The 360º Rooftop Bar Madrid sits on the 27th floor of the Hotel Riu Plaza España, and honestly, the views are pretty spectacular. I've been to quite a few rooftop bars around Europe, but this one does deliver on the panoramic promise – you can see Madrid spread out in every direction, which explains the name.

What caught my attention first wasn't just the height, though. There's this glass walkway and balcony that extends out from the main terrace. It's one of those things that looks more intimidating than it actually is, but the photo opportunities are undeniably good. The Instagram crowd loves it, and I can see why – having the city literally beneath your feet makes for a dramatic shot.

The setup is more comprehensive than I expected. You're not just getting one bar space but three different areas: the main terrace, the Sky Bar, and something called El Edén Gastrobar on the 26th floor. This gives you options depending on what kind of experience you're after or how crowded things get.

They charge an entrance fee, which varies depending on the day and time. During weekdays before 5 PM, it's 5 euros, jumping to 10 euros afterward. Weekends and holidays are 10 euros throughout. There's also an express pass option that costs double but lets you skip queues when it's busy – probably worth it on weekend evenings.

The food and drink selection is decent enough, though you're definitely paying for the location. The kitchen operates until 11:30 PM, which is handy if you want to catch sunset and stay for dinner. Speaking of sunset, that's when this place really comes alive. Madrid transforms as the light changes, and watching it from this height gives you a completely different perspective on the city.

They host live music and concerts regularly, which adds energy to the space. The atmosphere shifts throughout the day – more relaxed during afternoon hours, livelier as evening approaches.

Discover all the secrets of the 360º Rooftop Bar with our complete Madrid audio guide to get the full context of what you're seeing from up there.

The bar opens daily from 11 AM to 1 AM, with last entry at midnight. If you're not staying at the hotel, factor in the entrance fee when budgeting your visit, but the views alone justify the cost.