The Santiago Bernabéu Sky Bar opened its doors on Saturday for Real Madrid’s fixture against Villarreal, overcoming years of construction delays and a complex legal battle that culminated in insolvency proceedings, MARCA reported.
Inside the 700-Square-Meter VIP Space on Paseo de la Castellana
Located on the upper ring of the stadium along the Paseo de la Castellana side, the Sky Bar spans approximately 700 square meters of indoor space complemented by two outdoor terraces measuring 250 square meters each. The venue accommodates roughly 200 spectators with panoramic views of the pitch. Designed by the interior architecture firm Room 1804—part of the Proffetional Group—the facility was originally slated to open in the spring of 2024 during the final phase of the stadium’s broader renovation.
Legal Battles and Corporate Insolvency Blocked the Launch
The project stalled following disputes between Real Madrid and Anastia Gourmet Hostelería, the firm that secured the exploitation rights in 2023. Real Madrid initiated legal action against the company over delayed openings and unpaid financial commitments, while Anastia Gourmet countered that the club failed to deliver the premises by agreed dates for installation work. The dispute deepened amid supplier debts and internal partner friction, culminating in December 2025 when the Madrid Commercial Court No. 5 declared Anastia Gourmet Hostelería insolvent.
Real Madrid Secures Court Approval to Recover Possession
The legal deadlock broke on May 14, 2026, when Real Madrid announced that the competent commercial court had authorized an agreement between the club and the insolvency administration of Anastia Gourmet. This resolution cleared the remaining litigation and allowed the club to reclaim the venue, building on an earlier favorable ruling from Madrid’s Court of First Instance No. 50 regarding possession.
Operating at Half Capacity for Football and NFL Fixtures
Saturday’s opening welcomed initial clients for the Real Madrid-Villarreal match, and the space is also cleared for NFL events at the stadium. However, the venue currently functions strictly as a traditional VIP matchday suite rather than executing its full design concept. The original blueprint envisioned a multi-purpose venue featuring high-end dining, a central bar, private boxes, and a nightclub equipped with modern screens and technology intended to operate independently on non-match days.
