Maricarmen is a tapas bar in Ancoats, Manchester. Rated 4.8 stars from 1277 Google reviews. Known for staff who remember names and octopus and small plates. Best for groups and solo dining. Price range: £20–30.
Maricarmen
Across 768 rated reviews, 93% gave four or five stars.
| Rating | 4.8★ |
| Reviews | 1,277 |
| 1-star share | 1.7% |
| Best for | Lunch |
In Their Own Words
Review highlights surfaced by Google — shown in English, with the original beneath
“Fabulous experience, amazing food, super friendly staff, chilled vibe.”
“Great price, great service, great foods, great vibes”
“Wow, what a place, the food is so tasty, really authentic tapas Spanish dishes.”
1,348 reviews across two platforms
Quick Verdict
Authentic Spanish tapas, staff who remember names, live music, and a vibe that feels genuinely welcoming—a standout at £20–30 in Ancoats.
You want authentic Spanish tapas with staff who remember your name and bring genuine warmth to the table.
About Maricarmen
A Monday night in Ancoats and Maricarmen is already full — that tells you something. The El Tableo concept, where plates come to the table for you to choose from rather than ordering off a menu, is the thing that sets it apart from every other tapas bar in the city. The kitchen's prawns, croquetas, pork belly and seafood paella are the dishes people keep coming back for, with the octopus drawing its own loyal following. Service is the other reason regulars return: Jo, Aidan, Rodrigo, Fernanda and the wider team are the kind of staff who remember you, chat to you and make a Tuesday feel like a Saturday. Live flamenco performances push the atmosphere further than the food alone would. At £20–30 a head, it earns every one of those 42 mentions of welcoming staff.
Maricarmen earns its romantic reputation through both atmosphere and a serious wines and cocktails — the kind of place where a dinner for two tends to extend well past dessert.
In the last 90 days, Maricarmen has drawn 68 substantial written reviews (50+ characters of genuine feedback) — recent momentum that is one of the signals behind its place on the hot list.
What Stands Out
Staff who remember names
Jo, Aidan, Harvey, Rodrigo and Fernanda are consistently named in recent reviews as welcoming, attentive, and bringing a special vibe to the evening.
Octopus and small plates
Octopus with an exceptional glaze, croquetas, prawns, pork belly and seafood paella arrive quickly and taste like home-cooked Spanish fare.
Live performances
Flamenco dancers and live music are regular features, with 26 mentions of flamenco dancers and 23 of live music in recent review themes.
Practical Information
Opening Hours
Contact
67 Great Ancoats St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5AB, United Kingdom
+44 161 383 1968Visit WebsiteView MenuInstagramFrequently Asked Questions about Maricarmen
Maricarmen in Ancoats, Manchester is popular for solo dining. The tapas concept and bar seating make it easy to settle in alone, and staff like Jo and Aidan are known for remembering names and bringing genuine warmth to the evening.
Maricarmen's kitchen delivers octopus with an exceptional glaze, croquetas, prawns, pork belly, and seafood paella. The El Tableo concept (£3.80 per plate, no menu) lets diners graze through rotating selections and discover unexpected hits.
Maricarmen accepts reservations, and both lunch and dinner reservations are recommended, especially on busy nights. The team has been known to squeeze in walk-ins on Saturday nights without fuss.
Maricarmen offers vegetarian options and staff are known for offering thoughtful vegetarian swaps on the tapas menu. Recent diners noted the menu is a good size for lunch, though a couple more vegetable options would be welcome.
Maricarmen balances casual and romantic with open kitchen views, a full cocktail and wine programme, and live performances including flamenco dancers. The vibe feels genuinely welcoming rather than performed.
Maricarmen is £20–30 per head. The El Tableo concept runs at £3.80 per plate, letting diners build their own meal at their own pace.
Also in Ancoats
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How We Rank Venues
Rankings are recalculated monthly from live Google Business Profile data. Our Hot Score weighs review velocity (new text reviews), baseline rating, and Google Business Profile completeness. No editorial picks, no paid placements — just what the data says this month.
Hot Score: 90/100 · ranked October 2026
The written profile on this page is generated from real Google reviews and reviewed monthly. Quotes are verbatim and belong to the people who wrote them — not to us.
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