The best rooftops in Girona for a drink as the sun goes down

Recent research has shown that the first known telescope was invented in Girona, in 1590, by Joan Roget. It is fair to assume that this Girona spectacle-maker went up at night to the rooftop of his house, in the Barri Vell (the old town), to observe the stars with his new instrument.

Back then light pollution was practically non-existent. In our own day, by contrast, it is far harder to look at the firmament through a telescope inside the urban centre. Even so, in Girona there are other ways to enjoy the stars: from some of the coolest rooftop bars in Girona, with a glass of cava or a cocktail in hand.

If you want to know which urban oases let you savour a good drink under a starry sky, with the best views in Girona, you need to read this article.

Dream rooftops for savouring a Mediterranean sunset

Living the moment with presence and focus is one of the maxims of slow travel. And that means being able to savour every instant that comes, whether you are on a hiking route in Girona or on a wine tour around the Empordà.

One of the loveliest moments of the day in Girona comes as the sun goes down. Golden light takes over everything, creating textures that are hard to find anywhere else in the world. The contrast of that warm light on the old stones of the medieval buildings of the Barri Vell, or on the surface of the Mediterranean, produces unique, unmatchable effects.

If you have spent the whole day playing golf, doing active tourism and premium sports, shopping or sunbathing on the beach, chances are that as dusk falls what you will most want in the world is to unwind with an aperitif or a cocktail.

And the ideal places to do that calmly and unhurriedly are the city’s most emblematic rooftops (many of them set up by the best luxury hotels in Girona). These privileged lookouts let you watch the sunset in a different way, more enjoyable and more connected with the present moment.

If you are one of those people who want to watch the sun go down from a rooftop much like Joan Roget’s and his first telescope, pay close attention to these recommendations.

The terrace at Hotel Casa Cacao

The terrace at Hotel Casa Cacao has become one of the most exclusive and evocative rooftops in Girona’s Barri Vell.

It is a planted terrace offering a privileged vantage point from which to look at the coloured houses along the river Onyar while the golden light of the setting sun softens the outlines of Girona Cathedral.

If you want a perfect slow travel experience, you have to come at least one evening for the sunsets on the rooftop of this historic building owned by the Roca brothers (Celler de Can Roca).

There, as well as its menu of sharing plates and dishes for dinner, you will also be able to choose sophisticated signature cocktails bearing the creative, avant-garde stamp of the Roca family.

The rooftop at Hotel Ultonia

The emblematic Hotel Ultonia — the most prestigious in Girona for decades — has one of the most spectacular and sought-after rooftops in the city of Girona.

Designed around the idea of relaxed sophistication, the Ultonia’s terrace offers visitors an easy-going atmosphere that combines avant-garde design and a musical mood suited to each moment of the day with signature cocktails of the very highest level.

And not only that: if you also want to stay for dinner, this place has an interesting menu of nibbles and signature sandwiches that will delight the most modern customers.

Do not miss the 360º views the Ultonia’s rooftop offers you, as it is the best place to enjoy Girona’s skyline.

The rooftop at Hotel Palau Fugit

The ideal option for seeing Girona’s city walls from the best possible perspective is, without doubt, the rooftop at Hotel Palau Fugit.

On this rooftop they have a nibbles menu made up of a selection of great local wines and cheeses made by small producers.

Without any doubt the best place to whet your appetite after, say, playing a round of golf at Camiral Golf & Wellness, because watching nightfall from this rooftop is a safe bet that will add a great deal to your collection of moments.

Hidden oases on Girona’s terraces

Not every hospitality venue has a rooftop fitted out to offer exquisite bites, quality drinks and privileged views.

That is why we are now also going to give you some recommendations for street-level terraces and courtyards that are well worth a visit, because they offer you calm, stillness and privacy.

These are the courtyards and terraces you should not miss on your trip to Girona:

• The inner terrace of Hotel Nord 1901, in Girona: an inner courtyard with a pool that becomes an oasis of privacy in which to have an unhurried drink or some nibbles based on local produce, accompanied by the best wines in the area.
• El Pati de l’Estrella, in Palafrugell: this guest house set in an old house built around the year 1600 has made the most of its courtyard to create a lively, fun space in which to have a vermouth or a cocktail while listening to music and chatting with friends.
• Tarannà, in Palafrugell: set in an eighteenth-century farmhouse, this chill-out courtyard offers a young crowd and high-level cooking. At Tarannà you can just as easily have a vermouth as dine without rushing.
• Mas Sorrer, in Gualta: this farmhouse deep in the countryside is well worth a trip to sit on its beautiful terrace, where you can just as easily catch a live concert or an open-air summer film as have a cocktail at sunset.
• Mas Pi, in Verges: the most eclectic and lively terrace is run by this pub-restaurant which, as well as cocktails and aperitifs, also puts on live music and touring art exhibitions.

Where would you like us to go to watch the sunset in Girona?

Girona has fascinating places for watching the sun rise and set. Both in the city of Girona itself and across the province, there are many viewpoints, rooftops, terraces and beaches from which to enjoy this fascinating spectacle that repeats itself daily. We can even organise a balloon flight to watch the sunrise at over a thousand metres up.

And not only that: the mild temperature means you can enjoy all year round the same star-filled night skies that Joan Roget was already able to observe with his first telescope at the end of the sixteenth century.

What is more, as you can imagine, Girona is one of the most dynamic and leading gastronomic centres in the world. So if what you want is to savour a unique sunset while having a drink or dining outdoors, we can organise your diary so that you do not miss a thing.

Shall we start booking you a table on a rooftop or a terrace?