El Encuentro is a valencian restaurant in Ciutat Vella, Valencia.
Editorially verified May 21, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Must order: The paella valenciana for two, ordered ahead.
Why locals love it: Neighbourhood arroceria in central Valencia that locals book weekly, the lunchtime menu del dia is the best-kept secret.
Tip: Closed Sunday evening and Monday. The lunchtime paella plate is the secret.
Address: C/ de Sant Vicent Màrtir, 28, 46002 Valencia
Bar Ricardo in Valencia is a 1947 workers tapas bar in Extramurs long-favored by locals for esgarraet salt-cod salad and grilled sepia off the plancha.
Order: Esgarraet salt-cod salad and the sepia a la plancha, plus a cana.
Why locals love it: 1947 worker's tapas bar in Extramurs that tourists rarely find, established by locals for esgarraet and grilled sepia.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Lunch counter is packed by 13:30; arrive earlier.
Tasca Angel on Carrer de la Purisima is a 1946 charcoal sardine grill counter on a quiet old-town side street, lunchtime only with an all-local crowd.
Order: Half a dozen grilled sardines off the plancha with a cana.
Why locals love it: 1946 charcoal sardine grill counter on a quiet old-town side street, lunchtime-only, all-local crowd.
Tip: Open lunchtime only (12:00-16:00). Closed Sunday.
Casa Montana (Cabanyal): 1836 tile-bar tavern in the fishing-village Cabanyal that tourist itineraries miss, with a 1,500-bottle wine cellar.
Order: Esgarraet plate and a glass of barrel-bobal.
Why locals love it: 1836 tile-bar tavern in the fishing-village Cabanyal that tourist itineraries miss, with a 1,500-bottle wine cellar.
Tip: Reserve 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.
Order: Pescaito frito plate of the day plus a half-portion of arroz a banda.
Why locals love it: 1948 family fish-and-rice kitchen in Extramurs with no tourist visibility, a daily chalkboard of lonja catch.
Tip: Closed Sunday. Reserve weekend lunch.
Fartoneria Polo in Alboraya is the chufa-village outpost of the 1939 fartons brand, a tram ride from Valencia centre and locals stop here for fresh fartons.
Order: A bag of fartons fresh from the oven, plus horchata at Daniel one block away.
Why locals love it: Polo fartoneria (brand founded 1939 in Titaguas, in Alboraya since 1960) in the chufa-growing village, a tram ride from Valencia centre, locals only.
Tip: Tram L4 to Alboraya. Open daily through the evening.
La Pilareta in Valencia: 1917 mussel-counter bar in the Carmen, with native Valencian clochinas mussels in season, a working-class dining room.
Order: A platter of clochinas (in season) plus a cana of Estrella Galicia.
Why locals love it: 1917 mussel-counter bar in the Carmen, with native Valencian clochinas mussels in season, a working-class dining room.
Tip: Cash preferred. Clochinas season runs May to September Word-of-mouth is the only marketing.
