Espejos La Carmencita
1 / 10

Taberna La Carmencita

4.6
·491k reviews·,

Madrid's historic Taberna La Carmencita offers traditional Spanish cuisine with a farm-to-table focus, blending old-world charm with fresh, quality in...

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
Espejos La Carmencita

Taberna La Carmencita

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Madrid's historic Taberna La Carmencita offers traditional Spanish cuisine with a farm-to-table focus, blending old-world charm with fresh, quality ingredients.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"Experience the historic charm and elevated traditional dishes at one of Madrid's oldest and most beautiful taverns."

TIP

Ask Staff for Recommendations

Friendly staff can guide you to the best choices and share the tavern's history.

Share Multiple Dishes

Enjoy a wider variety of flavors by ordering several dishes to share with your dining companions.

Third hero image

Quick Facts

Closed·Opens 12:30PM

Cuisine

Spanish

Price

$$$

Phone

+34 915 31 09 11

Address

C. de la Libertad, 16, Centro, 28004 Madrid, Spain

Insta-Factor

High

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Historic Charm & Ambiance

Historic Charm & Ambiance

Experience Madrid's oldest tavern, featuring beautiful tiled walls and a nostalgic, welcoming atmosphere.

Restaurants in MadridThe 16 Best Restaurants in Madrid Right Now — Walk and Eat Spain
Elevated Traditional Spanish Dishes

Elevated Traditional Spanish Dishes

Savor classic Spanish cuisine with a farm-to-table twist, focusing on carefully sourced, fresh ingredients.

Madrid Restaurants Best Places to Eat MadridGoogle Review
The Giant Tomato Salad

The Giant Tomato Salad

A surprisingly simple yet highly praised dish, featuring thick, perfectly seasoned tomato slices with quality olive oil.

Madrid Restaurants Best Places to Eat MadridGoogle Review
Your AI travel agent

Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you

Start Chatting

Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Solo estuve aquí por un shooting pero me apetece muchísimo ir y probar este sitio por dos motivos: 1. La encargada del local es pura simpática. 2. Me encantan los sitios con alma. Al parecer, es una taberna centenaria; la segunda más antigua de todo Madrid. ¿Qué te hace a ti volver a los restaurantes? ¿Habías estado antes aquí? #tabernacarmencita #restaurant #madrid #barmadrid
@irenepaton
24 likes • 1.3K views

Ask Staff for Recommendations

Friendly staff can guide you to the best choices and share the tavern's history.

Share Multiple Dishes

Enjoy a wider variety of flavors by ordering several dishes to share with your dining companions.

Carmencita bar - Calle de Lope de Haro 15 - Estrecho - Madrid
@osvaldobritos1
90 likes • 1.3K views
El brunch de Carmencita Bar, en Madrid. De los más conocidos de la ciudad #Madrid #Benedict #brunch #comida #huevosbenedict #desayuno
@madridcongusto
8.8K likes • 122.5K views

Reserve Ahead

This popular spot can get busy, especially during peak times, so reservations are recommended.

Explore Seasonal Offerings

The menu features seasonal options that offer interesting and unique flavor combinations.

Carmencita bar; calle Lope de Haro 15; Estrecho; Madrid #paraguayitoporelmundo🇵🇾🇪🇸 #paraguay🇵🇾 #viral
@carmencita.bar
106 likes • 3.5K views

Tips

from all over the internet

Ask Staff for Recommendations

Friendly staff can guide you to the best choices and share the tavern's history.

Share Multiple Dishes

Enjoy a wider variety of flavors by ordering several dishes to share with your dining companions.

Reserve Ahead

This popular spot can get busy, especially during peak times, so reservations are recommended.

Explore Seasonal Offerings

The menu features seasonal options that offer interesting and unique flavor combinations.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Taberna La Carmencita is celebrated for its historic charm and traditional Spanish dishes with a farm-to-table approach. While many praise the welcoming ambiance and friendly service, some find the food portions scarce and prices high, with a few reviews noting excessive saltiness. However, specific dishes like the tomato salad and hazelnut ice cream receive consistent acclaim.

"We visited as a family on April 9th. These were the best meals we've ever had. Anna was very sweet and helped us a lot with the service, choices, and the history of the tavern. The other waiters were also equally friendly and helpful. If you happen to be around in Madrid, be sure to come and try their food and wines."

Hazal Şenel

"This is a very pleasant, cosy, historic restaurant, apparently the second oldest in Madrid, with beautiful tiled walls. The service was friendly and helpful. The menu was has a good variety of dishes. I started with the largest slice of tomato I’ve ever seen - it was delicious. My main course was Iberian ham and eggs, also excellent. I finished by indulging in a very good hazelnut ice cream. I recommend all of these dishes, and the rest of the menu also looked great."

Chris Clement

"The ambiance is absolutely charming—old-world elegance with a relaxed, welcoming feel that makes you feel right at home. It carries nostalgic touches that reminded me of childhood visits to relatives and grandparents, yet it still feels refined. Despite being in one of the busiest parts of the city, once you step inside, it feels like a quiet retreat.

I always make it a point to come here for callos a la madrileña, and once again the quality of the tripe was excellent—tender, perfectly cooked, and full of authentic flavor. Callos is hard to find outside Madrid and Spain, and truly good callos is even rarer. This dish brought back many memories of growing up. This time, the callos was more tangy than usual, but still delicious. The rice that accompanied it could have been cooked a bit longer, though those who like a firmer bite may prefer it that way.

We also tried the stuffed peppers. The flavors were enjoyable, though the veal stuffing was a little too soft in texture for my taste—perhaps a different meat would have suited it better. The complimentary pâté at the beginning of the meal, however, was a wonderful touch and very tasty. The white wine selection by the glass is limited, but the few varieties available were very enjoyable.

This was the first time I needed to make a reservation here, likely because of the busy season. The process was easy and flexible, with no advance payment required. Definitely worth planning ahead so you don’t miss out."

Frangelico Gregorio-Thomas

What People Like

Historic and charming ambiance
Friendly and helpful staff
Fresh, high-quality ingredients

What People Dislike

Small portion sizes
High prices for the portions
Occasional excessive saltiness

Frequently Asked Questions

It's known for its historic ambiance as one of Madrid's oldest taverns, its traditional Spanish dishes with farm-to-table ingredients, and specific items like the giant tomato salad.

Madrid Restaurants Best Places to Eat MadridRestaurants in MadridGoogle Review

While the focus is on traditional Spanish cuisine, inquire about vegetarian options as ingredients are fresh and sourced locally.

Yes, it's recommended to make a reservation, especially if you plan to visit during peak hours or busy seasons.

Google Review+1

The atmosphere is described as charming, historic, and nostalgic, with beautiful tiled walls and a relaxed, welcoming feel.

The 16 Best Restaurants in Madrid Right Now — Walk and Eat SpainGoogle Review

The giant tomato salad, callos a la madrileña, and the hazelnut ice cream are frequently recommended.

Google Review+1

Some reviews mention that portions can be scarce and prices high, but others find the quality of ingredients justifies the cost.

Google Review+2

Mentioned in

Featured in these publications

Lonely Planet

Best restaurants Madrid, Madrid Region

Around since 1854, La Carmencita is the bar where legendary poet Pablo Neruda was once a regular. The folk of La Carmencita have taken 75 of their…

Visit Source →
olivemagazine

Madrid Restaurants Best Places to Eat Madrid

Though pretty, Taberna La Carmencita feels traditional, with its classic tiling and zinc bar (it's one of the city's oldest taverns). Owner Carlos Zamora introduced a focus on farm-to-table ingredients when he bought the restaurant a few years ago, giving a new lease of life to traditional Spanish dishes such as grilled razor clams with sherry, slow-cooked oxtail stew and roast kid goat. Even the simplest dish is elevated, like his tomato salad: thick, steak-like slabs of perfectly seasoned giant tomato, drizzled with peppery, grassy olive oil.

Visit Source →
Frommers

Restaurants in Madrid

The second oldest restaurant in Madrid and one of the most beautiful,La Carmencita’s walls are covered with floral-patterned tiles surrounding a lovely wood and zinc bar. Lorca and hisliterary circle used to hang out here, but the restaurant doesn’t rest on the glories of its past.…

Visit Source →
Walk and Eat Food Tours in Madrid

The 16 Best Restaurants in Madrid Right Now — Walk and Eat Spain

Painted tiles line the walls, gorgeous ceramic plates dot the tables and the zinc bar at the door is one of the oldest in Madrid. After all, this tavern is the second oldest in Madrid, having first opened in 1854!. Rumor has it that the painter Goya used to wash dishes here.

Visit Source →
Citylife Madrid

Where to Enjoy Spanish Jamón like a Local

The second oldest tavern in Madrid, opening its doors in 1854!. Enjoy a delicious plate of jamón, as well as 75 other classic Spanish dishes, while being surrounded by history!

Visit Source →
Friendly Rentals

Great Bars in Madrid for Aperitifs: Where to go for an aperitif in Madrid

Visit Source →