Barceloneta

The paella was great! The flavor and texture were not like any paella that I've gotten before. Be sure to reserve some time though - it takes time to make it. The tapas were also great! The fried potatoes were a hit.

Love this restaurant. Family friendly earlier in the day, great date night atmosphere later on. Our party ordered a good selection of tapas while we waited for our seafood paella…def worth the wait! Get their churros with chocolate for dessert.

This place has the best seafood paella I've ever had!!! I usually take one bite and either get disappointed by the texture or saltiness of paella at other restaurants, but here it is perfect!!! The rest of the food we ordered were also almost perfect 🥰 I'd definitely recommend this place... and yea we had 2 pitchers of the sangria too... Service was also superb!!!!!

I don't know where to begin. The service was the only thing that was worth the trip. Mushroom appetizer was nice. Wine was okay although they only really offered tempanillo for reds. The paella was a joke very little rice burnt to the bottom of the pan and nothing but shell and crawfish Head. The dessert which we got churros were finger size with chocolate that was also burnt. Again it was the service and that was it not worth the money. What a shame I've lived in Spain and I would not say that this was worthy of being Barcelona food.

Our server José was incredibly thoughtful, creative, accommodating and generous in every aspect of our experience! Our entire meal was 100% plant-based (nothing of animals) and 100% Delicious: complex and complimentary flavors and beautiful presentation. There’s no place in Santa Cruz that we’ve discovered like this. We’ve wanted to come to this restaurant for so long, and it ultimately became a joke that it was just never open and that it must be a front for something “else”. But gratefully friends came in from out of town and Barceloneta just so happen to *not only be open* , but they were ALSO able to get us in right away! We all commented that José was the Best server we’d ever had. Two of us coincidentally had hurt our necks and he came with two ziplock bags filled with ice for us! He was over the top conscientious, creative and gracious—like being in the beautiful home of a friend. The place filled up quickly and yet we could still have conversations audibly and every guest seemed so happy with their experiences at surrounding tables as well. All of the wait staff was professional and impeccable. We are all Vegan and enjoyed the Brussel sprouts, the Ibiza Hippy Salad, the Roasted Honeynut Squash, the Vegetable paella, and then José came out with churros, a chocolate dipping sauce and a candle singing Happy Birthday to our friend! Friendly like friends, classy AND Delicious! We couldn’t have asked for more! This place is a perfect excuse to dress up (which we didn’t because we didn’t know we were going until the last minute) and go out to a fine meal with friends, family or a special someone. Thank you so much for being open and being in Santa Cruz!

Upon first walking in, things seemed a bit dead (granted, it was a Wednesday night), and the decor a bit antiseptic, but the food and drinks did not disappoint. Bombas, seafood paella, and churros made for a very satisfying meal. I plan to bring visitors to Santa Cruz here in the future!

Fantastic tapas and paella in a very nice but unpretentious setting in my favorite part of Santa Cruz. We enjoyed our vegan paella and corn "ribs". Both were amazingly flavorful. They are open only for dinner.

Overall really tasty, especially the mushroom dish and the kale salad. Nice vermouth selection. And, possibly the best churros and dipping chocolate I’ve had!

Such a delightful find! When you walk in the restaurant is light and vibrant. The hostess was so accommodating and created a table where my stroller could easily fit. The sangria is made in house. It's a beautiful balance of flavors and easy to drink. Their gin and tonic is the perfect easy sipping cocktail. We loved the bombas so much we ordered them again. The truffle canelones are truly amazing. So hot, creamy, bursting with flavor. I could eat them everyday! If you get a dessert you have to try the cheesecake. It was silly, creamy, decadent wonderfulness *parents there is no changing table in the bathrooms

Over the last few years I've come in for dinner with friends and I'm always left with wishing it was better. This month I came in three times to barcelonetta and ate once at teleferic in Los Gatos and there's a stark difference between the two. Three out of my three most recent visits someone ordered bombas. You'd expect them to be bomb and also hot. Sadly they bomb both. Temperature is always cold which is very surprising for something that should have just come out of the deep fry

Solid 4.5 rating. Barceloneta was jumping when we went on a Saturday evening. It is a busy, noisy environment, but lively and friendly. I love tapas because I love to try a little of this and a little of that, so tapas is the way we went. We had: Croquetas de Jamon--light crispy exterior with a creamy center and wonderful ham flavor. I could eat a plate of these. Bombas--fluffy potato ball stuffed with sausage and topped with tomato sauce and garlic aoli. Very good, but the croquetas were better. House-made chips--crunchy and salty. So good. Patatas Bravas--they managed to keep the exterior of the potatoes crispy, even after topping with sauces. Lamb-Feta Albondigas--appetizing appearance, but the ground lamb was dry and we had to spit out a lot of hard bits. I wouldn't order this again. Soft serve with magical sprinkles--refreshing dessert. The strawberry sorbet is more flavorful than the vanilla ice cream. I didn't eat the sprinkles because they were very hard and didn't chew easily. I was worried I would chip a tooth. Churros con chocolate--I LOVE chocolate, but didn't care for this. I couldn't tell if the chocolate lacked sweetness or had a coffee flavor, which I don't like. There were a couple of dishes that didn't hit the mark for me, but more that did. The food was fresh and very well-prepared. I would go back for my favorites and to try a couple of other dishes.

Casual bistro serving up some unique blend of Spanish cuisine. Service is friendly and not too loud inside. Was able to get seated right away on a weekend evening. Conveniently located in downtown Santa Cruz.

This is our goto Tapas place when we're in town. Great food, service and ambiance. We've now been here twice and it's been consistently good so far.

I love tapas and this place did not disappoint! Showed up around 5pm and there was plenty of seating. It was a special occasion so we went a little all out - Patatas Bravas - always a must have when there are tapas involved. Delicious - Gazpacho - I love a good gazpacho and I will say this one tasted like the earth :) with that said I would not get it again - Corn Riblets and Padron Peppers - was very delicious but for a little over $11 I would probably not get it again - Seafood Paella SMALL - so delicious and the seafood was plentiful. A small is perfect for 2 people - Sangria - MUST GET THIS! Very good not too sweet Overall very happy with my experience here. The staff was friendly and everything was served to us in a fast manner.

We started with the Croquetas and Bombas, both of which were very solid. We also got the seafood paella which was pretty good. I wish it came together as a dish a bit more, which I know is so vague but that's the best was I can describe it. The highlight here was definitely the mushrooms for me. I loved the pesto sauce spooned over, which was super fresh. I loved the variety of mushrooms used in the dish. Our waiter was super kind, but the host who checked us in was really cold and passive-aggressive. The restaurant is pretty open and airy, and I think it could use a couple more tables, but it seemed rather short-staffed already on a Wednesday night.

Still quite nice. Very clean, open, modern, inviting space. The stars of the evening were the ribs - so tender and very subtle sauce that didn't overpower but had all the flavor. The albondigas were also quite nice. And as usual, you just can't go wrong with churros y chocolate.

My wife and I loved this restaurant! We went there for dinner. We thought the atmosphere was very nice. We also thought the food was exceptional. We started with Jamón croquetas. Two come with an order and they are small, however they pack a huge flavor punch. I cut mine into four bites and savored each and every one. Next we had and shared the Spring Chop Salad. There was plenty enough for two. It too was excellent. So many different flavor profiles. For our main dishes we had the fried chicken and the carrots +cumin yogurt. My wife thought it was one of the best fried chicken she ever had. I thought it was fabulous. The thigh meat is cut up into chunks. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside with lots of flavor and a delicious dipping sauce. The Carrots were an excellent accompaniment. In fact, not only did I dip my chicken into the provided dipping sauce I also dredged some of them through the carrot's yogurt, pistachio, dukkah and arrow syrup sauce. Yummy! We finished the meal with the homemade Churros and chocolate sauce. We ordered the vanilla soft, serve ice cream to go with the churros. Great combination! The churros are delicate. Smaller in diameter and length than typical street ones. The service was outstanding. We were well attended, and the dishes came out as ordered and in a timely fashion. Jose, who was our primary server, was very knowledgeable about the menu and helped us have a terrific evening. He was a star. My son has also eaten there, and he told us that he thought the restaurants paella is one of the best he ever had. My wife and I plan on returning soon. My wife and I loved this restaurant! We went there for dinner. We thought the atmosphere was very nice. We also thought the food was exceptional. We started with Jamón croquetas. Two come with an order and they are small, however they pack a huge flavor punch. I cut mine into four bites and savored each and every one. Next we had and shared the Spring Chop Salad. There was plenty enough for two. It too was excellent. So many different flavor profiles. For our main dishes we had the fried chicken and the carrots +cumin yogurt. My wife thought it was one of the best fried chicken she ever had. I thought it was fabulous. The thigh meat is cut up into chunks. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside with lots of flavor and a delicious dipping sauce. The Carrots were an excellent accompaniment. In fact, not only did I dip my chicken into the provided dipping sauce I also dredged some of them through the carrot's yogurt, pistachio, dukkah and arrow syrup sauce. Yummy! We finished the meal with the homemade Churros and chocolate sauce. We ordered the vanilla soft, serve ice cream to go with the churros. Great combination! The churros are delicate. Smaller in diameter and length than typical street ones. The service was outstanding. We were well attended, and the dishes came out as ordered and in a timely fashion. Jose, who was our primary server, was very knowledgeable about the menu and helped us have a terrific evening. He was a star. My son has also eaten there, and he told us that he thought the restaurants paella is one of the best he ever had. My wife and I plan on returning soon.

Oh how much I love you! It was my third time coming here within the last 3 years. This time I came with 4 people so we could order lore dishes to try. Everything was delicious! My favorite was probably the mushroom and fried egg dish. Service is always friendly here. Nice open space decor. I also recommend the seafood paella as a "must try" but remember to order that as soon as you sit down because it takes awhile to make.

Phenomenal flavors, adorable decor and friendly service make this a great choice for a night out. Everything we tried was delicious and the vegetarian paella specifically stood out for how it showcased seasonal veggies.

The best tapas I've had in all of the Bay Area. Perfect service. Amazing decor and style. Gorgeous clean modern open kitchen. Lovely bar. And the food! Every dish was eyerollingly scrumptious. Will be back for the Paella! Definitely, absolutely go.

Strolling around downtown Santa Cruz one cold winter night after dinner, we spyed a hot pink neon sign which stopped us in our tracks. "Hot Churros." Could literally anything have sounded more appealing at that moment? No. No way. Luckily we saved room for dessert This alluring sign was in the window of Barcaloneta, a restaurant I'd been wanting to try, but never seen open before. That night, the restaurant was lit with a warm glow and appeared to be bustling with people. We ducked inside. The interior was stylish and hip, with clean white decor, colorful Latin accents, a casual beachy Ibiza meets Santa Cruz vibe. We were warmly attended to by a sweet, friendly waitress. We ordered up a plate of churros and hot mint teas to go with it. The churros were even more mouthwateringly good than we anticipated -- hot, fresh, crunchy and not too sweet, paired with Tcho hot chocolate dipping sauce, which was rich with cacao flavor and also restrained in sweetness. It was like a dream, something unexpected and wonderful that happened one night and you wonder was it even real? We knew we had to go back to Barcaloneta to find out if dinner was as good as that fairy tale visit. I've long avoided Spanish restaurants due to the typical pork and shellfish heavy menus, which are things I don't eat. One cool thing about Barcaloneta is that they offer a lot of great options for vegetarians, including vegetarian paella. We finally returned to Barcaloneta for dinner on a night when we were looking to lift our spirits after a rough day. We arrived in a cranky condition and blessedly the hostess handled my husband's inordinately picky seating requests with exceptional grace. Our waiter Jose was fully knowledgeable about the menu, efficient and personable. Tapas was awesome -- Companion bread with EVOO set the tone for a high quality meal, the olive oil had that bitter, fruity taste that you get with a really good one. Marinated olives were buttery with bright citrus and spicy cumin. Spanish tortilla was served warm, not hot. I'm guessing that's how they do it in Spain. I'm not usually a fan of cold food and neither is my husband but we both absolutely loved this dish, the cooler temp allowed for the flavor of the caramelized onions to come through more strongly and it was just delicious. Seared Cana de Cabra in a salad with a crispy toast, mixed lettuces, hazelnut and citrus was my favorite dish of the night. I hadn't had Cana de Cabra in ages and it hit so good in a bite of salad...delightfully salty and spicy, contrasting the bright flavors of citrus and the other elements. And searing it? What genius. We chose to try the vegetarian paella, since that's something we've never had before. It was a dramatic, exciting event, served in a hot cast iron pan. I loved the texture of the rice, kind of creamy and toasted at the same time, with great flavor from saffron and vegetables. Here we could see the thematic journey of paella, risotto, tahdig, pilaf, biryani, plov, fried rice, across the Silk Road and into Europe. Sangria, fruity and nicely spiced, was delicious with everything. Of course we had to round out the meal with more delicious churros and chocolate. By the end we were feeling great. It was a magical, special experience. Barcaloneta is more than just a dream, it's a fantastic addition to downtown Santa Cruz!

Delicious!! We have gone by a few times and it always seemed a little quiet/dark from the outside so we never wandered in. We were so impressed by the food! And service and ambiance was so fun. Everything we had was great and I'd highly recommend giving this local spot a chance.

Pricey but tasty. Generally I liked the place but it is definitely on the expensive side. The biggest disappointment was the paella, we ordered both vegetarian and seafood. There was not much of a sufrito and the shell fish was not very fresh. I felt that it was small for the price. The look of the place was white fast food walls with softer light. The papas bravas and croquettes were amazing. The cauliflower was tasty but very small for the price. The goat cheese was pretty meh boring. But the churros were amazing and I would definitely order it again. But the basque cheesecake had almost no caramelization. And I hope they were looking help because I think 3 wait staff for a forty to sixty person restaurant.

Probably my favorite restaurant in SC. Not cheap but I'm delighted every time I'm there. Order drink asap as the bar can take awhile. A Santa Cruz 5 star!

Our waiter Jose was amazing with his excellent customer service. Food was delicious as well. Definitely recommend the drinks Recommend the stuffed peppers

I was in Santa Cruz for the weekend and Barceloneta was on our list for dinner. So glad we were able to walk-in and got kitchen counter seats. I loved the view of the kitchen and watching the chef/staff cook everything. The paella is MUST if you come here. It does take 30+ mins, so make sure to order a bunch of tapas. We ordered 2 tapas: patatas bravas (potatoes) & gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp). Both tapas were delicious and I wish I tried more but I had to save room for the main course, the paella! We ordered the vegetarian paella and added chorizo. Mmm the veggies, chorizo, and rice mixed together so well! Very flavorful and just perfect! I wish I had room for those hot churros. Lol. It was a wonderful experience. Amazing food and great service (shout out to Taylor, I think that was her name). Highly recommend making a reservation online or through the phone. We were lucky and got the last two seats at the kitchen counter. Make sure to come on a empty stomach cause there's so much yummy food you have to try :)

Our first time trying paella and it was very good. Our kids recommended this place to us and it did not disappoint. The service was great and the restaurant was clean with nice ambiance. I enjoyed the sangria and my husband had the grapefruit soda water. The only reason I don't give 5 stars is the cauliflower appetizer was just ok. The drinks, the paella and the churro desert were all excellent. A very nice place to enjoy a great meal.

What a lovely meal, every dish was bursting with flavor. You can tell the kitchen puts a lot of care into their dishes. The decor was intentionally chosen but felt warm and casual rather than stuffy. The service was attentive but not overly so. The patatas bravas are a must, and the house sangria was delicious, not too sweet which I loved, and full of depth. You definitely don't wanna miss this place. Creative dishes all around.

I only order takeout from this restaurant as I'm still not eating inside restaurants and they unfortunately do not have outside seating. But takeout has mostly been pretty good. Most of the time my order is ready when they said it would be (just learned not to order takeout on Saturday night because they're too busy). Most of the food I've gotten is pretty good too. Overall, this is still one of my go to takeout places on a Thursday or Friday night if I'm feeling takeout. I've gotten the following: Ibiza Hippie Salad - My favorite thing to order. Really yummy, filling, and refreshing. Combo of different flavors is really awesome. Plus I always have enough leftover for lunch the next day. Gazpacho - Very refreshing. Usually save it to eat with my salad the next day. Patatas Bravas - Plain, but yummy. I dip mine in the garlic aioli first, then the tomato bravas sauce. It's good, and can be warmed up the next day and still taste yummy. Marcona Almonds - Not oily like usual marcona almonds, but still very yummy and plenty of salt. Very tasty still. Pickled Vegetables - Love the radishes and cauliflower, which actually taste pickled. Usually toss the carrots in the trash because they just taste like carrots with some pickle juice on them. Chips - Okay, nothing special. And comes in a plastic baggy. A fried chicken tender dish with whole small peppers - Pretty good. Would order again. A bite of chicken with a bite of pepper at the same time was yummy. Gambas al Ajillo - These were good. The shrimp and bread combo was yummy. Fried Halibut - Fish is nothing special - the breading is meh. Slaw that comes with it is pretty good though. Prob won't order again. Harissa Honey Ribs - I forgot I don't like this flavor very much, but if you like harissa flavor, then these are good. I still ate all of them. Vegetable Paella - Agree with everyone else that has rated the Paella - this is not good. This is probably their worst dish and wouldn't recommend ordering it at all. I usually love paella, but this is not one of them. They also have bottles of wine you can get with your order. I've gotten a couple of bottles of wine with my dinner order, just so I didn't have to go to the store for wine that month lol.

This was pretty good and I liked the churros. The bathrooms were not the most clean and there was a lady who yelled at me

I came here for the first time last week. The seafood Paella was incredible. The hippy salad was quirky and unique and delicious. We enjoyed the food so much we returned this week for take out. Once again, the food was outstanding. I think the prices are fair enough, but don't expect a huge meal. I don't like a heavy meal for dinner, so the portions were just right for me. The most important thing for me is great flavors and Barceloneta is right on target here.

This place was the same owner of a Spanish restaurant that we visited about 10 years ago. Food here was excellent ! I pretty much eat all kinds of Spanish Food but a Chef special really surprised me, The Garbanzos with spinach , saffron and Cumin vegetarian item. Delicious ! The owners were gracious and the staff were so friendly !

Delicious food, great service and good ambiance. What a gem! I sat at the bar and had appetizers only, no main dishes, but everything looked great and many people seemed to be regulars, that was a great sign and not a tourist trap.

Fantastic restaurant with an exceptional menu. All the flavors are really special. The staff are exceedingly polite & friendly. We even called back to ask for the recipe for a salad and they happy to share. They had a great grill that's visible to diners, we asked about it and they said due to staff shortages they don't currently use it. Sure hope they solve that problem because based on the quality of their food and service I'm sure what could come from that grill would be equally delicious.

Closed at 5:15 even though sign in window says open today 5:00-8:30. A sign of explanation would be nice if they're not going to open during advertised hours.

Super cute spot with great food and cocktails. Wish I had tried the basque cheesecake!

I have enjoyed Barceloneta every time I have eaten there but last week I took my daughters out to eat and wow was everything so impressive. The quality and the pairing of flavors can't be beat. It's a must try if your in Santa Cruz

This was a huge disappointment. The butternuts squash dish consists of a few small pieces for $16.- you got to be kidding me. I had to go home and cook some dinner. This is the first time I left a Restaurant starving.

Decided to try Barceloneta last week and was left disappointed. Service was great! Can't complain but the food and the ambiance was not it. If this restaurant was supposed to be a taste of Barcelona, it failed. The only item on this menu that I actually enjoyed was the Palomas. Order the pitcher, it'll get you right. Other than that, I find my experience at Barceloneta a 2/5.

BEST CELIAC FRIENDLY PLACE EVER!! My boyfriend researched and it showed. I came here for my 30th birthday the staff was so friendly and pointed what I can have and what I couldn't have. They made sure to tell me that they do their best not to CC. They made me feel safe I trusted that I wouldn't get sick. I'm so glad I did because the food was too die for! I got the carrots to start, and the ribs and ended with a crust less cheesecake!! I wanted to go back on our last night but they weren't open until the evening. Luckily we live two hours away and I will definitely come back. The place was very intimate with lighted candles, noise was perfect to carry a conversation.

I've eaten here dozens of times and never got around to writing a review. This place is phenomenal. You can't go wrong here. Paella. Croquetas. Bombas. Sangria. Churros. Cheesecake. It's all delicious. The vibes are immaculate and the staff and owner are so friendly. I have moved away and miss this place dearly. Don't miss out.

This is a tapas bar like some boomer couple in Laurel Canyon with a cornmeal dough and a big brick of Tillamook mozzarella is an Italian restaurant ... and I mean that with some affection, as the staff were lovely, kind, and warm. Meanwhile the food was oily, overcooked, overpriced. One dish tasted like it had been shipped frozen to them, fully prepared. And have the chefs been made aware of any Spanish ingredients, such as garlic, oregano, or paprika? I hear parsley is also used by the daring, on occasion. Or perhaps what is needed is that they wouldn't stew the life out of whatever herbs and spices they are unmethodically throwing in. The paella rice was salty without being flavorful, and the fish and shrimp were chewy and tough despite sometimes being in the company of a clam that hadn't opened yet ... requiring an origin story that I shudder to deduce. And at the risk of repeating myself, everything was drenched in cheap oil. I'm sad to be writing this... and truly baffled.

The food is wonderful, the people are kind, and the whole place is welcoming. Go there, eat well, and be happy.

I've been coming here for the last two years amazing seafood paella, and the service is second to none

Not sure what the 5 stars are for. The food was way too expensive for the portions and quality. I've been to great tapas restaurants while traveling so I know paella and tapas. The paella was served on a dinner plate size pan which afforded us (a party of 5) 1 shrimp each and 2 spoonfuls of squid ink rice, which was flat in flavor and mushy. Two (bread) appetizers, 1 churros to share, and 4 sangrias amounted to an eye popping bill. We paid too much for so little.

Love ambiance of the place, small plates and cocktails. Also, I'd say it's pretty pet friendly.

Love, love, love this restaurant. I went in last night for dinner and had an absolutely fabulous time eating and chatting with the bartender who was so personable. In fact the entire white staff was so nice and professional. This is my first time coming to this establishment but I have been stalking their page on Yelp looking at their menu in preparation of me going lol. I ordered a gang of stuff so bear with me - I started off with the Marcona almonds, olives and chips. I love house made potato chips and these did not disappoint... they were almost picture perfect and seemed as if they were store-bought but wasn't. I then moved on to the gazpacho and it was out of this world delicious... Super chilled and just scrumptious it seems like it only was made with 2 to 3 ingredients but it was prepared perfectly. I then had the deconstructed gazpacho salad and it was fantastic too. The grilled garlic shrimp were divine... cooked perfectly and accompanied with some crostini. I was on a eating streak feeling good and then I had the patatas bravas - grilled potatoes. They were good as well but the carbs slowed me down and I became super full to where I had to take my dessert- the churros and chocolate syrup to go. As I scarfed down the churros in my hotel room they were delicious too. I literally spent two hours at this restaurant eating and drinking the sangria which had a brandy in it so it had a well balanced kick to it. I cannot wait to come back to this place and bring friends it's definitely a gem in Santa Cruz!

Five years ago, we would frequent a cosy place called "Contigo", a Spanish and Catalan tapas restaurant in the Noe Valley neighborhood of San Francisco. We grew to love it so much that It was a given that all anniversaries and birthdays would end in a dinner there. The food impeccable, the wait staff (especially Javier or Javi as he was known by) always so friendly and accommodating, and the other diners always open to share, yes share, what they had ordered and discuss intricacies of the cuisine being served. We still have very sweet memories attached and the place set a clear benchmark in our food journey in the SFO Bay Area. And then one day they closed shop. We were truthfully heartbroken but the better half did not give up. She scoured for news about the place on the internet and then we got to know that the owners, for personal reasons, had moved to Santa Cruz and soon we heard (read) that they were to open a similar restaurant in Santa Cruz CA. We had promised ourselves for old times sake, we will definitely visit whatever restaurant they open next. And that is how and why, yesterday, we drove down to Santa Cruz CA, to this place called the Barceloneta . First thing we noticed that the Barceloneta is a lot bigger and roomier than Contigo and could seat far far more diners. They have two areas where you could grab the high chair/table seating - one at the bar and the other at the kitchen. The seating in the main dining area was elegant , though I would have preferred something more comfortable to the old hind of mine. The lighting too was just right and made the place look happy and inviting. In the tradition of Contigo the seating arrangement here too is close, so you can see and hear what your neighbors are ordering and there is constant bustling around of orders being served, but sadly we did not experience the friendly crowd nor any staff that would hold a candle to Javi. But, the food served was just as good and we were super happy to see some of the old dishes have crept into the menu here too. So here is what we ordered: We started off by getting cocktails with the better half ordering the Canary Islands - Union Uno Mezcal with Chartreuse, Pineapple and Grenadine served in a tall glass with a straw( if you ask for it! - In keeping with the no plastic straws rule in Santa Cruz, I suppose). Was happy to see that she loved it. Rating 4/5 I ordered the Operation Bikini - a bright orange colored drink made of Hangar One Vodka, carrot juice , turmeric, oranges and ginger ! I was completely blown away by the uniqueness and it was so tasty too that I had to remind myself that I had to do the windy CA 17 to get back home and thus stopped myself from ordering seconds! Rating a solid 5/5! To kickstart we ordered the Cantabrian Anchovies - deluxe salt-cured anchovies in Olive oil, they were heavenly , but the 3 Slivers served were just not enough. Rating 4/5 as I would have loved a few more slivers And with that we ordered the Bombas - sausage-stuffed Amazeballs- soft, fluffy balls of potato with mouthwatering sausage stuffed in them. They were gone before we knew it! - rate it a solid 5/5 From the Tapas we ordered the Pinchos Merunos and the Albondigas. The Pinchos Morunos were 2 skewers of lightly grilled Lamb kebabs with moorish spices, cumin yoghurt and drizzled with Chermoula sauce served along with pickled Broccoflower - this is a dish that I could happily die for. Soft succulent melt in the mouth each piece brought out out oohs and aahs from both of us- Rating a solid 5/5. The Albondigas have been our favorite since Contigo and here too, they did not disappoint! Very tasty balls of Pork, Jamon and Beef bathed in this slightly tangy Oloroso Toati sauce. I could eat cardboard if was drenched in this sauce, it was so good!! Rating - a solid 5/5. Next we ordered the seafood Paella - now we had a lot of hopes from this dish, but it fell a little short. In the seafood , we did see many mussel and clam shells, but sadly did not get the meat. And the cuttlefish was conspicuous in its absence from our pan. There were shrimp which were quite plentiful and fresh. Although I found that oiliness of the dish slightly overwhelming, but that did not stop us from scraping the bottom of the pan to get the burnt rice and that was spot on! We give it 3.5/5. We were not going to leave without dessert and so we ordered the Churros with Hot Chocolate and a Vanilla Swirl. Both were absolutely fantastic, light and not too sweet and we rate both a solid 5/5 All in all, a solid evening of authentic Spanish cuisine.

This restaurant has lovely atmosphere. The place was bustling with customers and staff. Every single dish we ordered, from crispy potato brava to tangy Hippy salad entertained our state budget. Pork ribs were succulent! We picked Basque cheese cake for dessert. We split it between three of us It was a perfect finish for this glorious meal.

Great food, service, and ambience! This restaurant is also conveniently located near bookshops, cafes, and theaters. I loved the gluten free options available and my family loved all options, gluten free and otherwise.

Don't go to this place past 7 pm if you expect to have dessert. Somehow we dined at 7:30 pm and they ran out of churros and didn't tell us until after we ordered. However it is more likely that they closed the kitchen and didn't want to make more. The food was just okay, bread was cold and the butter was rock hard. Our entire meal was the slowest meal we've ever had. After 20 minutes sitting there with just water we had to ask to finally put in our drink order. We then decided to put in our entire order to not have to wait for a server again. Once we finished our drinks, the server never grabbed the empty glasses or asked if we wanted another. Then, they forgot one of our appetizers. Once we reminded them, they brought it out AFTER our entree. Do not come here unless you have EXTREME patience or an abundance of time. Will probably not return anytime soon.

stumbled across this spot when it just opened for dinner and wanted small dishes instead of a big meal. no reservations needed at the time. Ordered a few dishes to try. all was delicious. I really liked the churros! Will come again.

My girlfriend and I went to Barceloneta this past Saturday night and had a great time. We had a reservation and were quickly seated to our table. Our server Amanda was attentive and provided great recommendations and we had a great time. We got a bottle of wine which was moderately priced. Some thoughts on the tapas we ordered - Pollo Frito - this was so good we ordered a 2nd serving of it. Lightly fried boneless chicken and some peppers. The Spanish apertivo sauce was excellent and was a little smokey in its flavor. - Harissa Honey Ribs - the honey lime sauce was pretty good but didn't taste a ton of Harissa in it. Rib portion was not large nor particularly juicy. Definitely a bigger fan of the Pollo Frito -Patatas Bravas - crispy potatoes with delicious brava sauce - highly recommend - smoky flavor - Bombas - similar to the Patatas Brava but filled with chorizo as well as potatoes - we were in need of some heavy carbs to we doubled down - Croquetas - classic Ham & Cheese filled croquettes Very good experience at Barceloneta. Good ambiance, solid service and above average tapas. Would definitely go back here.

I have been dying to try Barceloneta for so long, and last night I finally went for dinner with a small group of friends here. The restaurant is colorful and cute inside, and I felt like I was no longer in Santa Cruz. A nice little escape! We started off with a pitcher of strawberry sangria, and some tapas. The tapas that stood out to me were the bombas, and patatas bravas. We also tried the gambas al ajillo (flavorful shrimp simmered in oil filled with shrimp shells and garlic), and the pollo frito (fried chicken). The potato and sausage bombas were really light and flavorful, and the fried chicken was extremely juicy and not overly crunchy or hard, the sauce that accompanied it had just enough spice and really added to the chicken. I can't wait to come back to have both of those dishes again and rate them at 5 stars. For our main, we shared the seafood paella and I had a Negroni. A Negroni is suppose to be a spirit forward cocktail served over a large ice cube, I found that I could barely taste the alcohol and it was too fruity and sweet. It also only had four ice cubes which quickly melted leading to the cocktail warming while I ate. Inexperienced bartender, perhaps? All four of us were extremely upset with the paella and even discussed sending it back. The extremely thin layer of rice was still firm and most of it stuck to the bottom of the pan. The snap peas and pea shoots seemed random and didn't add much flavor. The large shrimp were a strange texture and very fishy. None of us ate them. The mussels and clams were ok. I did not taste any notes of saffron in the dish. We had planned to stay for dessert, but were so turned off by the paella that we asked for our bill right away. I'd also recommend coming early, due to sound issues in the building. As it got later and the restaurant filled with people, the room became very loud, and I could no longer hear what anyone in my party was saying. I will definitely be back for the sangria and the tapas, but I would not eat a full dinner here again.

Barceloneta was superb. Every selection was super delicious and some of the very best tapas that I have had in a while.

So good! I've been wanting to try this place for a while and finally brought my dad here for Father's Day and it did not disappoint! We loved everything we ordered as well as the drinks, and the service was wonderful. The owner is also so nice. She works in the restaurant right alongside her staff, as the a hostess and even bussing the tables, which just shows how much effort she puts in and the care she takes to make sure everything is running smoothly and her staff isn't overwhelmed. Highly recommend!!

Headed home from a day in Monterey with my cousin. We decided to stop in Santa Cruz for some tapas. What a great find! The ambience was idyllic and provided a cozy setting almost as if you were in the kitchen with the chefs. To my right I was able to see the chefs preparing the food from the kitchen and straight ahead, the bartender creating beautifully hand crafted cocktails with such detail. We ordered 1 of everything on their tapas side of the menu. Everything was delicious! So we moved over to the medium plates and ordered two items from there. All packed with great flavor. Yes... we also had dessert. Our churros came with chocolate dipping sauce...yum! The cheesecake was also yummy. Our server was so sweet! Customer service was warm and welcoming. She was so happy that we wanted to try everything. We will definitely be back to share our experience with others.