El Machi-Ida y Vuelta
A historic Cantabrian seafood tavern in Santander, offering market-fresh fish, acclaimed rice dishes, and a charming atmosphere.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Social
From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Blue hour photography, calmer galleries
El Machi-Ida y Vuelta
Highlights
Must-see attractions
A historic Cantabrian seafood tavern in Santander, offering market-fresh fish, acclaimed rice dishes, and a charming atmosphere.
"I would drive here from Madrid just to eat this rice again!"
Order the Rice Dishes
Highly recommended for a standout experience, especially the arroz de mariscos caldoso/meloso.
Ask for Daily Specials
Inquire about fresh, local fish specials for excellent, market-driven choices.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
Spanish Seafood
Price
$$$
Phone
+34 942 21 87 22
Address
C. Calderón de la Barca, 9, 39002 Santander, Cantabria, Spain
Website
elmachi.es/Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Outstanding Seafood Rice Dishes
Savor exceptional arroz de mariscos caldoso/meloso, hailed as outstanding and worth a special trip.
Award-Winning Seafood Specialties
Don't miss the highly praised seafood tortilla and Galician-style octopus, true local treasures.
Authentic Cantabrian Seafood
Experience top-quality, market-fresh fish and seafood prepared with authentic regional ingredients.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Menu
Most Popular Items
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Order the Rice Dishes
Highly recommended for a standout experience, especially the arroz de mariscos caldoso/meloso.
Ask for Daily Specials
Inquire about fresh, local fish specials for excellent, market-driven choices.
Request Upstairs Seating
For a pleasant ambiance, consider asking for a table upstairs (arriba) if dining indoors.
Try Award-Winning Items
Don't miss the seafood tortilla or the Galician-style octopus mentioned in articles.
Tips
from all over the internet
Order the Rice Dishes
Highly recommended for a standout experience, especially the arroz de mariscos caldoso/meloso.
Ask for Daily Specials
Inquire about fresh, local fish specials for excellent, market-driven choices.
Request Upstairs Seating
For a pleasant ambiance, consider asking for a table upstairs (arriba) if dining indoors.
Try Award-Winning Items
Don't miss the seafood tortilla or the Galician-style octopus mentioned in articles.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
El Machi - Ida y Vuelta is praised for its authentic Spanish seafood and outstanding rice dishes, particularly the arroz de mariscos. While many enjoy the quality ingredients and attentive service, some diners have experienced issues with dish consistency, portioning on shared dishes, and occasional lapses in service attention. The prices are noted as being on the higher side, but many feel the quality justifies the cost.
"I know this family of restaurants from their locations in Madrid and after coming to Santander I wanted to give it a try and I’m glad I did. They offer great authentic Spanish seafood and other dishes with great ingredients from the region. It’s a little pricy but the quality is spot on. Don’t miss their cheesecake at the end!"
David Pelaez
"Ai, the chef had an off-day we hope! The dishes we ordered were out and we could wait 20 minutes. That of course is no problem! we never mind waiting for freshly prepared food bring it on! A complimentary pâté of fishes was offered for the waiting. It came in two pans. We saw it immediately. Arroz de marisco with extremely overcooked clam,(3), Congolese (2) and shrimp (1). You know when you overcook fish? It smells off. But ok, maybe the rice was nice. We love paella, but this rice was half raw. Give it 5minutes more, add some stock and make it nice… not like this. Partner’s dish same failure. Broken spaghetti with some sausage sliced. Pâté, yes, arroz, no. It is quite exceptional to have a good menu with over 100 dishes on it. Give me 10 good . Tourist trap? Almost there"
Hartger Visser
"This place was pretty good! It was pricier than normal, but we liked the appetizer and all the dishes we ordered. Four stars because of a surprise we got when two people ordered the same dish - I ordered the Arroz Negro and got a whole pan for myself, but two ordered the Paella Marinera and had the same sized pan with the same amount of food split between them...but we were charged for TWO orders!!"
Maria Bianca
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
The arroz de mariscos caldoso/meloso is highly recommended, along with the award-winning seafood tortilla and Galician-style octopus.
The restaurant is noted as being on the pricier side, but many reviewers feel the quality of the seafood and preparation justifies the cost.
It's described as a charming, rustic tavern with a pleasant ambiance. Some suggest requesting upstairs seating for a nice atmosphere.
Dietary accommodation information is not explicitly provided in the data. It's best to inquire directly with the restaurant.
Reservations are possible, but one review mentioned a booking being misplaced. It's advisable to confirm your reservation.
Mentioned in
Featured in these publications
The Best Restaurants In Santander
Taberna El Machi is a charming little seafood restaurant, decked all in white with colourful mismatched chairs and seafaring paraphernalia. They offer every type of seafood you can imagine, from whole, grilled on a plate to paella. Try the award-winning seafood tortilla or the Galician-style octopus sprinkled with paprika.
23 restaurantes en Santander de moda donde comer muy bien
Un clásico de la ciudad que ha sabido adaptarse a los nuevos tiempos, manteniendo su historia. Es la taberna marinera más antigua de Santander en la que vas a encontrar pescados de primera calidad, recogido a primera hora en la lonja. Las rabas son unas de las mejores de Santander, rebozadas con harina ecológica y fritas con aceite de oliva.
Eating in Santander
El Machi, very complete, with delicious breakfasts and pinchos at the vermouth time, meals, maritime rice, drink times, dinners... It is a maritime tavern with blue and white colors, where everything is always delicious. The fish is the king of the menu.
Tapas and pinchos tour Santander
El Machi – Machichaco takes it´s name from the famous steam wessel that exploded at the end of the 19th century – one of the big tragedies of Santander. But their fried fish bits try to make up with history!
Culinary And Cultural Delights Of Santander In 4 Days: Itinerary 2025
Raise a toast to your Santander adventure at El Machi Restaurante, a cozy bar with a great selection of drinks.
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit