The best Madrid terraces open now

A space that already had a limited capacity is made even more exclusive as it reopens. The ninth floor of the NH Gran Vía Collection hotel opens back up with a premiere as well, from Italian mixologist Luca Anastasio, who's in charge of the drinks and cocktail menu. And a few days before mid-June, the restaurant space run by Manuel Berganza will also be available. There you'll find not just great views, but amazing dishes on the menu such as grilled artichokes with Manchego cheese, baby squid with onions or grilled Iberian pork with broccolini.

The impressive lush greenery of this colonial oasis just off Av. Alberto Alcocer is on display and ready to welcome you. You might be drawn in by the temptation of one of their famous caipirinhas, then stay a while for a bite. These days they've got the menu delivered to you by QR, and serviettes and cutlery vacuum-packed and brought to each customer individually. You'll need it to dig in to their classic meat dishes, fresh fish offerings such as a sea bass ceviche or grilled bluefin tuna with black sesame, quinoa, blackberry chutney and ginger foam.

You can book a table by phone or email and be one of the first in when Raimunda opens on June 5. Once settled in on the terrace with a capacity of about 50 clients, you can order from a menu via QR code for either lunch or dinner during the week (the timetable opens up a bit more at weekends). To go with your drinks, they've got some fantastic nibbles, including 'tequeños' with avocado and pomegranate mousse, halibut tacos, prawns with spiced rice ... And, of course, there are plenty of house classics like potato puff pastries with chipotle sauce and a creamy Russian salad with roasted sweet potato and tobiko.

You can get yourself a spot on this terrace as of June 5 but only with a reservation, so get booking now. If you do get a table, get there on time, as you'll have a maximum of two hours until the next sitting starts so that more people can enjoy not only the views but also the excellent cuisine and cocktails. All customers can check the status of hygiene and disinfection processes through special software.

Inside the glorious El Retiro park, surrounded by trees that give it a special microclimate, Florida Retiro is one of Madrid's favourite places to be when the weather is fine. It doesn't matter what time of day or night you go: the outdoor bars offer drinks and eats for all tastes, and the rooftop is an amazing space for music and classy cocktails every evening. They're open as of Wednesday, May 27.

Also reopening is a space with one of the most spectacular views of Madrid's urban landscape. Safely distanced queues are sure to be back at the door of the Círculo de Bellas Artes, where the rooftop brings Madrid closer to heaven once again. Up there on the Azotea, in addition to the music, tapas (with influences from the Mediterranean and beyond international borders) and drinks you've been missing, you'll also be greeted by vinyls on the floor that remind you to keep your distance, digital menus and dispensers of hand sanitiser. You'll feel as safe as you do amazed by your surroundings.

Carbón Negro boasts a spectacular kitchen, two floors, infinite windows and a great chef, who has recruited suppliers throughout the country, mainly from the north. The beef cutlet he gets from the Basque Country (which spends 40-45 days maturing) is prepared over crackling embers and makes for an extraordinary main event in a culinary festival that you can start with a 'chistorra' sausage from Navarra and some outstanding vegetables, all cooked on the grill. Leave room for the cheesecake.

The rooftop of the NH Collection Madrid Suecia bestows once again upon Madrid its comfy seating and incredible views. Open every day from noon to midnight, the restaurant offers informal lunch menus with its Casa Suecia Mex – tacos made to order and home-made guacamole – and the Casa Suecia Burger – one of their most popular items, which is now also available in a vegetarian version. You can always add menu items to your order, such as a plate of Iberian cold cuts, a serving of Russian salad or a salmon tart. And we can all rejoice as their weekend brunch returns as of from May 31 (Saturday and Sunday from 12.30pm to 4pm).

If you head over to El Jardín de Alma (Arturo Soria, 207) this week, you'll be among the first ever of its customers. Jesús González Espartero and his chef Borja Segura open the doors of this new restaurant on May 28. A two-metre distance is guaranteed as are some good grilled scallops with citrus vinaigrette, a monkfish carpaccio braised with paprika olive oil and, what's already shaping up to be a must on the menu, the steak tartare. In this new space, the grill takes on a special role. The most carnivorous among you will be happy with items that range from hamburgers to 45-day-aged tomahawk steaks.

Welcome to what is probably the most exclusive terrace around the Puerta de Alcalá. The chefs at Arzak Instructions, who manage the menu of the entire space (designed by Philippe Starck), start back to work once again with their cuisine that's based in tradition but with modern touches, their nods to the Basque Country sifted through a filter of local avant-garde. As of May 25 you can sit in the shade of the terrace trees with all safety measures guaranteed.

First they started delivering their renowned Spanish potato omelette (among the tops in the city) to our homes, and now brothers Ricardo and Manuel Romero are bringing the first tables out to their terrace (right there on C/ José Ortega y Gasset) because, under their umbrellas, their ridiculously freshly made star dish tastes even better. Their traditional small dishes such as Russian salad, gazpacho and 'cocido' croquettes get the same beautiful treatment as their 'urta a la roteña' (sea bream) and their steak tartare. Sitting and dining here is always a joy.

Mama Campo's owners have merged their two menus, keeping the most popular dishes, for this anticipated return to the terraces. You'll know theirs as it's the most colourful and appetising in Plaza de Olavide. They open from noon with half their capacity – 12 tables – and a QR code on the tables that brings up the menu on your mobile. They do accept reservations both online and by phone. Tip: Do call if you really want a table on a weekend night as they fill up quickly. That should tell you something!

In the heart of the headquarters of the COAM (Official College of Architects of Madrid) and with the elegant interior design and meticulous savoir-faire that is expected of such a place, you'll find this space that's backed by the stellar restaurant group En Compañía de Lobos. The culinary efforts a Bosco de Lobos, whether you're going for a pleasant brunch or a casual snack, sitting at an indoor table or taking a spot on the chic terrace, gravitates toward Italian cuisine. Risottos, pasta dishes, carpaccios and the most authentic Milanese come together in a space with wide appeal.

With Cachivache, the Aparicio brothers have given Madrid a place where you can get unbeatable value for money, and where the multicoloured terrace bursts into life every afternoon in the warmer months. They're always looking for seasonal ingredients and the combination of international flavours with traditional dishes. It's easy to dive into the crunchy pork snacks that are the 'torreznos', though there are many other temptations to share. How about a glass of the Pazo Señorans Albariño while you decide?

Get yourself to the wonderful terrace at Rocacho, especially if you're craving some excellent grilled meat. If you want to try beef that's spent 90 days maturing, this is your place, and it's prepared on the grill with oak wood, another feather in the restaurant's cap. Meat lovers can delight in variety as well, with entrecôte carpaccio, steak tartare or beef burgers. You can choose other dishes such as some great rice recipes made like they do near the Mediterranean, fish options, and starters that show of a bit of creativity, like a delicate grilled red shrimp lasagna. 

Cyrclo had the strange fortune of opening just a few months ago on a corner of Chamberí (Paseo General Martínez Campos, 42), basing their offer on the so-called Harvard Dish (50 percent fruit and veg, 25 percent carbs and 25 percent protein). They use seasonal ingredients cooked in a vacuum atmosphere and at a low temperature. The healthy menu is available on their terrace, which currently holds five tables with a capacity for ten diners. Expect a zero-contact space, thanks to technology, as you place your order and pay for it with your mobile using QR codes you'll find at the table.

On the terrace at Patio de Leones you can sample from their  impressive bar with 500 varieties of wine, and a tapas menu that features items close to Madrid's heart. When you want more than tapas, try the stews or more complete dishes. But do remember that one of the greatest hits here is the thick dipping chocolate with churros for breakfast or a snack. They are 100 percent artisanal and made fresh by a third-generation master churro cook who is part of the kitchen team. You can't get more traditional than that.

Just like there are two Ibizas, there are also two Sa Brisas; one on the island and the other in front of the Retiro. You can even get a whiff of the Meditteranean at our local Sa Brisa if you close your eyes and breathe in the 'bullit de peix' boiled fish dish. There are also two styles –pure and fusion – that intertwine in search of harmony on the menu and joy in the mouth. Esther and Pere bring exciting dishes to the mix with a sea cucumber stuffed with 'sobrasada' sausage, and can also surprise with a black pork Chinese dumpling or a photogenic hot dog.

From breakfast time till the first drinks of the evening, and for the increasingly popular brunch at weekends, this place has become an informal meeting point for the well-to-do people in the area (especially thirtysomethings). They serve dishes that prove popular, burgers, pasta, steak tartare, chicken roll and pizzas, in the cosy interior (featuring wood and some vintage chairs) and the nice terrace that's cosy even in winter.    

You'll find this quiet oasis, decorated in wood, bright colours and extraordinary natural light, in the centre of the always bustling neighbourhood of Chueca. It's got a pleasant terrace in a little square that may not seem like much, but, under the shade of trees, you're in a great space for the brunch they serve up every weekend. They always have a battery of smoothies and home-made desserts on offer. The rest of the menu looks toward the Mediterranean and further afield. They always use fresh produce, and serve up light dishes, perfect for a casual get-together.

Standing in the shadow of the Puerta de Alcalá, this restaurant that's part of the well-known Paraguas Group, led by Sandro Silva and Marta Seco, is 800 square meters (with a capacity for 190 diners) of esparto grass, bamboo and ceramics as decor, with grilled veg, grains, fish from the Strait of Gibraltar, and organic meat as its strong suits on the menu. Great attention to detail is given to craft, both in the decor (the work of Cousi Interiorismo) and in the kitchen.