Brimming with restaurants, cafés, and bars, Valencia offers something for every kind of diner. Famous for its paella, but there is a surplus of options to try. Here we discuss 10 of the best!
Famous for its tapas and vast selection of wine, this Valencian treasure has been around since 1836. As much full of history as beauty, Bodega Casa Montana was born out of the love of two neighbors who set up a small and intimate shop between their houses. Little has changed today, it continues to be a meeting place full of captivating conversation and fabulous flavors. Known for its friendly service and excellent seafood tapas, it’s worth going a bit out of your way to find this legend of Valencia.
Ideal for pasta lovers, La Pappardella has a unique charm, and is decorated with works of young local artists. La Pappardella has paid close attention to the art of pasta for over 10 years, now boasting 29 types of pasta. Experimenting with red curry and even nut flavors, as well as the typical Italian flavors, La Pappardella offers a unique dining experience. Built on two floors and offering a central patio as well as a small street terrace offering unrivalled views of the Miguelete cathedral tower, guests will receive friendly and attentive service which ensures the dining experience is far from average.
Open since 1909, Palace Fesol is situated in a key commercial and financial area of Valencia. A must visit for the lovers of Valencian cuisine, Palce Fesol offers quality traditional food with contemporary twists. With a menu featuring meats, rice dishes and fish, there’s something for everyone here, expanding from its original famous recherché fava bean dishes.
This restaurant is characterized by its modern and elegant style. With a minimalist décor, it offers a fresh and relaxing atmosphere in which to enjoy delicate dishes, once again featuring a variety of seafood specials. In summer, guests can enjoy and relax on the terrace which has a privileged view of the port and the beach. Its excessive menu doesn’t cut corners on quality, and each dish is prepared with fresh and locally sourced products. For those who love the sea, this is the perfect place to eat.
Restaurant, Bar, Spanish, Tapas, European, Mediterranean, $$$
Valencia Market
Choose from the intimate dining scene upstairs, or the busy tapas bar downstairs, and enjoy the warm welcome that La Taberna de Marisa offers its guests. Authentic, traditional, and carefree, this restaurant has served its guests for 15 years and hasn’t failed to impress. With market sourced ingredients, slow fire cooking, and a friendly and irreverent attitude, La Taberna de Marisa really fits in Valencia.
Hotel Restaurant, Restaurant, Spanish, Mediterranean, Contemporary, Fusion, European, $$$
Restaurante Vertical is located on the top floor of the Hotel Confortel Aqua. From this Michelin star restaurant, guests can enjoy stunning panoramic views of the port of Valencia and much of the city. Respecting Meditarranean cuisine, Vertical serves spectacular dishes in the ultimate vertigo inducing dining experience. Complete with a range of wines, a trip to Vertical is a luxury and elegant experience.
Michelin-Starred, Stylish, Gourmet, Modern, Fine Dining
Q de Barella
Restaurant, Spanish, European, Mediterranean, $$$
Q de Barella has a clear philosophy, food is culture, and an important part of each town. Their dishes are innovative, but stay true to traditional roots, paying close attention to popular flavors and products. The first thing guests will notice about Q de Barella is the happy atmosphere. Welcomed by a smile, a sofa and a table of magazines, Q de Barella has a homely charm, with the professionalism of a restaurant. A place to sit and relax, and embrace the idea that in order to eat well one has to prepare the soul as much as the stomach, Q de Barella enjoys a simple, bright, and calming setting, with favorites such as squid, and even eel!
This airy restaurant situated in the ‘paseo marítimo’ on the seafront can accommodate up to 450 guests at once. With its seating distributed between the grand dining room and the seafront terrace, guests can enjoy the traditional Valencian décor whilst trying the locally famous paella. Founded in 1898, there’s a surplus of evidence of happy customers hanging on the walls in the form of signed pictures, visitors have included Ernest Hemingway, King Juan Carlos and the royal family.
Using traditional and local ingredients, mixed with an abundance of creativity, chefs at Mercat Bar produce innovative interpretations of typical Spanish dishes. A stylized market with a relaxed atmosphere, breaking the barriers between the chef and the customer.
Founded in 1951, Restaurant Navarro has offered 60 years of quality food to Valencia. Their menu consists of the best and most varied Mediterranean cuisine, made from fresh and high quality products sourced from local markets. There’s everything from rice, meat and fish, as well as homemade cakes and ice cream sorbets. Long standing as a fine dining fixture in Valencia, it’s a popular meeting place for local businessmen as well as hungry travelers. House specialties include lobster paella, which can be washed down with some traditional sangria.
