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Edificio España and Torre de Madrid seen between the trees of Plaza de España

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Filming locations · Madrid

Where Elite was filmed

Six real places in the Community of Madrid behind Las Encinas, Club El Lago and the series' nightclub, on one walking route through the centre and one driving route to the west.

Locations
6
Routes
2
seasons
8

Updated: November 2026

Photo: Zarateman / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Las Encinas is an invented school, but almost everything around it can be visited. The exteriors of the Elite school are a real university campus west of Madrid, the nightclub was a theatre on Calle de Barceló, and the rooftops with views of Gran Vía sit on top of two hotels. This guide gathers six locations confirmed by the press and by Madrid Film Office, each with its address, its access and what needs booking.

The settings fall into two areas. In the centre, four points link up on foot in under an hour’s walk: a palace that opens only for guided tours, a rooftop with a restaurant, the Teatro Barceló and the Riu Plaza España rooftop. Outside the city, there is the Villaviciosa de Odón campus and the El Náutico restaurant, beside the Los Arroyos reservoir, which in the series is Club El Lago.

It helps to know what you cannot do. The campus is private and is viewed from outside. The Teatro Barceló, as of 8 November 2026, is closed. The interiors of the school and the houses were filmed on studio sets, so there is no address to go to. Where there is access, as at the rooftop or the lakeside restaurant, prices and conditions are in each listing as the official websites publish them.

All eight seasons are on Netflix. If you are doing the Madrid route, book the palace first and save the rooftop for the end of the afternoon.

Route 1

Central Madrid on foot: palace, rooftop, nightclub and rooftop bar

Duration
Half a day
Transport
On foot
Stops
4 locations

Four points in the centre that link up on foot: about 5 km in all, a little under an hour without stops. Start at the Palacio de Fernán Núñez, which can only be seen inside on a guided tour, and finish at the Riu Plaza España rooftop, open until 01:00, so you arrive in sunset light. The Teatro Barceló is closed, so here you look at the facade only.

  1. Stop 1: Fernán Núñez Metro line 1, Antón Martín station
  2. 18 min on foot
  3. Stop 2: The Principal 18 min on foot from the Palacio de Fernán Núñez (1.3 km)
  4. 17 min on foot
  5. Stop 3: Teatro Barceló 17 min on foot from The Principal (1.2 km, via Infantas and Fuencarral)
  6. 17 min on foot
  7. Stop 4: Rooftop Riu 17 min on foot from the Teatro Barceló (1.3 km, via Calle de la Palma)

  1. Stop 1: Palacio de Fernán Núñez (Fernán Núñez Palace)

    The home of a new aristocratic student's family

    S4

    Facade of the Palacio de Fernán Núñez on Calle de Santa Isabel, with the number 44 above the door
    Photo: Zarateman / Wikimedia Commons, CC0

    The palace is the headquarters of the Spanish Railways Foundation. Ticketmaster lists it among the settings of the fourth season, and El Español notes that the little-known building can be visited. In the series it plays the mansion of a new student's family.

    Inside, you can only enter on a guided tour. The foundation's website publishes the visit seasons and links to a separate ticketing portal. On 8 November 2026 the November tours were sold out and the December calendar had just opened, so it pays to book well ahead. The price is not on the official website: check it on the booking portal.

    If you cannot get a place, the facade on Calle de Santa Isabel can be seen from the pavement.

    Address
    C. de Sta. Isabel, 44, Centro, 28012 Madrid
    Access and price
    Open
    Booking
    Book in advance
    Getting there
    • Metro line 1, Antón Martín station
    • To The Principal, 18 min on foot (1.3 km)
    C. de Sta. Isabel, 44, Centro, 28012 Madrid 40.4099, −3.6972
    Open in Google Maps

  2. Stop 2: The Principal Madrid Hotel (Ático)

    The rooftop overlooking Gran Vía where a speech is filmed

    S2

    Madrid Film Office lists The Principal Madrid Hotel among the series' settings, and SensaCine places a second-season speech on its rooftop, with views over Gran Vía. OKDiario mentions a small terrace at the hotel.

    At the top of the building is the Ático restaurant, open to the public by reservation through its website. That website publishes neither prices nor opening hours, so check the hours on the official site before going. The seventh-floor terrace is private and reserved for guests.

    The building can be seen from the street, and it makes a short stop between the palace and the Teatro Barceló.

    Address
    C. del Marqués de Valdeiglesias, 1, Centro, 28004 Madrid
    Access and price
    Open
    Booking
    Book in advance
    Getting there
    • 18 min on foot from the Palacio de Fernán Núñez (1.3 km)
    C. del Marqués de Valdeiglesias, 1, Centro, 28004 Madrid 40.4193, −3.6972
    Open in Google Maps

  3. Stop 3: Teatro Barceló

    The series' nightclub, with scenes in the VIP area

    Art deco facade of the Teatro Barceló lit up at night
    Photo: Luis García ( Zaqarbal ) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 es

    Madrid Film Office lists it as an Elite location, and SensaCine names it as the series' nightclub. On screen it is the students' night spot, with scenes in a VIP area.

    As of 8 November 2026 the Teatro Barceló is closed: Google Maps marks it as temporarily closed and the events calendar on its website is empty. El Español reported on 24 March 2026 that the closure follows a decision by the city council in November 2025, which a court upheld, and that the building has gone on the market for sale or rent.

    There is nothing to visit inside. What you can do is see the facade from Calle de Barceló, a few steps from the Tribunal and Malasaña area.

    Address
    C. de Barceló, 11, Centro, 28004 Madrid
    Access and price
    Closed
    Booking
    Not needed
    Getting there
    • 17 min on foot from The Principal (1.2 km, via Infantas and Fuencarral)
    C. de Barceló, 11, Centro, 28004 Madrid 40.4270, −3.6998
    Open in Google Maps

  4. Stop 4: 360º Rooftop Bar, Hotel Riu Plaza España

    The glass walkway on the roof, setting of a couple's scene

    S4

    Tower of Edificio España with the Riu sign on top, seen from the street
    Photo: Zarateman / Wikimedia Commons, CC0

    SensaCine places a fourth-season scene on this rooftop, the one on the glass walkway, and AdoroCinema carries an interview with an actress from the series about filming it. The bar is on the 27th floor of the hotel.

    For people not staying at the hotel, the rooftop's website publishes these rates: Monday to Friday, 11:00 to 17:00 is €5 and 17:00 to 01:00 is €10, with no booking; Monday to Friday from 11:00 to 16:00 there is a €10 option with booking that includes entry and a drink; Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, 11:00 to 01:00, are €10. Hotel guests go in free. It opens every day from 11:00 to 01:00 and the last entry is at 00:00. The kitchen runs from 12:00 to 23:30.

    Address
    Gran Vía, 84, Centro, 28013 Madrid
    Access and price
    Open, From €5
    Booking
    Book in advance
    Getting there
    • 17 min on foot from the Teatro Barceló (1.3 km, via Calle de la Palma)
    Gran Vía, 84, Centro, 28013 Madrid 40.4240, −3.7112
    Open in Google Maps

Route 2

Las Encinas and Club El Lago: west and sierra by car

Duration
Full day
Transport
Car
Stops
2 locations

The second route leaves Madrid heading west: first the campus that stands in for the Las Encinas school, then the restaurant at the Los Arroyos reservoir, in the sierra. The two are about 37 km apart. The campus is viewed from outside, and the restaurant works well as a lunch stop.

  1. Stop 1: Las Encinas 23 min from Plaza de España (28.8 km, via A-6, M-40 and M-501)
  2. 35 min by car
  3. Stop 2: El Náutico 35 min from the Villaviciosa campus (36.8 km, via M-501, M-50 and M-505)

  1. Stop 1: Universidad Europea de Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón campus

    Exteriors of the Las Encinas school

    S1–S5

    Building B of the Universidad Europea campus with the bridge over the lake and the gardens
    Photo: Martinacolado / Wikimedia Commons, CC0

    The Las Encinas school does not exist: the exteriors are the Universidad Europea campus in Villaviciosa de Odón, specifically building B, the front garden and the lake. SensaCine and FormulaTV reported it in 2018 with the first season. Reason Why confirmed it in 2019 for the first two, and The Cinemaholic lists it for the fourth and fifth.

    It is a private, working campus and does not offer tourist visits. The official website only announces open days for prospective students. Do not enter without permission: the sensible thing is to look from outside and respect the people who study there.

    The school's interiors were not filmed here. They are studio sets.

    Address
    C. Tajo, s/n, 28670 Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid
    Access and price
    Private
    Booking
    Not needed
    Getting there
    • 23 min from Plaza de España (28.8 km, via A-6, M-40 and M-501)
    • Bus 518 from Madrid (Príncipe Pío) to Villaviciosa de Odón, according to the university's website
    • Metro line 10 and bus 510A, about 49 min in total
    C. Tajo, s/n, 28670 Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid 40.3708, −3.9187
    Open in Google Maps

  2. Stop 2: Restaurante El Náutico (Los Arroyos reservoir)

    The lakeside restaurant, the series' “Club El Lago”

    S4

    Dam of the Los Arroyos reservoir with the sierra in the background
    Photo: Esetena / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5

    SensaCine says this restaurant, on the shore of the Los Arroyos reservoir, has hosted filming in every season, and OKDiario places it in the fourth. In the fiction it is Club El Lago.

    It is a restaurant open to the public. The official website advertises a weekday menu at €21.50 and a “with tie” version at €25.50; the à la carte menu carries no prices. You can book on the website or on 918 532 068. The site does not publish opening hours, so check the hours on the official website before setting out.

    A word on the location: the coordinates on the restaurant's website do not match those on Google Maps. Use the ones in this listing, which come from the Maps card.

    Address
    C. Treinta y Uno, s/n, 28280 Los Arroyos del Escorial, Madrid
    Access and price
    Open, Weekday menu €21.50
    Booking
    Book in advance
    Getting there
    • 35 min from the Villaviciosa campus (36.8 km, via M-501, M-50 and M-505)
    • 37 min from Madrid via A-6 and M-505
    • Bus 661A from Moncloa to Las Zorreras (via Galapagar), about 63 min
    C. Treinta y Uno, s/n, 28280 Los Arroyos del Escorial, Madrid 40.5903, −4.0483
    Open in Google Maps

Tips before you go

  • Where to watch Elite

    All eight seasons are on Netflix Spain: https://www.netflix.com/es/title/80200942. It is a Netflix original series.

  • Book the Palacio de Fernán Núñez early

    It can only be visited with a guide and places sell out. On 8 November 2026 November was full and December had just opened. Check the dates on the foundation's website before planning your day.

  • Each rooftop has its own rate

    At the Riu Plaza España the hours and the €5 or €10 entry depend on the day and the time slot. At The Principal you reach the Ático restaurant by reservation. Check the current conditions on each website.

  • Campus and theatre: from outside only

    The Universidad Europea is a private institution with no tourist visits, and the Teatro Barceló is closed. In both cases the plan is to see the facade and move on.

  • The western route is best by car

    It is about 37 km between the campus and El Náutico, and reaching Los Arroyos by public transport takes more than an hour from Moncloa. By car, each leg is around 35 minutes.

Frequently asked questions

Where was Elite filmed?

The exteriors were shot in the Community of Madrid: the Universidad Europea campus in Villaviciosa de Odón, the El Náutico restaurant at the Los Arroyos reservoir, the Palacio de Fernán Núñez, the Teatro Barceló, The Principal hotel and the Riu Plaza España rooftop.

What is the name of the university where Elite was filmed?

It is the Universidad Europea de Madrid, on its Villaviciosa de Odón campus (C. Tajo, s/n). The exteriors of Las Encinas are building B, the front garden and the lake.

Does the Las Encinas school exist in Spain?

No, Las Encinas is a fictional school. Its exteriors are the Universidad Europea campus and its interiors were filmed on studio sets.

Can you visit Las Encinas?

The campus is private and does not offer tourist visits; its website only announces open days for prospective students. You can see it from outside, without entering the grounds.

Which nightclub appears in Elite?

The Teatro Barceló, at Calle de Barceló 11. As of 8 November 2026 it is closed, so you can only see the facade from the street.

Where is Club El Lago?

It is the El Náutico restaurant, on the shore of the Los Arroyos reservoir, in Los Arroyos del Escorial. It is open to the public and you can book on its website or by phone.

Where were the interiors of Elite filmed?

On studio sets. According to the Spanish Wikipedia, studios in Pinto and Boadilla del Monte were used and, from the sixth season, Netflix's Tres Cantos base. They are not places you can visit.

Where can I watch Elite?

On Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/es/title/80200942. All eight seasons are there.

Sources

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