In Saint-Tropez, Mykonos, Capri, Cannes, Barcelona, Eivissa and, now, also in Madrid. The most exclusive beaches on the globe host a common place where leisure and sophistication come together during the summer months: the beach club. What Madrid does not have a beach? Well, we invented one: on the heights, with views of the Gran Vía, where live music plays, cocktails “rule” and delicious snacks are served. This is the fantasy, and now reality, that the Hyatt Centric Gran Vía Madrid hotel (c/Gran Vía, 31) has materialized for the summer season on its tenth floor.
El Jardín de Diana, its iconic terrace, has been converted into the Beach Club Diana, an urban oasis where you can enjoy right now (it was inaugurated on May 18) and during the summer months, when the heat hits from day and evening-night gives us a certain truce. Always with the permission of Diana Cazadora, who presides, sculpted in gold and next to her five dogs, one of the two towers that crown the top floor of the hotel. The goddess points her bow at the Phoenix Bird, in the opposite building, which carries Endymion kidnapped on her back, the love that the goddess was taken from her by order of her father Zeus from her. A cult scene, on high, for lovers of mythology.
The thing is this. You press button 10 in the glass-enclosed elevator that goes up through a courtyard decorated with huge red fans. The vertical journey is already a feast for the eyes. The door opens and then: surfboards, tropical vegetation, huge white and blue life preservers that say on board, some jarapas on the ground, a few parasols (for the day), tables and high chairs on the sides, a sofa made of wood to the purest beach bar, garlands of lights (for the night) and, wherever you look, light tones, Mediterranean colours, natural materials and light textures.
In the background, chill out music and, on the menu, refreshing cocktails to cope with the heat in the best way and appetizing bites to accompany them, if you're hungry. Their own details, those that decorate and those that feed, of the Mediterranean coasts that manage to immerse us in a chic-beach atmosphere in the heart of Gran Vía.
Starting at six in the evening, the music plays at the Beach Club Diana thanks to the live DJ sessions offered by Ibiza BPM Radio, which enlivens the evenings. The completely renovated gastronomic proposal comes with a menu of cold snacks that includes such exotic references as crispy prawns with corn tortilla chips, guacamole and pico de gallo; the watermelon, feta, kalamata olives, watercress and oregano salad (drink it!); or the white shrimp with almond cream, green oil and tomato.
The liquid menu boasts original cocktails. They are author proposals such as the phoenix cocktail, a refreshing combination of cava, St. Germain, Belsazar Dry, orange blossom water and rose bitters and soda; the cibeles, made up of Bourbon Bulleit, orange and pineapple juice, dram pepper, lime and agave; or diana, a succulent proposal of Bourbon Bulleit, amontillado, cocoa liquor, vanilla and bitter chocolate. What has been said: the best afterwork or plan for the weekend in the heights of Madrid, to celebrate summer as it deserves.
