Gaudí Room is a bar on Joo Chiat Road, Singapore, rated 4.7 from 85 reviews ($$$), a hidden speakeasy tucked behind the restaurant Carlitos, reachable by simply asking staff to be shown through to the room at the back. It runs a bespoke cocktail menu alongside Spanish tapas and bar bites led by Chef Carlos Montobbio, a Hofmann Culinary School graduate and alum of the 3-Michelin-starred El Celler de Can Roca, backed by a curated selection of Spanish wines from rustic to refined. Customers mention drinks like the smoky architect and el mojito, and single out staff including Eddie and Mong for making a visit feel personal rather than just another bar stop. Opening hours run evenings Monday to Thursday, stretching to late morning through to night on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with tables booked directly over WhatsApp. On Joo Chiat Road, Gaudí Room is that kind of hidden, tucked-away find.
On Joo Chiat Road, behind an unassuming frontage, Carlitos Casa de Comidas brings the flavours of Spain to one of Singapore's most characterful neighbourhoods. It's a tapas bar built around small plates and big flavours, led by a chef with genuine Spanish pedigree.
Chef Carlos Montobbio is no stranger to the culinary world. Born in Barcelona, he trained at the prestigious Hofmann Culinary School and later worked at El Celler de Can Roca, the three-Michelin-starred restaurant regarded as one of the finest in the world, honing his craft alongside some of Spain's best chefs. He arrived in Singapore a decade ago and first made his mark at Esquina, known for its creative, produce-driven cooking. Today, with Carlitos under his lead, he continues to serve timeless Spanish dishes built from fresh, all-natural, high-quality ingredients.
The food menu takes diners through the heart of Spain's various regions, with Chef Carlos putting his own spin on the tapas he loves best. It's designed as a shared, sociable style of eating — order a spread, pass plates around, and work your way through different corners of the country one bite at a time. Alongside the food sits a beverage list built on the diversity of Spanish viticulture, with a handpicked run of wines that spans the rustic and the refined, so there's something to match whatever's coming out of the kitchen.
Running the floor is restaurant manager Alberto, who brings flair and effortless charm to service, aiming to make every visit feel like a small celebration. In the kitchen, Chef Li Vian leads day-to-day, crafting plates that respect tradition while keeping the menu feeling current. Together, the team call themselves the amigos and amigas behind the bar — the ones pouring the wine, firing up the grill, and keeping the rhythm going night after night.
Behind the lively pulse of the main restaurant sits another world entirely: the Gaudí Room, a hidden speakeasy shaped by the imagination of Barcelona's most iconic dreamer, Antoni Gaudí. The lighting drops, the details sharpen, and the pace slows to something more intimate — a deliberate contrast to the fiesta energy out front. It's open separately from the main restaurant, running Tuesday to Saturday evenings.
Carlitos is located at 350 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427598. It's open Monday to Thursday evenings, and for both lunch and dinner service on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Reservations and enquiries can be made via WhatsApp, and the restaurant is part of the Ebb & Flow Group and Unlisted Collection stable of concepts.