
OrderPatatas Cabreira, callos de Fina and pulpo a la gallega.
- 47
Circo de las Tapas
Shared tapas, a courtyard and a tortilla made with crisps: a useful Corredera lunch that has a playful streak.
OrderTortilla Lay’s con cebolla caramelizada y parmesano, maxi papas dos salsas and tarta tatin de manzana.
- 48
La Pescadería
An old fish shop with a glass-roofed patio, ceviche and a surprisingly good reason to order a pork kebab.
OrderCeviche de corvina, kebab de cerdo ibérico and coliflor en salsa de yogur.
- 49
Casa de Valencia
Big rice pans and proper table service on Rosales, with enough room to bring the family.
OrderPaella valenciana or arroz senyoret; arroz con rabo de toro if you prefer meat.
- 50
La Florida - Café Bistró
Good coffee and a sunny park-facing terrace make an ordinary Rosales breakfast feel like a small day off.
OrderFlat white and tostada de aguacate.
- 51
Taberna Real
Ópera people-watching with vermut and a proper slice of Joselito.
OrderVermut de grifo, tosta de jamón ibérico con tomate and zamburiñas a la plancha.
- 52
Taberna de Ramales
A terrace for lingering on Ramales, with a long line-up of topped pinchos.
OrderPincho de bacalao gratinado and pincho de chistorra con huevo y pimiento de Padrón.
- 53
Café de los Austrias
An old-fashioned café for a sweet pause on Ramales or a winter seat by the fireplace.
OrderCafé bombón and helado de turrón.
- 54
El Café de la Ópera
A hotel café opposite the Real where piano jazz turns an early evening snack into a plan.
OrderPalomitas de alcachofa con caramelo salado and ensaladilla Ópera con encurtidos.
- 55
Ultramarinos Pirulo
A grocery-style taberna for gildas and vermut when your Retiro walk turns into an aperitivo.
OrderGilda de anchoa, croquetas de jamón and vermut Petroni.
- 56
Murillo Café
A Prado-side bistro where Venezuelan comfort food gives the museum lunch a welcome detour.
OrderTequeños, polvorosa de pollo and fondant de chocolate.
- 57
Los Galayos
Proper callos and crisp torreznos in a grand old dining house on the edge of Plaza Mayor.
OrderTorreznos ibéricos con sal Maldon and callos de ternera a la madrileña con pata y morro.
- 58
Las Bravas
The Matheu branch of the bravas institution, where even the tortilla gets the house sauce.
OrderPatatas bravas, tortilla con salsa brava and oreja con salsa brava to share.
- 59
Doñaluz Sky Rooftop
A Montera rooftop for a pisco sour above Sol, with a bill that includes the view.
OrderDoñaluz Sour, ceviche de corvina Doñaluz and croquetas de cecina.
- 60
El Quinto Vino
A wine-loving taberna that puts callos on tortilla and gives croquetas their own starring role.
OrderCroquetas de Esperanza, tortilla con callos and carrilleras al palo cortado.
- 61
Asador Donostiarra
The big Basque celebration lunch: txuletón, proper fish cookery and walls full of famous diners.
OrderTxuletón de vaca vieja, kokotxas de merluza al pil-pil and tortilla de bacalao.
- 62
Mesón Txistu
Basque cooking, football photographs and a chuletón built for the sort of lunch that cancels your afternoon.
OrderChuletón Txistu para dos, tortilla de bacalao and besugo a la espalda, ordered ahead.
- 63
The Irish Rover
A huge Irish pub for Guinness, live bands and the useful ability to feed you after a late finish.
OrderSalchichas irlandesas con patatas, alitas con salsa Irish Rover and a pinta de Guinness.
- 64
Teitu
An ample Asturian sidrería where fabes, cachopo and a thatched private room can settle the group-lunch debate.
OrderFabes con almejas y pitxin, cachopo con queso Vidiago and arroz con leche a la asturiana.
- 65
Colette Bakery
An Almendrales bakery for croissant a la plancha, homemade cakes and breakfast that lasts until 13:00.
OrderCroissant a la plancha con mermelada casera, tarta de zanahoria (Zanahoriocake) and café con leche.
- 66
Florida Park
Dinner at El Pabellón, then dancing at Florida Park: Retiro has a nightlife of its own.
OrderAt El Pabellón: croquetas de choco, ensaladilla rusa ahumada con huevo y atún rojo, and a Negroni Florida.
- 67
Taberna La Buha
Huge stuffed tortillas on Plaza de la Cebada when your La Latina bar crawl suddenly needs dinner.
OrderTortilla de queso de cabra y cebolla caramelizada, or tortilla de jamón york y queso.
- 68
Cervecería Montemayor
Quintana's useful lunch address: proper stews, a terrace and a full menú you can also take home.
OrderPote gallego and pechuga de pavo a la naranja, when they appear on the daily menú.
- 69
Donate
Almansa lunches with two terraces, a weekday menú and croquetas de chipirones when you fancy sharing.
OrderCroquetas caseras de chipirones en su tinta and ensaladilla rusa de la abuela, from the carta.