Where to eat in Valencia

Submitted by maria on Fri, 27/01/2023 - 11:09

Where to eat in Valencia

 

Fumiferro

Fumiferro

 

 

The Valencian gastronomic offer is very wide, so making a good selection is quite complicated, but we are going to try.


Depending on the time of day there are many and varied options. As a general rule you don't eat tapas at the bar as you do in other cities and almost everywhere you have to book in advance.

 

Blackbird

Blackbird

 

 

The Ruzafa neighbourhood is without a doubt one of the best options for breakfast, lunch, lunch and/or dinner in Valencia. It has a great atmosphere at any time and the area is beautiful. It is located about 15 minutes walk from the centre and if you don't want to walk there is a bike rental service on almost every corner.

 

You might be interested in what to see and do in Valencia

 

 

For breakfast we recommend

Los Picos Café, this small Valencian café offers an incredible natural coffee and a wide selection of teas that you can accompany with toast, toast or croissants. We recommend the avocado and lime toast with chilli and sesame seeds. Spectacular

 

Avocado toast

Avocado toast

 

 

DDL Boutique. When you enter DDL Boutique you really don't know what to choose, dozens of cakes, sweets and savoury snacks await you, good products and well made. You can find everything from Argentinian alfajores to traditional toast with jam and butter. They have a great variety of milkshakes and infusions and some incredible looking cakes to take away or eat in. Wonderful.

 

DDL Boutique

DDL Boutique

 

 

Blackbird. This little café is located near the Ruzafa Market which you obviously have to visit. We love food markets and we couldn't miss it. Blackbird offers a very suggestive menu, homemade pastries and incredible toasts like the roasted pumpkin one that we recommend. It's delicious.

 

Roasted pumpkin toast

Roasted pumpkin toast

 

 

El Esmorzaret

The esmorzaret is the typical Valencian lunch. This gastronomic tradition that has survived to the present day has its origins in the Valencian huerta, where after hard work the Valencians would have lunch in nearby restaurants.

It consists of an aperitif washed down with a good beer or wine and soda and a generous sandwich of cold meats, meats, eggs or whatever you can think of. A lunch of this kind cannot be finished in any other way than with a good drink known as a cremaet, a kind of coffee and rum carajilllo that is burnt and to which cinnamon and lemon peel are added. It is usually drunk between 9 and 12 noon.

 

Russian salad

Russian salad

 

A good place to enjoy the esmorzaret is the bar-restaurant Mistela on Carrer de Riu Nervión, close to the Pueblo Novo neighbourhood where you can visit the Fallero Artist Museum of Valencia and hopefully enjoy a mascletá in true Valencian style (if you visit the city the last weekend of November marks the declaration of the Fallas as Intangible Heritage of Humanity and events similar to the Fiesta Grande).

 

Fried snout

Fried snout

 

 

Another typical thing to do in Valencia is to have a good horchata with fartons (a kind of bread). Horchata is a very popular drink made with water, sugar and tiger nuts, a small tuber similar to hazelnuts.


In the centre of Valencia, next to the church of Santa Catalina, is the well-known horchatería Santa Catalina, famous for its traditional tiles from Manises and its artisan product with two centuries of tradition.

 

Horchateria Santa Catalina

Horchatería Santa Catalina

 

 

For lunch or dinner

In Ruzafa, as we were saying, there is an immense choice. If you are looking for something different and feel at home, you can't miss the pizzeria La Finestra.

 

La Finestra

La Finestra

 

 

Individual pizzas with surprise toppings. For €2.50 you can have an individual pizza, the fun is that you don't know what toppings you're going to get, unless you specify that you're allergic or don't like a certain ingredient. They're great and the place and the waiters are great. Great atmosphere at any time of the day.


Other interesting establishments for lunch or dinner are El Rus, Cuinar-te Ruzafa or Del Poble Pizzería.

 

Roast beef toast

Roast beef toast

 

 

In the heart of the city centre we highlight the restaurant that Chef Bosquet has just opened in November 2022, Naked and Sated. Both the food and his instagram recipes are brutal, seriously don't miss it. He has more restaurants in other cities like Madrid, Barcelona and Malaga, if you have the chance seriously try it, don't forget to book because it's always full.

We recommend the konjac pasta (tuber), the potato omelette waffle with salmon tataki, the pizza with quinoa base (any of them) and the spectacular pumpkin or sweet potato doughnuts, the house emblem. Brutal.

 

Konjac pasta

Konjac pasta

 

Sweet potato doughnuts

Sweet potato doughnuts

 

 

In the Cabanyal neighbourhood there is also a wide range of gastronomic and leisure options. Charming places where you can have lunch, dinner or an aperitif. We recommend Lapaca, with its fun décor and great atmosphere, where you can enjoy a spectacular homemade vermouth accompanied by a variety of omelettes, toast, hummus, salad and vegan tapas.

 

Beetroot hummus

Beetroot hummus

 

Lapaca

Lapaca

 

 

Fumiferrro Cabanyal Grill is another amazing option in the Cabanyal neighbourhood. The place is beautiful and has a very cosy patio to enjoy good food in the open air. Amazing grilled meats and fish and delicious desserts, we recommend the chocolate brownie and the cheesecake, both of which are brutal.

 

Cheesecake

Cheesecake

 

 

If you prefer to spend the day visiting the Albufera Natural Park, the chances of eating an incredible rice dish increase. We recommend the restaurant Arrocería Duna next to the Saler beach where you can enjoy an amazing rice dish overlooking the sea. We ordered tellinas (clams), squid with onion texture and brown paella, all very good. The paella is eaten with a spoon in the paella pan in the traditional style.

 

Paella morena

Paella morena

 

 

The restaurants Nou Racó or L'Establiment are two other incredible dining options overlooking the lagoon.

 

Duna rice restaurant

Duna rice restaurant

 

If you fancy a total change of register, we recommend the Japanese restaurant Shinkai Tastem. This small restaurant offers quality Japanese food. We were lucky enough to enjoy a tasting menu paired with Mahou beer designed and cooked by Takuya Inamine.

The combination was incredible, makis, miso soup, lobster cream, sushi or sashimi were some of the succulent dishes we were served and there is a perfect type of beer for each dish, even for the delicious white chocolate dessert with pepper and dried fruits. Brutal.

 

Japanese food

Japanese food

 

Dessert

Dessert

 

 

For a drink

In the Negrito square you can find quality at a good price.  We recommend the Agua de Valencia from Café Negrito, it's delicious (a beer and a jug of Agua de Valencia 7,50€).

We have tried Agua de Valencia in other places such as the  Colón Market and it was disappointing, much more expensive and not tasty (3 thirds of beer and a jug of Agua de Valencia 22.50€).

 

Agua de Valencia

Agua de Valencia

 

 

In the Cabanyal neighbourhood we recommend the Fábrica de Hielo.  This old ice factory offers live music, a great atmosphere and good tapas, the best combination.

 

Café del Negret

Café del Negret