Bodeguilla del Gato is a valencian tapas budget eat in El Carmen, Valencia.
Bodeguilla del Gato in Valencia's Carmen serves the canonical bomba (deep-fried potato-and-meat ball) for around 3 euros, the after-cana counter snack.
Tip: Tiny corner bar; arrive before 21:00 for a seat. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Address: C/ Catalans, 10, Zona Carmen 46001, Valencia
Chocolateria Valor on Placa de la Reina in Valencia serves thick hot chocolate with churros for around 6 euros, the chain that anchored the Spanish chocolate tradition.
Try: Hot chocolate and churros
Tip: Open daily through the day. The chocolate is thicker than a milkshake; eat slowly with the churros.
Kiosko La Pergola on the Malvarrosa beach paseo offers a beachfront paella-and-drink menu for 15 euros at lunch, the bargain rice plate of the beachfront.
Try: Paella menu del dia
Tip: Lunch only and seasonal (closed winter). Reserve the terrace one week ahead in summer.
Navarro on Carrer de l'Arquebisbe Mayoral in Valencia runs one of the city's best-value menu del dia plates at lunchtime, with paella, a main and dessert for around 14 euros.
Try: Menu del dia (paella, second, dessert, wine)
Tip: Mon to Fri lunch only. Arrive before 14:00 to find a seat at the small dining room.
Central Bar inside the Mercado Central is Ricard Camarena's market-counter bocadillo bar; a calamari sandwich plus a cana for under 10 euros.
Try: Bocadillo de calamares
Tip: Open Mon to Sat with the market 07:30 to 14:30. Stand at the counter.
Horchateria Daniel inside Mercado de Colon pours a glass of horchata de chufa with a farton for around 5 euros, the canonical Valencian mid-morning snack.
Try: Horchata and fartons
Tip: Open daily through the day. Cash and card; the takeaway window has a quieter queue.
Bar Ricardo on Carrer del Doctor Zamenhof in Valencia's Extramurs serves esgarraet, sepia and a cana for around 10 euros at the counter, the local working-day lunch.
Try: Tapas and esgarraet
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The lunchtime counter fills by 13:30.
