Delicious paella! Mar Salada is located on a busy strip where restaurant workers are begging people to eat at their establishments. Mar Salada did not need that. Mostly local, there spot is a hidden local gem surrounded by tourist traps. Modern seaside decor greets you, workers were all friendly. And the Paella was bomb. Especially the roasted vegetable and black mushroom one. read more

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I usually dont eat at restaurants next to the main tourist streets because they are usually not good but this was the exception. Pros - beautiful ambiance with well decorated interior and attentive staff. The seafood here was so fresh and the paella was absolutely amazing. Definitely get the razor clams. The croquettes are also super good. They also make one if the best Catalonia crema that I have tasted Cons - none! Great location by the barcelona beach and fantastic food. Definitely check it out if you are planning a trip to the beach or docks. read more

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We stopped into La Mar Salada on a Monday at 1pm (right when they open) with a reservation. Situated along a boardwalk-like avenue close to the beach, the restaurant itself is sleek with a Mediterranean-like vibe - white and blue accent pieces adorn a spacious outdoor eating area, though we opted for seating inside, coveting air-conditioning and a lack of mosquitoes. With sweeping floor-to-ceiling windows, bright, light-colored furniture, and minimalist decor, the restaurant's interior lends an upscale ambiance to the space. Our server was friendly and efficient, speaking fluent English, Spanish, and Catalan. Having reviewed the menu (and other reviews) ahead of time, we placed our order, and received our first appetizers within ten minutes! First to come out was the "La Nostra Bomba" ("Our Bomb", €4,70), which is a small fried potato croquette with an octopus bolognese and salsa brava (a smoky, spicy tomato sauce). The croquette is perfectly crispy with a tender, rich interior - you can taste the octopus inside, and the smoky sauce on top is perfect with the richness of the filling. We also ordered the Ventresca de Tonyina (Tuna Belly Salad, €9,80), which is described as "Tomato from the garden with tuna belly, spring onion and old mustard." The tuna belly is rich without being overly oily, and contrasts nicely with the sweet tomatoes and tart mustard. The crouton on top is made of some sort of thinly-sliced bread, lending a nice crunch to the dish. I thought that this dish was well-portioned for the price! The Tartare de Tonyino (Tuna Tartare, €20ish), off the Chef's Recommendation menu, was served with some of the freshest-tasting tuna I've ever had, with an artful smear of creamy avocado topped with tart mango - this was definitely overpriced for the small portion of tuna we were served, but a truly refreshing dish! Lastly, we couldn't leave without ordering the famous Paella (€24/portion, minimum two portions) - two large portions of their most well-known dish came out in a sizzling paella pan, generously garnished with crayfish, Barceloneta prawns, and mussels. All of the seafood was perfectly cooked and so fresh - the crayfish and prawns were plump, juicy, and just a bit sweet, and the mussels had a rich, almost smoky flavor. And unlike some other paella we've had, the rice was not an afterthought here - the signature saffron flavor of the paella accented the perfectly al dente rice (neither soupy nor hard in texture), and we loved scraping off the delightfully crunchy bits that gathered at the bottom of the pan (often called soccarat). This is a must-try dish here, and a good portion for the price! Overall, we enjoyed our meal at La Mar Salada - service was friendly and fast, the food was delicious, and the vibe was excellent. Some of their dishes are overpriced for the portions, though the paella is a great deal - with appetizers, we were able to get away with four people sharing two portions of paella as an entree (though my teenage brother was hungry soon after). I would come here (with a reservation) for a special occasion, and definitely get the paella! read more

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Food delicious, very elegant, service super professional and gracious. The restaurant team went very far out of their way to help me and my disabled friend in a wheelchair. I am very grateful to them. Plus the food! I had a tuna tartare that changed my life! read more

I loved, Loved, LOVED La Mar Salada. Unfortunately because of my starvation, I did not have an opportunity to take many photos of our delicious bites. A group of about eight of us stopped by for a lunch. Keep in mind that it's highly recommended that you make a reservation for La Mar. While the restaurant is on a popular strip, it does not appear to be a major local trap bc I think the majority of the folks dining at the restaurant were from Barcelona (or had roots in Barcelona). The black rice paella was probably the best paella that I had while vacationing in Spain. I kind of wish that there was a big more seafood in the paella. The price of our was pretty much in line of what would be expected from a nice, upscale restaurant in the area. Both of our servers were pretty prompt and engaging. Also, they were very patient. I was with a large (and loud) group of Spaniards, but I guess that's la moda de la vida in Barcelona. I think this was the best meal that I had in Barcelona, and I hope to visit in the future. read more

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Had the seafood paella, potato salad with prawns, and gazpacho. All were delicious and beautifully plated. read more

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*Tourist Beware* So sad! On Valentine's Day we get the most rudest waiter! My second time here in Barcelona and I had a great experience before, but this one left a sour. The waiter as we were trying to order rolled his eyes as it may appear that we were annoying him and rush us to order. We were trying to ensure we order the right thing. When our order came, it wasn't what we thought we ordered, so we try to ask the waiter. The waiter didn't try to be understanding and explain to us there was confusion. Made sure we know it was our fault for ordering wrong. There's a way to communicate, but after that interaction you kind of lose your appetite. For a meal that cost us over $120, you would think they would try to care about customer experience. Also, the manager doesn't speak English and ask the same waiter to translate and didn't seem to really care what we were trying to share about the experience. read more

Was in Barcelona on vacation and wanted to try some paella! Decided to come here since the place we originally wanted to try on the beach was fully booked for the day. The paella came with mussels, prawn, and some shrimp. If you like a more brothy/soupy paella, this isn't for you. We liked it a lot though, but do beware that it was saltier than most paella we tried on the trip. We also tried their oysters, which weren't too great for me but my friends liked it. Service was great too, would recommend for anyone who wants a quick paella stop. read more

La Mar Salada - Mediterranean Near Me - Barcelona, B

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Finished dinner just now! Delicious Paella! Also had appetizer and Sweet Lamb. Great service and very good view in Barceloneta as well. Highly recommend! read more

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Came here as the one paella place that we wanted to try and didn't regret it at all. There are a lot of spots on the street and I've heard that some of them are not the best so really glad I took the time to look this place up. We had the standard kaya and really liked it read more

We chose this restaurant over the many many others along the marina because one of the creators is the former chef at El Bulli, a one time #1 restaurant in the world. We were mainly there for the paella, but couldn't resist ordering a bunch of small plates too and everything was awesome! My personal favorite were the razor clams with bacon and the canelon with mushrooms and foie gras sauce. The paella was excellent, but be aware that you must order 2 servings and the price listed is per serving! We made a reservation for lunch at 1:30, but when we arrived it was not busy, so I don't think reservations are a must here. Follow me on Instagram @goplaceseatthings for more adventures in eating! read more

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Excellent food. We had the mussels and octopus for starters, and the seafood paella as our main course. The wait staff was efficient, but unfriendly. Apart from the relatively cold emotionless staff (perhaps a bad day) we recommend this restaurant for authentic seafood paella. read more

As you walk past the numerous tourist traps on your way toward the beach you will find La Mar Salada which is where you should stop. La Mar Salada is a nice place to grab a meal and enjoy the atmosphere and most important is not touristy. We were in the mood for paella and that is what we ordered. It came with shrimp, prawns, and some mussels. There was a good amount of fresh seafood and the rice was cooked just right. Bonus was that they had an IPA on the menu, which I was so craving. The price for everything was very reasonable. read more

La Mar Salada - Mediterranean Near Me - Barcelona, B

5 stars for finally living up to my Paella expectation! Albeit not a paella expert by any means, we got this recommendation from a local with the promise that we wouldn't be disappointed. After 4 failed attempts, I was quite skeptical. Don't give up and don't be fooled by the super touristy location! The paella, dessert and service was a full FIVE! Paella was just the right amount of soupy and seafood-esque. The deconstructed mango cheesecake is one of the best desserts I've ever had (and I've had a lot). If you have doubts, look up the creators of the restaurant. Does "El Bulli" ring a bell? Return? Yes! Till then just being a good citizen and spreading the word to everyone. read more

This place is pretty close to the waters and has an upscale vibe to it. The price certainly matches and I found most of the clientele to be foreigners. The food was excellent though. The gazpacho was made a bit fancy by having some of the shellfish in an empty bowl and having the gazpacho itself poured into the bowl in front of you. The seafood paella was excellent -- not salty at all and quite tasty. For dessert, the pineapple tartare is unique and tasty. read more

This is a lovely outdoor restaurant amid a strip of restaurants with photos of their paella displayed and waiters out on the sidewalk asking you to come try their food. We chose this restaurant because TIME OUT Barcelona recommended it as one of the top 10 paellas in Barca. It was very good, but very salty. The lobster gazpacho was very nice as well. Service was OK, not great. read more

La Mar Salada - Mediterranean Near Me - Barcelona, B

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We had the shrimp paella (you have to order paella for two as they won't do it any smaller). It was really good, calamari, langoustine and mussels as well. It was expensive but supposedly the best paella in the city, although this is the only place I've had it in Barcelona. Its great for people watching as its on the main stretch near the harbour. 2 People, Paella for 2, 2 glasses of wine, €45. read more

La Mar Salada - Shrimp Paella - Mediterranean Near Me - Barcelona, B

Amazing! We had dinner reservations for 10 for a party of 10. Everything we had was on point. We ordered a bunch of tapas to share. What stood out the most was their bread with tomato sauce with shave iberico ham . We also ordered the sardines, local oysters, and potato balls! Sardines were nice and light but still not my cup of tea. Mains: Traditional seafood paella - good! Definitely top 3 paella places I've been so far since in Spain. They don't skimp on the seafood on this one . Paella with white fish and razor clams - the best! Has a nice rich seafood flavor for the rice and wasn't overwhelming in the least. This is the one to order if you're a seafood lover. Steak frites - meat quality is out of this world in comparison to the US. Cooked perfectly at medium rare. Only gripe is that they don't season their meat . For our group, we ordered 3 servings of each paella which was more than enough. One thing to keep in mind while traveling in Spain, they do things on their time - slow pace without a care in the world. They're not about the hustle and bustle, eating here is an experience which allows great conversations to foster. Definitely would come back here next time. Don't forget the cava ! read more

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Get the arros negre with a bottle of red wine. I fantasize about this meal all the time. Highly recommend!! read more

La Mar Salada - Mediterranean Near Me - Barcelona, B

This place was excellent. The Paella was great! Might be a slightly touristy area, but there seemed to be lots of locals eating here. We were not disappointed in the least. read more

Stopped her for dinner after being at the beach. The photos were great and the reviews looked good. Unfortunately, the experience we had wasn't worth the price of the meals. I ordered the fish and got a small piece of fish with two slices of carrot, two pea pods, and two asparagus. The fish wasn't great - it was grilled, had little flavor and no sauce on top. It was a very sub-par experience. We also witnessed our waiter engaging in racist behavior with the table behind us which was a huge turn off. We heard the table ask to be moved because they could see a couple of a particular race sitting to their left, and the waiter assured them they would leave soon. Then Laughed and joked with the table about it after the couple left. It was disgusting read more

Beautiful classy restaurant along the main strip heading to the beach. While most of the other restaurants nearby look dumpy (crowded, dirty, pictures of food and hosts soliciting you to come inside = clear signs of bad food.tourist traps), La Mar Salada defintiely stands out with its calm and clean elegant outdoor space. No need to have tacky pictures and hosts, the ambience and food speaks for itself. We ordered the traditional shrimp and prawns paella and it was delicious if a bit too salty. The price was decent too considering the location right by the water. The seafood was fresh and they served big pieces. I had a tasty refreshing white wine that paired well with the rice. The atmosphere was serene and relaxing. Definitely sit outside but inside was absolutely beautiful with a ship/nautical decor. Highly recommend this restaurant for a more elegant meal. It's not as cheap as the other places but they serve it all fresh here. read more

Amazing! Tried Hake fish for the first time and it was amazing! The sauce was beyond words! Also accompany with a white wine makes for a perfect evening! read more

La Mar Salada - Mediterranean Near Me - Barcelona, B

Sea food paella was amazing . Everthing was good including service . Also locals preferred the restaurant read more

La Mar Salada - Best paella in Barcelona - Mediterranean Near Me - Barcelona, B

Excellent paella and outdoor views! The sangria was great! We really had a great time!

Update: So we went back during lunch to try their paella. The rice was perfectly cooked with just the right amount of chew. Super flavorful. (While waiting since it takes 20 minutes to cook, we had their gazpacho and pulpo (octopus) with potatoes.) ======== This is our 5th day in and around Barcelona and so far this is our favorite restaurant. We had the tuna tartare, razor clams, shrimp broth soup with claims, and monkfish with gnocchi. The dishes were so flavorful, the fish perfectly cooked, and we were literally in food heaven. My only small quibble was that the soup needed salt, otherwise it was a delicious bouillabaisse style soup. We're planning on coming back and trying their paella, which is their specialty, before taking off. read more

Came here for the paella and it was pretty good. Got there around 3pm and there was still about a 30 min wait.. service was not that great. They took too long to get our order and the shrimp and mussels paella does take quite some time to make as well. Overall it was good, the sangria was a good compliment to the paella. read more

La Mar Salada - Paella - Mediterranean Near Me - Barcelona, B

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Very rude service, they forgot to give us a dessert and they refused to make it up. Do not recommend this place at all. Unprofessional read more

We came here on our second-to-last night in Barcelona and were not disappointed. My sister and I split the paella, which had the most flavor of all of the paellas we ate in Spain. My parents ordered fish and were thrilled with the preparation. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone heading to Barcelona. read more

La Mar Salada - Paella - for two! - Mediterranean Near Me - Barcelona, B

We stopped by the this place to grab lunch on our way to the beach. We wanted to try their paella as it was recommended in a few articles. There were many empty tables both on the patio and inside but when we asked for a table for our family, they said no. The first server who saw us said we would need to sit inside, but when he walked us in, another server took one look at us and said no. As I said, there were plenty of tables available and it wasn't a busy time of day. Also, although we were on our way to the beach, we all were dressed appropriately to eat at a restaurant. I thought it was very rude of them to refuse service for no apparent reason. I don't care how good their food is... if their service is that bad, I would not recommend this place for anyone. read more

This was the best paella I've ever hard - most of the time I don't like paella because a lot of places serve it where the rice gets very soggy. The different varieties were very creative, we had the black ink version with cuttlefish and artichokes. Would definitely recommend La Mar Salada! read more

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Great food as for tourist spot. We ordered paella - no complaints, great service, restaurant-like white cloth on a table. Nothing from small "family" places if you search for such. read more

La Mar Salada - Mediterranean Near Me - Barcelona, B

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by far the best paella i have had here in Barcelona. this place is a classy favorite for date night or small groups. definitely a busy and popular spot but understandable due to the deliciousness. the craft beers are a must have alongside a wonderful selection of vinos read more

La Mar Salada - Mediterranean Near Me - Barcelona, B

My husband and I are very hard to please when it comes to food and this place really impressed us! The food is amazing! From the appetizers to the dessert. Everything is delicious! Most restaurants in the Barceloneta are overpriced and the food is not good. Not this one, even though it's on the expensive side it is worth every cent. read more

A classier pick among the beach are, otherwise full of tourist traps, bad service an overpriced "typical" food. La mar salada comes at the same prices or slightly higher than others, but food is quality and dishes are presented in creative ways. Specialties are rice and entrées, served in original presentations. A good stop close to the beach definitely. read more

I'm gonna start off by saying the food was amazing. Well cooked steaks, fish, and authentic Spanish foods like paella's. It was in a great location too, right next to the beach. Inside was nice with good ambience. Although your going to have to make a reservation since they are usually full. Also, the food takes a while to come out and it is pretty pricy. But well worth the money. read more

We had the shrimp paella. It was ok. I've had much better paella in Newark NJ. There were 2 tiny shrimp in it and some mussels. No chicken, no chorizo and not much taste. It wasn't bad. But it certainly wasn't something I'd go eat again read more

A fantastic place! Incredible gourmet Spanish food, at a great price . Enjoyed every bite of the menu of the day:) right down to the incredible brownie desert made by the house. Would highly recommend ! read more

Everything is amazing here! I've been twice and can say everything I've had was incredibly fresh and creative. The tuna app is phenomenal with hazelnut toast points and roe and mustard gelato, heaven! The paella with butter fish and monk fish was perfect and had a unique flavor, I think a bit more pimenton perhaps but not spicy. The location is great, right across from the harbor. The staff is excellent. Try the deconstructed mango cheesecake for desert. The chef is so talented. One of my favorite spots in Barcelona. read more

This place has TERRIBLE service. We had the shrimp paella and it was underwhelming to be sure. We had several tapas which were pretty good but very pricey and small. I would definitely skip this place. The staff took forever to serve us, to get our drink order, our food order to bring our check they weren't nice or even hospitable and the restaurant was almost empty when we were there. read more