Use Madrid Río as a different setting
Madrid Río follows the Manzanares and offers a different environment from the dense central streets. Pick a specific seating area or venue near your route. Trees, bridges and the surrounding buildings mean the whole park cannot be assigned one sunlight pattern.
Park shade can be an advantage
The official parks and gardens guide provides ideas including El Retiro. A leafy setting may offer welcome shade, while a nearby open space behaves differently. Inspect the actual spot, especially if your goal is direct sun in a cooler season.
Read the square at the table level
A large plaza can contain seating close to a shaded facade and other tables in the open. Identify the exact area rather than using the centre of the square as a proxy. Covers and parasols may change what reaches the table even when no building shadow crosses it.
Compare the visit in the app
Choose the local date and expected arrival, including walking and ordering. Follow the estimated building-shadow edge through the end of the visit. Keep a nearby alternative if the first terrace is full or the weather favours shade.
Recheck the season
Winter and summer sun take different paths, and foliage can change the usable exposure. Coffee in the Sun does not include trees, awnings or terrain in its building model. Check those details and current venue hours in person or directly with the venue.
Try the building-shadow check before you leave
Open Coffee in the Sun, find your chosen spot and compare the estimated building shadows at arrival and departure. The free app includes today's timeline and three time jumps per day. The model uses mapped buildings, whose coverage and accuracy vary; it excludes trees, awnings and terrain, and cloud cover is not part of the shadow answer.
Use the five-step terrace check to interpret the result. Keep a nearby alternative and confirm the real seating on arrival.
