Bad Bunny slipped into downtown Palo Alto after his Super Bowl halftime performance and quietly took over Macarena, a new Spanish tapas restaurant, for a private celebration. The pop star bought out the 180-seat dining room and turned it into an intimate after-party for roughly 60 people, the owners later said. Staff and owners kept the whole thing under wraps, only sharing what happened several days after the fact.
Owners Scramble To Pull Off Last-Minute Superstar Booking
Co-owners David Linares and Elizabeth Reviriego told reporters they had about 24 hours to get the place ready, cancel Sunday reservations, and create a one-off "Benito Edition" menu featuring paella, dry-aged rib eye, and jamón ibérico, as reported by SFGATE. To protect guests’ privacy, staff covered Macarena’s floor-to-ceiling windows and were asked to leave their phones outside, the owners said. Linares told the outlet he was "shocked" when he learned who had booked the space, while Reviriego described the party itself as surprisingly humble.
Macarena’s Short Run And Deep Spanish Roots
Macarena opened in downtown Palo Alto in late February 2025 and presents itself as a traditional Spanish tapas spot from Linares and Reviriego, built around paellas and a jamón-carving cart, according to Eater SF. The restaurant’s website lists its Ramona Street address along with reservation options. Before opening, the owners brought in chefs from Spain and leaned on classic Spanish dishes to shape the menu for the debut.
Super Bowl Week Brings A Bay Area Restaurant Boom
The Super Bowl weekend delivered a surge of business for Bay Area restaurants, with many kitchens reporting higher sales and private buyouts linked to game-week festivities, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. For a smaller, newer spot like Macarena, a surprise celebrity reservation can mean a big visibility boost and a rush of follow-up demand. The owners said that even with the group’s low-key approach, the visit felt like a major milestone after less than a year in business.
Night Wraps With Dancing, Handshakes And Quiet Exit
As reported by SFGATE, Bad Bunny arrived with a security team, spent the night working through the restaurant’s best-sellers, and then took time to shake hands with each staff member before heading out. The owners said guests danced to reggaetón and salsa throughout the evening and kept the Latino ambience strong inside the shuttered-off space. They held the news back for about a week to protect their patrons’ privacy and said the experience has already prompted diners to ask about future private bookings.