When the heat hits the capital, we sometimes leave the asphalt to seek shelter in the heights of small oases where we can cool off. Luckily, there are many spaces suitable for escape: rooftops where you can enjoy tasty snacks, delicious cocktails, live music and even film sessions. Take note of these plans and get hooked on the rooftop mood.
In Saint-Tropez, Mykonos, Capri, Cannes, Barcelona, ??Eivissa and, now, also in Madrid. The most exclusive beaches on the globe host a common place where leisure and sophistication come together during the summer months: the beach club. What Madrid does not have a beach? Well, we invented one: on the heights, with views of the Gran Vía, where live music plays, cocktails “rule” and delicious snacks are served. This is the fantasy, and now reality, that the Hyatt Centric Gran Vía Madrid hotel (c/Gran Vía, 31) has materialized for the summer season on its tenth floor.
El Jardín de Diana, its iconic terrace, has been converted into the Beach Club Diana. The thing is this: you press the elevator button 10, the door opens and then… Surfboards, tropical vegetation, huge white and blue life preservers, umbrellas on the floor, umbrellas (for the day), tables and high chairs for the sides, a wooden sofa in the purest beach bar, garlands of lights (for the night) and, wherever you look, light tones, Mediterranean colours, natural materials and light textures.
In the background, chill out music (starting at 6pm and by the DJs of Ibiza BPM Radio) and, on the menu, refreshing cocktails and appetizing snacks. Like the Fénix cocktail, a cava mix, st. germain, belsazar dry, orange blossom water and rose bitters and soda or the watermelon salad, feta cheese, kalamata olives, watercress and oregano (drink it!).
Chicote finally has a rooftop with some of the best views of Madrid. The newcomer Hotel Montera Madrid (c/ Montera, 47), the first Curio Collection by Hilton in the heart of the capital, boasts a rooftop in a historic building located on the corner between Montera and Gran Vía. Next to the pool and the area with Balinese beds, its highest floor will host, very soon, the hotel’s cocktail bar, which is not just any.
El Cielo de Chicote is the result of the agreement signed with Museo Chicote, the first cocktail bar in Spain with a history since 1931. Its master mixologists will display their charms in the heights to present a fresh, cheeky menu, and that intends to show the truth of the expression “From Madrid to Heaven”. Move through the different spaces on the rooftop and choose the best perspective of the Madrid skyline to accompany your afternoons, nights and celebrations with a menu of tapas and mixes that will not leave you indifferent.
Cocktails and burgers. With this infallible combination, RT60, the rooftop of the Hard Rock Hotel Madrid (Ronda de Atocha, 17), wants to celebrate the arrival of summer. With its sofas, high tables and stools; its live music, its 360º views, its wonderful sunsets and its charismatic food trucks. This rooftop becomes an ideal space for afternoon or afterwork (open every day from 4:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.) where you can sink your teeth into one of its four delicious smash burgers ¬among other possibilities- with a vegetarian option included (mushrooms, truffle and vegan cheese) or enjoy signature cocktails inspired by the world of art, such as Venus was a woman, based on whiskey, cherry liqueur and orange foam or Casino Royal, with sparkling wine, brown sugar, Angostura and grapefruit. And for those who prefer a non-alcoholic drink, the terrace has a selection of mocktails, such as passion fruit syrup, pineapple, lime and ginger beer, surprising!
The rooftop of the vibrant UMusic Hotel Madrid (c/ la Paz, 11) is a gastromusical hit. Throughout the summer season, Nota Alta, on the seventh floor, will have an extensive program of artists, groups and bands. It couldn’t be any other way in this hotel with a musical soul. And not only that: its gastronomic proposal of cultural mix under the concept “sushi castizo”, a fusion of sushi and locally inspired tapas, and its artisan cocktails will raise summer enjoyment to maximum levels.
On your menu, there are fun options such as the Iberian Roll, with slices of Iberian ham stuffed with fine herbs cheese and truffle mayonnaise; the Black Pudding Roll, made with tramezzini bread, rice black pudding, Philadelphia cheese, onion with grenadine and sweet chili sauce; or the Roll de Calamares en su Tinta, a light roll of marinated rice and Andalusian-style squid with squid ink sauce and lime. These innovative dishes coexist with the more traditional sushi, such as the California Roll, with shrimp salad, avocado and soy and honey reduction or the Spicy Tuna Roll, a marinated rice roll with avocado, cucumber and green apple with picantón tuna tartare.
Its 75 years of life are a powerful reason to celebrate and its 800 m2 roof terrace is not to be missed. This already iconic space of the Hotel Emperador (Gran Vía, 43) -free for guests and paid for the rest of the users- has its famous and renowned swimming pool, solarium, chill out area, Balinese beds and snack bar, as well as its unique Sky Bar, where you can indulge yourself with the best cocktails and extend the summer nights.
You cannot miss this season, as tradition dictates, its renowned open-air cinema cycle. One Sunday a month during June, July and August, at 10pm, the terrace will screen great hits by one of the most renowned Spanish directors, Pedro Almodóvar. The program is this: The flower of my secret (it was screened on June 11), Kika (July 16) and What have I done to deserve this (August 27). A perfect proposal to enjoy on the hammocks of the Beach Club and savor some popcorn paired with a refreshing glass of Moët Chandon (€27 all included).
