Atenea Sky

Atenea Sky is a rooftop bar and restaurant on the eighth floor of the Ateneo Mercantil, the landmark building on Plaza del Ayuntamiento that has been one of Valencia's cultural meeting points for more than a century. The rooftop entrance is at the back of the building, on Calle Moratín 12, so that is the door to look for rather than the main square. From up here the historic centre is laid out below you, with City Hall, the domes and bell towers of the Ciutat Vella and the rooftops of the old town all in view.

The space covers more than 400 square metres split between indoor rooms and open-air terraces, which makes it usable all year round. During the day it works mainly as a restaurant, with Valencian cooking based on local produce, a weekday set lunch from Monday to Friday and a sushi offer in the evenings. Cocktails take over once the sun starts to drop, and sunset is when the terraces are at their busiest.

Music here accompanies rather than dominates. DJ sets run every day from 18:00 and no reservation is needed for them. The venue also programmes a daily magic show and recurring afternoon sessions such as Spanish Harlem on Thursdays and Cielito Lindo on Sundays, alongside flamenco and dance performances. A separate 360-degree viewpoint with an audio guide, the Valencia Sky Tour, is booked on its own.

The crowd mixes visitors who come up for the views with locals meeting for a long lunch or an after-work drink. Event listings set the minimum age at 18 and ask for an elegant look, so smart clothes are the safe choice in the evening; beachwear and sportswear will not fit in. Entry is usually around 8 euros, with drinks on top, and the conditions for each date are shown on its listing.

Atenea Sky opens every day from 12:00 until around 01:30. Tables for lunch, dinner and groups of four or more can be booked in advance, which is worth doing at weekends and around sunset. The location is about as central as it gets: Xàtiva and Colón metro stations are a short walk away, and the rooftop combines easily with a walk through the old town, the Mercado Central area or dinner in nearby Ruzafa afterwards.