Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Francisco Bay Area
  4. Peninsula
  5. Palo Alto
Macarena, Palo Alto, CA

Macarena

4.5
4.5
53 Reviews
$31 to $50
Traditional Spanish
420 Ramona St, Palo Alto, CA 94301-1707

Make a reservation

2 people
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
7:00 PM
Booked 52 times today
  • 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

Restaurants you may also like

View all

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 53 people are saying

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

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Peninsula

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Macarena delights with "authentic Spanish flavors" and a "warm, inviting" atmosphere. Guests rave about the "amazing team," "excellent tapas," and "best paella I've ever had." The "churros are a hit" and desserts are "outstanding." While new and still refining, it's a "great addition" to Palo Alto.
53 Reviews
  1. Irene

    San Francisco1 review

    1.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    Booked for my mom’s 60th birthday and even though they said would make arrangements, it appears they either forgot or disregarded it. They have a practice of trying to upsell dishes and water, it felt sneaky and dishonest. Finally, they brought someone else’s dish to our table but we didn’t recognize it and we hovered over it for about 5 min confused — server came back and took the dish away, walked around in a circle, and then served it to our neighboring table. Very disgusted. Food was all very salty, and paella was undercooked — the rice was still hard in the middle. Way too much sauce on the prawn and paella — was not soccarat. Hoped to give this place a chance, but everything was actually horrible and we regretted our decision dining here and on a special occasion too. Not one to generally bring a comparative point, but Teleferic was far better in service, ambiance, taste, and cleanliness.
    MacarenaResponded today
    Dear Irene, Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We are deeply sorry that your experience did not meet the expectations you had, especially for such a special occasion like your mom’s 60th birthday. We take your concerns very seriously, and it’s clear that we didn’t provide the level of service or quality that you deserve. We would love the opportunity to make it up to you. Please reach out to us at info@macarenarestaurant. so we can learn more about what happened and see how we can ensure you have a much better experience in the future. Again, we truly apologize for the disappointment, and we hope we can make things right for you. Warm regards, The Macarena Team.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Steven VIP

    San Francisco18 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    The food is good but not the ribeye. It was too fatty and without much flavor. We received the broccolini with our salad instead of the entree. This happened the last time we ate there as well. The kitchen just brings dishes out as prepared not in any order as is customary for courses. The biggest issue was when paying the bill and having it presented along with the server hovering over me while I calculate what tip to give and then removing the device immediately after inputting an amount. It's undue pressure and not conducive to a comfortable or relaxed dining experience.
    MacarenaResponded today
    Dear Steven, I am truly sorry for the issues you faced during your visit. We deeply appreciate every guest who gives us the chance to serve them, but especially regular customers like you, and we regret not delivering the experience you deserve. We will address the ribeye, the broccolini mix-up, and the timing of courses with our team to prevent this from happening again. Most importantly, I apologize for the undue pressure you felt during the payment process. This is absolutely not the atmosphere we want to create, and we’ll make sure this is handled properly moving forward. We would love the opportunity to learn more about it, and make it up to you. Please reach out to us at info@macarenarestaurant. Thank you for your honest feedback. Muchas Gracias

    Is this helpful?

  3. John VIP

    San Antonio43 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    The sangria was excellent. The food was very good. The service needs improvements.
    MacarenaResponded today
    Dear John, Thank you so much for allowing us the opportunity to serve you. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the food. Your feedback is truly appreciated, and we will take it to heart as we continue to improve and refine our service. Our team is committed to learning and ensuring we provide the best possible experience for our guests. We sincerely hope you will give us another chance to exceed your expectations in the future. Muchas Gracias!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Lee

    San Francisco11 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was good (but nothing special) restaurant is beautiful, service was solid.
    MacarenaResponded today
    Dear Lee, Thank you for visiting us and for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the ambiance and service. We sincerely apologize if the food didn’t meet your expectations. We are continuously working to offer delicious, traditional dishes and to ensure consistency in every service as we continue to grow in the early stages of Macarena. We truly appreciate your input and hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back soon. Warm regards, The Macarena Team

    Is this helpful?

  5. Robert N VIP

    San Francisco1 review

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great experience food wonderful a keeper would highly recommend to friends
    MacarenaResponded today
    Robert, muchísimas gracias for giving us the opportunity to serve you. We can’t wait to welcome you back to Macarena soon!

    Is this helpful?

  6. Susan

    San Francisco10 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    The food was delicious! We ordered tapas and a salad, plus sangrias. The churros were amazing with an aioli with smoked paprika sauce. The seared tuna and shrimp were delicious as well. The dessert was unlike anything I had before- a crema surrounded in flaky pastry. We were told to pop it into our mouths , all in one bite. Two of us ate it with the chocolate sauce and one just ate it plain but we all agreed on how scrumptious it was ! We’ll be back.
    MacarenaResponded today
    Dear Susan, Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re absolutely thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the tapas, sangrias, and especially the churros with the smoked paprika aioli. It makes us so happy to know that the seared tuna, shrimp, and our unique dessert were a hit! . We can’t wait to welcome you back and share more delicious experiences with you! Muchas Gracias, The Macarena Team

    Is this helpful?

  7. Nicolas VIP

    Miami31 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We are Spanish, from Barcelona , and we are glad to have in the Bay Area a restaurant that provides us with an experience as if we would be in our home country. The food is amazing and the Macarena team is just great , professional and attentive. We celebrated a birthday and we expect to celebrate many more great night at Macarena !!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Gayathri

    San Francisco1 review

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was absolutely amazing. We had the vegan paella and it was the best I’ve had at a restaurant to date. The appetizers were unique and combined an amazing pallet of flavors. Highly recommend this place!
    MacarenaResponded today
    Dear Gayathri, Thank you so much for your kind words! We are truly grateful for your support and so happy to hear you had such a great experience with us. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we’re excited to welcome you back soon for another visit! Warmest regards, The Macarena Team

    Is this helpful?

  9. Jagadeesh VIP

    San Francisco2 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    Squid ink paella barely had any sea food other than rice. Very disappointing.
    MacarenaResponded today
    Dear Jagadeesh, Thank you so much for your feedback. We are truly sorry to hear that the squid ink paella didn’t meet your expectations. Please know that we are taking your comments to heart and will be addressing this with our kitchen team to ensure we provide a more balanced dish moving forward. We really appreciate you bringing this to our attention, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back soon for a more satisfying experience. Warm regards, The Macarena Team

    Is this helpful?

  10. Dede VIP

    San Francisco177 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The server was well informed about each menu item and the beverages. The food arrived quickly and was extremely delicious. I can’t wait to eat there again. My only comment would be. It was slightly too noisy for me, but will ask for a quieter table next time because we were in the bar and it was noisy in there. Great ambience, menu and beverage choice
    MacarenaResponded today
    Dear Dede, Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the food, the service, and the overall ambiance. We’re so glad our server could provide you with helpful information, and we truly appreciate your feedback. We understand that the noise level can sometimes be a concern, and we will certainly address this issue to ensure a more comfortable environment for all our guests in the future. We can’t wait to welcome you back for another great experience! Warm regards, The Macarena Team

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Macarena is rated 4.5 stars by 53 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation


Booked 52 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
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • 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