What a great little neighborhood restaurant. The moment you walk in, Costa Brava feels like many of the tapas restaurants in Spain - warm, inviting, lively but still intimate. We had Michael as our server and he was fantastic - very informative, pleasant, inviting, knowledgeable and so attentive. He really knows the menu and made great recommendations. We ordered a great assortment of hot and cold tapas and everything was full of flavor and came out so fast: Cold to start - **Sardinas en Aceite** - Sardines in olive oil - so clean and flavorful, perfect with bread. Hot tapas - **Rabas** - Fried calamari, perfectly crispy and not greasy at all. **Gambas al Ajillo** - Shrimp in garlic - sizzling, garlicky, ideal for mopping up with bread. And the **Rabo de Toro** - Oxtail slowly braised in rioja wine sauce - fall-off-the-bone tender, rich and deeply savory. Best dish of the night. To finish, **Crema Catalana** - Spanish-style creme brulee - very flavorful with a perfect custard texture and that crackly caramelized top. All around a wonderful experience. Authentic Spanish tapas done right, right here on Garnet. We will definitely be back! read more

See all

Came here during happy hour to see what all the hype was about, and it definitely lived up to its reputation. The ambiance was relaxed and inviting, especially for the middle of the day, making it a great spot to unwind over a few tapas and drinks. Our waiter was incredibly friendly and helpful, walking us through the menu and offering recommendations, which made ordering much easier for first-timers. My favorite dish was the ham and cheese-filled tapa--it was rich, crispy, and packed with flavor. We also enjoyed the chicken with onions and the sausage, both of which were simple but well-executed. As with most traditional tapas bars, don't come expecting a huge meal since the portions are meant for sharing and sampling. The sangria was refreshing and paired well with the food, though it wasn't particularly memorable. Overall, Costa Brava is a great place for happy hour, good conversation, and authentic tapas with attentive service in a welcoming atmosphere. read more

See all

Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Price: ~$40 per person before tip No dishes really stood out but they were all good besides the rabbit, nobody at the table enjoyed it. Between 6 people we ordered 15 tapas and were decently full. The atmosphere is cool and it's fun to go with a group and order a bunch of different things. Felt rushed to order but then was not bothered after paying the check and sticking around for a little longer. Food also came out pretty quickly. read more

I don't usually feel compelled to write reviews, but this place deserved one. The food was incredible, and our server recommended delicious plates. The best tapas are the ox tail and the octopus - make sure to order a few sides of bread to dip in the sauce they come with. The atmosphere was calm, with a date night feel, and there was a Spanish guitarist which I loved. I highly recommend this place and I will definitely return. read more

This place is a must-visit in San Diego! We came here to celebrate my dad's birthday, and it truly exceeded expectations. The food, vibes, and ambiance were all 5/5, it made the whole experience feel extra special. Huge shoutout to Matt for the incredible service and for going above and beyond to make our celebration memorable. Also loved how pet and kid-friendly it is. The patio area was perfect and made it even more enjoyable for everyone! read more

See all

Absolute local gem 1/1. Sangria is super fresh. Oxtail melts in your mouth. Great shrimp, potatoes, filet skewers, etc. Have been dining here since 2019 and will continue to come back. Service has always been great. The inside and outside both have a great feel. Reminds me of Spain in the best way possible! read more

Good wine selection and definitely can find some very good hidden gems in the list if you know what to look for. The bar looks like a traditional Spanish place. read more

See all

Everything about Costa Brava is perfect. Javier has done and incredible job and I can't sing enough praises about the staff. This in my opinion is the best resturant in the entire world! The food is to die for especially the oxtail. The ambiance is romantic and high end but still feels homie and comfortable. If I could only eat at one establishment for the rest of my life it would be costa brava! I'm going back tonight with my girlfriend and can't wait to see amazing people, enjoy incredible food, and have another amazing experience. If you've never been to this hidden gem go with an open mind and an empty stomach. read more

Costa Brava - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

I called today to make a reservation and the guy didn't even ask me for what day or time, immediately he told me to do it Online and left me with a word in my mouth! Hung up on me. I really wouldn't want to give them our business if that is the way they conduct themselves, rushing and no customer service, no phone etiquette... read more

I would rate our dinner here a 4.5. We made reservations in advance. Parking can be tricky since it's street parking and the lot across the street does not allow parking so you're at risk of towing. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and gave great recommendations. He suggested getting bread with the meal so we could soak up all the sauces from our dish. We tried the croquettes with jamón, gambas al ajillo, and patatas brava. For our entree we shared the oxtail. The oxtail was super tender and the sauce it came with was great. We all shared a sangria pitcher. It was a nice dinner. Food is a little on the more expensive side but the food was good and we had a very nice experience. read more

See all

What a delightful dining experience! We arrived on a Saturday at 4 pm, earlier than our reservation at 5 pm) and the waitress gladly seated us promptly. This restaurant is bigger than it seems - there are multiple seating areas like the front patio, bar, a front and back room, as well as a well secluded back patio. We were sat in the back patio and immediately appreciated the ambiance of the place. There were string lights above us, lots of plants around and even got a lit candle on our table just as the sunset started. Our server, Matt, was really outstanding. He was friendly, funny and went out of his way to give his personal opinion on the top dishes to order which we ended up ordering most of! Their menu is very extensive - there are cold tapas, hot tapas, soup/salads, and entrees such as a family style seafood paella. Tapas are meant to be shared since they do come in smaller plates, but don't be fooled, they do fill you up quickly. Here's a quick breakdown of what we ordered: Boquerones: Delicious! Pickled fresh anchovies in olive oil, accompanied by fresh garlic and parsley. Nice and tangy. I highly reccommend this if you love pickled foods! Salpicon de Mariscos (marinated seafood salad): Nice variety of seafood with a refreshing marinade. Hints of green bell pepper as well - good to order with hot tapas to help cut some of the heavy foods. Gambas al Ajillo (shirimp in garlic): Plump shrimp in a smokey oil with lightly fried garlic and a fresh lemon on the side. Good, but not something I would order again. Pulpo a la Gallega (Octopus with olive oil and garlic): Extremely tender smokey octopus. I'm very glad we decided to go with dish off a recommendation. My favorite of the day. Tapa de Rabo de Toro (braised oxtail in red wine sauce): Fall off the bone tender! Incredible oxtail, very hearty sauce and comes with some potatoes. I recommend trying this! Croquetas de Jamon: We ordered this since we didn't order Jamon on its own, and this was our way of substituing it. However, because it is a croquette, it's mainly deep friend potato with a subtle salty taste of the jamon. Crema Catalana (spanish style creme brulee): By this time, we were stuffed but couldn't pass on dessert! This was very delicous - not too sweet, very creamy and slightly nutty. A great way to end dinner. Overall, I'm very happy to have dined here and look forward to coming back to try more variety in the near future! Parking: Street parking only, recommend arriving early to find a spot Bathroom: Conveniently located in the center of the restaurant, 2 rooms. Great for Parties: We saw 3 large parties during our time there. This place can accommodate parties of 12-15 people from what I saw. I would call to make reservation for large parties in advance. read more

See all

4.5 so rounding up to 5! It was a rainy night and we were looking for somewhere that was pup friendly with a covered patio area. We don't do tapas very often so we were sure what to get or how much to get but our server was super helpful! We ordered: - pan y Ali oli (house bread) - rabas (fried calamari) - zanahorias morunas (pickled carrots) - gambas al ajillo (shrimp in garlic) - champinones al ajillo (mushrooms in garlic) - patatas à la brava ( potatoes with "spicy" ali oli) - salmon relleno - crema catalana (Spanish creme brulee) - capricho helado (vanilla ice cream with strawberries and caramelized sugar) We really enjoyed this meal! Things came out pretty fast which was great because it seemed busy. My favorites of the tapas were the shrimp in garlic and the patatas à la brava. I loved the aioli sauce the potatoes were in. I would have like the calamari more if it had a sauce? It definitely was missing it and i found myself scraping the leftover patatas brava sauce. Our server did say he was gonna bring us sauce but it never came. Salmon relleno was pretty good - it's salmon stuffed seafood in a lobster bisque sauce. I wish this dish was... Hotter? Temperature wise, it was just warm. Their crème brûlée is really good and I would probably get that again but charging $10 for some ice cream and strawberries (the capricho helado) is kind of much. read more

See all

Don't pass up on a chance to enjoy some of the best Spanish tapas in San Diego! Every dish we ordered was delicious. We shared various apps for the table. My favorites were the garlic shrimp and the braised oxtail. The red sangria paired perfectly with everything we ordered. The ambiance was so quaint. We sat in the back patio where they had an artist playing acoustic guitar and singing music for us. I absolutely want to come back with the girls, on a date night, and even with family. Such a fun spot! read more

The food was to die for, the service was second to none, perfect ambiance. I will return back there in a hot minute!

San Diego's most famous Spanish Restaurant! I enjoyed my time at Costa Brava and would recommend it for the tapas! Parking Free parking on the street along Garnet if you're lucky. Service/Wait Time/Aesthetic I thought based on pictures that it was only an outdoor restaurant but they do have an indoor area! My group was seated with a reservation easily and the service was very good- the server was Spanish and he knew the menu very well and the food came out really quick! Food/Drinks They only have red sangria and it was good, definitely recommend a pitcher! There were so many tapas that our group ordered but the two I liked the most was the Bacon wrapped dates (Datiles con Tocino) and the oxtail (rabo de toro). They were both very savory and delicious! Tapas that I thought were just okay was the Spanish tortilla, shrimp in garlic, and patatas bravas. There's a creamy sauce on the patatas bravas that I did not really care for. Their paella was just okay- I thought it was expensive- about $30 per person and there was no crispy rice! I would recommend going to Costa Brava for a fun Spanish tapas time. read more

Costa Brava - Bacon wrapped dates (Datiles con Tocino) - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Delicious food all around and a fun spot for either a date night or dinner with friends! Services was great and nice they suggested great dishes to try out! read more

EVERYTHING was amazing about this restaurant! Probably one of my top five restaurants in San Diego. The ambience was super chill and amazing. Our server, I forgot his name, but he's definitely from Spain... He was amazing! All his recommendations were great. We sat in the outdoor seating area with my service animal. They were so nice to her! The food was absolutely incredible! I'm definitely coming back here again. Oh and they're crème brûlée. Chef's kiss. I think I'm gonna come again tomorrow! I left this restaurant feeling so happy and my belly was so full. Honestly, can't wait to come back! read more

See all

One of my favorite restaurants for 15+ years. We miss the pescaditos. But their entire menu is fabulous. Will be honest we were heartbroken when we went a couple few months ago and found our favorite Spanish server Jaime is no longer working there. He really made this restaurant feel like home. Jaime wherever you are Pita, Jacobo and their parents miss you! We wish you the best. Thank you for giving our children beautiful memories of Spanish cuisine. Costa Brava provided delicious cuisine but you made it feel like family y te estrañamos. read more

Costa Brava - 2019 - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Good service but overall disappointing. We had the gambas à la plancha and pretty sure they had been frozen as the skin was very hard to peel off. The paella was also meh and not crispy but rather soupy. The crema catalana was good and the sangria ok. Would not go back. read more

See all

Costa Brava offers an energetic, lively atmosphere with dark woods and soft lighting. Owner Javier runs a bustling spot with tons of people. It does get a bit loud, including some street noise from car exhausts outside. It makes for a fun experience, especially for a lively group dinner. THE FOOD * Pulpo a la Gallega: Sautéed in olive oil and paprika. Tender, thin slices. The fresh lemon adds a bright acidity that balances the dish. * Gambas al Ajillo: Garlic shrimp treated very well. Tender, juicy, and highly flavorful. * Patatas a la brava: Hot potatoes coated in a creamy ali-oli. * Choricito frito: Delicious sautéed chorizo sausage. * Pinchitos de solomillo: Grilled filet mignon skewers. While the cook made them quite tender, the beef flavor was a bit off. I would recommend sticking to their phenomenal seafood instead. * Paella mixta: A classic presentation of saffron rice, chorizo, chicken, shrimp, and mussels. * Spanish creme brulee: A perfect finish. Wonderfully creamy underneath with a crisp sugar top. THE SERVICE Michael was our server and provided great service. He was attentive, knew the menu details inside and out, and provided excellent recommendations to guide our meal. OVERALL A solid tapas dining experience with great service and standout seafood. read more

See all

Delicious paella and Spanish tapas! The paella was seasoned well with hefty portions of seafood. $59 for two people (minimum) and two tapas plates were plenty. The interior is decorated very casual and homey, it was a fun ambiance with excellent service! The flan dessert was so rich and creamy too. I would come back to try more of the hot tapas plates! read more

See all

Excellent food! We brought our visitor from Spain and she said the food was perfect! Very pleased!

Great food, drinks, services all fantastic. Try the paella and the sangria. Great prices

Every time i've been to Costa Brava, I am reminded of what always wish I go more often. A little gem on the east side of garnet, you would drive by it and almost miss it. But once you enter, you're transported into a huge authentic european style bar/restaurant fit with an outdoor patio as well. The service is fantastic and the ambiance is truly unmatched to anything you experience in SD. The dishes are all tapas style and easy to share. I'd recommend ordering a few dishes between two people because they can be small but they are well priced. The absolute star of the show is the potatoes - cheesy creamy crispy and delicious. The sangria is fresh and delicious too. Would highly recommend this spot to anyone! read more

See all

We were celebrating my grandpa for receiving a plaque at Mount Soledad this past weekend and decided to come to Costa Brava after the ceremony. The staff was so accommodating to take our large group without a reservation. It helped that it was shortly after they opened. Since it was late morning/early afternoon, I opted for some of the more brunch-ish tapas. I ordered the patatas a la brava and the tortilla española, which I loved! The portions were plenty and I was able to share with a few others near me. I surprisingly loved the chicken croquettes and anchovy stuffed olives. Everything tasted great and everyone enjoyed the time we had to celebrate! read more

See all

One of my favorite restaurant! The Sangria is good, food is amazing. The staff is very friendly and I love the vibe here. read more

See all

The service and atmosphere were great. We got the chicken salad, tuna empanadas, and the garlic shrimp. For two ladies this was more than enough. The ti to de verano was so good. Our waiter was very nice too. I would definitely recommend coming here. read more

Costa Brava - Tinto de verano - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Decided to a have a roommate dinner here and this was the perfect place to sit down, chat, and snack on a little bit of everything. The food all came out relatively fast and we were able to munch on the chicken croquette, marinated olives, bacon wrapped dates, and spicy potatoes. The star of the night was paella. Ours included shrimp, calamari, mussels, and clams. It also had chicken and chorizo as well. Definitely returning to try more since the menu was huge. read more

Costa Brava - Paella Mixta - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

our server was excellent -- very knowledgeable about the wines. Very knowledgeable about the food. I don't remember her name. It was a bit of an emotional evening. Iberico app was an incredible, delicious indulgence. Marinated carrots tart and garlicky. I had the lamb shank, and while it was falling off the bone and the depth of flavor was delicious, it was fattier than I expected it to be. My husband had the oxtail and said his was excellent. The flan slid around on the plate telling us that it was not a level table, lol which was kind of hilarious. read more

I studied abroad in Madrid and loveeee tapas. We came here for dinner, and almost missed it. We didn't see a sign with their name anywhere and had to ask the host is this the place, which was very strange. Not sure if it was too dark but we only knew it was the place because GPS & confirming with host. We ordered all my favs: patatas bravas, manchego cheese, olives, and croquettes. My boyfriend wanted to try the Spanish omlette, which I've never been a fan of but he didn't love it either - won't fault them just not our fav. We also got sangria, so yummy. Loved the rustic vibe. Our waiter was nice and energetic, but after ordering, he seemed disappointed we weren't getting more and didn't seem to give the same energy as the beginning which was kind of strange. Overall, nice place and good food though! read more

See all

Food 4/5 Service 6/5 Ambience 5/5 Came here after searching for best tapas in SD. It was a wonderful and memorable experience. We had 12 different tapas, house made sangria, Estrella beer, 2 different desserts. Of course some of the tapas were better than others but that's really just personal preference. The ones that really stuck out for us are the anchovies, braised ox tails and escargot. Gus, our waiter was super awesome. Very friendly and genuine. At the end of the night he was like a friend to us. We sat in the back patio which was opened but covered on top. There was live guitar. The setting was fun, romantic yet family friendly. Try it out people, you might love this place like we did. read more

The food was very mediocre. Awful service, never checked on us once. My boyfriend was one of the only black people in the restaurant and the server never made eye contact with him once, he would only talk to me (a white lady). The server's name is Orlando and we saw him do this to other black guests as well. We felt extremely uncomfortable and will never come back and advise others not to support this kind of establishment. We regret even spending money at this place after this kind of treatment it is unacceptable. Update: Threw up from the food as a cherry on top. Will never be back here read more

The food was excellent! The oxtail in Rioja sauce was excellent! Salmon stuffed with seafood and the porter house steak with peppers was good as well. Our server Matt provided great customer service and made the experience relaxed and pleasant. Great atmosphere as well. read more

See all

First visit, lunch, worth checking out if looking for old school Spanish food and vibe. Place was quiet and we wanted mostly a snack so ordered some of the typical Tapas: chorizo, Patattas bravas, chicken and wine and chicken croquettes. Everything was decent and enjoyed though didn't totally love the chicken and wine. Service was friendly and felt would like to return and try the paella and some of the entrees with a bigger group. read more

My friend was craving Spanish food, we dined here. Customer service is always fantastic. We ordered the sea food paella, croquetas de jamón and the rabo de toro. Everything was delicious except the rice in the paella was so wet, but the Rabo de toro was so delicious. For dessert we had the cheese with guava paste and the Spanish cream brûlée, both didn't wow me. I will be back to have the rabo de toro and maybe try the flan? I do have to mention, we sat in the back open patio and it was nice up I looked up. The tarpes holding the trees up were dirty and looked like black mold I never seen something like that, at a restaurant. Next time I'll sit inside. read more

I've been wanting to check this spot out for a while. I took time off before I start my new job intentionally to enjoy spring in San Diego. Michael took great care of me - very polite, attentive, but also let me eat peacefully. The food here isn't common, I ordered rabbit stew, spicy octopus, and smoked cheese with a glass of wine. I opted for the crusty bread which is extra $$, perfect for dipping. Everything was interesting and tasty. I liked the atmosphere, this spot is right in the middle of PB, but very much an experience of its own - no party scene blasting in your face while dining. I'll gladly come back again to try more dishes. Thank you CB! read more

Very good food. Hugs Tapas menu. Tons of wine selections. Place was busy but we got all of our plates very quickly. Inside was nice, clean, and very fast and friendly service. The cod and chicken croquettes were excellent, so were the clams. Calamari was hot and fresh but a little salty. Overall everything was very good and we would go back. read more

See all

Great Tapas and Service. Inside seating was humming; outside was chill. Food was terrific!

My husband and I have been dining at Costa Brava for several years. When making reservations, we always request a table in Jaime's section. Luckily, hostess Nicole is always able to accommodate our special requests. Jaime and his colleague, Don Sylvio, always provide us with a top notch dining experience. Hands down, they make a great team. Then there's the amazing Spanish cuisine! We always start off with some hot (temperature, not spice) tapas. They're all delicious, but our favorite are the CROQUETAS DE JAMÓN - Iberico ham croquettes. Nice and crunchy on the outside, delicious cheese and Iberico ham inside! Our favorite main dish is the CHULETÓN CON PATATUCAS Y PIMIENTOS - A 16 oz choice Porterhouse steak with fried potatoes and roasted piquillo peppers. I like to ask for a side of salsa brava and aioli to dip the potatoes in. Simply divine! They also have some delicious desserts. Most recently we tried their TARTA DE QUESO IDIAZÁBAL - Idiazábal cheese tart and their CREMA CATALANA - Spanish-style crème brûlée. Both desserts were superb. If we lived closer to Pacific Beach we would go more often, but it's a worthy trip from Escondido! read more

See all

Two of our dinner group ordered the steaks and we were very disappointed as the cut was very thin and leathery. The steak was so tough it was difficult to cut. My friend didn't eat most of her dinner. I ordered my steak rare and it came well done. Very disappointing meal. read more