Taberna La Carmencita
Chueca, Madrid
Restaurant in Madrid, Spain
Book with PearlThe Read
Price
$20–30per person
Dress
Casual
Why go
A better pick for a planned Centro tavern meal than a last-minute fallback. Taberna La Carmencita makes sense for dates, small celebrations, and visitors who want classic Madrid atmosphere with drinks folded into dinner, rather than a formal chef-led format.
About Taberna La Carmencita
Taberna La Carmencita is a Madrid venue with a casual dress code and opening hours across the week. The schedule includes midday and evening opening windows on Monday and Tuesday, continuous 12:30 PM-to-late hours from Wednesday through Sunday, and later closing on Friday and Saturday.
Because public details are limited, plan the visit around the known facts rather than assuming a specific cuisine, menu format, price point, chef-led experience, or group setup.
Plan it for a casual Madrid visit with flexible hours
The clearest reason to keep Taberna La Carmencita on a Madrid shortlist is schedule flexibility. Hours are Monday and Tuesday from 12:30–5 PM and 8 PM–12:30 AM; Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 12:30 PM–12:30 AM; and Friday and Saturday from 12:30 PM–1 AM.
Do not build the plan around assumptions such as a tasting menu, a named chef format, a drinks program, or a particular cuisine. If the priority is a dedicated bar crawl, use Pearl's Madrid bars guide; if the priority is choosing a venue in the city, this can be considered alongside other Madrid options.
Who should pick it, and who should cross-shop
Choose Taberna La Carmencita when the known basics fit the night: Madrid, casual dress, and long opening hours. Diners comparing different styles can also look at Per Sé Bistró, while those planning a broader night out can compare 11 Nudos Madrid. For a wider scan, start with 's full Madrid restaurants guide.
For more Madrid planning around the visit, see the city guides for hotels, wineries, and experiences.
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: 12:30–5 PM, 8 PM–12:30 AM · Tuesday: 12:30–5 PM, 8 PM–12:30 AM
- Location
- C. de la Libertad, 16, Centro, 28004 Madrid, Spain
- Reservations
- Book on TheFork
- Website
- tabernalacarmencita.es
- Phone
- +34915310911
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Taberna La Carmencita presents itself as a living piece of Madrid’s dining history. The tiled walls and wooden fittings are visibly worn in a way that reads as accumulated habit rather than staged nostalgia; the room’s proportions and the deliberate pace of service encourage slowing down and paying attention. This is a place where continuity trumps novelty: instead of chasing trends, it leans into the taberna tradition that has anchored local eating for more than a century. The overall impression is warm, intimate and quietly charming, the sort of spot that rewards repeat visits and patient enjoyment.
Best For
La Carmencita is best enjoyed as a midday or early-evening stop for those who want to experience Madrid’s taberna ritual. A traditional madrileño midday meal suits a lunch focused on small-plate sharing and lingering conversation. Its Chueca location makes it an easy pick for neighborhood gatherings, casual after-work drinks or low-key social lunches, where the value lies in the room and the ritual as much as the food. The setting is not formal; it rewards unhurried visits and an appetite for authentic, time-honored dining habits.
Ordering Tips
Approach ordering as a sequence rather than a checklist: begin with a drink and let the room’s pace guide your choices. Share plates to experience the taberna’s range: the signature albóndigas de ternera ecológica, crisp rabas de Santander and a classic ensaladilla rusa are natural starting points. Favor familiar staples over experimental dishes; the place stakes its reputation on continuity, so staples often signal quality. Plan to linger between courses, and resist the urge to rush: the service explicitly encourages slowing down, which is part of the meal’s social ritual.
Venue details
Ambiance
Historic tavern with floral-patterned tiles, wood and zinc bar, blending 19th-century charm with contemporary design elements.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Medium
- Kitchen
- Traditional
- Menu Format
- A la carte, Small plates
- Drinks Focus
- Vermouth, Negronis
- Dietary
- Vegetarian friendly, Gluten-free options
Signature Dishes
- albóndigas de ternera ecológica
- rabas de Santander
- ensaladilla rusa
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- C. de la Libertad, 16, Centro, 28004 Madrid, Spain
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- 12:30–5 PM, 8 PM–12:30 AM
- Tuesday
- 12:30–5 PM, 8 PM–12:30 AM
- Wednesday
- 12:30 PM–12:30 AM
- Thursday
- 12:30 PM–12:30 AM
- Friday
- 12:30 PM–1 AM
- Saturday
- 12:30 PM–1 AM
- Sunday
- 12:30 PM–12:30 AM
Location
C. de la Libertad, 16, Centro, 28004 Madrid, Spain · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- Propaganda, Notable alternative
- Bazaar, Notable alternative
- 11 Nudos Madrid, Notable alternative
- Per Sé Bistró, Contemporary, €€€
- Roostiq, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
How it compares in Madrid
Choose Taberna La Carmencita when the priority is old-Madrid tavern atmosphere and an easygoing drinks-with-dinner setup. Per Sé Bistró is the clearer pick for a contemporary €€€ meal, while 11 Nudos Madrid is a stronger cross-shop for a broader night-out mood.
Propaganda and Bazaar make more sense if the group wants a more current restaurant feel rather than a tavern-led evening. Roostiq is the one to compare if the meal needs to feel more food-led and substantial.
For booking difficulty, Taberna La Carmencita is the lower-stress choice in this set. For a special occasion, pick it only if charm and neighborhood energy matter more than a formal room, premium service signals, or a defined tasting-menu structure.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Taberna La Carmencita guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Taberna La Carmencita
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taberna La Carmencita | Madrid | No published awards | ||
| Propaganda | Madrid | 2026 OAD Casual in Europe Recommended2026 White Guide Denmark Restaurants - Very Fine Level2025 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #5662024 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #5502023 OAD Casual in Europe Recommended | ||
| Bazaar | Madrid | 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand2024 Michelin Bib Gourmand | ||
| 11 Nudos Madrid | Madrid | No published awards | ||
| Per Sé Bistró | Madrid | Contemporary | €€€ | No published awards |
| Roostiq | Madrid | No published awards |
How Taberna La Carmencita Madrid compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a first-timer know about Taberna La Carmencita?
Taberna La Carmencita is in Madrid, has a casual dress code, and keeps broad hours across the week. Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday run from 12:30 PM to 12:30 AM, while Friday and Saturday run from 12:30 PM to 1 AM. If you want to compare another option, look at Per Sé Bistró.
Is Taberna La Carmencita good for a solo visit?
The schedule gives solo visitors flexibility, with midday and evening windows early in the week and continuous 12:30 PM-to-late hours from Wednesday through Sunday. Specific seating format and counter availability should be checked directly if that matters. Propaganda is another venue to compare.
Can Taberna La Carmencita accommodate groups?
The hours may help with scheduling, especially Friday and Saturday, when closing is at 1 AM. Bazaar is another option to compare while planning.
What should I wear to Taberna La Carmencita?
The dress code is casual. Keep the plan simple and comfortable rather than assuming a formal dining-room standard. If you are comparing different venues for the same night, Roostiq is another option to review.
