La Marea — Restaurant in Barcelona

had lunch today at La Marea and rating it 5 stars just isn’t enough. The restaurant, which is proudly Palestinian owned, serves the best seafood in have had in barcelona yet. the food was perfectly flavorful, and served in quickly without a waiting period. For starters, we had potatoes with aioli and something similar to siracha, which were excellent to say the least, fried calamari with all the lemons we could ask for, and artisan bread with tomatoes that didn’t disappoint at all. and for the main course we had a paella that beats any and every paella you’ve ever had. the portions were perfect for 2, we even took some home ! but the star of the meal was our waiter Juan, whose sense of humor and enthusiasm made the meal even more enjoyable. He was extremely helpful and sweet, and he made sure to explain the meals and drinks to us which i found to be very nice of him. Also, the pricing was very affordable. Most of the places we went to in Barcelona were on the more expensive side, but La Marea is worth every last cent. :)

I highly recommend this place and i am definitely going to visit again before i travel back ! Trust me, I’ve had my fair share of paellas and seafood, but at La Marea, it’s otherworldly ! do yourself a favor and have dinner there. What an...

La Marea is, unfortunately, a textbook example of a tourist trap—dressed up with polished plating but lacking the soul and standards of true Spanish cuisine.

The seafood was consistently underwhelming. The prawns, mussels, and lobster all carried that unmistakable muddy, stagnant flavor, hinting at poor storage or time spent in dirty freshwater tanks. 🦐 The razor clams were gritty and poorly cleaned—leaving a sandy crunch in every bite, which is inexcusable in a city where seafood excellence is the norm.

The Sangria was perhaps the most disappointing element of the meal. Overwhelmingly sweet, flat, and lacking any depth—it had none of the fresh fruit, wine balance, or vibrant character that defines real Spanish Sangria. 🍷 It felt like an insult to the culture—a mass-produced drink disguised as tradition.

While the service was polite and the restaurant ambiance quiet, the near-empty dining room and absence of locals say more than any review could. No reservation needed, and for good reason.

Barcelona is a city full of culinary treasures—this, sadly, is not...

We personally found La Marea a true gem in Barcelona! From the moment we arrived, the service was warm - special thank to EKA who was beyond professional recommending best dishes, friendly, and attentive, setting the tone for a wonderful dining experience.

We first had the seafood fideuà, and it was outstanding — a generous, beautifully presented platter overflowing with lobster, prawns, mussels, scallops, razor clams, and squid. The flavors were fresh and super delicious.

We also tried the arroz negro (black rice Paella), which was equally impressive. Cooked with squid ink, prawns, mussels, and clams, and we LOVED IT.

The portions were generous, the quality was top-notch, and the atmosphere was relaxed.

Overall, La Marea is truly recommended and delivered one of the best seafood dining experiences we ve had so far in...