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Ratings and reviews

RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere

Details

PRICE RANGE
$11 - $109
CUISINES
Seafood, Mediterranean, Spanish
Special Diets
Gluten Free Options
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meals, features
Reviews (296)
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51 results
Traveler rating
28
15
5
1
2
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Traveler rating
28
15
5
1
2
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Reviewed August 3, 2020 via mobile

It is a very old seafood restaurant and very casual but what I like about it is that they kept their food all this time with the same quality,if you want to enjoy good seafood dishes and with great prices than you should try it.

Date of visit: July 2020
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W1300HSalbertog, Otro at Bar California, responded to this reviewResponded September 3, 2020
Google Translation

Muchas gracias nos enorgullece su opinion y esperamos volver a verle de nuevo pronto por aqui

Reviewed August 31, 2019 via mobile

Been coming here for years when we are on holiday - great place to eat - not posh but just comfortable & a really pleasant tasty experience 7 of us ate like kings with drinks for €90 .... how can you go wrong ?!?!? We...arrive for 830pm when it’s only slightly busy - by 930pm the place is packed - and you know why :))) Quality delicious fresh tasting food & plenary of it. Staff pleasant & helpful We HIGHLY RECOMMEND this restaurantMore

Date of visit: August 2019
Helpful?2  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed August 15, 2019 via mobile

I came back after more than 20 years and still the same no trills and not frills but top fresh fish served quick and you pay for what you get ..top value for money , wine as well inexpensive ...absolutely and hide Gem !! The...one of best restaurant in downtown for fish and absolutely the n1 for value for money!More

Date of visit: August 2019
Helpful?3  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed July 7, 2019

Fresh fish everyday,simple dishes local customers Excellent quality shrimp pil pil out of this world Great local wines Salads are big and super tasty

Date of visit: June 2019
Helpful?4  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed June 23, 2019 via mobile

One thing holds true for bar California. It is cheap. And at it can be a very good quality. Actually the venue is not very nice. Sitting in the white lights in plastic tables is not what you call a get-away. Waiters are faster than...good listening. No English. Take care that the Google maps location is wrong it is at the end of the street Close to the big main street- Maybe a reason that you don’t find too many tourists there. Check the fish inside. They know how to prepare it to perfection but sometimes the fish is not that fresh. We were lucky but I saw fish that looked older. When you picked up a fresh one go together with the fried Aubergines (yummy) and the tomato salad. Drink a class of two euro house wine and invest the saved money in a new Gucci bag-If you just invested ...this is your payback evening...30 euros and two people are happy. But take care that you get the fresh fish and that’s not your first date dinner on plastic tables :-)More

Date of visit: June 2019
Helpful?3  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed March 13, 2019 via mobile

So an authentic fisher family restaurant- grabs my attention. Away from the main drag and doesn’t open till late- sounds like the real deal. Given a menu with about 30 fish & 20 shellfish dishes listed. Not that much on display as I would expect...so ask what is good today. Given no options apart from sea bass . Asked for tomato salad. Huge fish , tastily cooked with garlic but has not been de scaled. Salad is brown lettuce, raw onion in huge chunks & 4 bits tomato. Bill with one glass of wine is more than for 2 of us last night & a bottle of wine. So much promise let down by attitude. The society of fishermen at the harbour was loads better- avoid this placeMore

Date of visit: March 2019
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Reviewed August 4, 2018 via mobile

An average retsaurant in an average neighbourhood. The fish and squit we ate was fresh, but nothing special. Was good and brought quickly by the staff that spoke english.

Date of visit: June 2018
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Reviewed April 28, 2018 via mobile

Best fish restaurant in Marbella. Fisherman’s family, always fresh, great value for money. Have been going for 30 years.

Date of visit: April 2018
Helpful?2  
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Reviewed April 8, 2018 via mobile

We’ve been constantly ignored by 3 waiters. 2 other tables that came after us were served before us (multiple times). After my question why they ignore us nothing changed, so we left very angry. NEVER again!

Date of visit: April 2018
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed January 31, 2018 via mobile

I have been visiting this fabulous fish and seafood restaurant for over 30 years and never been disappointed! The freshest of locally caught fish and seafood cooked to perfection, lovingly served by truly professional waiters who have a passion for what they are doing. Prices...are very reasonable, portions generous and the quality is unbeatable! Bar California is simply THE place for fish and seafood in Marbella.More

Date of visit: January 2018
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Reviewed January 12, 2018 via mobile

This is a no frills fresh seafood & fish restaurant. If you like your fish - give it a try... the outside does not do it justice - go at peak times & it will be full - that says everything! We have eaten here...a couple of times & it’s wonderful - for an aside the chick pea coated aubergine is heaven. Make sure you don’t order too many sides as the protein packed fish is very filling. If you are not sure what to order they will happily assist... The calamari is heaven - my rosado was beautiful, meaty white pieces perfectly cooked - there is an open kitchen - everything is fresh... at busy times expect to wait!More

Date of visit: January 2018
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Reviewed October 30, 2017

I have eaten few times at the California and IMHO this place is good and reasonable priced. They serve only fish and it's always worth asking to the waitress what daily special is available. For example, last time I was there they had freshly catched...baby soles! Drinks are reasonable priced too and the staff is nice even if sometimes they are so busy we had to wait a bit or just chase them big time :) Good food and reasonable prices. I am an aficionado!More

Date of visit: October 2017
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Reviewed September 26, 2017

This is a simple restaurant doing one thing very well Fish prepared the way it should be, simple and delicious whether you want Tapas or a full meal, and very well priced, you may have to cue as it gets very busy but it is...worth the wait.More

Date of visit: September 2017
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Reviewed September 9, 2017 via mobile

It is a restaurant that have been since long time in Marbella it is still keeping it is standard after all this years. They have great fresh seafood but no paella the waiters are friendly but the restaurant is not trendy but u eat good,...prices r very fair but don't have a wide range of wine n it is most of the time very busy.More

Date of visit: September 2017
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Reviewed June 20, 2017 via mobile

California is a simple Spanish restaurant with plastic tables and chairs outside but the fish served is excellent. They are located on the other side of the road to the Amare Hotel, adjacent to a Chinese restaurant. If you want good fish with the benefit...of being very reasonably priced, this is the place to go! The salads are also very good as is the aubergine with honey!More

Date of visit: June 2017
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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BAR CALIFORNIA, Marbella - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Bar California

Yes, Bar California offers takeout services.

Bar California is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travelers:
  • Food: 4.5
  • Service: 4
  • Value: 4.5
  • Atmosphere: 3.5