17 rooftop bars worth the night across Spain, editor-ranked. All Spain guides.

La Terraza del Casino by Paco Roncero ★ 4.8 · Madrid

centro · Calle de Alcala 15, 28014 Madrid

La Terraza del Casino on the top floor of the Casino de Madrid on Calle de Alcala has been Paco Roncero's two-Michelin-starred tasting-menu rooftop since 1990, redesigned by Jaime Hayon in tropical blues and greens.

Tip: Tasting menu only, dinner-led reservation through OpenTable or the restaurant; bar in the Casino room before the meal. Smart-elegant attire required.

Azotea del Círculo de Bellas Artes ★ 4.7 · Madrid

centro · Calle de Alcala 42, 28014 Madrid

Azotea del Circulo de Bellas Artes on Calle de Alcala is the iconic Madrid rooftop bar atop the 1926 arts centre, with a 360 degree skyline view and a Spanish-Mediterranean carte from breakfast through cocktails.

Tip: Around 5 euros for the elevator up; busy at sunset, quieter for the noon coffee. The terrace runs to 01:30 weeknights and 02:00 weekends.

Espazio Oteiza at Akelarre ★ 4.7 · San Sebastián

ibaeta · Calle Padre Orcolaga 56, 20008 Donostia

Espazio Oteiza on Monte Igueldo in San Sebastian is the open-air bar of Pedro Subijana's three-Michelin-starred Akelarre, with cocktails by Patxi Troitino across six stone terraces over the Bay of Biscay.

Tip: Snacks served 12:00 to 22:00; cocktail programme runs 16:00 to nightfall, no terrace reservations. Drive up Monte Igueldo or cab from Antiguo.

Ginkgo Sky Bar ★ 4.6 · Madrid

centro · Plaza de España 3, 28008 Madrid

Ginkgo Sky Bar on the 12th floor of the VP Plaza Espana Design hotel on Plaza de Espana runs a 360 degree terrace with a glass-floor swimming pool, Japanese-Mediterranean tapas and a year-round cocktail programme.

Tip: Open from 13:00; the pool is the photo seat. The floor-to-ceiling glass walls slide back in summer. Reservation through the venue site is the easy way in.

Terrat at Mandarin Oriental ★ 4.5 · Barcelona

eixample · Passeig de Gràcia 38-40, 08007 Barcelona

Terrat is the seasonal rooftop on top of Mandarin Oriental on Passeig de Gràcia, with a dipping pool, Mediterranean-Peruvian small plates and 360-degree views across Eixample to Tibidabo.

Tip: Open April to October only; reservations strongly recommended for sunset slots. The signature cocktail list is built around the rooftop pool deck.

Rooftop by Lasala Plaza ★ 4.5 · San Sebastián

parte-vieja · Plaza Lasala 2, 20003 Donostia

The Rooftop by Lasala Plaza in San Sebastian sits on the seventh floor of the Lasala Plaza Hotel above the Old Town port, the only elevated spot with 360 views of La Concha bay and the harbour.

Tip: Terrace open daily 10:00 to 24:00 year-round; cocktail-and-snack service from Ander Gonzalez's La Jarana team runs Easter to October weekends only.

La Isabela at Hotel 1898 ★ 4.4 · Barcelona

gotic · La Rambla 109, 08002 Barcelona

La Isabela is the year-round rooftop terrace on top of the historic Hotel 1898 on La Rambla, with 360-degree views across Port Vell, Montjuïc and Tibidabo and a small heated pool in the centre.

Tip: Open year-round, but the pool only runs April to October. Cocktails and tapas are served all day; sunset is the time to book.

Casa Fuster Rooftop ★ 4.4 · Barcelona

gracia · Passeig de Gràcia 132, 08008 Barcelona

The rooftop at Hotel Casa Fuster sits atop the 1908 Domènech i Montaner modernist building at the top of Passeig de Gràcia, with an outdoor pool, signature cocktails and panoramic views of Sagrada Família and Tibidabo.

Tip: Day passes for non-guests are limited; book the cocktail-and-pool slot directly via the hotel. Cava and Spanish tapas anchor the menu.

360° Rooftop Bar at Riu Plaza España ★ 4.4 · Madrid

centro · Calle de Maestro Guerrero s/n, 28013 Madrid

The 360 Rooftop Bar on the 27th floor of the Hotel Riu Plaza Espana in the Edificio Espana on Gran Via is Madrid's highest hotel terrace, with panoramic skyline views and a famous glass balcony walkway.

Tip: Open daily 11:00 to 01:00 with kitchen to 23:30; last entry midnight. The glass balcony is the photo stop; queues build at sunset.

Picalagartos Sky Bar ★ 4.4 · Madrid

centro · Gran Via 21, 28013 Madrid

Picalagartos Sky Bar on the ninth floor of the NH Collection Gran Via at the corner of Calle de la Montera runs a terrace with 360 views, a cocktail programme by Azotea Group and a separate eighth-floor restaurant.

Tip: Sky bar is first-come first-served, no reservations; the eighth-floor dining room takes bookings. Smart casual at the door; the corner Gran Via view is the photo seat.

GU San Sebastian ★ 4.4 · San Sebastián

parte-vieja · Calle Ijentea 9, 20003 Donostia

GU San Sebastian sits on top of the 1929 Real Club Nautico on Calle Ijentea, a Jose Manuel Aizpurua rationalist landmark turned cocktail bar and late-night club with direct La Concha views.

Tip: Cocktail bar from 17:00, the floor flips to a club after midnight. Book the sunset-hour seat at the bay-facing windows through gusansebastian.com.

Urgulleko Polboriña ★ 4.4 · San Sebastián

parte-vieja · Subida al Castillo 2, 20003 Donostia

Urgulleko Polboriña sits in the old gunpowder house on Mount Urgull above the Old Town, an open-air summer-only bar with sunset cocktails, sangria and rotating local live music.

Tip: Open spring through autumn weather-dependent only; the 20 minute uphill walk from the Old Town starts behind the Museo San Telmo. Cash speeds the bar queue.

La Terraza at Hotel Pulitzer ★ 4.3 · Barcelona

eixample · Carrer de Bergara 8, 08002 Barcelona

La Terraza on top of Hotel Pulitzer on Carrer de Bergara is the off-Plaça-Catalunya rooftop bar with signature cocktails, live music nights through the summer and a hidden-garden feel in the city centre.

Tip: Live music and DJ sets run on summer evenings. The rooftop is small; arrive at opening for a sofa seat with a view of Tibidabo.

360 Terrace at Barceló Raval ★ 4.3 · Barcelona

raval · Rambla del Raval 17-21, 08001 Barcelona

The 360 Terrace wraps the entire 11th-floor circumference of the oval Hotel Barceló Raval on Rambla del Raval, with a small pool, cocktails and uninterrupted panoramic views across the old town.

Tip: No prior reservation required for the bar. The Thursday 19:00 to 20:30 acoustic-music slot from April to September is the value pick.

Azimuth at Almanac Barcelona ★ 4.3 · Barcelona

eixample · Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 619, 08007 Barcelona

Azimuth is the eighth-floor rooftop at the Almanac Barcelona on Gran Via, with a pool, a zodiac-themed cocktail list and a small Mediterranean food menu running through the warm months.

Tip: Year-round opening, but the pool is reserved for hotel guests in winter. The astral cocktail list is the signature; book sunset slots ahead.

Terraza de Sabatini ★ 4.3 · Madrid

centro · Calle de Bailen 15, 28013 Madrid

Terraza de Sabatini on the rooftop of the Apartosuites Jardines de Sabatini on Calle de Bailen serves cocktails and tapas with a direct view of the Royal Palace and the Sabatini Gardens, summer-season only.

Tip: Bar open May to September; reservations on the hotel site. The seat to ask for is the south-facing corner with the full palace facade in view.

The Hat Madrid Rooftop ★ 4.0 · Madrid

centro · Calle Imperial 9, 28012 Madrid

The Hat Rooftop on Calle Imperial sits on top of a Plaza Mayor adjacent hostel and serves cocktails and small plates with a southern skyline view, popular with the centre's twenty-something traveller crowd.

Tip: Tipple-and-tapas terrace open most days from 13:00 to 23:45; closing earlier on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Walk-in only, the room is small.