The second Manchester location will focus on ‘good food and great times’
Ancoats’ favourite tapas and sangria bar Maricarmen is opening a new spot in the Northern Quarter(Image: Maricarmen)
The owners of a popular restaurant which started life as a pop-up tapas bar have announced they will be opening a second Manchester location in the former home of a Michelin favourite.
Ancoats’ favourite Maricarmen, which is known for its top-tier tapas and sangria, will open a second site in the Northern Quarter in September taking over the former 63 Degrees premises on High Street.
The family-run French restaurant mysteriously closed its doors in February after 14 years. Founder Alexandre Moreau said that the decision to close the venue, which had been described by Michelin as a ‘true neighbourhood restaurant’, came following a series of family health issues.
Six months on from its closure, the venue will be given a new lease of life thanks to the team at Maricarmen and co-founders Marian Diaz and Jose Nunez. Famed for its ‘El Tableo’, an interactive service style where freshly-prepared tapas dishes – priced from £3.50 – are served from waiters circulating the restaurant rather than from a fixed menu, it has been a hit in Ancoats since opening last year.
Stay connected with our City Life newsletter here
The tapas bar and restaurant is famed for its ‘El Tableo’ service, where dishes are served from waiters circulating the restaurant rather than from a fixed menu(Image: Maricarmen)
Before opening its first permanent base, Maricarmen had established itself as a culinary force to reckon with thanks to a successful pop-up bar in the Cocoa Cabana chocolate shop two years ago. The pair also previously ran Madrid-based tapas restaurant La Porcineria.
“Maricarmen is about compassion, hard work, strength, reinvention, opening our minds and hearts and connecting with people,” co-founder Marian said of the restaurant.
“It’s more than just food, for us, it is the beautiful moment when we see our customers and our coworkers smile because they are here.”
The new Northern Quarter restaurant, which is set to open at the start of September, will feature Maricarmen’s popular El Tableo service as well as a range of specials including Paella, tortilla Carbonara and Cachopo, which is a delicacy hailing from the Spanish region of Asturias consisting of veal or beef steaks filled with cheese and slices of iberico ham.
The restaurant will also serve a selection of Spanish wines and beers, as well as red and white Sangria made using Maricarmen’s own secret recipe. The NQ venue will also feature a large al fresco dining area, both outside the restaurant on Edge Street and just in front of the old Fish Market walls in High Street.
As well as an expansive tapas menu, Maricarmen is also known for its red and white Sangria made using a top secret recipe(Image: Maricarmen)
“To us, Manchester signifies the ability to reinvent and grow,” Marian said of the new Northern Quarter venue. “The people here support you without expecting anything in return. It’s really beautiful. I have never felt this before in my life.
“Opening Maricarmen on Great Ancoats Street was a dream come true. We’ve built up such a loyal customer base of locals, many who have become dear friends.
“And to be in a position to open a second site within two years and share our love of good food and great times with Manchester’s Northern Quarter is quite unbelievable.”
Diners are encouraged to follow Maricarmen on social media to find out more about their NQ opening plans in the coming weeks.
Maricarmen is on 104 High Street, Northern Quarter, M4 1HQ.
Join our Manc Life WhatsApp group HERE