Kaymus is a modern valencian restaurant in Leixample, Valencia.
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 and a serious wine list.
Signature dishes: Arroz, Bacalao, Croquetas
Must order: The tasting menu at lunch (around 45 euros), with the chef's choice of arroz that day.
Tip: Reserve through the website. Lunch tasting is excellent value; dinner is the full experience.
Address: Avenida Maestro Rodrigo, 44, 46015 Valencia
Askua on Carrer del Felip Maria Garin in Valencia is a Basque-style grill founded 1994 by Ricardo Gadea, with rotating local-fish specials, chuleton from old dairy cows and a Bunol tomato carte.
Signature: Chuleton, Pescados a la brasa, Tomate de Bunol
Order: The chuleton (old-cow rib-eye) sliced at the table, with a tomato of Bunol salad on the side.
Tip: Closed Sunday. Reserve 10 days ahead. The fish-and-chuleton menu changes daily on a small chalkboard.
Askua on Carrer del Felip Maria Garin in Valencia is a Basque-style grill founded 1994 by Ricardo Gadea, with rotating local-fish specials, chuleton from old dairy cows and a Bunol tomato carte.
Signature: Chuleton, Pescados a la brasa, Tomate de Bunol
Order: The chuleton (old-cow rib-eye) sliced at the table, with a tomato of Bunol salad on the side.
Tip: Closed Sunday. Reserve 10 days ahead. The fish-and-chuleton menu changes daily on a small chalkboard.
Fierro on Carrer del Doctor Serrano in Valencia's Russafa is Argentine chefs Carito Lourenco and German Carrizo's open-kitchen tasting room, with a counter for 16 diners and one menu.
Signature: Tasting menu, Steak, Empanadas
Order: The full tasting menu; there is no a la carte. Add the wine pairing of Spanish-Argentine wines.
Tip: Reserve through the website four weeks ahead. Two seatings per night, dress smart casual.
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 arroz cartes in the centre.
Signature: Paella valenciana, Fideua, Arroz negro
Order: The paella valenciana for two cooked over wood, or the fideua a banda with seafood.
Tip: Reserve 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.
Signature: Tasting menu, Arroz, Croquetas
Order: The shorter tasting menu (around 38 euros at lunch) with the day's rice.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Reserve a few days ahead for weekend lunch.
Vuelve Carolina on Carrer del Correus in Valencia's centre is Quique Dacosta's modern tapas room near the town hall, with a long carte of tapas, arroces and a youthful bar.
Signature: Tapas modernas, Croquetas, Arroz
Order: The croquetas of jamon iberico and the steak tartar; a glass of natural Valencia white.
Tip: Reserve through the website; the room fills with lunchtime office crowds and evening tourists. Good vermut hour.
Casa Mundo on Carrer de Don Joan d'Austria near central Valencia is a 1953 institution founded by Valencia CF top scorer Edmundo 'Mundo' Suarez, famous for tapas and its bocadillo de calamares.
Signature: Bocadillo de calamares, Tapas valencianas, Vermut
Order: The bocadillo de calamares with a cana or vermut from the barrel.
Tip: Reserve ahead for weekends. Now in the third generation; the dining room doubles as a small Valencia CF and Mundo memorabilia museum.
