Maricarmen is a tapas bar in Ancoats, Manchester. Rated 4.7 stars from 744 Google reviews. Known for small plates done right and staff who actually listen. Best for date night and group dinner. Ranked #6 of 14 in Ancoats.
Maricarmen
Zone Ranking
Ranked weekly from live Google review data
in Ancoats
Holding steady
Quick Verdict
Yes. Locals return because the food's fresh, the staff genuinely care, and you're not paying London prices for it.
Book if you want proper Spanish tapas, a lively room, and staff who'll make you feel like you've stumbled into somewhere real.
About Maricarmen
Maricarmen is a casual Spanish tapas bar on Great Ancoats Street where you order small plates—not from a menu you study, but from what the kitchen brings to your table. Staff describe each dish as it arrives, you pick what appeals, then order more. Reviewers praise the huevos rotos (crisp, golden), arroz con leche, oxtail soup, and paella (order it first, it takes 20 minutes). At £3.80 per plate, you'll spend £20–30 for a proper meal with wine. The room fills by 8pm on weekends. A Spanish guitarist plays some nights. Dogs are welcome. Service is attentive without hovering—staff remember birthdays, convince the kitchen to feed late arrivals, and know the wine list. It's not a high-concept restaurant. It's a neighbourhood tapas bar that's become difficult to get into without booking.
What Stands Out
Small plates done right
Reviewers consistently named specific dishes: 'huevos rotos were perfectly crisp', 'arroz con leche is delicious', 'oxtail soup is my recommendation'. One diner noted 'each dish was exceptional and for 3.80 a dish it was so well priced'.
Staff who actually listen
A reviewer mentioned the staff brought out a birthday cake and sang happy birthday unprompted. Another said a late-night arrival was fed because 'the lovely waitress convinced the kitchen to feed us'. Named staff (Ali, Marian) appear in multiple reviews as 'accommodating', 'charismatic', 'brilliant'.
Fair pricing for the quality
Reviewers described it as 'very reasonable prices', 'so well priced', and 'not too expensive for a city centre restaurant'. The venue attributes list price as £20–30, and one review explicitly states '£3 per plate'.
What Customers Say
The huevos rotos were perfectly crisp and the arroz con leche is delicious.
Each dish was exceptional and for 3.80 a dish it was so well priced.
The food is amazing and incredibly affordable, priced at £3 per plate.
Real quotes from Google Reviews
Practical Information
Contact
67 Great Ancoats St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5AB, United Kingdom
+44 161 383 1968Visit WebsiteView MenuFrequently Asked Questions about Maricarmen
Dinner reservations are recommended—the place is packed by 8pm on weekends. One reviewer managed to walk in on a Saturday without a reservation and was seated, but you'll have better odds booking. Takes reservations online.
Expect £20–30 per head with wine. Dishes are £3.80 each. One reviewer ordered 6 dishes for 2 people and felt satisfied; another ordered more because they wished they'd tried more. You control the spend by ordering in rounds.
Yes, but order it with your first order—it takes over 20 minutes to arrive. One reviewer spoke favourably of it. It's not a quick addition mid-meal.
Dogs are allowed. One reviewer pre-booked specifically to bring their dog and spent the evening there without incident.
Casual, cosy, and packed. A Spanish guitarist plays some nights. Reviewers describe it as traditional, friendly, and busy. Full by 8pm on Saturdays, standing room at the bar by 9pm.
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