In Spain, meals are a communion. It’s a sacred space where time is most certainly not of the essence. You gather with friends, family, and loved ones. You share everything from tapas to postres and bottles of vino.
Spaniards have a different schedule for mealtimes. One thing I learned working in the primary school is that there are 5 meals in a day. Desayuno (breakfast) is in the morning, usually around 8 or 9am or whenever you wake up. Almuerzo, which many of us learn as the Spanish word for lunch, is the midmorning snack around 11am. In Spain, lunch is simply called comida (food). Comida is the big meal of the day, usually sometime between 1:30 and 3pm. You’ll often see Valencians sitting down for paella around this time. Many children get home from school and eat merienda, which is the midafternoon snack around 5pm. The cena (dinner) is at 8pm at the absolute earliest. However, it’s more common to eat dinner around 9 or 10pm.
You won’t struggle to eat well in Valencia. Here are 30 of the best restaurants, cafés, gelaterías, and more.
Restaurants
*you may need to make a reservation in advance.
1. Saona*
There are many Saona restaurants in Valencia. Inspired by the Caribbean island paradise in the Dominican Republic, all of the restaurants have a relaxed beach vibe. They offer a good quality semi-set menu where you choose one starter, one main, and one dessert for 12.95€.
2. La Turqueta*
As the sister restaurant of Saona, La Turqueta offers a similar, slightly nicer set menu. It is about 18€ for the entire meal (not including a drink). La Turqueta’s island-chic interior is meant to transport you a bit closer to home – the Spanish island of Menorca.
3. San Tomasso*
San Tomasso is a beautifully decorated Italian restaurant. When you step inside, there is a sense of charm, coziness, and extravagance all at once. The food is reasonably priced and good quality. A dear friend of mine had the best pizza of her life here – a base of tomato sauce with burrata, proscuitto, and freshly shaved black truffle (by “freshly shaved” I mean they literally shaved it onto the pizza in front of us).
4, 5, & 6. Voltereta (Bali, Manhattan, & Kyoto)*
Voltereta is another concept restaurant. Each one is meant to transport you to a different place: Bali, Manhattan, and Kyoto. Everything from the decor, to the ambiance, to the menus are influenced by the destination. Bali is my personal favorite, offering an extensive menu with both traditional Spanish tapas and tapas-style Southeast Asian cuisine. The restaurant also turns into a discoteca, or nightclub, on Fridays and Saturdays.
7. La Diva*
La Diva makes you feel like an A-lister dining at an expensive restaurant. The walls are lined with palm trees, it has a dramatic backlit bar with hundreds of glowing bottles, and there’s a giant digital mural which projects a rotating series of modern and provocative art. La Diva has a mix of Spanish tapas, seafood, American food, and more. It also turns into a nightclub Thursday – Saturday nights.
8. Matoque
Matoque is a lesser-known restaurant in Ruzafa with a small but stacked menu of tapas and entrees. The restaurant has a few delicious surprises on the menu as well, including pork belly bao buns, vegetable gyozas, and tuna tartar tacos.
9. Restaurante Copenhagen*
If you’re looking for vegan- and vegetarian-friendly spot in Valencia, Restaurante Copenhagen is the place to go. As a meat eater, I don’t usually have a strong desire to dine at exclusively veggie-based restaurants. From the patatas bravas, to the fried “popcorn cauliflower,” to the croquetas, Restaurante Copenhagen hits it out of the park.
10. La Pepica*
A classic beachfront paella hall, La Pepica is a true Spanish dining experience. It’s position right by the sea makes for a lovely lunch view. Order the Paella Pepica for a seafood paella, the Paella Valenciana if you want to try the traditional chicken and rabbit combo, or the Paella de Verduras if you want just veggies and rice.
11. Masusa Paella Bar*
If you don’t want to trek all the way to the beach, Masusa Paella Bar is a cozy little restaurant with outdoor seating right in the heart of Ruzafa. I would recommend the Valencian Paella, but they also have other paella classics, along with an assortment of inventive tapas. Call to make a reservation.
12. La Fábrica de Hielo
Although I never got the chance to experience La Fábrica de Hielo, I’ve heard from more than one source that it is worth the visit. Located near the beach, it is marketed as an industrial-chic, cultural space with live music. Their bar serves both drinks and food. Most days they are open from 5pm – 1:30am, except for Saturdays and Sundays when they open at 12pm.
13. Mercabanyal
Mercabanyal is a gastronomic space located near the beach (Cabanyal neighborhood, hence the name). They have a variety of cuisines sold by different vendors. Some options include tapas, bao buns, pizzas, burgers, and ice cream.
14. Mercado de Colón
Another restaurant marketplace, Mercado de Colón is busy any night of the week. Its high-quality restaurants serve tapas, paella, bocadillos, horchata, and more. On the weekends you’ll see jewelry and clothing vendors with tables set up inside the market as well.
15. Palau Alameda*
Sunday rooftop brunch, period. The covered terrace known as the Àtic is the perfect spot for mimosas with the girls. Be aware that Palau Alameda is pricier than most places in the city.
16. Maui Russafa*
A small, modern tapas restaurant in Ruzafa (Russafa in Valencian), Maui has something for everyone. The cornflake chicken fingers with barbecue sauce are one of the house specialties, along with the more traditional patatas bravas and croquetas. All dishes are a base of either chicken, cheese, mushrooms, or vegetables. Call to make a reservation.
17. El Rebujito
A more old-fashioned spot located just a few doors down from Maui Russafa, El Rebujito is also a tapas powerhouse. I recommend the patatas bravas (as always), padrón peppers, and the fried eggplant with honey.
Cafés, Breakfast, and Brunch
18. Federal Cafe
One of my favorite places for breakfast and lunch, Federal Cafe has an extensive menu with pancakes, toasts, burgers, and eggs in a variety of ways. My personal favorite is the eggs florentine.
19. Blackbird Cafe
Blackbird Cafe is a Venezuelan family-owned artisan bakery-cafe with a beautiful atmosphere and unbelievable cinnamon rolls. Their pastries are made fresh every day, the perfect side for their lovingly-made coffee.
20. Fran Cafe
Fran Cafe is a corner coffee shop perfectly designed for all of your to-go coffee needs. The big windows give you a fishbowl-esque peak inside Vicky’s office. The coffee is stellar, the pastries are homemade, and when you open the big glass door, you’ll always be greeted with a smile.
21. Bastard Coffee and Kitchen
If you need another brunch spot, Bastard Coffee and Kitchen has a similar design to Saona. For 14€ you can select your main dish, a dessert or pastry, a coffee, and another drink (think orange juice or other refreshers).
22. Cafe Artysana
This cafe’s vibe is epitomized by its name – Artysana, art and health. The vegetarian- and vegan-friendly cafe has toasts, sandwiches, cakes, and more for affordable prices. If you love a good avocado toast, get their tostada de aguacate with olive oil and salt.
23. Milk and Butter
Another fantastic brunch spot opened in 2021, their goal is to bring the classic “American brunch” to Valencia. The pancakes and the eggs benedict are some of their specialties.
Dessert
24. Antigua Lechería Valencia
A classic Italian-style gelatería in Ruzafa.
25. Horchatería Santa Catalina
A historic horchatería and churrería in El Carmen. They have two locations, one near Plaza Redonda and the other in Plaza de la Reina. Try the churros or buñuelos con chocolate or horchata con fartons, some traditional Spanish treats.
26. Gelateria La Romana
Another artisan, Italian gelatería in Valencia’s Old Town.
27. Orxata Daniel
Another delicious horchatería located inside Mercado de Colón
Late-night snacks
28. El Horno de los Borrachos
A 24-hour bakery that literally translates to The Drunk People’s Oven.
29. Eras Pan
Another 24-hour bakery just around the corner from my first apartment in Valencia. The Cola Cao packets served with hot milk (Spanish version of Nestle hot chocolate packets), chocolate croissants, and pizza slices were a going-home ritual for some of our best nights out.
30. Kebabs
For your post-clubbing meal, you should be able to find a nearby kebab stand anywhere in the city.
Find out more about Valencia:
How to Get Around Valencia
Everything you need to know about transportation in the city.
The Best Night Out in Valencia - 16 Bars & Clubs
In the place voted best expat city to live in, there is always potential for a night out on the town.
17 Best Things to See and Do in Valencia
The birthplace of paella, a distinguished hub of architecture and design, and home of the world-famous festival, Las Fallas.