7 of the Best Italian Restaurants in Valencia

This northern Italian restaurant is a colourful local spot with the friendliest staff you could wish to meet, serving up simple but stunning rustic northern Italian dishes in a cosy dining room. There’s everything from cold cuts and cheeses to fresh pasta in homemade pesto, and the wine, of course, is not to be missed either.

One of Valencia’s best-loved restaurants, it’s no surprise Sorsi e Morsi are now expanding to become a small chain. The modern Mediterranean and Italian menu comes up with original combinations to create colourful and mouthwatering dishes, with some very innovative dishes and all the pasta, pizza and salad you could wish for. Friendly staff are happy to advise and help you pair the dishes with wine from their stunning collection.

This cosy little place with only five tables is the sort of restaurant where you know the food will be unforgettable before you even sit down. The attention to detail is incredible, and their good-value menu features nothing but homemade dishes using fresh ingredients. The owner Mario is kind, helpful and dedicated to making sure customers enjoy their meal, which isn’t difficult, as there really is some sort of ‘alchemy’ going on in his kitchen.

This typical Italian restaurant has a cosy dining room, attentive staff, and a good-value menu of traditional Italian favourites made using quality ingredients. The flawless eggplant lasagne and pannacotta get our vote, paired with simply a glass of house red – or anything else from their fantastic wine list. Perfect for a romantic meal.

This new Italian restaurant is quickly gaining a great reputation for its quality food and friendly service. The dining room is almost as pretty as the plates, which include fresh pasta dishes packed with flavourful vegetables and doused in tangy homemade sugo, and a tiramisù to die for. The Italian owner speaks English and Spanish and is happy to talk you through the menu, which as well as meat dishes, features plenty of vegetarian options. It’s also open for breakfast.

The tiny La Finestra (“the window”), is a curious place tucked away down a tiny street in the painfully cool barrio of Ruzafa. They serve up nothing but delicious mini pizzas, beer and sangria. There’s no menu, and the pizzas come as a surprise, but just ask if you want something veggie. Cheap, incredibly friendly and fun (and full of bearded hipsters) it really is not much more than a window with a small bar and a few tables inside. Only open for dinner.

If you’re looking for a simple place to grab some authentic Neapolitan pizza with friends, this neighbourhood pizzeria, named after the iconic street in Naples, is one of the best options in town. Next to the impressive Abastos building, a former market, this small, casual place serves up pizzas loaded with fresh ingredients on thin bases with thick, puffy crusts, straight from the wood-fired oven. Good drinks options and friendly Italian staff make this a great choice. The only downside is the basic décor and harsh lighting (a pretty common problem in Valencia’s restaurants) but there’s plenty of space to sit outside on a warm evening.