It was the finals of the World Cup 2026 and between Spain & Argentina it was going to be an exciting match! There was no way we were going to stay home - and so we found our way over to El Mercat in Pentagon Row! It was simply perfect - we got seated at a table and began with the task of ordering tapas. Out came the pan con tomate which you have the option of adding anchovies to. Don't skimp out - got for it! Setas Salteadas (mushrooms, scallions and loads of flavor) and the Bunuelis de Bacalao (cod fritters - don't wait - just eat - I didn't even get a picture because they were devoured). Although I'm not a drinker, my spouse who is super selective, swore by the vermouth. (The end of the afternoon BTW was exciting as you can imagine: Spain won and the red and yellow national colors and happy cheers abounded!) FYI - the decor is gorgeous - with prints of wines, flamenco dancers on the walls... lovely restaurant! read more

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I've been wanting to try this Spanish tapas restaurant and bar for sometime. They have outdoor patio seating and indoor seating at the bar and tables as well. We sat outside since the weather was nice and service was quick. We went here during happy hour and shared the seasonal sangria pitched which was rose wine and strawberry. I love the drink and the pitcher was a great value for $30. We got about 3-4 drinks each in their glasses. We also shared a couple of food items. We got the lamb meatball dish and the chimichurri steak on bread with olive oil. I loved the steak bites more but my partner loved the lamb more. We will definitely return to try out the rest of their happy hour food and drinks. I'll also have to come back for the flamenco night sometime and try their paella. read more

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Spotless, quiet, and comfortable. The menu was extensive. The wine list is excellent and quite reasonably priced. The food was delicious and quite fairly priced (compared with Spanish restaurants in DC which are much pricier and actually only comparable in terms of quality of food.) Scrumptious Spanish cuisine through and through. We each had a favorite, but the flatbread, padron peppers and octopus were loved by all! The only downside is the slowness of the service. They seem to be a bit understaffed between the outdoor patio and the inside dining room. But it is definitely worth the wait and we will be back! read more

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Good food, efficient and fast service. Located in Pentagon Row, our family liked their Paella, Gambas Al Ajillo, Monteditos de Carne and a tapas sampler. They were all delicious. It's a good place for date night or family group lunch/ dinner outing. read more

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El Mercat was good but a bit overpriced. This was my first time eating paella, and I thought it was fine. The montadito de carne was my favorite dish, and the churros were great, but I LOVED the crema catalana dessert. We realized we were there during happy hour after we ordered when another couple walked in and asked the server about it. No one had mentioned it to us, which would have been nice. I believe happy hour is only for bar seating though, so be sure to ask about it. Overall, it's a good meal, so you'll leave satisfied. But it's small, tapas portions for a high price. read more

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We had a wonderful large happy hour here a couple of weeks ago. Ordered a bunch of shared plates and drinks. The service was great. We had over 20 people and filled up the bar and a couple of tables near it. The tapas were a perfect to share at happy hour. I look forward to coming back for a full meal! read more

El Mercat - Tapas Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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El Mercat is a tasty new addition to the area! Some dishes were definitely better than others, but overall the service was fast, the atmosphere was pleasant, and some of the dishes stood out enough to make me want to return. The crab and artichoke dip was definitely more artichoke-forward than I've had in other similar dips in the past, but it was still rich and filling nonetheless. The cheese plate, patatas bravas, and simple but delicious tomato bread were my favorites of the night. The paella was fine, but it didn't have the crisp bottom/sides of rice that I typically expect from this dish. TLDR: Worth it, dishes vary, but get the cheese plate and patatas bravas read more

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Came here for dinner and absolutely loved it. The restaurant is so clean and their service is super friendly. I felt like they should've been more busy for a Saturday night, maybe this is more of a hidden gem. What really stood out to me is their mocktails - they were beautiful and you would've never known that they didn't have alcohol in it but they also tasted so fresh and delicious which most restaurants skip on. Their crab dip is absolutely a must order. Will be back here because I wanna try their brunch. read more

El Mercat - Tapas Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

New to the pentagon row/westpost area, this spot serves tapas and drinks. We came during happy hour the week they opened and ordered a few apps and drinks. The patatas bravas was the best thing we got, delicious fry and the sauce was perfect. The pan con tomate was a bit stale and too salty, but we came around 4 and maybe their bread had been sitting out for a bit that day. Croquets were solid but probably personal preference, it came with a sweet jam that I didn't love paired with the salty croquets. Drinks were definitely good! We sat at the bar and got very good service. Ordered the apple fizz mocktail and the red sangria was delicious. Would like to come back and try some of their mains now they've had a bit longer to get organized read more

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We stopped in after a neighboring bar was unable to accommodate our small office gathering, and we were pleasantly surprised. The staff was absolutely friendly and helpful, making us feel welcome right away. We enjoyed some adult beverages and appetizers, which was a perfect way to spend a Friday afternoon heading into the holiday shutdown. The bathrooms were clean, and parking was easy to find in the nearby mall area with just a short walk to the location. Overall, a very enjoyable experience. read more

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They have a great variety of tapas options and mocktails as well. I got a reservation for a Saturday dinner but it wasn't super crowded inside. The service was great and food came out fast. read more

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I got there 30 min after opening, so there was only 1 person sitting in the entire restaurant. I sat in the waiting area to be seated for 10 minutes before i had to get up and look frustrated for someone to seat me. The entire time there was 3 people working in the back and what's even worse, kept looking back at me. I'm not sitting there for fun? i obviously came in to eat and get some good service/food. Eventually i did get seated but the host killed our entire vibe and we just left. Terrible service, never coming back again. read more

The food was delicious. We ordered four tapas and churros for desert; the portions were generous. The service Samuel and Sofia provided was excellent--he was welcoming and very attentive to our needs. The restaurant itself was beautiful, warm, and inviting, and the music truly made you feel as though you were in Spain. I will definitely be coming back! read more

El Mercat Spanish Tapas is a welcome addition to Westpost near Pentagon City. The location is convenient, and the space itself is attractive and thoughtfully designed, with an ambiance that feels lively without being overwhelming. I especially appreciated that it's well lit inside -- a refreshing change from the overly dark restaurant trend and a place where you can actually read the menu. Service was fine but unremarkable. The only real hiccup was a glass of wine that never arrived for someone in our party. We asked for it to be removed from the bill, and it was handled without issue. The food is the real reason to come. We ordered a wide spread of tapas, including the tortilla española, pan con tomate with manchego, patatas bravas, gambas al ajillo, and a veggie flatbread special. Everything was flavorful and well executed. The standout for me was the roasted carrots with yogurt sauce, which were especially satisfying. read more

Came here for an impromptu date night dinner. First off- the service was outstanding. The drinks were delicious (try the hibiscus margarita!) and the food had some good dishes and some awesome dishes. Highlights were the patatas braves (classic, but the sauces really elevated the dish), the cauliflower, and the mushroom croquette. For dessert, the churros rellenos were phenomenal in both Nutella and dulce de leche. I can't wait to come back and try some more tapas! read more

Food was and has been amazing! I have been here 4 times already. Stellar drinks, food, service and look of the restaurant. I got the steak and my husband got the chicken and both were very good! The winter daiquiri drink is very good, and I highly recommend! Absolutely well done restaurant! read more

El Mercat - Tapas Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Absolutely delicious. The chimichury is so tasty on both the steak and roast chicken. The Winter Daquiri is so fresh and crisp tasting, we get at-least one every time we come! Took one bite of my meal and had to post. read more

El Mercat - Tapas Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

We went there today from seeing the list of the best 15 Washington new restaurant and it didn't disappoint. We ordered a few tapas from vegetable, meat and seafood areas and we enjoyed all of them. This is very authentic Spanish tapas and the food and service both are too notch. Highly recommend for people who love Spanish tapas and mediterranean food. It's at Pentagon Raw and we were looking for them in the Pentagon Mall so it's a bit confusing. read more

This is one of Arlington newest tapas restaurants in the pentagon row neighborhood. Great location with easy enough parking for those driving in. The tapas plates were great and a good portion for two people on a date night like my wife and I. We tried the octopus, steak with chimichurri and the sweet potatoes with yogurt among some other dishes. Everything was good and had good flavors. Service was top notch as well and very attentive. The beer selection was a little light but luckily Nighthawk brewery and pizza was a few paces away for a night cap. I highly recommend this second location on El Mercat for your next tapas night. read more

The food is amazing and the friendly, personal service was outstanding. The ambiance was a great time with Flamenco dancers the evening we were there. Drinks were perfectly made. My only regret was we got full before we could taste more of the menu! Best kept secret in DC area and the new location by the pentagon makes it easy access from Metro. Thanks Chef George (owner) for a fabulous evening for our family! read more

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Tasty food, stylish decor, and a great happy hour! The restaurant has an upscale ambiance. The bartender Kathy was prompt and polite. I will definitely be back. read more

Came here for dinner Sunday night. Probably our 3rd or 4th time coming to the restaurant. The service was incredible. We ordered multiple tapas and two paellas, as well as glasses of wine. The House Wine is an excellent deal and doesn't taste cheap or overpriced. Playlist was a mix of Spanish, bachata, and tejano music. Great volume to facilitate conversation. Excellent location for date night or to bring out-of-towners. read more

The food was excellent; the service was terrible. That doesn't seem to be the experience with other reviewers, though, so we would like to come back and try again. We went on a Saturday night and sat at the bar. It wasn't crowded and was well staffed, but the server left us alone for long periods and disappeared, so we had to flag her down when we needed to order or get refills. The goat cheese and tomato with bread was fantastic. read more

Great authentic food and friendly fast service. Was solo on my visit and devoured the tapas: short ribs, flat bread, bacon wrapped dates and roast chicken. Yes, it's true, I'm a chazer! read more

Yummy new neighborhood spot that reminds me of prior travel to Spain! A welcome addition to the area... beautifully renovated, great menu, attentive staff.. read more

The food was very mediocre. We ordered the Tortilla Espanola, which was bland, but the aioli on top was tasty. Also ordered the Albondigas, which were just okay, but the bread that came with it was dry/stale. The Jamon Croquettes were the best tapas dish we ordered, which isn't saying much. The only thing that I can confidently say was good was the Mariscos Paella. The food came out very quickly which was a huge plus. We also tried two cocktails - they seemed very light on the liquor, but tasted good. The service was kind of slow, but they seemed understaffed. The restaurant was fairly empty for 6pm, but we went on NYE, so maybe that had something to do with it? Also, there were two gentlemen at the bar having a very loud (yelling) conversation with someone on speakerphone, which made other patrons uncomfortable, so I was surprised management didn't do anything about that. I wanted so badly to like this place, but it was painfully average and I probably won't be back. read more