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Welcome to La Catalana

La Catalana is a vibrant tapas bar located in San Jose, California. With a focus on Spanish cuisine, the restaurant offers a wide range of vegan and vegetarian options, as well as beer and wine selections. Guests can enjoy live music on select nights and take advantage of happy hour specials. The restaurant's casual atmosphere, outdoor seating, and wheelchair accessibility make it a popular choice for a variety of occasions. Whether you're looking to dine in, take out, or host a private event, La Catalana provides a welcoming and inclusive environment for all. Overall, La Catalana offers a delightful dining experience with its diverse menu and inviting ambiance.

La Catalana: Reviews & Ratings

Megan S.
Megan S.

What a diamond in the rough! Hidden in an unassuming strip mall, we found this little gem for a business dinner and all found ourselves very pleased. They have a very intimate space inside with beautiful decor, as well as a small patio. Their menus were little newspapers which added to the vibe of the entire space with the old school style and dim lighting. Our server was delightful, we actually had him choose our menu for dinner as well as our wines and we were thoroughly impressed. The Paella was delicious, we tried both meat and seafood but both were delectable. We also had a couple of the traditional croquetas and tapas which were delicious as well. Overall a great experience, will be coming back during my next visit to the area!

Sara B.
Sara B.

Nondescript spot in a little strip mall, but surprisingly vibrant and cozy inside. Great spot for an intimate date night. Spanish music, food and wine, what more could you want? Tapas were light, tasty and authentic. Wine list was extensive and organized by region. Service was good, but tapered out toward the end as things got busy. Dessert and coffee options were a little lacking! Wish they had churros con chocolat- would have been a great way to round out the otherwise delightful meal and experience! Would recommend if you love tapas but can't afford a plane ticket to Spain right now

Josh L.
Josh L.

Very great date night spot which I highly recommend. Went here for Valentine's so I had to put in a reservation 2 weeks in advance. The place itself was on the smaller size, but had a nice intimate ambiance due to dim lights and live music. It also was quiet enough to be able to have a decent conversation. The staff were super friendly with us and did a good job of walking through the menu and all their recommendations were pretty solid We had the seafood paella and it took a bit to be ready for us (20-30 min). It had a good amount of seafood in it and had a nice savory taste.

Jenica C.
Jenica C.

The perfect place to enjoy tapas, live music, and Spanish wine! I had a delightful experience here celebrating a special occasion with a friend. I'd say the chorizo croquetas are a must!! I would order it every single time. The patatas bravas were also amazing. Bring cash to tip the live music performers- they will not take no for an answer. We didn't have cash and they insisted us to Venmo or Zelle them. It was a little rude that they insisted we tip them no matter what...

Jason M.
Jason M.

If you want the best Spanish Food... If you want the best service... If you want the best ambiance... You need to treat yourself to an evening at La Catalan. Really

Elizabeth A.
Elizabeth A.

Was in town for a convention and we had a reservation here for a small group. This meal was amazing. Every dish had so much flavor and it was probably my favorite meal while in town. The staff has great recommendations and brought everything with perfect timing.

Brian K.
Brian K.

Last minute reservations on a Sat night. Easy parking. Nice warm, and very homey interior. Felt very comfortable. The owner was there (her picture was on the menu). Very quiet, and somewhat shy. I was expecting her to be more vibrant. Maybe she was sick. Good bread service with high quality olive oil. Tried the patatas bravas, cannelloni with beef, octopus and cauliflower steak. Good portion sizes for the money, well executed dishes, well presented and just really good cooking. The Octopus was without that kinda slimy underbelly, which I appreciated. Tender with good grill marks. Potatoes were crispy and pillowy on the inside and the bra as sauce was flavorful and somewhat unique. Cauliflowers was a thick, well braised with lots of garlic!! Very pleased with our meal, service, value and atmosphere. Will definitely return.

Dong Wook C.
Dong Wook C.

Pretty decent food. I enjoyed their seafood paella and octopus appetizer. Their chicken dish on the specials menu tonight was very good - soft and delicious. Sauce it was cooked in was tasty. Their cannelloni was very good as well. Didn't leave room for dessert but it was a satisfying meal. They had live music playing tonight. Very cozy ambience with mood lighting. Servers were courteous and helpful. Restaurant was busy. Parking lot is available on site and I didn't have any trouble finding a parking space on a Friday night.

Nina L.
Nina L.

Our new favorite local spot. We've passed by this restaurant so many times and finally had dinner on a Friday night. No reservation for two people and we're seated quickly on the patio. The service here is fantastic. Everyone is so friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. The food is delicious. We have yet to have a bad dish here. We've tried a few of their seasonal specials including the pork and steak. Their proteins are cooked to the perfect temperature. For sides, we've tried the cauliflower steak. Really can't go wrong with veggies slathered in butter and cream sauce. We had never come across a noodle paella. We went for the one with pork belly. Really tasty and crispy. Pretty oily but that's what makes it taste good. Drinks are also really good. I've had the red sangria and white. The white is like a dessert, it comes with sorbet. My fiancé really likes one of the Spanish beers. And dessert! Their take on a crème brûlée is delicious. Save room. This is our new date night spot and a place we'll be taking guests visiting from out of town. It really doesn't look like much from the outside, it's in an unassuming strip mall with a round table. Don't judge a book by its cover. The inside and patio are quaint and sophisticated.

Location

  • La Catalana
    3720 N 1st St Ste 10 San Jose, CA 95134 Hotline: (408) 324-1321

La Catalana is a vibrant and welcoming tapas bar located in San Jose, CA. This Spanish-inspired gem not only serves up delicious dishes but also provides a unique dining experience. With a diverse menu that caters to vegans, vegetarians, and meat-lovers alike, there is something for everyone at La Catalana.

The restaurant offers a range of amenities, including takeout, delivery, and even catering options. With a focus on creating a welcoming environment, La Catalana is wheelchair accessible and has gender-neutral restrooms for all guests.

One of the standout features of La Catalana is its outdoor seating area, perfect for enjoying the California weather while sipping on a glass of wine. The live music and happy hour specials on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday nights create a lively atmosphere that is perfect for gathering with friends or enjoying a date night.

Overall, La Catalana is a must-visit spot for those looking for a unique dining experience in San Jose. With its delicious food, welcoming atmosphere, and range of amenities, this tapas bar is sure to become a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike.