25 editor picks across Spain.
25 valencian restaurants worth the trip across Spain, editor-ranked. All cuisines in Spain.
La Fava is Fran Burgos's 25-seat house in Benidorm's old town, giving coastal Alicante dishes a modern turn; it won the 2026 Benidorm tapas contest.
OrderThe bluefin tuna belly when it is on, or one of the rice dishes for two.
TipThe whitewashed house sits a few streets back from Levante beach and seats about 25, so book a table by phone first.
Rice is a rice house on the Sierra Cortina estate above Benidorm, in Finestrat, cooking seven rices plus fideuà and rossejat, with grilled red prawns first.
OrderArroz de gamba roja y corvina for two, after a grilled red prawn each.
TipRice dishes are for at least two and the kitchen cooks one rice per table; dinner runs only on Friday and Saturday, so plan a long lunch.
Casa Carmela on the Malvarrosa beachfront in Valencia has cooked wood-fired paellas to order since 1922, with a 20-strong rice repertoire and a lunch-only.
OrderThe paella valenciana cooked over orange-wood embers, ordered when you book.
TipBook three weeks ahead for weekend lunch. Lunch only Tue to Sat 13:00-16:00; no dinner.
Rice is a rice house on the Sierra Cortina estate above Benidorm, in Finestrat, cooking seven rices plus fideuà and rossejat, with grilled red prawns first.
OrderArroz de gamba roja y corvina for two, after a grilled red prawn each.
TipRice dishes are for at least two and the kitchen cooks one rice per table; dinner runs only on Friday and Saturday, so plan a long lunch.
Casa Roberto on Carrer del Mestre Gozalbo in Valencia's Eixample has cooked Roberto Aparicio's traditional paellas since 1986, with a long chef's record.
OrderThe paella valenciana ordered ahead, with the croquetas and salmorejo to start.
TipClosed Monday all day and Sunday evenings. Reserve 48 hours ahead for paella; the dining room is small.
Saiti on Carrer de Reina Dona Maria in Valencia's Eixample is chef Vicente Patino's modern Valencian room with two Repsol Suns, anchored on Mediterranean.
OrderThe shorter tasting menu at lunch is the best-value introduction to the kitchen.
TipClosed Sunday and Monday. The tasting runs about two hours; book through the website or call.
La Riua on Carrer del Mar in Valencia's old town has run a family-tavern rice kitchen since 1978, now in the third generation, with a dozen paellas.
OrderThe paella valenciana or the arroz a banda; the house Utiel-Requena tinto is honest.
TipClosed Sunday and Monday. The dining room fills with locals by 14:00; reserve ahead.
Kaymus on Avinguda de Maestro Rodrigo in Valencia is chef Nacho Romero's modern Valencian kitchen, with a strong arroz carte, a Mediterranean tasting menu.
OrderThe tasting menu at lunch (around 45 euros), with the chef's choice of arroz that day.
TipReserve through the website. Lunch tasting is excellent value; dinner is the full experience.
El Tap on Carrer de Roteros in Valencia's Carmen quarter is a chef-driven modern Valencian bistro with daily tasting menus and a strong arroz turn.
OrderThe shorter tasting menu (around 38 euros at lunch) with the day's rice.
TipClosed Sunday and Monday. Reserve a few days ahead for weekend lunch.
Rausell on Carrer d'Angel Guimera in Valencia's Extramurs is a family-run rice and seafood kitchen since 1948, now in its third generation. Priced at €€.
OrderThe pescaito frito plate of the day plus a half-portion of arroz a banda.
TipClosed Sunday. The lunchtime menu del dia is one of the best in the area.
La Pepica on Passeig de Neptu in Valencia's Malvarrosa beach has served paella since 1898; Hemingway, Queen Sofia and Orson Welles all ate the rice here.
OrderThe paella valenciana with rabbit, chicken and ferraura beans at lunch.
TipBook the beachfront terrace one week ahead. Closed Sunday evenings. Hemingway's signed photograph hangs in the inner dining room.
Navarro on Carrer de l'Arquebisbe Mayoral in Valencia's Ciutat Vella is a long-running family rice kitchen, with a tiled dining room and a strong arroz al.
OrderThe arroz al horno with chickpeas, blood sausage and pork, ordered as a half portion for two.
TipReserve 24 hours ahead for paella. The menu del dia at lunch is one of the best in the centre.
Ongi Etorri Manolo 1 has fed Poniente beach in Benidorm since 1968, a family house cooking arroz a banda, paella, bay fish and Basque-style hake by the sea.
OrderArroz a banda for two, or the merluza a la vasca the house calls its signature.
TipThe kitchen runs straight through from noon, so a late lunch after the beach is easy; rice dishes are for a minimum of two.
El Barranco is a seafront rice and fish house on Poniente beach in Benidorm, cooking arroz a banda, arroz del senyoret and rice with anchovies and spinach.
OrderArroz con boquerones y espinacas, Benidorm's own rice, for at least two.
TipRice dishes are made for at least two; a local quoted by Guía Repsol picks the salt-baked fish and the grilled baby squid.
Ongi Etorri Manolo 1 has fed Poniente beach in Benidorm since 1968, a family house cooking arroz a banda, paella, bay fish and Basque-style hake by the sea.
OrderArroz a banda for two, or the merluza a la vasca the house calls its signature.
TipThe kitchen runs straight through from noon, so a late lunch after the beach is easy; rice dishes are for a minimum of two.
El Encuentro on Carrer de Sant Vicent Martir in Valencia's Ciutat Vella is a neighbourhood arroceria with a strong local following, eight rice variations.
OrderThe paella valenciana for two with the canonical rabbit and chicken, ordered ahead.
TipClosed Sunday evening and all day Monday. Reserve weekend lunch a few days ahead.
El Rall on Carrer dels Tundidors in Valencia's old town has cooked paellas to order in a tiled medieval-corner dining room since 1980, with one of the wider.
OrderThe paella valenciana for two cooked over wood, or the fideua a banda with seafood.
TipReserve 24 hours ahead for paella. The dining room is small but has an outdoor terrace in good weather.
Racons in Valencia's Eixample is a neighbourhood arroceria with a wide rice carte, including the wood-oven arroz al horno that needs ordering in advance.
OrderThe arroz al horno (oven-baked rice with chickpeas, pork and morcilla) for two.
TipClosed Sunday evening. The wood-oven arroz needs at least 24 hours notice.
La Tasqueta del Mercat in Valencia's Ruzafa runs a market kitchen on Carrer Maestro Aguilar near the Mercat de Russafa. At Carrer Maestro Aguilar 2.
OrderDaily-changing menu of the day, Market-driven arroces and tapas
Kiosko La Pergola on the Paseo Maritimo in Valencia's Malvarrosa is a beachfront kiosk paella spot, with wood-fired rices and a sand-side terrace.
OrderThe paella valenciana cooked to order, with a glass of horchata for dessert.
TipLunch only and closed in winter. Reserve the terrace one week ahead in high summer.
La Cantina de Ruzafa on Carrer Literato Azorin cooks a Tuesday-to-Friday lunch menu from the Mercat de Russafa, plus a Valencian esmorzaret slot from 09:30.
OrderMenu del dia from the Mercat de Russafa, Daily-changing tapas
Blanqueries on Carrer de Blanqueries in Valencia's old town is a small modern-Valencian Bib Gourmand room by Guillermo Perez and Ruben Navarro.
Arrocería La Marina cooks rice, calderos, meat and fish of the Marina Baixa in a country setting on the Camí del Palasiet, inland from Poniente in Benidorm.
OrderA rice or a caldero for the table; the kitchen is built around them.
TipBookings are confirmed only by phone; there is a car park and a children's play area, and Friday is the one late night.
Bolikki is a family-run beach restaurant at the La Cala end of Poniente in Benidorm, where rice dishes lead a menu that also runs a good-value set lunch.
OrderOne of the rice dishes the kitchen is known for, ordered for the table.
TipA daytime place, serving from noon to early evening; it took part in the city's 2026 spoon-dish week and the 2025 rice week.
Arrocería La Marina cooks rice, calderos, meat and fish of the Marina Baixa in a country setting on the Camí del Palasiet, inland from Poniente in Benidorm.
OrderA rice or a caldero for the table; the kitchen is built around them.
TipBookings are confirmed only by phone; there is a car park and a children's play area, and Friday is the one late night.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Start your day off right and experience a true Valencian morning strolling through the city. Join this guided food tour, visit the bustling Central Market, and taste a...
Guided tour · 3h 30m
Discover the most interesting parts of Valencia's city center while tasting local cuisine. Enjoy delicious dishes such as fried anchovies, croquetas, esgarraet, tortil...
3 - 3.5 hours
Cook Valencian paella like a local in this paella cooking class and dining experience. Buy ingredients fresh from the market and learn step by step with a professional chef.
.JPG){kind=link}