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✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in
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Macarena is more than a restaurant—it’s a celebration of Spain’s soul, brought to life in Palo Alto. Inspired by timeless recipes passed down through generations, every dish reflects the classic traditions of Spanish cuisine, with no shortcuts and no reinterpretations—just comfort food as it’s meant to be.
Hours
| Friday | 11:30 AM–10:30 PM |
| Saturday | 11 AM–10:30 PM |
| Sunday | 11 AM–9:30 PM |
| Monday | 11:30 AM–9:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 11:30 AM–9:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 11:30 AM–9:30 PM |
| Thursday | 11:30 AM–9:30 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 420 Ramona St, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Phone: (650) 407-2897
Website: https://www.macarenarestaurant.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: opentable.com
Related Web Results
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Reviews
Swashna Maharaj
Amazing!! The grilled pulpo was tender, smoky, and utterly addictive – perfectly charred tentacles that just fell apart. The lobster paella was a masterclass in Spanish cuisine succulent chunks of lobster, infused rice in a broth , and a depth of flavor that’ll haunt your dreams. And the flan… creamy, dreamy, caramelized perfection that’ll make you weep. Service was top-notch too. 10/10, hands down one of the best meals I’ve ever had.They also gave us free drinks to celebrate our special day. Thank you for the wonderful night
… moreArthur T
Family of 4 stopped by for a Thursday dinner. Made a res for 4 earlier that day and pretty open time slots…by the time we left, it was packed.
We ordered:
citrus noir $8
fruto del amor $16
melon con jamon $16
iberico ham $36
gambas al ajillo $18
cotte de rabbo de toro $16
tomato bread $10
lettuce flower $14
grilled octopus $26
presa iberica $52
paella rib eye $98
lagunitas $9
tiramisu de melindro $12
Personally, I really enjoyed the iberico ham and the octopus. Everything else didn’t really pop out. The flavors in general were good, but value wasn’t there relative to portion. The paella rib eye for $100 isn’t really worth it.
The alcohol was super sweet.
Some items on the menu were not available, which I thought was weird, for a Thursday dinner packed house.
Another worry was cleanliness of the staff. Person handling the food I noticed without gloves and coughing over food and toughing their face.
Parking can be difficult during peak hours.
… moreWe ordered:
citrus noir $8
fruto del amor $16
melon con jamon $16
iberico ham $36
gambas al ajillo $18
cotte de rabbo de toro $16
tomato bread $10
lettuce flower $14
grilled octopus $26
presa iberica $52
paella rib eye $98
lagunitas $9
tiramisu de melindro $12
Personally, I really enjoyed the iberico ham and the octopus. Everything else didn’t really pop out. The flavors in general were good, but value wasn’t there relative to portion. The paella rib eye for $100 isn’t really worth it.
The alcohol was super sweet.
Some items on the menu were not available, which I thought was weird, for a Thursday dinner packed house.
Another worry was cleanliness of the staff. Person handling the food I noticed without gloves and coughing over food and toughing their face.
Parking can be difficult during peak hours.
Elizabeth Yeh
I’ve already been here three times. Reservations are relatively easy to get, and it’s a solid option when you’re craving tapas. It’s also perfect for a girls’ night out. The indoor seating is insta worthy, and the outdoor seating is surprisingly cozy too. They even provide fluffy blankets on the chairs, plus there are small fountains that add to the ambiance.
What we ordered:
Churros Bravos – so delicious. Super flavorful. The sauce leans a little salty, but I personally enjoyed it.
Ensalada de Patata – notmy favorite. The olive taste is quite prominent.
Gambas Al Ajillo – very solid!
Eggplant Chips – interesting idea, but really they’re just chips.
Empanadas – good and easy to share.
Oxtail Canelones – on the oily side, but yummy when eaten with bread.
Pulpo a la Brasa – potato purée is silky smooth and pairs well with the octopus.
Olivada Broccolini – solid veggie option.
Paella Negra con Vieiras – my favorite paella. Highly recommend!
Paella de Pulpo – good alternative but not as flavorful as the squid ink version.
Desserts:
Tiramisu de Melindro – so delicious and incredibly creamy!
Saquets de Crema – sweet and yummy, though definitely on the sweeter side.
… moreWhat we ordered:
Churros Bravos – so delicious. Super flavorful. The sauce leans a little salty, but I personally enjoyed it.
Ensalada de Patata – notmy favorite. The olive taste is quite prominent.
Gambas Al Ajillo – very solid!
Eggplant Chips – interesting idea, but really they’re just chips.
Empanadas – good and easy to share.
Oxtail Canelones – on the oily side, but yummy when eaten with bread.
Pulpo a la Brasa – potato purée is silky smooth and pairs well with the octopus.
Olivada Broccolini – solid veggie option.
Paella Negra con Vieiras – my favorite paella. Highly recommend!
Paella de Pulpo – good alternative but not as flavorful as the squid ink version.
Desserts:
Tiramisu de Melindro – so delicious and incredibly creamy!
Saquets de Crema – sweet and yummy, though definitely on the sweeter side.
Alex Zepka
A Spanish styled restaurant. Their specialty is paella. It is good, but I am spoiled given my many trips to Spain. I wish the rice was a bit crunchier, especially near the bottom of the pan. I usually do not get dessert, but made an exception this time and was very happy with the cheesecake. Reservations are absolutely needed at peak hours.
… moreAnna
We came to Macarena for our office holiday lunch, and unfortunately the experience fell short of expectations. Our seating area was incredibly cold so much so that several of us kept our jackets on throughout the meal. Not the cozy festive vibe we were hoping for.
The food overall was average, with some clear misses and one standout dish. Below is how I would rate each item out of 10:
Pan con Tomate: 1/10
Croquetas: 5/10
Churros: 3/10
Roasted Tomato Salad: 2/10
Paella: 6/10
El Pecado de Macarena: 10/10 (the star of the meal!)
The drinks, however, were quite tasty and definitely a bright spot.
Overall, for a restaurant that is marketed as a fancy new hotspot, the experience did not justify the price. It is worth trying once if you are really curious, but be prepared for average food at a premium cost.
… moreThe food overall was average, with some clear misses and one standout dish. Below is how I would rate each item out of 10:
Pan con Tomate: 1/10
Croquetas: 5/10
Churros: 3/10
Roasted Tomato Salad: 2/10
Paella: 6/10
El Pecado de Macarena: 10/10 (the star of the meal!)
The drinks, however, were quite tasty and definitely a bright spot.
Overall, for a restaurant that is marketed as a fancy new hotspot, the experience did not justify the price. It is worth trying once if you are really curious, but be prepared for average food at a premium cost.
Tony Lim
This is probably my 25th times that i have been in this place since they first opened. I already love tapas and Spanish food ,yet when it comes to Macarena I have the best experience that I never had before, especially the atmosphere the environment service and especially the food – I truly feel that I’m in the middle of Barcelona. If you can ask for Zoltan to pair the wine for your food, who is the wine expert…. They have great value and every times that I come back is that individually great experience. Strongly recommended .
… moreConrad Paz
Cozy neighborhood spot that serves up excellent Spanish cuisine. A spur of the moment decision led us here since we were in the area. Because we arrived in the mid afternoon, seating was immediate; however, reservations are highly advised (by early evening the place was packed). Tapas we chose (empanada, croquetas, jamon, bravas) were delicious and the paella (one of the evening specials topped with ribeye and pork belly) was fantastic. Oh, we kicked off with the cava sangria…tasty! Also had some Spanish red wine, that accompanied the steak very well. Great evening!
… moreeDNA
After going to Teleferic for a few years, I was curious to try out Macarena, the new kid on the block est 2025. Taking over the old Bird Dog space, it’s upscale as expected: patio dining chairs are adorned with furs. Lighting is the perfect dimness for ambiance but still conducive to food pictures.
The menu features traditional Spanish cuisine with a more simple, stripped-down take compared to the all the flairs at Teleferic. Presentation is rather simple, but food is overall decent.
They have a fascinating selection of drinks with a bunch of savory cocktails. I tried the Red Garden Gimlet because the red pepper and basil infused gin with cantaloupe cordial sounded like a novel combination, but it tasted too much like plain juice for my likings.
Ranking the tapas:
– The churros bravos, a play on patatas bravas x churros, was a fun experiment and the churro shape made the potatoes extra crispy
– Ham croquets are melt-in-your-mouth!
– Broccolini had great flavors with the black olive tapenade
– Tuna tataki was not bad but literally the tiniest pieces of seared salmon I’ve ever seen
– Roasted tomato salad was well made, though $16 was a lot for a small plate of vibrantly colored tomatoes
– The gambas al ajillo were supposed to be king prawns, but turned out more like a Trader Joe’s shrimp dish (sorry… I wanted to like this, but it really could have used more garlic, spices, and perhaps an iron skillet)
The paellas supposedly are supposed to only serve 2 per the menu. They’re huge but consisted of a lot of rice and very very small morsels of protein. I suggest one paella order per 3-4 people, plus get some of the mains.
– Paella negra: delicious squid ink flavors, even better with the creamy aioli sauce. It was dotted with very small pieces of scallop (only 3), shrimp, and squid.
– Paella iberica: a bit too dry in my opinion, and I think it needed more tomato. I was again unimpressed by the toppings: the Iberian pork was sliced paper-thin, and the seasonal vegetables consisted of a few pieces of broccoli.
Ranking the desserts:
– Tiramisu: surprisingly good, rich in coffee, comes in a cute cup. Menu describes the style as traditional Catalan coffee sponge cake
– Flan: classic, strongly infused with vanilla
– Cheesecake: a bit too thick and heavy, nothing too special, came with berries
Next time I would want to try the Iberico ham (looks like shabu shabu meat!) and the ribeye.
Overall, Macarena’s food has hits and misses, but the hits were really hits. They have potential, and I’m glad I gave them a try.
… moreThe menu features traditional Spanish cuisine with a more simple, stripped-down take compared to the all the flairs at Teleferic. Presentation is rather simple, but food is overall decent.
They have a fascinating selection of drinks with a bunch of savory cocktails. I tried the Red Garden Gimlet because the red pepper and basil infused gin with cantaloupe cordial sounded like a novel combination, but it tasted too much like plain juice for my likings.
Ranking the tapas:
– The churros bravos, a play on patatas bravas x churros, was a fun experiment and the churro shape made the potatoes extra crispy
– Ham croquets are melt-in-your-mouth!
– Broccolini had great flavors with the black olive tapenade
– Tuna tataki was not bad but literally the tiniest pieces of seared salmon I’ve ever seen
– Roasted tomato salad was well made, though $16 was a lot for a small plate of vibrantly colored tomatoes
– The gambas al ajillo were supposed to be king prawns, but turned out more like a Trader Joe’s shrimp dish (sorry… I wanted to like this, but it really could have used more garlic, spices, and perhaps an iron skillet)
The paellas supposedly are supposed to only serve 2 per the menu. They’re huge but consisted of a lot of rice and very very small morsels of protein. I suggest one paella order per 3-4 people, plus get some of the mains.
– Paella negra: delicious squid ink flavors, even better with the creamy aioli sauce. It was dotted with very small pieces of scallop (only 3), shrimp, and squid.
– Paella iberica: a bit too dry in my opinion, and I think it needed more tomato. I was again unimpressed by the toppings: the Iberian pork was sliced paper-thin, and the seasonal vegetables consisted of a few pieces of broccoli.
Ranking the desserts:
– Tiramisu: surprisingly good, rich in coffee, comes in a cute cup. Menu describes the style as traditional Catalan coffee sponge cake
– Flan: classic, strongly infused with vanilla
– Cheesecake: a bit too thick and heavy, nothing too special, came with berries
Next time I would want to try the Iberico ham (looks like shabu shabu meat!) and the ribeye.
Overall, Macarena’s food has hits and misses, but the hits were really hits. They have potential, and I’m glad I gave them a try.
AO “Fine diner”
Greasy and flavorless! Small and dark place, not really welcoming. The tables are really small, specially if you order paella as it hardly fits, and you have to be careful with the skillet so you don’t burn yourself, it comes with very little protein. Poor wine by the glass variety, cocktails are really sweet, tapas are blend. The staff is rushing you so that you leave the table soon, they don’t take many cards to pay the check. Only one wc per gender. Such a shame as it has a good location, if you can avoid coming here, do so.
… moreShubham Agarwal
A nice option to get some great Spanish food in Palo Alto. But a bit on the expensive side for their servings. We ordered a bunch of tapas – Ham croquetas, Jamón ibérico, Tuna Tataki, Churros Bravos, broccoli etc and almost all of them were a hit. The paellas though are the speciality. We tried 3 of them and my favorite was actually the vegan paella. Others were tasty too but almost all of them seemed a bit pricey for value. Otherwise the ambience, drinks and food in general is on point.
… more