As of 2026, this Valencia food guide covers 14 restaurants by category — including Casa Carmela, La Pepica, La Riuà. See prices, locations and must-try dishes below.
Valencia is Valencia is the birthplace of paella — authentic paella valenciana (rabbit, chicken, beans — no seafood) — plus horchata with fartons and agua de Valencia, best at the Modernista Central Market. We've organized 14 restaurants across 5 categories. Each entry includes prices, hours, local tips, and a Google Maps link so you can plan straight from the page.
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Click pins to see restaurant info · 14 restaurants
The birthplace of paella — authentic paella valenciana (rabbit, chicken, green beans), arròs a banda, and the rice dishes of Albufera
Casa Carmela
Casa Carmela · Malvarrosa beach
1
#1
MUST TRY
Paella valenciana (rabbit, chicken, green beans) ~€20/person, arròs a banda, arròs del senyoret
A beloved paella house near Malvarrosa beach, running since 1922, cooking rice over an open orange-wood fire — the traditional method that gives a smoky aroma and a prized socarrat (caramelized crust). One of the city's references for authentic paella valenciana.
Local tip: The wood-fired paella valenciana is the order. Paella is cooked to order and usually a minimum of two people — reserve ahead, especially weekend lunches, and go hungry. It's a lunch dish here; the restaurant centers on midday service. A short tram/taxi ride from the center toward the beach.
Paella valenciana, seafood paella, arròs del senyoret — a beachfront classic since 1898
A historic beachfront institution on Paseo de Neptuno, open since 1898, famous for having served Ernest Hemingway and other notables. Four generations of wood-fired rice cooking right by the sea. As much a piece of Valencia history as a meal.
Local tip: Touristy and not the cheapest, but the seafront setting and the heritage are the point. Reserve for lunch and ask for paella valenciana for the traditional dish, or a seafood rice if you prefer. Right on the Malvarrosa promenade — pair it with a beach walk.
Paella valenciana, arròs del senyoret, all i pebre (eel stew), local rice dishes
A long-running family restaurant in the Old Town, open since 1982, known among locals for traditional Valencian rice dishes and Albufera-style cooking in the center — a convenient option for paella without leaving the historic core.
Local tip: A reliable central choice for paella valenciana and Albufera classics like all i pebre when you don't want to travel to the beach or El Palmar. Reserve for lunch — paella is cooked to order and takes time. Walls covered in traditional ceramic tiles add to the atmosphere.
Where paella was born — the rice-paddy villages south of the city, plus all i pebre eel stew
Casa Ángel (El Palmar)
Restaurante Casa Ángel · El Palmar (Albufera)
4
#1
MUST TRY
Paella valenciana, arròs amb fesols i naps, all i pebre, lagoon eel dishes
A traditional paella restaurant in El Palmar, the rice-paddy village in Albufera where paella was born. Rice cooked in the heartland of the dish, surrounded by the lagoon and the fields that supply it.
$22-43
(€20-40)
Daily 13:00-16:30 (lunch-focused)
Local tip: The whole point of coming to El Palmar is eating paella where it originated, beside the rice paddies — pair lunch with a lagoon boat ride (best near sunset). About 15km south of the city; take EMT bus 25, drive, or join a tour. Reserve weekend lunches.
Paella valenciana over wood fire, all i pebre (eel stew), fried lagoon eel, arròs amb fesols i naps
A family-run paella temple in the heart of Albufera Natural Park, open since 1982, cooking paella the way local grandmothers did, over wood, alongside eel dishes like all i pebre that define the lagoon's cuisine.
$27-49
(€25-45)
Daily 13:00-17:00 (lunch-focused)
Local tip: One of the most respected El Palmar addresses for old-school wood-fired paella and Albufera eel specialties. Reserve, especially at weekends. Combine with the lagoon boat ride and a walk in the natural park. Lunch is the meal — don't plan it for dinner.
Cold tigernut horchata with fartons — a Valencian institution from the chufa fields of Alboraya
Horchatería Santa Catalina
Horchatería de Santa Catalina · Old Town (Plaza de Santa Catalina)
6
#1
MUST TRY
Horchata with fartons, chocolate con churros, traditional Valencian pastries
A historic horchatería by Plaza de la Reina, serving since 1928 — the famous central spot for horchata (cold tigernut milk) with fartons, the long sugar-glazed pastries made for dipping. Wood-and-tile interior that's a Valencian institution.
$3-9
(€3-8)
Daily 08:30-21:30
Local tip: Order horchata with fartons for the classic combo, or churros with thick chocolate. It's central and touristy but genuinely traditional — a perfect mid-afternoon break between Old Town sights. Non-alcoholic and family-friendly. Expect a queue at peak times.
Horchata from local chufa, fartons, granizado in summer
A renowned horchatería in Alboraya, the tigernut-growing town just north of Valencia, open since 1979 (with a long-standing stall presence at the Mercado de Colón in the city). Purists point to Alboraya as the source of the best horchata.
Local tip: Worth the short trip to Alboraya for horchata made from the chufa grown in the surrounding fields — many consider it the most authentic. If you can't leave the city, the brand's Mercado de Colón counter is a convenient central alternative. Best ice-cold in warm weather.
Mercado Central produce, the mid-morning esmorzaret sandwich, and modern Valencian tapas in Russafa
Central Bar by Ricard Camarena
Central Bar · Mercado Central (Old Town)
8
#1
MUST TRY
Gourmet bocadillos (sandwiches), tapas from market produce, agua de Valencia
A market bar inside the Mercado Central from Michelin-starred Valencian chef Ricard Camarena — high-quality bocadillos and tapas built from the market's own fresh produce, served at counter stools amid the 1928 Art Nouveau hall.
Local tip: A standout way to eat inside Europe's grand Art Nouveau food market without a big spend — the bocadillos are excellent. Counter seating only and it gets busy; go mid-morning or just after the lunch rush. Pair with a wander through the 400-stall market beforehand.
Iberian ham, local cheeses, fresh produce, seafood, picnic supplies
Valencia's grand 1928 Art Nouveau central market, one of Europe's largest, with around 400 stalls of produce, ham, cheese, seafood, and snacks under stained-glass domes. A working market and a sight in itself.
$3-16
(€3-15)
Mon-Sat 07:30-15:00 (closed Sun)
Local tip: Come in the morning when it's liveliest. Graze on jamón, cheese, and fruit, or stock up for a Turia Gardens picnic. Free to enter and a highlight even if you don't buy — the building alone is worth seeing. Watch your bag in the crowds. Closed Sundays.
Creative tapas and small plates, modern Valencian dishes, market-driven menu
Chef Ricard Camarena's casual bistro in the trendy Russafa neighborhood — playful, market-driven tapas and small plates at more accessible prices than his Michelin-starred flagship. A good window into Valencia's modern dining scene.
$22-49
(€20-45)
Daily 13:30-16:00, 20:30-23:30
Local tip: A relaxed way to try cooking from one of Valencia's top chefs without fine-dining prices. Russafa is the city's most exciting food neighborhood — make this a base and wander the bars afterwards. Reserve for dinner; the area gets busy in the evening.
Horchata, oysters and wine, tapas, coffee in a Modernista hall
A restored early-1900s Modernista market hall, now an elegant space of cafés, horchata counters, oyster bars, and tapas spots under iron-and-glass architecture. A stylish stop a short walk from the Old Town.
$5-22
(€5-20)
Daily ~07:30-01:00 (venues vary)
Local tip: More upscale and café-focused than the Mercado Central — good for an horchata, an oyster-and-wine break, or a coffee in beautiful surroundings. The architecture is a draw in itself. A relaxed alternative when the central market is closed (Sundays) or too busy.
Beachfront seafood by Malvarrosa, fideuà, and agua de Valencia, the local cava cocktail
La Marcelina (Malvarrosa)
La Marcelina · Malvarrosa / Paseo de Neptuno
12
#1
MUST TRY
Paella, fideuà, seafood platters, fresh fish of the day
A historic beachfront restaurant on the Malvarrosa promenade, open since 1888 — one of the oldest paella and seafood houses on the seafront, with sea views and traditional rice and fish dishes.
Local tip: A heritage seafront option alongside La Pepica for paella and fideuà with a sea view. Reserve a terrace table at lunch in summer. Try fideuà (the noodle version of paella) for something different from rice. Right on the beach walk near Malvarrosa.
Fresh seafood, fried fish, esgarraet (roasted pepper and cod), local rice dishes
A neighborhood seafood spot in El Cabanyal, the colorful old fishermen's quarter near the beach, serving fresh fish and traditional dishes in a more local, less touristy setting than the Paseo de Neptuno.
Local tip: El Cabanyal, with its tiled houses, is a great area to eat seafood away from the main promenade tourist crowds. Go for the catch of the day and Valencian starters like esgarraet. A short walk from the beach — combine with exploring the colorful streets.
Café de las Horas · Old Town (near Plaza de la Virgen)
14
#3
MUST TRY
Agua de Valencia (cava + orange juice + gin + vodka), cocktails, coffee
An ornate, baroque-styled café-bar in the Old Town near Plaza de la Virgen, well known for its jug of agua de Valencia — the local cocktail of cava, orange juice, gin, and vodka invented in the city. A characterful evening spot.
$5-16
(€5-15)
Daily 16:00-01:30 (later on weekends)
Local tip: The place to try agua de Valencia, usually served by the jug to share — it goes down easily, so pace yourself. The over-the-top decor makes it a memorable stop. Central, an easy walk from the Cathedral. Great for a pre-dinner drink given Valencia's late dining.
Beachfront paella at La Pepica + creative tasting at Canalla Bistro.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about food and restaurants in Valencia.
Where do I eat authentic paella valenciana?
Casa Carmela (since 1922, by Malvarrosa beach, wood-fired) and La Pepica (since 1898, on the beachfront, served Hemingway) are the historic city references; La Riuà is a reliable central Old Town option. For the true heartland, go to El Palmar village in Albufera (Casa Ángel, Bon Aire), where paella was born among the rice paddies. Order it at lunch, usually for two-plus people, and reserve — the rice is cooked to order. Skip places in tourist squares advertising paella with photos.
Is real paella valenciana made with seafood?
No — and it's the thing visitors most often get wrong. Authentic paella valenciana is rabbit, chicken, green beans (bajoqueta and garrofó), tomato, rice, saffron, and rosemary, cooked over wood. Seafood rice is a separate dish (arròs a banda, arròs del senyoret). The mixed 'surf and turf' paella sold to tourists isn't traditional, and locals are particular about it. Order 'paella valenciana' for the original, or a clearly named seafood rice if that's what you want.
What is horchata and where's the best?
Horchata (orxata) is a cold, sweet drink made from chufa (tigernuts) grown in the Valencia region, traditionally served with fartons — long sugar-glazed pastries for dipping. Horchatería Santa Catalina (since 1928, by Plaza de la Reina) is the famous central spot; purists head to Alboraya, the tigernut town just north, and Horchatería Daniel. It's non-alcoholic and a perfect afternoon break. Best ice-cold in warm weather.
What is agua de Valencia?
Agua de Valencia is the local cocktail — cava (sparkling wine), fresh orange juice, gin, and vodka — invented in the city and usually served by the jug to share. It tastes deceptively like orange juice but is strong, so pace yourself. Café de las Horas in the Old Town is a classic place to try it, and bars across El Carmen and Russafa serve it. A great pre-dinner drink given how late Valencians eat.
What should I eat besides paella?
Plenty: fideuà (paella made with short noodles instead of rice), arròs a banda and other rice dishes, all i pebre (Albufera eel stew), the esmorzaret (a big mid-morning Valencian sandwich), esgarraet (roasted pepper and cod), and seafood by the beach in El Cabanyal. Graze the Mercado Central for jamón and cheese, eat creative tapas in Russafa, and finish with horchata and fartons. Valencia's food is far broader than paella alone.
When do Valencians eat, and is paella a dinner dish?
Late, and no — paella is a lunchtime dish. The main meal is lunch around 14:00-15:30, when paella is traditionally eaten; dinner is typically 21:00-23:00 and rarely starts before 20:00. There's also the esmorzaret, a hearty mid-morning snack around 10:00-11:00. Many paella restaurants only serve at lunch. Shift your clock later for the authentic rhythm, and don't expect locals to eat a freshly made paella for dinner.
Cards or cash — what do I need?
Cards (and Apple Pay / Google Pay) are accepted almost everywhere — restaurants, the markets, cafés, taxis. Carry €20-40 in cash for small market stalls, neighborhood bars, El Palmar village restaurants, and tipping. Tipping is modest in Spain: round up or leave 5-10% for good service, not US-style amounts. Watch for a small 'cubierto' bread/cover charge on some bills, and note paella is often priced per person with a two-person minimum.
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Jimmy Kong
TripPick founder · Travel content creator
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.
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