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Macarena, Palo Alto, CA

Macarena

4.5 (72)
$31 to $50
Traditional Spanish
420 Ramona St, Palo Alto, CA 94301-1707

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 84 times today

About this restaurant

  • Lively
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
The Art of Celebration in Palo Alto

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.

Here, bold flavors meet time-honored techniques. From hearty paellas to vibrant tapas, every plate is crafted with care, honoring the traditions and culture that define Spanish cooking.

In our elegant and inviting space, time slows down. Laughter flows, glasses clink, and meals are savored, creating moments that feel both intimate and unforgettable.

At Macarena, we don’t just serve food—we share stories, honor history, and invite you to experience the timeless beauty of tradition and culture.​​

Opening End of February 2025

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Traditional Spanish, Contemporary European, Tapas / Small Plates
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Wed 11:30 am–9:30 pm Thu, Fri 11:30 am–10:30 pm Sat 11:00 am–10:30 pm Sun 11:00 am–9:30 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Neighborhood
    Palo Alto
  • Cross street
    Lytton Avenue
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    Lytton Avenue & Ramona Street: This intersection is served by SamTrans Route 397, providing connections to various parts of the city. Hamilton Avenue & Ramona Street: Located just a short walk away, this stop is served by VTA Route 21, offering additional transit options.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wine

What 72 people are saying

Macarena reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.3Food
  • 4.4Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Peninsula

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Macarena offers an authentic Spanish culinary experience in Palo Alto, boasting "amazing" food and a "beautiful" ambiance. Guests rave about the "best paella" they've had and the creative tapas like churros bravos. The attentive service and inviting atmosphere make it a must-visit for Spanish cuisine lovers.

72 Reviews
  1. Patricia VIP

    Phoenix6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was so much fun ! Zoltan was amazing 🤩 he is from Barcelona and made our experience amazing. Love the vibe of the place Patricia

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  2. Mo

    San Francisco20 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The service and friendliness were apparent from the moment we walked into the front door and extended through every interaction until we left. The decor and ambiance were indeed beautiful although the environment was very loud. My favorite touch was the small lamps on the table. They illuminated the food by allowing me to visualize the delightful presentation and adding another one of my senses to the enjoyment of the meal. Our waiter was very helpful in navigating the menu. He suggested four tapas plates, two each for my wife and me to share and then a paella dish to share. That was more than enough food. Two of the tapas plates, iberico jamon and tomato cheese bread were really terrific. The prawns, fresh and juicy were in a cream sauce that was overwhelmed by the contrasting strong flavors of the other tapas. A revisit of the prawns the next day in isolation was delicious. The eggplant chips were surprisingly sweet…to sweet, as I anticipated a more savory dish. The star of the night was the Paella, full of rich flavor and texture coupled with a crispy edge. I couldn’t help but keep eating in spite of the fact that I was no longer hungry. Because it was my birthday I was gifted the most delicious chocolate cake. They used a very good quality chocolate which added a long finish to my taste buds. I tried a mocktail for the first time…the Nina Colada. What a delicious drink that was. The host , dressed in a tropically themed suit, was most gracious and spent just the right amount of time table side making us feel most welcome. We can’t wait to return for a different selection of tapas and more of the paella!

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  3. Alberto

    Dublin1 review

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is the third time I’m there and jt gets better every time. The service and ambiance is excellent, but the real star is the food, which is amazing! Best paella I’ve had! The croquetas and churros bravos are so good, and it is impossible not to have a dessert. Already making plans to come back this weekend!

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  4. Priya

    San Francisco5 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on April 22, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Incredibly letdown to be completely honest. Before we even get into the food, the service itself felt incredibly rushed. Once our food is ordered, it came so quickly and took over the entire table that was barely any space and within 30 minutes everything was already served. We couldn’t really enjoy the food because we were trying to hurry onto the next thing that was now taking over our table. Between my husband and I we ordered six drinks, all but one was actually good (one was a slushy which nowhere on the description did it actually say that). Paella negra left a lot to be desired. The pan con tomate was just wet. The chorizo was okay but temp was weird. The oxtail was probably the most interesting thing that we had, but would I have it again? Probably not. Restaurant itself is beautiful, but the food and the staff have a long way to go. Maybe we’ll come back in a few months once things have been worked through, I know it’s a pretty new establishment. This might be a place for people wanting an introduction to Spanish food, but if someone who really likes Spanish food, I was really let down. Once our food is ordered, it came so quickly and like took over the entire table that was barely any space and within 30 minutes everything was already served.

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  5. Antonio

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 22, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was delicious, and the place looked incredible. The bartender was very knowledgeable and provided detailed information about the house drinks and the menu. Thanks a lot, Andres! I hope to visit again soon.

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  6. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 19, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Best Spanish restaurant in the Bay Area. Traditional food, good quality, best restaurant to experience the real Spanish cuisine!

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  7. lynn VIP

    San Francisco45 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 19, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A great addition to the downtown dining scene. Fabulous from start to finish -- ambiance, staff, drinks, and food. Sandy was an excellent server, engaging with her customers, making several menu suggestions, and providing well-paced service. Definitely give the calamari appetizer and the squid ink paella a try. This just might be our new favorite restaurant for downtown Palo Alto.

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  8. CARMEN VIP

    San Francisco2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 18, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food and atmosphere. Very authentic amazing food and service and good ambiance music. Will come again.

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  9. Sush VIP

    San Francisco36 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 18, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Beautiful addition to PA. I was sad to see birddog go, but Macarena more than makes up for it by re-imagining the space to make it feel spacious yet intimate. Food was on point, cocktails were fresh twists and delivered on the promise and service was very warm and attentive. Can’t wait to come back!

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  10. Rinku

    San Francisco3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 14, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food - very attentive and helpful servers.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Macarena is rated 4.5 stars by 72 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Francisco Bay Area
  4. Peninsula
  5. Palo Alto

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 84 times today
Google Map for Macarena

420 Ramona St, Palo Alto, CA 94301-1707

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Lytton Avenue
  • Neighborhood
    Palo Alto
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Wed 11:30 am–9:30 pm Thu, Fri 11:30 am–10:30 pm Sat 11:00 am–10:30 pm Sun 11:00 am–9:30 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Traditional Spanish, Contemporary European, Tapas / Small Plates
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    Lytton Avenue & Ramona Street: This intersection is served by SamTrans Route 397, providing connections to various parts of the city. Hamilton Avenue & Ramona Street: Located just a short walk away, this stop is served by VTA Route 21, offering additional transit options.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wine
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