Azotea Cibeles — Restaurant in Madrid

Stunning post office in its previous life. Now the town hall.

The palace was built on one of the sides of the Plaza de Cibeles in the Los Jerónimos neighbourhood (district of Retiro) and occupies about 30,000 m2 of what were the old gardens of the Buen Retiro. The choice of the site generated some controversy at the time for depriving Madrid of recreational space. The first stone of the building was laid in 1907. The building was officially opened on 14 March 1919 and began operating as a modern distribution centre for post, telegraphs and telephones. Following some architectural changes to the building’s exterior, such as the expansion of two floors and the street and pathway of Montalbán, it began to house municipal offices of the City of Madrid in 2007, moving its departments from the Case de la Villa (House of the City) and the Casa de Cisneros, which were both located in the Plaza de la Villa. This renovation of the building from the early twenty-first century also included a cultural area called "CentroCentro". The whole complex, from a Spanish architecture stance, is one of the first examples of modern architecture and most representative, to be built in the centre of Madrid, with its Neoplateresque façade and Baroque Salamanca evocations. The building was designed by the young Spanish architects Antonio Palacios and Joaquín Otamendi through a municipal competition to be the headquarters for the Society of Post and Telegraph of Spain. Palacios and Otamendi were also the consultants for the Bilbao Bridge, Madrid Casino and the San Sebastian Bridge. The Cybele Palace was the beginning of the brilliant career in construction for both architects. The decorative motifs of the façade and interior were made by the romantic sculptor Ángel García Díaz, a regular collaborator of Antonio Palacios. One of the design objectives was the construction of "a building for the public". After their construction and due to the wear and tear of normal use, the buildings slowly started to show signs of the modifications made, which included alterations to improve the communication systems. Modifications were carried out in both buildings in the 1960s and were directed by Alejandro de la Sota. Antonio de Sala-Navarro and Reverter carried out further repairs and alterations between 1980 and 1992. The decline in the use of postal mail in the late twentieth century gradually reduced the functions of the complex, and, as a result, it began to lose its importance. In 1993 it was declared a Bien de Interés Cultural (Asset of Cultural Interest) and classified in the ‘monument’ category. At the beginning of the 21st century it was incorporated into the municipal estate and became a cultural centre and seat of the City...

HORRIBLE SERVICE. Visited Madrid for 6 days from the US. This rooftop bar came highly recommended by a friend. Not only was the service slow (virtually no one was there besides a private party when we arrived), the wait staff was rude. I ordered the oysters. The description did not indicate they were raw however this is how they arrived. Their English is not very good (I speak no Spanish), however I tried to explain that for health reasons I don't eat raw oysters, adding the description did not specify (Our waiter spoke a little English). Ordinarily, this would be a non-issue. They'd take the item away and move on. In this case, a completely non-English speaking female staff memeber came over with the oysters after they were sent back..saying God knows what---but it was lengthy. My husband and I attempted to explain we were unaware they raw and we did not want them. With that, she looked at us with a look of disgust, rolled her eyes and walked away with an attitude. She then went to who we thought was maybe the mgr, he too expressed annoyance and made some dismissive gestures with his hands. She never returned (thankfully), but the entire incident was off putting. They continued with their poor service (late drink arrival, ignoring our presence, etc)..essentially giving others around us, who arrived after us, much better service. Perhaps they are kinder to others who look like them and speak their language. However it was clear they weren't at all concerned with servicing us Americans and to that end, we left. Never to return again. A horrible experience on a first time...

My partner surprised me with an anniversary dinner here, and it could not have been more perfect. The restaurant is intimate but not cramped, with warm lighting, candles on each table, and soft French music playing in the background. From the moment we arrived, the staff treated us like honored guests. We started with a champagne toast, served ice-cold in elegant flutes. Our appetizer was a shared charcuterie and cheese board—generous portions, high-quality selections, and beautifully presented. I particularly loved the creamy brie paired with fig jam. For my main, I had the coq au vin, which was rich, comforting, and full of depth, with tender chicken that melted in my mouth. My partner chose the beef bourguignon, and after one bite, I could see why it’s one of their most popular dishes. The sauce was luscious, and the meat was perfectly cooked. Throughout the evening, the service was impeccable—plates cleared discreetly, wine refilled at the right moment, and friendly conversation without ever overstaying their welcome. When dessert arrived, they surprised us with a small plate of macarons with “Joyeux Anniversaire” written in chocolate. It was such a thoughtful gesture. This wasn’t just a meal—it was an experience. We left feeling full, happy, and a little...