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Diners' Choice: Spanish restaurants in San Francisco Bay Area

OpenTable

Updated 05 January 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Spanish cuisine in San Francisco Bay Area? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyses more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favourites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

A photo of PintxoPote restaurant

5.0

5 (482)

$31 to $50

Spanish

Los Gatos

About the restaurant

Bienvenidos a PintxoPote! (pronounced 'pincho potay') a pintxos (tapas) bar offering a dining experience showcasing the range of traditional flavors typical of the Basque country in Northern Spain. Here, you will be transported to the world's most acclaimed culinary region: the seaside resort of San Sebastián, a region whose cuisine is distinguished by the excellence of the ingredients and the simplicity in cooking techniques.

Pintxo Pote is the only place in the SF Bay area that offers a current expression of authentic pintxos.

Top review

J

Jorey

Dined on 29 Dec 2024

Excellent Tapas! Every item was delicious! I'll definitely be returning!

A photo of Abrazo restaurant

4.9

4.9 (515)

$31 to $50

Spanish

Russian Hill

About the restaurant

Welcome to Abrazo! We are a neighborhood restaurant nestled in the historic and beautiful Russian Hill neighborhood. Chef/Owner Michael Pawliks menu features contemporary Spanish-Californian inspired cuisine, sourcing only the freshest and most traditional ingredients. Abrazo features a lofty 18ft ceiling, a cozy bar, and a private dining room that seats 16. The wine list features the best of Spain's legendary wine regions alongside Napa Valley classics.

We hope to see you soon!

Top review

M

Margaret

Dined today

Mike the Owner/Chef is a great guy and the food is wonderful, inventive, high quality. The restaurant is charming, warm, inviting. Staff is very professional.

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A photo of Seafood Paella of a restaurant

A photo of Charred Octopus of a restaurant

Charred Octopus

A photo of Myagi Oysters of a restaurant

A photo of La Marcha restaurant

4.7

4.7 (1237)

$31 to $50

Spanish

Berkeley

About the restaurant

La Marcha Tapas Bar, located in Berkeley, California, is a culinary gem led by Chef Sergio Monleon and Chef Emily Sarlatte. Known for its innovative Spanish cuisine, La Marcha offers signature paella dishes and a variety of delightful tapas. The restaurant has earned accolades including listed in the Michelin Guide, Best of the Bay awards, and recognition among the top 5 Spanish restaurants by several publications. Situated near landmarks such as UC Berkeley and BAMPFA, it boasts a cozy, rustic atmosphere perfect for any occasion. Committed to community service, Chef Sergio, Chef Emily, and the team actively participate in local and global charitable initiatives. Join us at La Marcha Tapas Bar for an unforgettable dining experience that celebrates the vibrant flavors and culture of Spain.

Top review

D

Dana

Dined 4 days ago

Great food. Fantastic service (our server was the best part of this meal). Lovely room. I would LOVE to eat in a place like this where I could have a conversation. I eat out less than I would because too much noice = "energetic". It is not energetic, it is too loud. Still, I loved this place and I will go back!

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A photo of Paella Marinera of a restaurant

Paella Marinera

A photo of Paella Mixta of a restaurant

A photo of Paella Marroquí of a restaurant

Paella Marroquí

A photo of COQUETA - San Francisco restaurant

COQUETA - San Francisco

4.8

4.8 (3396)

$50 and over

Spanish

Financial District / Embarcadero

About the restaurant

Brought to you by Award Winning Chef Michael Chiarello and located at Pier 5 on the bustling San Francisco Waterfront, Coqueta is inspired by the cuisines of Spain. Chef Chiarello feels that Spain’s signature ‘small plates’ coupled with the social vibrancy of their dining scene is the perfect combination for San Francisco, which has its own deep-rooted history with the country. Focusing on regional dishes from Madrid, Catalonia, the Basque Country and beyond, the menu will feature Chiarello's interpretation of traditional Spanish cuisine and, as has always been his tradition, will highlight the bounty of fresh, local ingredients from land and sea.

Coqueta means “flirt” or “infatuation” in Spanish, and represents Michael Chiarello and his team’s exploration and interpretation of Spanish Cuisine, wine and inspired cocktails, while highlighting the bounty of Northern California.

Top review

S

Sandy

Dined 2 days ago

Coqueta never disappoints! As always, every bite is a treat! Our favorite dish is probably huevos roto but truly, everything was wonderful.

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A photo of Patatas Bravas of a restaurant

A photo of Huevos Rotos of a restaurant

A photo of Paella de Primavera of a restaurant

Paella de Primavera

A photo of Telefèric Barcelona - Palo Alto restaurant

Telefèric Barcelona - Palo Alto

4.7

4.7 (2673)

$31 to $50

Spanish

Palo Alto

About the restaurant

Telefèric Barcelona doors were first opened thirty years ago in Barcelona, Spain. Now, our passionate teams in Walnut Creek, Palo Alto, Los Gatos and Los Angeles have grown to include some of the world’s most creative and innovative chefs and mixologists, and are eager to share the Spanish culture and gastronomy with you. Come visit us for a degustation of the Best Spanish Tapas in the Bay, Innovative paellas, and refreshing hand-crafted cocktails. Dare to enjoy a fun and unique dining experience surrounded by Modern European decor and lively ambiance.

Top review

L

LuisVIP

Dined 7 days ago

Miguel our usual waiter was super kind and took care of us amazingly. We’ll be back soon!

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A photo of Love Bites of a restaurant

A photo of Canela Bistro & Wine Bar restaurant

Canela Bistro & Wine Bar

4.8

4.8 (1575)

$31 to $50

Spanish

Castro

About the restaurant

Take a trip to Spain without your passport! Established in 2011, Canela's Spanish and California cuisine has been drawing in locals and visitors alike. Crafted with a mix of ingredients and wines imported from Spain as well as California's bounty, Canela's mix of tapas and paella is made to please. Mat Schuster, Canela’s executive chef, has dedicated his life to creating sophisticated and unforgettable flavors with you in mind. Honored to be awarded a Certified Restaurant from Spain by the Spanish Trade Commission, we offer over 75 bottles of unique wine from Spain, some that you will only find here. Whether you want to have a formal dinner, casual tapas, small plates, paella, glass of wine, and homemade dessert, come to Canela and be assured that you will find what you are looking for.

Top review

C

ChrisVIP

Dined 4 days ago

A wonderful neighborhood gem with delicious food and outstanding service. We had an excellent time. Highly recommend.

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A photo of Roasted Bone Marrow of a restaurant

Roasted Bone Marrow

A photo of Seared Scallops of a restaurant

Seared Scallops

A photo of Pulpo of a restaurant

A photo of Telefèric Barcelona - Walnut Creek restaurant

Telefèric Barcelona - Walnut Creek

4.7

4.7 (3645)

$31 to $50

Spanish

Walnut Creek

About the restaurant

Telefèric Barcelona doors were first opened thirty years ago in Barcelona, Spain. Now, our passionate team has grown to include some of the world’s most creative and innovative chefs and mixologists, and are eager to share the Spanish culture and gastronomy with you. Come visit us for a degustation of the Best Spanish Tapas in the Bay, Innovative paellas, and refreshing hand-crafted cocktails. Dare to enjoy a fun and unique dining experience surrounded by a high-end European decor and lively ambiance.

Top review

B

BJ

Dined 2 days ago

We had reservations early (3:45 pm) on a Monday afternoon. A friend recommended this restaurant and my husband came with his work group. We had the outdoor patio to ourselves. Service was prompt and perfectly timed. The food was delicious. The gratuity was included in our bill. I think the price with the gratuity, drinks and don’t dinner and dessert was very reasonable.

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A photo of Love Bites of a restaurant

A photo of Destapas SF restaurant

4.7

4.7 (123)

$31 to $50

Spanish

Mission

About the restaurant

Owners Luis Raga and Raul Aguilera brings you their vision of a casual bar/restaurant in Spain: a fun and unpretentious spot to gather friends, family, or dates. We bring you flavors from all over Spain, the concept is tapas and paellas to be shared at the table. You'll see dishes come on and off the menu often and while we offer a broad selection of dishes, due to our small kitchen, certain tapas will run out during the service. Don’t miss our Happy hour Mon-Fri 5-6pm ONLY on BAR & HIGH TOPS for heavily discounted tapas and drinks.
Also, make sure to check our back patio, it will transport you to a warm summer night of the south of Spain.
If driving street parking could be tricky, check out the SF general hospital parking structure just 2 blocks away from the restaurant. If coming from the East Bay or Peninsula location is just a few blocks from the freeway (exit Cesar Chavez/Potrero on the 80 freeway). The nearest Bart station is at Potrero & 24th, a 15-minute walk.

Top review

R

ronaldVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Wow, I have not been here for years.. It has really improved! The food was excellent and so was the service. I can't wait to go back!

A photo of Bravas Bar de Tapas restaurant

Bravas Bar de Tapas

4.6

4.6 (2758)

$30 and under

Spanish

Healdsburg

About the restaurant

Bravas serves traditional Spanish dishes along with tapas-style dining and has been named in the Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants in 2013, 2014, 2015, & 2022 by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Bravas offers a large selection of local and Spanish wines, sangrias and Spain inspired cocktails that will not only quench your thirst but will complement your food perfectly and authentically.

Top review

J

JaneVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Great food! Friendly waitress. Very pleasant lunch with my cousin and her son.

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A photo of Patatas Bravas of a restaurant

A photo of Sea Scallops of a restaurant

A photo of Fried Eggplant Chips of a restaurant

Fried Eggplant Chips

A photo of Telefèric Barcelona - Los Gatos restaurant

Telefèric Barcelona - Los Gatos

4.6

4.6 (1709)

$31 to $50

Spanish

Los Gatos

About the restaurant

Telefèric Barcelona doors were first opened thirty years ago in Barcelona, Spain. Now, our passionate teams in Walnut Creek, Palo Alto, Los Angeles and Los Gatos have grown to include some of the world’s most creative and innovative chefs and mixologists, and we are eager to share our culture and gastronomy with you. It is a great pleasure to offer you a degustation of our best Spanish tapas, exquisite paellas and hand-crafted cocktails! Let us create a unique and fun dining experience for everyone to enjoy! Muchas gracias!

Top review

J

Jessica

Dined 1 day ago

Excellent food and excellent customer service. I have food allergies and the server made sure those ingredients were not in the food. There was an issue with a gift card and the manager took care of it in a very professional and friendly manner. We were very happy with our visit. We've been here before and we will return.

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A photo of Love Bites of a restaurant

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