I was so excited to try La Marcha Tapas Bar recently! This place has been on my list for the past year. My boyfriend and I arrived a little early for our reservation and luckily they were able to accommodate us. They were very busy on a Saturday evening with all tables and the bar completely full. Their dinner menu includes a wide variety of tapas, salads and paellas as well as cocktails, beer and wine. For tapas, we ordered the coca which included focaccia, cream, t'faya, pears, walnuts, manchego, jamon as well as the patatas aioli. Both were very tasty. For our main entree, we split the paella marinera, which came with mussels, clams, shrimp, calamari, and peas. This was a tasty dish and big enough for two people plus we had leftovers. I was missing a bit of the crunch on the rice, which is what I am use to with paella but it was still very delicious. Our server was very attentive throughout our visit and checked on us several times. I highly recommend stopping in here (with a reservation of course) when in the Berkeley area. They are Michelin recognized for a reason and offer great spanish cuisine. read more

I love coming to La Marcha. This is still one of my favorite restaurants in Berkeley. Consistently good food. Good drinks. Beautiful atmosphere. And always good service. Their paella is very flavorful. And quantity is actually enough for 4-5 people if you are sharing all the other tapas dishes you order. We usually order a paella plus 2 tapas per person and the quantity is about right for us. I recommend this place for happy hour with a small group of friends or a nice romantic date or just whenever you are craving Spanish tapas. The only thing is they are not great for large groups bc the restaurant seating is limited. read more

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This place is decent but I think there are better places for tapas in the Bay Area. I've been a few times recently. Most of the time, the service has been fine. We walked in last night around 9:45 for a post concert snack. We had seen they were one of the only places on a Sunday night open late and they even advertised a late night happy hour. Even though the restaurant did have other parties and people came in after us, it felt like the staff was ready to go home. They also didn't clearly explain the happy hour (or explain it at all) so we weren't able to fully take advantage. In a pleasant surprise, they have a fantastic guitar player who is there every Sunday- Kenny I think. Also their martini was delicious. read more

La Marcha Tapas Bar - Tortilla, bravas papas, goat cheese stuffed peppers, croquetas. - Spanish Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Went to La Marcha for brunch today, and I have two words: MUST TRY. From the moment we arrived, the staff was warm, friendly, and incredibly attentive. Our glasses were never empty, and they checked in on us throughout the meal without ever feeling intrusive. The food was absolutely amazing, the ambiance was beautiful, and the service truly stood out. If you're looking for delicious food, exceptional service, and a lovely atmosphere, La Marcha should definitely be on your list. I'll absolutely be back! read more

I had high hopes but unfortunately La Marcha didn't live up to its reputation. I was looking forward to their squid ink paella, but it was lacking in seafood, there was more rice in proportion to the clams and sausage. It was good but not amazing. The meat in Tres Cerditos was dry, again not enough protein in proportion to rice. Sadly, I won't return for paella. However, the helado de queso was good! read more

My boyfriend and I came to La Marcha for a nice date night dinner. I came very excited, because I realized just before our reservation that La Marcha was Michelin-recognized around 2016-2017. While we came 15 minutes earlier than our reservation time, our host led us promptly to our table. The first happy hour here is from 4-6 PM, so we were able to add a few happy hour items to our menu. (Tip: as of this review writing, an alcoholic bev order from the happy hour menu gives you a complimentary HH tapas of your choice!) The two of us shared a sangria, albondigas, Brussels sprouts, octopus (pulpo), and a paella marinera (classic seafood paella). While I was a little worried we would not have enough food, we actually ordered plenty, with lots of paella leftover for us to take hom. All in all, the dishes were very good! Everything we ordered was flavorful and cooked perfectly. My boyfriend commented that the octopus surprised him (in a good way!) Cooked just right, to where the meat melted in our mouths. Teleferic (another tapas restaurant I enjoy with locations in Berkeley and Palo Alto) is another one of my favorites, and I found the food here to be comparable to Teleferic's. All in all, a pricier meal, but I felt that we got what we paid for. read more

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Date night with my hubby -- and let me just say, OMG, this place was delicious. Hold on - I'm still mentally savoring the Paella (takes 35-40 mins to bake so order asap), the Tapas, drinks and the vibes. Super easy street parking and great service. We will be back (Make reservations) read more

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I went in for brunch. I had a long wait at the host stand and it wasn't because there was a line. There was just no one there. I had the chicken and waffles. The chicken was overcooked and had a weird flavor. Someone how it skewed Indian? The churro waffle was delicious. The syrup was too oily and then the butter on top congealed a few minutes into the meal. My friend said the sangria was good but the sent out a burnt biscuit and tried to cover it with sauce. It looked and felt like a hockey puck. It was replaced after the waitress stared at my friend for almost a minute when she was told it was burnt. It was hard to get her attention as she was on her phone most of the time we were there. I don't think I would go back. I'm on the hunt for a good brunch spot and this was not it. read more

La Marcha Tapas Bar - Chicken and waffles - Spanish Near Me - Berkeley, California

My second time here, the first I had some great almond flour pancakes and was impressed by all the Paella offerings. Second time had the pulled chicken spicy sandwich which was outstanding, super flavorful and filling. The Sangria was as I remembered it from Spain, rich in flavor with a tang to the wine. On the first visit , I was served by the owner and his son, and they were friendly and warm. The restaurant has a nice wooden bar with a black ham on the wall and artistic decorations with an artistic vibe. I love this place! The food is authentic and not pretentious. It's a favorite to be revisited for Paella and Tapas. read more

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Heard about this place from friends who raved about their paella and tapas. Who doesn't love tapas? Made the rush hour trip out to Berkeley and found parking right in front of the restaurant. We didn't make reservations but were seated right away. Our very friendly and awesome server greeted us and went over the menu with us. Started with sangria and some HH tapas. We then added a bunch of plates and the paella mixto. The standouts were the mushroom croquettes, the Brussels, and the pork belly. The pulpo was good but the sauce was a little sweet for my liking. Service was great and we had a good time. read more

10/10 experience; I became familiar with La Marcha through their catering services (which also did an amazing job) and wanted to bring my girlfriend to experience the restaurant. Everything from the tres leches, eggs with potatoes, shrimp, and horchata (not in the photos) was delicious and I'm looking forward to coming back soon! FYI that I came for weekend brunch. read more

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Paella was huge! Easily shared between 3-4 people. There were a ton of seafood inside, but it was a bit on the salty side. The lamb sliders && crab croquettes were the real stars And the octopus was extremely fresh, pairing well with the sangria! read more

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We came around 10:15 on a Saturday night. I was surprised that not many dinner places were open late on a weekend. We came in and the first thing the waitress did was check the time and did not look happy we were there. We reassured her that we would eat quickly and thanked her for taking us late. It wasn't very welcoming at first. But as we ordered the server that helped us was more friendly. We ordered the patatas aioli. They were wonderful. Crispy potatoes with a fresh dipping sauce. We noticed that some were hot and some were cool. We also got the ablondigas. Which are meatballs with sauce and toast. They were good. We ate and left due to feeling like they were closing soon, but many people were seated inside eating, drinking and talking. We would've enjoyed it more if we didn't have the first impression we got from the hostess. read more

La Marcha Tapas Bar - Patatas Aioli and ablondigas - Spanish Near Me - Berkeley, California

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My first time at La Marcha Tapas Bar and I was blown away at how delicious the food was. The service was fantastic and the restaurant is cozy! The bruselas is my FAVORITE because I am a brussel sprouts lover! I am so sad to have missed happy hour by a few minutes but look forward to coming back here again in the future! read more

La Marcha Tapas Bar - Spanish Near Me - Berkeley, California

Friendly service, but food and drinks were just ok. Octopus was a little on the chewy side and the squid ink paella didn't have much flavor. Some items were not available for lunch, but still it was a nice place to have a little lunch get away for tapas. read more

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La Marcha Tapas Bar was such a lovely experience. I've been for both brunch and dinner, and everything has been consistently great. I truly enjoyed everything we ordered, and nothing felt disappointing. The ambiance is warm and cozy, and it's really close to campus. It's located on San Pablo, so parking can be a little tricky. We ended up parking in the neighborhood nearby, which worked out fine. Chef Serg is incredibly kind, and the staff were so welcoming and helpful, especially when explaining the menu and each dish. Overall, it's such a welcoming spot with amazing food and people read more

La Marcha Tapas Bar - Spanish Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I went for brunch with my daughter and a friend for my daughter's birthday. The table service was very good. The food was just okay. It wasn't bad, but it didn't "wow" any of us. The worst thing was both bathrooms were out of order, so out stay was brief. Unfortunately, I don't see a return visit in our future. read more

One of my favorite meals of the year. Spanish food is my absolute favorite cuisine and I loved La Marcha's creative fusion dishes and flavors. Try as many tapas as your stomach can handle. My favorites were the bruselas, pulpo, and croquetas de ternera. The braised short rib was incredible. The brussels sprouts and grape combination was so unique and refreshing. Paella was delicious, filling, and comforting. The pollo frito sandwich was 10/10 - the chicken was fried perfectly in duck fat and all the components complemented each other beautifully. ADD THIS SPOT TO YOUR MUST-TRY LIST!!! read more

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Finding a good brunch place can be challenging in Berkeley. Especially if you're going off by the recommendations on Instagram. You never know what you'll really get from reviews by so called "Foodies" or "Influencers". La Marcha has been on my list for some time now. After spending an hour arguing about the decision to pick a restaurant, I thought of this place. Let's just say this place did not disappoint at all. The food was full of delicious complex flavors that will excite your palettes. Our serve Daisy was very friendly and helpful with her recommendations. It was nice to see that every table and seats were full. We have to make our way back for the regular dinner service to try their tapas since we are spending Christmas out in Barcelona. read more

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We had a reservation at 11 AM on a Thursday which ended up being unnecessary because the restaurant was completely empty besides us so it was really quiet. The waitress was therefore super attentive to us and kept our waters full. They only serve their brunch menu on the weekends, so heads up. There was a couple that sat close to us but soon left because they wanted something off the brunch menu. My friend and I got the Tortilla, which was like a frittata sandwich, and the Paella Marinera. Definitely plenty of food for 2 people, we were really stuffed after. Tortilla: 3/5, I wasn't completely sure what we were ordering when we got this, so I didn't know what experience I was in for. It was good and I liked the softer bread roll, just a little underwhelming for a sandwich. Paella Marinera: 4/5, it was really salty. The rice was also a bit softer than I would have liked, but there was plenty of seafood and the portions were good. It was also piping hot and had great flavor. Overall, had a good time catching up with my friend. Would come back to try their happy hour. read more

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Highly recommended this place for paella! Everything ordered was absolutely delicious. The staff was very attentive and friendly. The place is beautifully decorated and very clean. Looking forward to coming back. read more

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Delicious as always came for brunch and had some super flavorful and creamy eggs Benedict over a salty jamon croquette read more

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Before coming here in person, we had ordered delivery. However, paella should not be delivered, because you'll be missing the delicious socarrat (crispy rice) that forms at the bottom of the pan. Coming in person, their paella did not disappoint. 4 stars instead of 5 though, because: - Ambience was terrible. It was incredibly hot (no AC, poorly ventilated), loud, and cramped. - Many items (including the paella) felt unnecessarily greasy and heavy. read more

La Marcha is a little slice of Madrid tucked into Berkeley--lively, welcoming, and packed with tapas that nail both traditional flavor and creative flair. The patatas bravas hit that perfect crispy-tender balance with a kick, the mushroom croquetas are like gourmet mozzarella sticks, and the head-on gambas in garlicky anchovy butter? A glorious, messy dream. Happy hour at the long bar--with free tapas for every drink--is pure genius, making it perfect for solo diners and date nights alike. And if you're sharing, the paella (from Valenciana to Negro) is generous, flavorful, and totally instagrammable. Just don't expect easy parking--but hey, great food's worth the hunt!" read more

La Marcha Tapas Bar - Croquettes. - Spanish Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Says open until 11 but was closed when we arrived at 10:10. Please update your hours.

This restaurant catered my wedding a few years ago so my wife and I thought it would be fun to eat there on Valentine's Day. I made reservations a couple months in advance and we were really looking forward to the meal. When we arrived, we learned that it was a "fixed" menu. There were no options at all. You can only order the pre-selected meal and it would be $90 per person. That was disappointing since we already had some food ideas in mind but we understood the need for a fixed menu since it was Valentine's day and one of the busiest days of the year for restaurants. The waiter explained we would get a 6 course meal and we could pick a drink from the bottom of the menu or the cocktail menu. I was surprised to see that oysters were the first course. I figured they selected oysters since it was Valentine's Day and they are known as an "aphrodisiac". The problem is my wife and I hate oysters. Based on my experience, a significant portion of the population doesn't like oysters. I don't understand why they would include something like that in a fixed menu. Couldn't they pick something that is more of a "crowd pleaser"? We did end up eating them but regretted it. They were super fishy tasting. The fishy after taste lasted for a while. We each ordered one alcoholic beverage and those the were pretty good. The sangria was especially good. The other 5 courses of the meal were more in line with what we expected but the portions were small. The only thing that really matched our expectations was the paella. When we received the final bill, I noticed they charged us for each drink. I thought that was odd because drinks were listed on the special Valentine's Day fixed menu along with all the courses. I asked the hostess why the drinks were added to the price of the meal. She indicated only some were included and some not. Her explanation didn't really make sense. I told her the waiter pointed out the drinks when he was explaining the fixed menu and made it sound like the drinks were included. She just kinda shrugged it off with no attempt to resolve the situation. So, I paid the bill and left super disappointed. I made my wife a nice dinner at home the next day to make up for our bad Valentine's Day experience. I'm not sure what this place is like on regular days but I would stay away on holidays unless you like super expensive fixed menus. read more

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Enjoyed a wonderful brunch with our sons. First time coming here for brunch. Everything we ordered from croquetas to paella was delicious. We did family style and ordered a variety of items to share. We started with their brunch version croquetas. It has delicious bits of bacon and cheesy filling. We ordered 1 order which came with 3 pieces. So good. We also ordered the patatas brava. It had a red sauce covering each potato piece. The potatoes were nicely fried and seasoned and the sauce was so flavorful. I could have licked the sauce off the bowl it was so good. The tortilla came with a nicely dressed arugula salad. The tortilla is egg with potatoes. One of my favorites to order. This was a good sized portion for us to share. I devoured all of it. It also came with a couple pieces of toast. The star of the meal was the paella mananera. It says serves 2. With everything we ordered it was more than enough. Delicious and well seasoned. The bacon in the paella had such a good flavor. Every piece of meat in it was well seasoned, including the shrimp. The poached eggs were enjoyed by my husband. The service was great. They were very attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. Refills on water were consistent. We have come here on many occasions in the evening and it is always full. This morning it wasn't crowded at all. Our sons enjoyed the brunch and we even left with paella to take home. A very laid back ambiance. It can get loud, but it is a great place to enjoy some delicious food. read more

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Great spot for some tapas and paella! Personally, I thought their tapas were amazing, but the paella wasn't as comparable to Teleferic Barcelona. The service was pretty standard-- they came to check up on us a few times and also refilled our waters in a prompt manner. I liked the vibe of the place as it felt classy, but not fancy, and it made it a great place for date night or catching up with friends. I will certainly have to be back again! read more

Absolutely amazing spot! Everything we tried was outstanding -- I'd happily come back and order it all again. The tapas were perfect: octopus, calamari, Brussels sprouts, pork belly, and focaccia -- each one cooked just right. The paella with rabbit and duck was simply next level. Our server Nelly was wonderful -- friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience feel relaxed and welcoming. We're pretty picky about food, but this place completely won us over. Definitely a new favorite, and we'll be back for sure! read more

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Tried the squid ink paella, it looked stunning and was definitely Instagram-worthy, but the flavor didn't quite live up to the presentation. It was fair overall, not bad, just missing a bit of depth and seasoning. A decent experience. read more

La Marcha Tapas Bar - Paella - Spanish Near Me - Berkeley, California

We had an amazing brunch at La Marcha Tapas! The ambiance was clean, modern, and inviting. Staff were friendly, welcoming, and very attentive throughout our visit. I ordered the Benedicto Moruna--a lamb sausage Benedict--and it was fantastic. The lamb was cooked perfectly with no overwhelming gaminess, and the potatoes were crispy and delicious, especially with the sauce. We also tried the Rabos Con Huevos (oxtail), and the meat was fall-apart tender and full of flavor. Can't wait to come back and try their tapas and paella next! read more

La Marcha Tapas Bar - Spanish Near Me - Berkeley, California

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We've been looking for a good Spanish place since we visited Barcelona. We found it. Even if we had to drive across the bridge, we will be back. We felt very welcomed by the host. Ambience was very open & warm. Paella was perfect & the tapas were all tasty. I can't wait to try their brunch. read more

La Marcha Tapas Bar - Paella Negra - Spanish Near Me - Berkeley, California

I have visited this restaurant twice, and on each occasion, the food and service have been outstanding. read more

La Marcha Tapas Bar - Spanish Near Me - Berkeley, California

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We called ahead of time and asked them if they could turn on the TV for the US OPEN TENNIS men's championship and they said yes. And ok their page they show two TVs. We show up and two large TVs are off. I asked the bar tender if he could turn the TV on as promised and he says " no we only turn it on during championships" and I tell him this is US open men's final and he says the owner turns it on. I ask him don't you have a remote and he says " I do but the owner turns it on". Why have a TV and tell patrons you will turn it on when that's not the case. Horrible. read more

Suave, upscale tapas bar tucked away on San Pablo. Everything was high quality and service was fast, albeit our server was a bit cold and we needed to flag him down multiple times to get his attention (mind you, it was a slow Monday evening). Patatas Cargadas was the standout, the oxtail was flavorful and tender. Everyone at the table also enjoyed the cheese platter and the remolacha (beet salad). Two of our party were vegetarians, and the menu was a bit limited for them -- I might recommend somewhere else for anyone who doesn't eat meat. One last note -- we tried two desserts (the churro and olive oil cake), but they unfortunately fell a bit flat compared to the excellent tapas. With so many fun options on San Pablo, dessert may be better taken at a second location. read more

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We came in for some late night tapas and drinks and had a great time! They have live music every Sunday evening and that really made for a great experience. The servers were really nice and helped us to pick some items from the menu. Would love to come back during their main menu to try the paella next time! read more

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Sunday brunch with my daughter, who's in town from college. She had the Benedict, I had the Très Leches French Toast. Both were excellent. The French Toast in particular--still a standout. What makes it is the butter: rich, fragrant, loaded with what tasted like anise and herbs. Not sugary, not timid. It knows what it is. We shared the churros, and the dipping sauce hit the mark--dark chocolate with just enough bitterness to keep it grounded. Service was steady, atmosphere unforced. A place that doesn't overreach, just delivers. We left full, caffeinated, and quietly impressed. read more

Haven't been here in forever! I had the horchata cold brew cocktail and the tortilla tapas. Everything was delicious and that drink was strong. The sauce with the tortilla potato dish was creamy and perfect! read more

La Marcha Tapas Bar - Horchata cold brew - Spanish Near Me - Berkeley, California

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It's been over a month and I still can't stop thinking and raving about the squid ink paella with trout roe at la marcha! It's perfectly savory from the squid ink, not too salty, has flavor from both the seafood and the sausage meatballs, and the TROUT ROE! Omg the trout roe and whatever sauce it lay on top of was such an amazing addition to the paella. And it's not just that it made the paella look pretty. It just elevated the whole experience and added extra flavor and texture to the whole dish. I would go back just for this. All the other tapas that we had were also decent but not super memorable. The croquetas were nice and creamy and I liked that the came with crab. The brussel sprouts were good but pretty standard with a balsamic type sauce. The pulpo was just ok and could have used more flavor. Sangria was standard but you can't really go wrong with that. Def make a reservation, cause we walked in and had to wait quite a while. We were able to get a drink at a bar down the street while we waited so it wasn't too bad. read more

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Warm day. Ordered sangria expecting cold refreshing drink. Got a warm flat no ice drink instead. Room temperature wine with some diced fruit in it. Very disappointing. Tapas were okay. Nothing interesting enough to go back for. Staff pleasant. read more