Viva Madrid captures the precise, chaotic energy of an authentic Spanish tapas bar, and they execute the concept beautifully. The European flair is evident the moment you walk in. The lamp chops and the garlic shrimp are non-negotiable orders, and the kitchen manages the rapid-fire pacing of small plates perfectly. It is loud, it is buzzy, and it is unapologetically vibrant. Best for: Group dining where you want an energetic atmosphere and aggressive flavor profiles. Pro tip: Expect a wait during prime dinner hours; grab a cocktail at the bar while you do. read more

You can see from my 2019 review that I was once a huge fan of Viva Madrid. I almost didn't want to review it back then because I didn't want anyone else to find out about it. Unfortunately, time has not been kind to this restaurant. This visit reminded me of an episode of Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares. This used to be the spot where you'd wait an hour or more on a weekend night, packed in shoulder to shoulder with strangers and loving every minute of it. This Saturday we were seated right away at 7pm, with four open tables around us. That was the first warning sign. The room was very hot, and the hostess seemed irritated by almost everything. The food has really gone downhill. The barbacoa was tough. The stuffed mushrooms reminded me of tiny mushrooms filled with wet cat food; the consistency and taste were really bad. The halibut came out as little pieces of what seemed like leftover fish. It was so bad that we decided to leave and eat somewhere else. To wrap up the evening, I stopped in the restroom on the way out, and another patron coming out warned me that there was a pair of used women's underwear on the floor. Sure enough, there it was. That's disturbing in any restaurant, and it says a lot about how closely things are being checked. None of this is a reflection on our server, who was really nice. But there are so many other places to eat in the Village. It's been slipping over our last couple of visits, and sadly this will be my last. I'd highly recommend that management sit down, really taste the food, and take a hard look at the cleanliness. I miss the place that made me want to keep it a secret. read more

I have no words to express my satisfaction for this place. I am truly grateful for this place. The best place to have a date and drinks. The tapas are amazing. Please order the lamb chops, the sangria with a shot of brandy and please ask the staff for the chicken empanadas. If there were 10 stars, I would give them all. read more

Viva Madrid is a great Spanish tapas restaurant hidden in the Claremont Village. When I say hidden, I mean hidden. You need to walk down a long hallway to find this gem. This place is perfect for a group dinner so you can share multiple tapas options. My favorite were the bacon wrapped dates... we had three orders and I am not ashamed lol! I also really liked the artichoke and skewered chicken. Next time I would skip the pan con tomate and the mojame. read more

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We had such a fun, random night at Viva Madrid! We randomly stumbled across it on our way home from an event and we are so happy we did! Brandon was awesome! The food, drinks and service were all on point! Walking into it it almost has a little speakeasy vibe. Super cool vibe! We will definitely be back! read more

Viva Madrid! - The cheese plate - Spanish Near Me - Claremont, California

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What a fabulous night at Viva Madrid! We were a bit of a large party (birthday celebration ) with nine of us. We were accommodated readily and had no wait time as a phone call a few days ahead had been made and remembered. Even though reservations are not taken, they were set up for us and ready to get the dinner party started. This is wonderfully thoughtful service. Once in, our waitress explained that she could do partial group checks for four. That was also a thoughtful way to handle a larger group. It would have been awkward for us to split all of the variety of items on the receipt amongst us, being that we ordered so many different dishes. And wow! Did we order a lot of dishes! That's part of the fun of coming to Viva Madrid: there's such a wide variety of tapas and/or entrees to share. The more we tried, the more we wanted to continue to try! From the pitchers of both red and white sangrias, tapas, entrées, and desserts, we really made our way around the menu. Our delectable dishes came out little by little. And that's rather important here, as those small plates have a sneaky way of filling you up, with a little bit of this and a little bit of that. The pacing gave us an opportunity to enjoy each dish at a leisurely pace, while we chatted, laughed, and in general, got to enjoy the night in an unhurried and relaxed environment. Our plates were delicious! Such a variety of unique flavors that you wouldn't find in another kind of dining experience. Creamy, salty, aged, rich, spiced but not spicy, meaty, veggie, sautéed, simmered, roasted..... there's something here for every palate. Be open to the adventure! Our waitress and other staff that checked in on us were fantastic! Friendly, knowledgeable - incredibly talented at keeping all the numbers and dishes straight - and attentive to each guest. Which again, is appreciated when part of a larger group. When you come here, be prepared to spend some time. Bring someone whose company you enjoy, then sit back, relax in the ambience of Spain, and be taken care of as if you'd been invited to dine in someone's home. read more

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We came here for anniversary dinner and left so disappointed. We were craving a real good paella with crusty edges, good seafood, and robust flavor- what we got was a soggy plate of what seemed like mediocre fried rice. It was so bland and the rice was soppy. We also ordered gambas al ajillo. It was served with hot rice and wilted salad. Not appetizing nor flavorful. Low on garlic profile. I won't even write about the 8 tapas dishes. Nothing to discuss there. I'm almost to a point of annoyed and angry for spending my good money on bad food. PS, the red sangria was watered down read more

Viva Madrid! - gambas with wilted salad - Spanish Near Me - Claremont, California

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The place alone transports you back to Spain- decor and seating arrangement. Been here many times and it's our go to place for tapas. With the added tables in the walkway, you get seated faster. They do not take reservations but it goes by quick. Everything is good, tapas, paella and drinks. Patatas bravas are our staple along with pan con tomato. Explore, and try different things- read more

I was looking for a nice Valentine's Eve dinner spot with plenty of vegetarian options, and Viva Madrid immediately came to mind. This was actually my fourth time dining here, and I can't believe I'm only now writing a review. Located in the heart of Claremont inside an old building, the entrance almost feels like a little secret. You walk past what looks like a jewelry store before reaching the hostess stand. They don't take reservations, so definitely come early or be prepared to stroll around town while waiting to be seated. As soon as you walk in, you're welcomed by a dimly lit, intimate space that feels cozy without being overly quiet. The walls are decorated beautifully, and since it was Valentine's Day weekend, the restaurant was decked out in red hearts and balloons--like St. Valentine himself came through and spread love everywhere. Our server let us know that the main entrées take about 45 minutes to prepare, so we were advised to order those first. I went straight for the vegetarian paella. To start, we ordered the pan con tomate--simple sourdough toast with olive oil and tomato chutney, but absolutely delicious. My friend, who had just returned from Spain, lit up after the first bite and said it tasted just like what she had there. That pretty much set the tone for the rest of the night. We also shared some potatoes and vegetables, and when the paella arrived, I added a side of pulpo (octopus) for extra protein. It was cooked to perfection and paired beautifully with the vegetarian paella. Every single dish we tried was flavorful and thoughtfully prepared. We ended the evening with the limoncello cake, which was light, bright, and the perfect sweet finish. Overall, another fantastic experience at Viva Madrid. Consistently great food, a romantic atmosphere, and a place I'll happily keep coming back to. read more

Viva Madrid! - Vegetarian Paella - Spanish Near Me - Claremont, California

Come right at opening. You have to walk through a little store front but the ambience is intimate and dark. Very fun for sharing with family and friends and dates. Everything was delicious. Shrimp was our go to. The staff were so friendly and great with suggestions. Come hungry to try a few dishes read more

1. Paella is not supposed to be spicy. 2. Ordered 8 Tapas, liked none. Some didn't finish. 3. Never thought I would have bad Sangria but here it is. The place was packed so I guess the usual chef was not there that night. Sorry, I tried and sorry I tried. read more

Sometimes in life things get f*cked up. What matters is how you react when things get f*cked up. Viva Madrid! came highly recommended and I get why. The menu is pretty large with tons of great tapas options. We tried several of these and everything was delicious. Some of my favorites were Esparragos Con Jamon and Champinoes Rellenos. The food was fresh, everything was great. The service was also great. I think the gentleman who helped us was named Jared. He was kicking booty on a busy night making drinks and serving food. He also showed a real passion for the menu and took the time to explain various items. The ambiance of the place reminds me of Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean. It's a very fun vibe. So what went wrong? The paella was overcooked. I tried my best to eat it, but it was not edible. When I explained they were very understanding and apologetic. I assume the owner even came over and apologized and thanked us for not yelling. Look it was a bummer the paella was messed up but sometimes things don't go right. They made it right and getting angry on my end does no good. An interesting first experience at this establishment but that won't stop me from returning one day. Everything but the paella was great, staff is awesome and it's a cool vibe. read more

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I feel like Luis Miguel, Drake & Bad Bunny all in one when here. - @eatingwithricardo read more

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I love their paella and and Rabo here! Beautiful and cozy interior great for a date spot. Reasonably priced and good portions for sharing! Super excited to take my friends here. read more

Viva Madrid! - Paella Canaria - Spanish Near Me - Claremont, California

4.5 but I'll round up. My husband and I wanted to try something different for date night and stopped by. Staff was welcoming and explained the process on ordering. Food started coming out promptly and we really enjoyed the experience and our dinner. We had the chicken empanada, bacon wrapped dates, a few meat dishes, everything was super yummy. We will definitely be back! read more

Viva Madrid! - Inside the restaurant - Spanish Near Me - Claremont, California

this is a hidden jewl... from the outside you would never know it was even there! the inside is so adorable and homey feeling i love it, the staff is incredible. we always ask our server to pick their top 3 tapas items ( because the menus is very extensive ) and we order it and it's always delicious and they make a mean dirty martini too ;) it's always fun to try things you wouldn't normally order because it's tapas style which I love and then you can find new foods you like! deffinstley check this place out on your next date night . To find this place look for the jewelry stand on the sidewalk (they also have very pretty pieces) and walk down the little alley to find the restaurant read more

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Viva Madrid! is our favorite spot in Claremont. The food and drinks are delicious, the staff are very friendly and helpful and the ambiance is fun and relaxing. We love to order the meat paella which is scrumptious! The garlic shrimp, chicken empanadas and dates are our favorites. If you're in the area you've got to check our Viva! read more

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Date night at Viva Madrid was a hit! Everything we tried was delicious. The oxtail soup was rich and flavorful, and the anchovies were a standout. Can't wait to come back and try more of their tapas. Highly recommend! read more

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Spanish vibes all around, large menu, delicious Sangria, top notch service! "see pictures" everything we ordered was delicious, but our mistake that we made was ordering everything at once, make sure you order the tapas slowly and take your time. Highly recommended! read more

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Viva Madrid is such a fun hidden gem! The atmosphere is cozy, unique, and full of character. The tapas were delicious and perfect for sharing we loved being able to try a little bit of everything. Great food, great vibe, and definitely a place we'll be coming back to! read more

Always have a great time at this place. This is a great spot if you have a party of 4 or less. I wouldn't recommend going if you have a large party as it's a small space and it would be hard to squeeze in. The food is well above average. The service has been great each and every time I've gone (for over 10 years now). The brava potatoes and veggie paella are a highlight. read more

I finally made it to Viva Madrid. I have to say the waitress provided excellent service. I ordered me a mocktail because I was driving. I got the Refresco de Lavanda. It was tasty but the only issue was the glass was full to the rim with ice. I got about 4 oz of drink in a 12 oz glass, kinda disappointed. I started with a light tapas which consisted of manchego cheese and olives. A light snack before my meal. For my entree, I ordered the rib eye, but they call it the Bistec con Salsa Rioja. A big juicy piece of meat smothered in a wine reduction sauce. It was tasty and came with green beans and a baked potato topped with a creamy herb dressing. Very satisfying. The ambiance was perfect for a date night, small, dark, and dressed up with traditional Spanish ornaments. I'd like to come back and try some of more tapas as they have an extensive tapas menu. read more

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Came to Viva Madrid for my birthday meal. Food was better than expected. We orders various tapas such as bacon wrapped dates, Garlic bread , garlic shrimp , jamón con melón , and empanada de pollo which were all good. As an entree we shared the costilla de cordero ( lamb ribs) which came with potatoes, asparagus , and baked dates which tasted amazing . For dessert I recommend the crema catalana which is similar to a creme brûlée and very good as well.Be aware the restaurant is kinda small and gets easily packed . I will definitely be returning . read more

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I really wish I had read the reviews before going to this place because, unfortunately, I agree with most of them. When I go out to dinner, I'm not just going out to eat--I want an amazing experience with good food, a nice atmosphere, and a chance to enjoy the people I'm with. If I can cook better food at home, that says a lot. First and foremost, the atmosphere is extremely dark, but that was nothing compared to the noise. There were loud conversations, cackling, and laughter coming from every direction. We could barely have a conversation at our own table, much less relax and enjoy our meal. I actually found myself feeling stressed and overwhelmed, and I realized it was the atmosphere. I wasn't familiar with the menu, and trying to read the tiniest font possible in such a dark, loud, overstimulating room was frustrating. I asked our waiter for recommendations and trusted his suggestions. We ordered eight different items, and we didn't finish any of them. The chicken dish was especially disappointing--pale, overcooked, and extremely chewy - AND the chicken empanadas were another huge disappointment. They had absolutely nothing to do with an empanada--they didn't look like empanadas and certainly didn't taste like them. What arrived was basically a square pastry with dry chicken in between and an orange-colored sauce poured over the top. It was very distasteful - to put it politely - And the sangria... oh my God. Nothing about it reminded me of Spain. It was overly sweet, warm, and had very little fruit, which was soggy and unappealing. I was honestly embarrassed because I was the one who recommended this restaurant to everyone. If I could rate it less than one star, I would. Don't waste your time or your money. I truly don't understand how this place has been around for so long. At this point, I think it survives more as a landmark than for the food or the experience. read more

It's taken me a couple of months to write this review. I've thought about it too much to not say anything. My husband and I went to Viva Madrid for our anniversary, we went out for the first time alone since our baby was born 1 1/2 years ago. I will say that the drinks and service were great As a chef, I would be so embarrassed to serve the food that my husband and I were served. The mushrooms in white wine sauce were flavorless and slimy. We ordered the pan con tomate and it was like they opened a can of tomato paste and spread it on a piece of white bread. We were informed that any entree would take exactly 1 hour to execute. We ordered the Paella Mixta and Filet Mignon. The mussels were overcooked, the shrimp had no seasoning, and it seemed like they weren't really paying attention to executing the dish correctly. The Filet Mignon was not seared at all, super disappointing for it being a $45 dish! The sauce was drowning the meat and the potatoes were way overcooked. I don't usually expect much but this was very disappointing. I think maybe it's time to reevaluate some of your side dishes or have cooks that care about how your food tastes. read more

I haven't been here in 10 years and it's still as wonderful as I remember. They don't take reservations, so we waited for about 20 minutes during a weekend night. It has a huge menu, a great place to share tapas and trying various dishes! It's located in Claremont Village near a bunch of other restaurants and boutiques . We found free parking on the streets right across so it was pretty convenient. RABO DE TORO - Oxtail stew- I don't usually order soup but this was very comforting, hearty, and delicious 9/10 GAMBAS A LA PLANCHA- delicious jumbo garlic shrimp 9/10 CALAMARES EN SU TINTA- squid ink calamares with tomatoes- best sauce and reminded me of pasta 10/10 PAN CON TOMATE- artisan sourdough with tomato chutney- just ok , i wanted to dip bread in the other dishes sauces, but I didn't care for the chutney taste from this bread 5/10 EL ORO- Irish whiskey with house ginger drink - recommended as most popular and it was delicious . They're also known for their sangrias but I tried this drink . 10/10 Can't wait to come back to try the other tapas! read more

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Came her for a girl's night out dinner. The location of Viva Madrid! Is located behind an art/jewelry shop and it felt like I was going into some secret lair down the long dark hallway. Honestly I wouldn't have known there was a restaurant inside past all the artwork had my friend not told me about it. You are greeted by a couple of bull statues when you arrived and we were able to sit at one of the tables in the hallway/alley and order cocktails to enjoy before our table was ready. There are a ton of tapas options, paellas, and some entrees on the menu. Walls are covered in Spanish themed decor. We ordered several tapas and we each ordered an entree. I had the Pollo Vasco - a tomato based chicken dish over rice - reminds me of paella without being in a pan. My friend had the Viva Salmon. While our cocktails were great, the food was meh. The tapas we ordered weren't very memorable and the chicken in my entree was super dry. Service was mediocre. Our server was also M.I.A. Most of the evening. We were never able to get water refills since he never came by. read more

Visiting Claremont and decided to check out this place, reminiscing my time in Madrid. Only had tapas, which were so good. My favorite were the Boquerones Viva Madrid and Pintxo Moruno! Thanks Melanie for your help and amazing attitude:) read more

Viva Madrid! - Spanish Near Me - Claremont, California

This was such a cute and quaint restaurant truly giving you the feel of popping into a random restaurant on a Madrid street. Out front is a market, similar to those found in Madrid. Then you walk down a corridor that makes you feel like you've turned down one of the side streets in Madrid with a small lil restaurant tucked away. The food is tapas style and honestly, the tapas are where it's at! I had the mushrooms in garlic and white wine, the garlic shrimp, the garlic toast and the fish cake. I could do without the fish cake... overly breaded and you couldn't taste the fish but the other tapas were delish! Also ordered the paella which is made to order. It took about 50 mins as stated on the menu but it just lacked flavor, the rice wasn't cooked well... it just didn't do it for me. I'd skip the paella and stick to tapas! There's plenty to choose from, the price points are good and you get to try some of everything. The ambiance is cool, the service is good and the food is alright... just not blown away by the paella which is the main thing you'll prob want to experience. read more

Viva Madrid is probably one of my favorite spots in Claremont. When we arrived today, there was already a line forming and still 10 minutes until Viva Madrid opened. The space inside the restaurant is fairly small, definitely would avoid bringing larger parties. There's always music going and soft lighting, it has a very laid back atmosphere. We've always had great service here. Our server was pretty on it, even while manning the bar and helping g tables at the same time. The food also may take a bit longer to come out depending on what you order, but it's kind of nice not rushing through the meal. As for the food, we haven't tried anything we didn't like! Our favorite tapas would have to be the Chorizo A La Rioja, Gambas Gabardinas, and Esparragos Con Jamon. But there's still a lot of the menu we haven't explored. Can't wait to come back and try more! read more

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Food too small. halabit was mushy, (4) dates with bacon the size of a small grapes.rice tasted bad. beef was ok with little bit that you get.muscles 2 did not open and tasted bad. potatoes were ok hard to mess up potatoes. 4 of us 198.13 dollars.plus 3500 tip. I got home still hungry so made myself a tuna fish sandwich on toast it was good. I will not return. read more

I was surprise how authentic the food are!!! Their paella was so tasty!!! Service was great, it felt like you were in someone's home. I most definitely love their sangria!!! Just be ready for a wait.. went on a saturday night read more

I've been here a few times in the past few years and this place never disappoints! We always get the red sangria with shot of brandy. Delicious is an understatement! We got tapas and finished with a crème brûlée. They caramelized it at our table, which I loved. I was disappointed that they didn't have coffee because I love my dessert with coffee. The service was okay, we had to wave our server down to get more waters or to order more tapas. Outside of that, the food was delicious! read more

First time here. We tried many plates: Papas bravas (5/5) wouldn't change a thing Croquetas de Pescado (3/5)- a bit too dense but the chipotle aioli was good Empanada de Pollo (4/5) the pastry/dough was a little tough but the flavor was excellent Empanada jardinera (4/5) same dough as above, but we loved the spice level Carne de vaca al vino (5/5) tender, excellent flavor- wouldn't change a thing Tortilla Española - (1/5) very disappointing. Maybe because I was most excited about having it. I've made better at home. Even the frozen version from Trader Joe's was notably better than this. Ensalada Valencia - (5/5)- so tasty! Fresh and light. Wouldn't change a thing. Escalivada vegetales- (2/5) the sauce helped it... but it was lackluster overall. Tosta con cabrales y peras (3.5/5)- a unique dessert. Enjoyable, but not something I would return for intentionally. Service was great given how busy they were. This would be a great date place... quite low lighting (we needed flashlights on our phone to see the menu), but cozy and romantic, just loud because of the fifa soccer fans present. read more

This place used to be great! We used to go at least once a month. Big crowds, upbeat vibe, good servers and bartenders and great food...then almost overnight it's like the owner gave up. Quality of ingredients and dishes has diminished. In the past year I've been back at least three times hoping I had just had a "one-off" bad experience. Now when looking for a fun night, VM doesn't make my options list. Too bad... read more

What a delightful place! Reunited with a Gal Pal from HS. Super nice place to get reacquainted! We enjoyed Tapas (Pan con Tomate & Tosta con Cabrales y Peras - Delicioso!) and a side of Olives. For our main course, Paella Canaria and Pollo Vasco with a House Red Blend! The meal was very tasty/savory. We skipped dessert this time. Atmosphere and service were great. The prices reasonable as it is a fairly complete dining experience. Lovely place to meet friends, family or date. It is first come first served so I'd recommend getting there early as it is relatively small yet worth the wait. Once you're seated, you really don't want to leave. Beautifully decorated! Provecho!! read more

We came here for Valentines night, and had a lot of fun. I definitely recommend coming closer to when they open, because the restaurant fills up and the tables are close together because the space is small. We tried the sangria, which is good, they will ask you if you want Brandy added in to be authentic. Be warned that it cost five dollars extra. We definitely are glad we did tapas over a large entrée. The larger entrées looked amazing, but they were such large portion sizes that it was a lot more fun to try lots of smaller things. My favorite tapas was the empanada, and my least favorite was the smoked salmon wrapped asparagus. Pro tip - don't order bread or rice or potatoes as tapas if you want to save more room to try lots of unique things. read more

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It's so bad it hurts. Came and ordered lamb chops first. They soaked the lamb in sherry right before serving so they freaked of uncooked alcohol. "Awful and unedible", next bacon wrapped dates. They are pre wrapped and thrown in a deep fryer came out greasy and disgusting, 3rd papayas Bravas, they were fine. Not good but at least we could swallow it. Finally we had half a bottle of wine left and said what's the one thing they can't mess up, and we agreed the cheese and ham plate. WTF they pre freeze the ham and serve semi frozen cold cuts and canned black pizza olives. It takes a special kind of awful and BS to screw this up. The restaurant was proudly displaying a trip advisor award from 2012 in the front, the probably corresponds to the last time they served edible food. Run away! read more

Viva Madrid! - Frozen dry ham that tasted like styrofoam. Shame!!!! - Spanish Near Me - Claremont, California

The moment you enter your transported to a beautiful Spanish village with Spanish music. The service is impeccable and the food is incredible. Recommend coming early as they fill up quickly and don't take reservations. A must for tapas lovers. read more

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Came here for my daughters 24th day. Place did not disappoint. We all shared Samgria. The cheese, the potatoes, the paella, octopus, and calamari was outstanding. The ambiance of the place is really a vibe. The only thing is don't sit next to kitchen it gets hot. I recommend ! read more

Viva Madrid! - Spanish Near Me - Claremont, California