“El Terraceo”, a culture that is widely embraced (and loved) by everyone – whether from out of town, the local area or further afield – is opening its doors to treat us to a few months of laughter, socialising and heart-to-hearts in true Madrid style, which leaves no one indifferent.

In this post, we’re going to take a short tour of some new and iconic spots which, above all, give us the chance to share and enjoy one of the most appealing aspects of our city.

Let’s start with a little trip up high.“The Hat”is the perfect finishing touch to a must-do afternoon stroll around the Plaza Mayor and its surroundings.

In its lobby, you’ll find some cosy (and intimate) spots to sit (drink in hand) whilst you wait to head up to the terrace.

A good cocktail and a tasty snack are sure to follow whilst we live up to that famous saying:“From Madrid to the sky”.

As for its aesthetic,“The Hat”boasts an indoor terrace with that vintage, rustic style that has stolen the hearts of quite a few of us over the last few years. From outside, we’re treated to a truly ‘chic’ view: rooftops and chimneys that instantly transport us to that traditional, early 20th-century Madrid that’s so quintessentially ours and so much a part of the city’s liveliest neighbourhoods.

If it’s late afternoon or evening and we fancy a bit of a stroll, once we reach the Plaza de Oriente we can pop into the“Café del Río”. It’s actually part of the Madrid Río area and, from its prime spot opposite the Royal Palace, offers a great view of Madrid’s most spectacular buildings.

A stroll through the San Miguel Market, since we’re in the area, is a good option if we fancy a bit ofa ‘buzz’and want to mingle with the crowds.

Whilst it’s true that you do have to weave your way through the crowds (depending on the day and time, of course), there’s no doubt that the range of food on offer is vast and that you can find practically“everything”.

From black rice or rice with vegetables to oysters, Argentinian empanadas, ‘pescaíto’, sushi, wine, beer, sangria, cider and every conceivable type of traditional spirit, as well as fruit, smoothies and healthy juices, and sweets of all kinds and from all over the world.

It doesn’t quite fit the ‘terrace’ category, of course, but the fact that it’s open on all sides makes the San Miguel Market an ideal place to start a bar-hopping and terrace-hopping tour at this time of year.

Changing the direction on our map slightly, we turn our attention to a very different part of Madrid, but one that’s also full of charm (and yes, a little more expensive).

In the Salamanca neighbourhood, we come face to face with a few truly magical spots.

“We’ll always have Paris,” as Rick Blaine famously said to his lover in*Casablanca*.

For us, there’s the“Café-Bristot”on the terrace of the Institut Français. Situated in the old palace on Calle Marqués de Ensenada, it has that refined and elegant touch so distinctive of “la France”.

Homemadepastries, quiches, ‘french fries’ and more elaborate dishes such as their duck magret, salmon with dill or their wide variety of pasta dishes.

This French-style café and its peaceful garden, sheltered from the hustle and bustle of Madrid, is definitely a great place to lose yourself.

Another place to let your intuition (and your hunger and thirst) lead you is Callejón Puigcerdá. The feeling you get when you walk past it (or venture into it) is that time has stood still and you suddenly find yourself in a London ‘mew’ (one of the city’s typical alleyways that were specially created to house the aristocracy’s horses and carriages ).

‘Los Gallos’, ‘Babelia’, ‘NO Restaurant’, ‘La Máquina’… You’ll find everythingfrom the most exquisite cuisine to the most traditional dishes, fantastic wines and a classic, classy atmosphere which, I repeat, transports you to another place and another time.

And since we’ve lost our way along“La Milla de Oro”, we’ll round off the evening at a lovely spot (both inside and out). At“El Gordo de Velázquez”, we can opt for fried eggs with whiting and Russian salad with king crab, or venture into flavours from across the pond such as Peruvian ceviche (or, closer to home, some cannelloni).

But from this spot right in the heart of Velázquez, we can leave not only gastronomically satisfied but botanically so too. How? Well, by taking home a few of the flowers that decorate its terrace (which is absolutely lovely—there’s no better way to put it), as they’re for sale.

Eating and drinking (in Madrid and in Spain in general) is always a pleasure. But the part we all cherish most about having a good time over beers, tapas and friends is precisely that: enjoying time with our loved ones doing something‘very much our own’: sharing a moment of chat and laughter in the sunlight that’s most appealing in Madrid – that of spring.

Happy ‘terraceo’!