Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
Macarena, Palo Alto, CA

Macarena

4.4 (96)
$31 to $50
Traditional Spanish
420 Ramona St, Palo Alto, CA 94301-1707

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 75 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Lively
  • 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 96 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

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

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Peninsula

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Macarena offers "authentic Spanish flavors" with an "energetic atmosphere" and "amazing food." Highlights include "perfectly cooked paella," "fantastic tapas," and "delicious churros bravas." The venue is "beautiful" with "friendly staff," though some note "noisy" ambience and "service kinks." Overall, it's a "must-visit" for Spanish cuisine lovers.

96 Reviews
  1. Catherine VIP

    Hawaii3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    We visited the restaurant recently for a late dinner. Although this was our third or fourth time dining here since it opened, the food continues to stand out with its unique flavors and consistently fresh taste. We heard the chefs are now from Spain, and their influence definitely comes through in the dishes. Our only minor issue was that the food service was a bit delayed—our drinks arrived after we had finished two appetizers. However, the manager personally checked on us and apologized for the wait, which we appreciated. We didn’t complain, but the team still went the extra mile to make sure we felt taken care of. That attention left a very positive impression. Unlike many places where delays are brushed off, we truly felt seen and valued here. Overall, we’re very pleased with the food and were pleasantly surprised by some of the new dishes this time. Keep up the great quality and attention to detail—we’ll definitely be back and will bring more friends.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Jan

    San Francisco2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Very friendly service. The cheesecake had gorgonzola in it. May not be for everyone

    Is this helpful?

  3. Susana VIP

    San Francisco5 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    Very un-Spanish in ambiance and service. It lacked any real character.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Naoum

    San Francisco6 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    I had high expedtations but unfortunately I was very disappointed. The waiters were tying hard but were not ready for the job. The food was 4/10. The Gambas (Jmbo shrimps) dish was tasteless not to mention that the shrimps were smaller than the ones you buy at Costco. The Brocollini with black olives tapenade had no flavor. The Bread was good but for a single round piece of bread $14 was ridiculous. The grilled Calamari was ok . The Tuna Tataki was the best item 6/10. The Croquetas were 5/10 and the Truffled Bikini lacked any truffle flavor. I would definitely not go back.
    MacarenaResponded 1 day ago
    Dear Guest, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re truly sorry to hear that your experience at Macarena did not meet your expectations. We’re disappointed to learn that both the food and service fell short, and we take your comments seriously as we continue to grow and improve. We’d truly appreciate the opportunity to make it up to you. If you’re open to it, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at info@macarenarestaurant — we’d love to learn more about your experience and hopefully have the chance to make it up to you and offer you a much-improved visit. We hope to hear from you and have the chance to serve you again soon, Warmly, Macarena Team

    Is this helpful?

  5. Faezeh VIP

    San Francisco19 reviews

    2.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 4
    We were excited to try a new restaurant in PA. I am a big tapas/ Spanish cuisine fan. The cool ambience was mostly maintained from the previous restaurant, Dog Bird. However The noise level with multiple loud birthday cheers by restaurant staff was much more than the previous restaurant. The tapas and the mains were legitimately bad in both taste and quality. We tried multiple tapas and I can say all were very disappointing. We had a paella that was oily and dry at the same, if that’s even possible. The sea bass had a soggy skin and a strong fish smell. Both mains were only half eaten by four people. The desserts were average. Tiramisu was dry. We tried another dessert with ice cream inside a fried puff pastry with chocolate sauce ( can’t renege the name) which was pretty good. I really wanted to like this place and was excited to have a new place in PA. I don’t think I’ll go back to this restaurant again and canceled our reservation next week with another group.
    MacarenaResponded 1 day ago
    Dear Faezeh, Thank you for visiting Macarena and for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re truly sorry to hear that your experience didn’t meet your expectations. We understand how disappointing it can be when a highly anticipated meal falls short, and we sincerely apologize. We’re continuously working to improve, and your comments will certainly be shared with our team. If you’d be open to it, we’d love the opportunity to make it up to you with a token of apology. Please feel free to reach out to us at info@macarenarestaurant so we can connect. We do hope you’ll consider giving us another chance. Macarena Team

    Is this helpful?

  6. CARMEN VIP

    San Francisco3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great everything: atmosphere, music, service, drinks, food.... finally a real Spanish experience. Croquetas to die for! and the dessert was perfection.... I just wish it was in San Francisco so I could be more of a regular.
    MacarenaResponded 1 day ago
    Dear Carmen, Thank you so much for visiting us! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your experience at Macarena — from the atmosphere and music to the service, croquetas, and dessert. It truly means a lot to us to know you’d visit more often if we had a location in San Francisco! Until then, we hope you’ll make the trip back to see us again soon :) Warm regards, Macarena Team

    Is this helpful?

  7. Sitaraman VIP

    San Francisco6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great experience. Food and drinks were great. Nice ambience. Vegetable/ vegan paella was excellent. Our friend loved seabass / fish. We tried all the desserts and all were excellent.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Kathleen VIP

    San Francisco7 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on May 19, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    I thought this restaurant is quite beautiful. The three who ordered wine found the pours skimpy and the food good but not generous. The cocktail was described as delicious. The fish for $38 came with a long 1 inch wide strip of Sea Bass but nothing else on the plate but the sauce. We ordered the tuna appetizer, the meatballs, potatoes fritters and one other dish which I can't remember. Most dishes had a sauce which could not be eaten because no bread was served nor spoons set out. We had to order bread to be able to enjoy the sauces. The meatballs were tasty but had too much sauce to be wasted with no way to enjoy it other than ordering the bread. All and all, the four of us would not likely go back. The person who ordered the tuna said it was bland. I am sorry such a beautiful restaurant is not a little more generous in their servings.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Thomas

    San Francisco3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 18, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Best Spanish food I have had in the USA. A great addition to area restaurants.
    MacarenaResponded 1 day ago
    Dear Thomas, Thank you so much for your kind review. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed our Spanish cuisine! Providing exceptional food and service is always our goal, and it means a lot to know you had a positive experience. We look forward to welcoming you back to Macarena again soon! Best regards, Macarena Team

    Is this helpful?

  10. Catherine

    Fort Lauderdale1 review

    5.0

    Dined on May 18, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The ambiance was perfect. The staff were lovely! The food was amazing and reminded me of being back home! Muchísimas gracias por todo!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Macarena is rated 4.4 stars by 96 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 75 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
OpenTable
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Press
More
Businesses
  • Restaurant reservation software
  • Industry insights
  • Hospitality resources
  • Marketing resources
  • Operation resources
  • How to open a restaurant
  • For restaurants
  • For restaurant groups
Join us on
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2025 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo