How can you better spend the evenings in Madrid on a terrace with a drink in one hand and a tapa in the other, watching the world go by? Leaving aside the obvious places such as plaza Santa Ana, Paseo de Recoletos (like Espejo´s terrace), Plaza de la Paja in La Latina and Callejón de Puigcerdá we have highlighted some of the nicest spots in town:

La Cocina de San Antón (see picture above)

Mercado de San Antón

Augusto Figueroa 24 – 3ªplanta.

T 91 330 02 94, Metro Chueca

Just opened this restaurant features a great rooftop terrace on the renovated market of Chueca. Although the food can be average (as the prices are, this is a chain!) the terrace is good place for an ‘aperativo’.

The Penthouse, Hotel ME

Pza de Santa Ana 14

T 91 701 60 20, Metro Antón Martin, Sol

A spectacular bar on top of this centrally located hotel with views all-over the city and a direct elevator that takes you straight to the top.

Splash, Hotel Room Mate Oscar

Plaza Vázquez de Mella, 12.

Tel: 91 701 11 73,

A stunning rooftop terrace with pool in the middle of Chueca. Great for lounging during the day or copas at night.

Air Lounge, Hotel Las Letras

Gran Vía 11

T 91 523 79 81, Metro Gran Vía, Banco de España

Small but cozy rooftop terrace on the new downtown hotel Las Letras.

El Viajero

Plza. Cebada, 11

T 91 366 90 64, Metro Latina

This bar/restaurant occupies 3 floors; restaurant on ground floor, a bar on the 1^st and a great terrace with a bohemian feel on the rooftop in the heart of the Latina.

Gaudeamus Café

C/ Tribulete, 14

915 282 594, Metro Lavapies

Large terrace on the top of the Escuelas Pías for students and locals to come and relax. With great views over the neighborhood Lavapies, for a meal or just a coffee.

Embassy

Paseo de la Castellana, 12 (Metro Colón, Serrano)

Embassy is an institution in Madrid. Your chances to find here ladies with pastel hairdos  that threaten the ozone layer with the amount of hairspray or young hipsters hanging out, are pretty equal. Their food can be defined as classic with a twist and prices are fairly high.

IROCCO

An oasis in the heart of Salamanca. Although you would not tell from the outside, this vanguard-decorated restaurant that serves international dishes, features a patio with luscious vegetation. They also serve brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.

C/ Velásquez 18

Tel.: 91 431 73 81