Asian fusion€€leixample
Ma Khin Cafe on the lower floor of Mercado de Colon in Valencia is a pan-Asian kitchen, with curries, noodles and bao under the 1916 modernista market vault.
Signature: Pad thai, Curry, Bao buns
Order: The Thai green curry or a plate of bao buns with iberico pork.
Tip: Open daily through the day. The Colon market complex hours run longer than the upstairs grocery stalls.
Valencian rice€€leixample
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.
Signature: Arroz al horno, Paella valenciana, Croquetas
Order: The arroz al horno (oven-baked rice with chickpeas, pork and morcilla) for two.
Tip: Closed Sunday evening. The wood-oven arroz needs at least 24 hours notice.
Valencian tapas€€cabanyal
Bodega Anyora on Carrer Vicent Gallart in Valencia's Canyamelar maritime quarter runs a restored 1937 wine room with a tight Valencian wines list and a daily tapas chalkboard.
Signature: Tapas valencianas, Esgarraet, Embutidos
Order: The plate of esgarraet with pickled-and-preserved vermut snacks.
Tip: Closed Sunday. The bar fills with locals from 20:30 onward.
Valencian market kitchen, tapas, rice dishes€€Ruzafa
La Tasqueta del Mercat in Valencia's Ruzafa runs a market kitchen on Carrer Maestro Aguilar near the Mercat de Russafa. The tagline is market cuisine at neighbourhood prices and the menu rotates daily with tapas and arroces.
Signature: Daily-changing menu of the day, Market-driven arroces and tapas
Valencian market kitchen, daily menu€€Ruzafa
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 to 12:30. The garden-view room runs a tight rotating slate of Valencian tapas and plates.
Signature: Menu del dia from the Mercat de Russafa, Daily-changing tapas
Valencian tapas€extramurs
Bar Ricardo on Carrer del Doctor Zamenhof in Valencia's Extramurs is a 1947 neighbourhood bar with a long tapas counter, a worker's lunch crowd and a strong esgarraet plate.
Signature: Esgarraet, Sepia a la plancha, Bocadillo de calamares
Order: The esgarraet (salt-cod and roasted red pepper salad) and the sepia a la plancha with garlic.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The counter is packed by 13:30; arrive earlier for a stool.