This vibrant tapas bar stands out among the slew of cafés, banh mi joints and fitness studios littered along Joo Chiat Road. Carlitos is the brainchild of chefs Carlos Montobbio of Spanish restaurant Esquina, and Antonio Miscellaneo, who runs popular pizza concepts like Casa Vostra and La Bottega Enoteca, which is just two doors down. The highlight? Over 30 kinds of tapas plucked from all over Spain, including essentials like patatas bravas and octopus with paprika.
Inside, brick walls, unique trinkets, and soft lighting exude the warmth and comfort of a Catalan country home, fitting for a cosy neighbourhood spot like this. And the menu is made for long nights of winding down. Start simple with a gilda pintxo ($5 each), a quintessential Spanish skewer consisting of anchovies, olives, pickled onions and jalepeño. Then, snack on plates of gambas al ajillo ($6 each), refreshing tomato and tuna salad ($10), Jamón croquettes ($7 each) and crispy baby squid over a bed of shallot orzo ($20) – a crowd-favourite here. Or, sink your teeth into a crunchy molette (mini toasted flatbread sandwich). Our pick is the Sobrassada ($10), layered with Mallorcan paprika pork sausage, burrata and capers.
The plates hit the table fast, and before you know it, you're surrounded by a colourful spread. It's exactly the kind of energy you'd find at a tapas bar in a back alley in Barcelona – quick, casual and a little chaotic. You're meant to graze and nibble, reaching across for a slice of Jamón here, a pintxo there, and take sips of sangria in between bites as the conversation flows.
For something more substantial, dig into the rabo de toro ($28), where tender chunks of beef oxtail come braised in a robust red wine sauce – our favourite dish of the night despite its richness. Each bite melts in the mouth and is best chased with a spoonful of the buttery manchego potato mash provided on the side, followed by a sip of red wine. Meanwhile, the Spanish suckling pig ($69 for half, $38 for whole) feeds four or more and comes paired with green apple compote and pancharán jus. No Spanish feast is complete without churros for dessert, and Carlitos' version comes with a fruity and indulgent Valrhona chocolate dip on the side ($14).
If you venture past the lively dining hall of Carlitos, you'll find Gaudí Room, the restaurant's new speakeasy that seats up to 18 guests. This pocket-sized hideout is inspired by Spain's legendary architect, Antoni Gaudí, the mastermind behind Barcelona's iconic landmarks like La Sagrada Familia and Casa Milà. The team has the theme nailed down to a tee – mosaic tables, butterfly lattice woodwork behind the bar, and curved walls all point towards Gaudís designs.
The cocktails, on the other hand, could use some fine-tuning. The Margarita De La Vera ($22) – a mix of tequila, lime juice and smoked paprika water – leans on the savoury side, and the rim of lime pepper salt and togarashi tips it into overly salty territory. The same goes for the La Sagrada Paloma ($22): a tequila, gin and Aperol blend that’s meant to be a savoury twist on the classic paloma. Except instead of fruity notes of grapefruit and lime, we get a punchy yet off-balance pour, with spice and salt competing for attention, and what seems like several chilli flakes settling at the bottom. Perhaps we'd have been better off ordering one of the bestsellers, like the Elixir Surrealista ($24), or The Smoking Architect ($26) – a take on the Old Fashioned. But at least until the bar polishes up its cocktails, we're happy to stay in the dining hall for now.
Carlitos is located at 350 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427598. Opening hours are Monday to Thursday, 5.30pm to 11pm and Friday to Sunday, 11.30am to 3.30pm, and 5.30pm to 11pm.
Find out more and book a table here.
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