Restaurants and outdoor cafés in Madrid museums

Culinary art

It’s easy to spend a day enjoying culture in Madrid. It has some of the best museums in the world, several of which are located along the so-called Paseo del Arte: a stretch of just over a kilometre where you can find the Prado Museum, the Thyssen Museum and the Reina Sofía Museum. And new cultural centres are constantly appearing in the capital. The good news is that after a morning or an afternoon immersed in art and culture, many museums have restaurants and outdoor cafés where you can sit and relax and have a drink or a meal to complete your museum experience. Come with us and nourish your body as well as your soul.

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Thyssen Museum. A visit to this art museum, which covers the history of European painting, is strongly recommended. If you’re going in summer it’s even better, because in July and August the Thyssen viewing point is open on the roof, with amazing views of Los Jeróminos and a restaurant serving luxury Mediterranean cuisine. Another different and appealing space is Las Terrazas, with an urban beach club environment.Reina Sofía Museum. After the emotional experience of seeing Picasso’s Guernica in person, it’s good to take a moment and talk about your impressions. The museum has two places to eat. On one hand, the restaurant Arzábal. On the other, the Café Restaurant NuBel, with regular live music sessions.

Café at the Reina Sofía National Art Museum

CaixaForum. The temporary exhibitions are always interesting in this space, which was created by remodelling an electrical plant, and is notable for its huge vertical garden. To take a break while you visit, try the café-restaurant on the top floor, which sometimes offers themed menus to accompany exhibitions. The idea of eating a Pissarro or Corbusier set lunch sounds like fun. For something lighter, you can have afternoon tea with a choice of teas and cookies.Costume Museum. A bit further from the city centre, in the Ciudad Universitaria area, the Costume Museum is particularly interesting for fashion fans, as it covers the history of Spanish clothing starting in the 18th century. Its Café de Oriente, with signature cuisine, is surrounded by peaceful gardens, which always makes a meal even better.

Casa Encendida. This is one of the city’s most innovative cultural spaces, and as well as exhibitions, it often presents performance art and concerts. In summer it opens the rooftop bar, a great place for a quiet drink, where you can often enjoy live music or an outdoor movie screening.Matadero. It's impressive to see how the facilities of an old slaughterhouse have been transformed into one of the most lively cultural centres in Madrid, complete with a theatre, a reading house, a cinema, a design market... If you want to spend a whole day there, there are three places to have a drink: the Café Teatro bar, the Cineteca Cantina (with homemade organic food and a charming patio) and an open-air terrace-bar that opens every summer, where you'll usually find music, art installations, food trucks and more.

Círculo de Bellas Artes. In addition to the temporary exhibitions they host, there is one can't miss space: the Azotea del Círculo, one of the most famous terraces in Madrid for its unbeatable views. You can have dinner or a cocktail there, but the best time to visit is during sunset. On the ground floor, you have another great option: the café-restaurant La Pecera. Its neoclassical architecture and the paintings and frescoes that adorn its high ceilings create an evocative atmosphere. The elegance of its historic bar, with references to spirits and all kinds of international drinks, will dazzle you.