23 editor picks in Valencia.
23 valencian places in Valencia we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Valencia | Valencian across every city.
Valencia is the birthplace of paella, and authentic Valencian cooking is judged first by its rice. The classic addresses sit out by the sea in La Malvarrosa, where Casa Carmela on Calle Isabel de Villena and La Pepica on the Paseo Neptuno cook paella over wood as they have for generations. In the Ciutat Vella, La Riua on Calle del Mar and Navarro keep the city centre tradition of arroces and Valencian home cooking, while Casa Roberto in l'Eixample is prized for its arroz al horno and paella valenciana.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Casa Montana (Cabanyal): 1836 tile-bar tavern in the fishing-village Cabanyal that tourist itineraries miss, with a 1,500-bottle wine cellar.
OrderEsgarraet plate and a glass of barrel-bobal.
TipReserve ahead. The wine list runs deep into Valencian small producers.
Rausell on Calle Angel Guimera is a 1948 family fish and rice kitchen in Extramurs working a daily chalkboard of lonja catch with pescaito frito and arroces.
OrderPescaito frito plate of the day plus a half-portion of arroz a banda.
TipClosed Sunday. Reserve weekend lunch.
La Pilareta in Valencia: 1917 mussel-counter bar in the Carmen, with native Valencian clochinas mussels in season, a working-class dining room.
OrderA platter of clochinas (in season) plus a cana of Estrella Galicia.
TipCash preferred. Clochinas season runs May to September Word-of-mouth is the only marketing.
El Encuentro in Valencia: Neighbourhood arroceria in central Valencia that locals book weekly, the lunchtime menu del dia is the best-kept secret.
OrderThe paella valenciana for two, ordered ahead.
TipClosed Sunday evening and Monday. The lunchtime paella plate is the secret.
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.
OrderMenu del dia (paella, second, dessert, wine)
TipMon to Fri lunch only. Arrive before 14:00 to find a seat at the small dining room.
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.
OrderHorchata and fartons
TipOpen daily through the day. Cash and card; the takeaway window has a quieter queue.
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.
OrderPaella menu del dia
TipLunch only and seasonal (closed winter). Reserve the terrace one week ahead in summer.
Day trip · 8 hours
Explore Requena’s medieval charm on a private day trip from Valencia: tour a winery, wander ancient Moorish caves, and savor a selection of exquisite regional wines.
Day trip · 8 hours
Discover the street art of Fanzara and the thermal springs of Montanejos on a private day trip from Valencia. Enjoy a riverside walk to the Fuente de los Baños and rel...
Private tour · 10 hours
Discover Requena on a guided tour from Valencia. Enjoy wine tastings and Michelin-starred meal, and a visit to a local liqueur factory.
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