Valencia eats around rice. Paella was invented here in the 18th century rice paddies of La Albufera, and the canonical paella valenciana (rabbit, chicken, ferraura green beans, garrofo butter beans, saffron, bomba rice) still rules every Sunday lunch table. Beyond paella the rice repertoire runs deep: arroz a banda, arroz del senyoret, arroz negro, arroz al horno, arroz meloso, fideua. The Mercado Central, an 8,000 sqm modernist hall opened in 1928, is the daily larder for restaurants from Casa Carmela on the beachfront to Ricard Camarena two Michelin stars at Bombas Gens. The Russafa quarter has turned into a third-wave coffee, natural-wine, vegan corridor in the last decade; the Cabanyal fishing village delivers grilled sardines, esgarraet (roasted pepper and salt-cod salad) and all i pebre (eel and garlic stew). The horchateria tradition (Daniel, Santa Catalina) pours iced tigernut milk with fartons. Agua de Valencia, the cava and orange juice cocktail, anchors the late-night bars of Ciutat Vella.

Where to eat in Valencia

All 23 restaurants

  1. Casa Carmela

    Order The paella valenciana cooked over orange-wood embers, ordered when you book.

  2. La Pepica

    Order The paella valenciana with rabbit, chicken and ferraura beans at lunch.

  3. Casa Roberto

    Order The paella valenciana ordered ahead, with the croquetas and salmorejo to start.

  4. La Riua

    Order The paella valenciana or the arroz a banda; the house Utiel-Requena tinto is honest.

  5. Llisa Negra

    Order The seasonal fish from the Valencia fish market grilled over olive wood, plus the arroz seco.

  6. Casa Montana

    Order The esgarraet (salt-cod with roasted red peppers) and a glass of Utiel-Requena bobal from the barrel.

Fine dining

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Signature dishes in Valencia

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Taste Paella valenciana with a local

Paella Cooking Class with Central Market Tour

★ 5.0 (1,243)3 - 3.5 hoursfrom €70

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Map of Valencia

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When to come hungry in Valencia

Peak food season
March for Las Fallas (street paella, fartons, bunyols de carabassa). May for sweet new-season Valencian oranges and the first cuajada fresh cheese. September to November for rice harvest in La Albufera and the start of all i pebre and arroz al horno season. August is the slowest restaurant month; many small kitchens close for two to three weeks.
Local dining hours
Lunch 14:00-16:00, with paella always at lunch and never at dinner. Dinner 21:00-23:00. Many beach paella restaurants close at 17:00 entirely. Horchaterias open mid-morning and run through evening tea hour. Tapas counters open from 12:00 with vermut. Sunday lunch is the major weekly meal and paella is the canonical Sunday plate.
Tipping
Service is included; no tip is expected. Round up the bill or leave a coin or two at a tapas counter for very good service. A 5 percent tip at a fine-dining room is on the high end of generous; 10 percent is American territory. Never tip on the card terminal.

Valencia food, FAQ

What food is Valencia known for?

Valencia's signature dishes include Paella valenciana, Arroz a banda, Fideua, Arroz al horno, Horchata con fartons. See our signature dishes chapter for where to eat each.

What are the best food neighborhoods in Valencia?

TableJourney editors map Valencia by district. Ciutat Vella, Russafa, El Cabanyal, L'Eixample are among the strongest for food, each with its own guide.

Where should I eat fine dining in Valencia?

Editor picks in Valencia include Ricard Camarena Restaurant, Flores Raras (formerly El Poblet), La Salita, plus the full fine dining chapter on TableJourney.

Are there food tours in Valencia?

TableJourney covers 4 editor-picked food tours in Valencia, with what each shows you and how much to budget.

Does Valencia have good vegetarian or vegan food?

TableJourney's Valencia dietary chapter covers vegan, vegetarian, gluten_free, halal venues, each editor-picked with what to order and how to ask.