Looking for Good Eating in Valencia

Old Nov 17th, 2017, 05:16 AM
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Looking for Good Eating in Valencia

We will be in Valencia this winter and would love recommendations for places to eat. I can't wait to have paella there so restaurant recs for that would be esp appreciated. Prefer to keep to Spanish food. Pricewise we'd love to keep it 100 euros or less for 2. We are staying near the central market on Carrer de la Llotja, but don't mind traveling for a good meal. Thanks!
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Old Nov 17th, 2017, 05:49 AM
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We went on two food tours with this company this year (in Madrid and Granada) and had a great time and excellent food (plus top tips for the rest of our trip).

https://devourvalenciafoodtours.com/
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Old Nov 17th, 2017, 06:09 AM
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Hi yes travel,

we found that if you want paella or one of the similar rice dishes, one of your best bets will be to head to the beach [we got a bus from outside the main post office] where there is a parade of restaurants offering just that, but the best place we ate at was in town just behind our hotel on the main square, called

El Encuentro.

https://www.restauranteelencuentro.es

Very traditional, very friendly, with daily specials, and a wonderful selection of wine which is on display on racks in the room, so you can browse amongst them and pick one you want [or leave it to the waiter, which is what we did and we were very happy].

As for cost, we had dinner there which I remember being quite reasonable; at lunch time most places do a menu de dia which will be 2-3 courses and probably no more than €10-12 - a real bargain and a good way to try new dishes without breaking the bank.

How long are you going to be there? if you have more than a couple of days you could take a train to Sagunt which is about 30 mins away and walk up to the castle, which has seen inhabitants from the Romans to Napoleon; we were accosted by a guide who wanted only €2 for his services, so we went with it and ended up giving him €20 which was well worth it for the amount we learnt from him.

http://www.aytosagunto.es/es-es/ayun.../Castillo.aspx

then we walked down into the town and found a nice restaurant with a lovely patio for a late lunch; one of the best aspects of Spain I think is that unlike in France, you don't have to be sat down by 1.30 pm if you want something decent to eat.

there are other similar trips that we'd have liked to take but didn't have time for - the Tourist office for the area of Valencia [as opposed to the city] in the Carrer de les Avellanes had lots of great ideas for days out.

https://www.valenciaturisme.org

We loved Valencia and it was another place that we talked about going back to - sadly that's not going to be possible but there's going to be a GTG in March 2019 which I'm planning on going to.
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Old Nov 17th, 2017, 07:01 AM
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jamikins - thanks for the food tour rec.

ann - thanks for all the suggestions. We'll be there 3.5 days, so not a lot of time, but maybe one day trip will be fit in. Glad to hear you are going to the GTG in March 2019. I had thought about going, but Valencia fits in with our Southern Spain trip this winter so doubt we'll go again the following year, but who knows?
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Old Nov 17th, 2017, 07:47 AM
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The Fodors group that went to Valencia for Fallas in 2016 went here for Paella:
http://www.restaurante-cocinamediterranea.com/es

The Fodorite who has lived in Valencia recommended it, and it was really good. The beach isn't far out of town...easy to go for lunch.
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Old Nov 17th, 2017, 09:23 AM
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Well, sure I'd go to famous Pepica's at the beach for paella, but I'd also be looking for leche merengada and horchata, typical Valencia food available in ice cream parlors.
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Old Nov 17th, 2017, 09:32 AM
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It's a shame you haven't got longer, yestravel - it's definitely a place where you could easily spend a week or more and not feel that you had exhausted all the possibilities.

for a non-food recommendation, as well as the obvious sights we loved the Musee de belles Artes, with the lovely works by Sorolla, which I hadn't known anything about before we went there but we quickly became fans [thanks for the recommendation that someone here gave me]. Hiring bikes to get around might be an idea for a day, especially if you want to go and see the Science Centre which is amazing.

Where else are you going?
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Old Nov 17th, 2017, 11:15 AM
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Some of the top tables in Valencia are not known for their paella, but more creative dishes. For more traditional rice dishes, you can try Casa Carmela, at Carrer d'Isabel de Villena, 155 (on the beach), or Casa Roberto, at Maestro Gozalbo, 19. There is also Gran Azul, at Avenida de Aragón, 10, and L'Estimat, at Paseo Neptuno, 16 (on the beach).
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Old Nov 17th, 2017, 11:29 AM
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Thanks, everyone!
Robert - Yes, I realize that Valencia has far more than paella to offer, but I love paella and on every trip to Spain I always wish I could get to Valencia to have paella there. So paella will definitely be one meal.
Ann - we'll be in Barcelona for the 3rd time, Valencia, Altea & Malaga, all new to us and back to Sevilla and Granada. We fly home from Madrid where we have been many times. Thanks for the suggestions!
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Old Nov 18th, 2017, 06:15 AM
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Sounds like a lovely trip, Yestravel. if you like paella there are indeed some other rice dishes you might like in Valencia, including one made with black rice that we liked a lot. Some are more soupy than a traditional paella I think but we didn't have time to try them all.
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Old Nov 18th, 2017, 08:56 AM
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We ate twice at La Moma-not paella, but excellent Mediterranean food. Hands down our best meals in Valencia.

http://www.lamoma.com/

It is very close to the Arroceria la Valenciana, which is both a restaurant and school. We actually booked to eat there but when we arrived, we were told that our reservation would have to be moved an hour later to accommodate finishing the class. We were hungry so went elsewhere. But it gets pretty good reviews:

https://arrocerialavalenciana.com/en/

Both of these places are in the old town not too far from the market.
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Old Nov 18th, 2017, 11:55 AM
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Here is my Valencia food report. The Central Market is one of the best in Spain, I think. Will be fabulous to be based nearby.

https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...e-blossoms.cfm


We went with Licasanova out into the rice fields to have paella at La Matandeta in Alfafar, which I had seen in the Mario Batali and Mark Bittman tv program about eating in Spain.

http://www.lamatandeta.es/carta/?lang=en



I would certainly go to Casa Jomi if you have an interest in the local cured and air-dried fish. It is very local, family owned, no tourists when we went and you will have to take a taxi, but very interesting place, justly proud of what they serve. But probably not much English spoken, and it is not in the least fancy.

http://www.casajomi.com/
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Old Nov 19th, 2017, 09:17 AM
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ekscrunchy How was Licasanova? It looks yummy!
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Old Nov 19th, 2017, 11:36 AM
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She is fabulous! Her name is Lincasanova, not what I wrote! We had a wonderful day together and she is a great booster of her city, Valencia.
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Old Nov 19th, 2017, 12:01 PM
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Unfortunately I believe she will not be there when we are in Valencia. I wonder why she hasn't commented on this thread?
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Old Nov 19th, 2017, 12:38 PM
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She's in the FB group, have you posted there?
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Old Nov 19th, 2017, 01:39 PM
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Just did.
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Old Nov 20th, 2017, 02:36 AM
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Hi! I will be here after January 11th in case you are around.

First of all do not miss an almuerzo or early lunch in the Central Market at Ricardo Camarena's stand. He also has a nice restaurant in the lower level of Mercado Colon called "Habitat":

L'Estimat and Casa Carmela as mentioned by Robert ( have not been to the latter yet but is repeatedly recommended by local friends) would be two places I say are worth the visit.

We also like, besides traditional paella, Arroz a banda ( fish broth rice that can optionally be eaten with a bit of alioli on the side, an dArroz del senyoret.. a fish broth base rice that has small pieces of peeled seafood on top.. but rice is the main ingredient.

Some of the risotto type rices, are quite good and are called Arroz MELOSO.. ( creamy) but no cream is added nor cheese, just more water and stirring.

There are a number of rooftop bars now in the old part of town.. just google for the list.

Let me know if you need any more help and I hope I am here and we coincide!
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Old Nov 20th, 2017, 04:41 AM
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These are great -- thanks!
lincasanova - we will be there on 25 January for 4 nights. Hopefully we can meet up. I can stay in touch via FB messenger. Do you use that?
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Old Nov 20th, 2017, 06:41 AM
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ekscrunchy I think I was the one who mis-read! Sorry lincasanova for confusing you with the restaurant name-mea culpa! Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions. We loved the market in Valencia when we were there last spring.
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