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The Mediterranean is not only a region, but also a way of life and a philosophy. Here more than anywhere else in Europe people enjoy the sun, the light, the sea and, of course, the food. The famous Mediterranean diet is known all over the world not only for its excellent flavour and its natural ingredients but also as a source of health and well-being.

Paella and Seafood

Valencia is one of the most important cities on the Mediterranean coast, and, naturally, it has made important contributions to this cuisine. This is the city that invented paella, and restaurants like Samaruch stand out in its preparation. Other Mediterranean options include the baked rice which is the specialty of Hotel Lido or top-quality fish, meat and seafood as offered by the restaurant Casa Navarro, which has the added benefit of being next to the sea.

Another option on the coast that would be unforgivable not to mention is La Marcelina, the most famous restaurant on Las Arenas beach. They have been preparing the best paella and seafood in Valencia for more than a hundred years. It is perhaps the best example of the Mediterranean lifestyle.

Tapas

If you're not all that hungry, then you could just order tapas. Tasty favourites include Spanish omelette (with potatoes), fried squid, peppers, baby squid and a lot more. Gambrinus offers a great selection of all of these, but other options in the centre include Bar Pilar or Río Sil-Civera.

Converted Palaces

If we continue along our gastronomic route in the old part of the city, we will find fantastic restored buildings turned into restaurants. Among them, La Mamma, which is an old palace more than 100 years old, stands out. It is full of works of art, and they serve delicious Italian food and pasta upstairs and cocktails on the ground floor. Similarly, another converted palace in the same area offers the best Valencian cuisine, both traditional and innovative. It is called Ben Fet, which in Valencian means "well done", an evening here and you will understand why.

International Food

In the last few years, Valencia has been visited by increasing numbers of foreigners and some of them have stayed on, becoming residents and providing Valencia with a cosmopolitan touch in both the type of bars as well as restaurants available. You will find Mexican restaurants such as El Coyote Cojo, that brings us all the atmosphere and tastes of Mexico, French restaurants such as Les Mouettes or La Fondue, Tariq from Pakistan and also international restaurants with theme weeks dedicated to the cuisine of each of the six inhabited continents, as is the case with Phileas Fogg.

Vegetarian Restaurants

There are also several vegetarian options for vegetable lovers, such as the restaurant Les Maduixes and its fantastic meals without meat.

Local Drinks

But in Valencia people don't only eat, they also drink. A couple of typical local drinks worth trying include Agua de Valencia, a very tasty cocktail which mixes champagne and orange juice. It will help liven up those nights out on the town, though you should be careful, as it could cheer you up too much. On hot, sunny afternoons and especially in spring and summer, there is nothing better to fight the heat than a glass of horchata. This is a natural drink which consists of squeezing chufas (tiger nuts) to get a milky white liquid which will quench the worst thirst. The horchaterías Daniel and El Siglo, make it better than anywhere else in the city. If you are hungry, you can order fartóns, an elongated pastry specially made for the occasion.

The Mediterranean Tradition

As you can see, Valencia as a city has known how to preserve the best of the Mediterranean tradition, but it has also adapted to new times, new trends and incorporated the tastes and wisdom of other cultures, proving that Valencia is today more than ever a city open to the world, and one well worth visiting.







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Bar Pilar


Fresh Mussels as a Tapa
Moro Zeit, 13
Valencia 46001
Spain
+34 96 391 0497
A long-established traditional tapas bar that has been serving tasty snacks and drinks in the heart of the old town since 1918. Try the famous freshly-steamed mussels, the broad beans cooked with mint or the potato salad. These are best accompanied by a house wine or Valencian vermouth. Popularly and affectionately known as La Pilarica, it fills up quickly during the weekends and you can't book in advance. The decor is old-fashioned and the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Ben Fet


Aromas from a traditional kitchen
Correjería, 28
Valencia 46001
Spain
+1 34 96 315 5250
This magnificent old 17th-century palace has been converted into an excellent restaurant that specializes in both traditional and modern Valencian cuisine. Gracious dining is in a sumptuous dining room decorated in centuries old style. The best things on the menu are the homemade desserts such as mango mousse which is cottage cheese served with fruits of the forest jelly and the chocolate orange bomb.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Ben Fet photo by wcities
Photo: wcities
 

 
Casa Navarro


Restaurant on the beach
Avenida Mare Nostrum, 141
Playa de Alboraya
Valencia 46120
Spain
+34 96 372 0027
Situated facing the Mediterranean sea on Alboraya beach and with the soft breeze, could there be any place better than this to dine on typically Valencian cuisine of delicious seafood and fish? And not only fish and seafood of the best quality, but also meat and all that is part of the well-known Mediterranean diet are the specialties of this great restaurant. The wine list is standard to good, with mainly Spanish wines. It's open all year round, and they organize barbecues on weekend nights starting in March. Prices are good, service is nice and the atmosphere, typically Mediterranean.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Coyote Cojo


Traditional food and good atmosphere
Joaquín Costa, 27
Valencia 46005
Spain
+34 96 334 2907
Here you'll feel as if you were in Mexico, while actually in one of the best areas of Valencia, only ten minutes walking distance from the centre. This is due to the decor, faithfully reproducing the Mexican aesthetic of bright colours, and its menu, based on traditional Mexican food. On the drinks menu, you'll find equally typical drinks such as tequila, margaritas and other cocktails. The atmosphere is cheerful, relaxed and cool; the clientele is varied, ranging from professionals to students. Everyone coming in can be sure to have a good time with good food.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Daniel


Famous horchatería (tiger nut juice)
Avenida de la Horchata, 41
Valencia 46120
Spain
+34 96 185 8866
If you want to try a good horchata (a cold drink made from tiger nuts and the most traditional drink in Valencia), this is the best place to go. Daniel has managed to stand out due to the excellent quality of its horchata, made with traditional methods. The staff are friendly and the place itself is large and comfy, so it's one of the most visited places both by locals and foreigners searching for something authentic. It's an experience worth living and repeating.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Fondue


Luxurious French restaurant
Serrano Morales, 11
Valencia 46004
Spain
+34 96 374 7484
Just a two-minute walk from Plaza de Cánovas, one of the best and most exclusive areas in the city, is this restaurant, whose specialty, as the name indicates, is the tasty and delicate fondue Savoyarde, made with cheese, and the meat based fondue Bouguignone. They don't usually have fish dishes. Inside, the luxurious and classic decor represents without a shadow of a doubt the best in renowned French taste. Dining here could mean the beginning of an unforgettable evening out on the town, especially for those who appreciate elegance, style and the wonderful flavours of French cuisine.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Gambrinus


Great variety of beers and tapas
plaza de la Reina, 19
Valencia 46003
Spain
+34 96 392 3191
Just a five minute-walk from the centre, this is a popular bar. It's divided into two different parts: at the entrance, it's a tapas bar, where you can choose from a wide variety of beers and order some of the tapas they serve, such as fried baby squid, cuttlefish, Spanish omelette, Spanish spicy chorizo sausage and more. The decor is rustic in style, with huge beer barrels as tables. In addition to the variety of food, there is a good mix of music, ranging from flamenco to African beats, jazz and reggae, too. At the back, there is a traditional restaurant serving Spanish dishes. They have an excellent wine list, as well, among which the Via Aurelia stands out.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Hotel Lido


Typical Valencian restaurant
Juan Ramón Jiménez, 5
El Vedat de Torrent
Valencia 46901
Spain
+34 96 155 1500
http://www.hotel-lido.net
This restaurant is a fifteen-minute car ride from Valencia, situated in a residential area with fantastic views. You can enjoy a good meal while surrounded by Nature, breathing fresh pine-scented air. The Hotel Lido serves the best of traditional Valencian dishes, that is, the healthy and well-known Mediterranean diet, made up of all kinds of rice combined with meat, fish and vegetables. The house specialty is called Rossetjat Torrentí, based on rice, chickpeas, potatoes and meat. They also serve an ample selection of wines. Without a doubt, this restaurant is an ideal choice for those who wish to leave the city behind for a couple of hours.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Hotel Lido photo by Jesus Alberto Molina
Photo: Jesus Alberto Molina
 

 
Marcelina


Traditional paella restaurant
Paseo Neptuno, 8
Valencia 46011
Spain
+34 96 371 2025
This is a long-established restaurant that has been serving excellent paellas and seafood since 1888. One of its spacious dining rooms offers a lovely view of the Mediterranean. It has become one of the most sought after caterers for wedding receptions, business dinners and other special occasions. The wine list has a decent selection to choose from. The restaurant's reputation has spread far and wide and its facilities have expanded to include new private dining rooms and air conditioning.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Mouettes


French restaurant by the sea
Subida al Castillo, s/n
Cullera
Valencia 46400
Spain
+34 96 172 0010
Once upon a time there was a castle on top of mountain by the sea...and just on the way to the castle, a fantastic French restaurant. Here you'll breathe not only fresh Mediterranean air, but also Parisian glamour, while sampling some of the best French specialties in meat. This small restaurant opens its doors for unforgettable dinners and evenings in the privileged location of Cullera, a small town only 20 km from Valencia. Its a picturesque village by the sea, surrounded by mountains. Les Mouettes is decorated with classic furniture, luxury carpets and antiques, setting the appropriate tone for lovers of French cuisine and style. Enjoy the best of both the Mediterranean and French food. Not to be missed! Transport: Trains leave for Cullera from the Estación del Norte station in Valencia, although given the restaurant's opening times, a taxi or car is recommended.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Phileas Fogg


International restaurant-bar
Correjería, 28
Valencia 46001
Spain
+34 96 315 5250
If you consider yourself cosmopolitan, and a citizen of the world, then this pub-restaurant has been made for you. Its decoration is luxurious and classic, and it is the perfect setting for the best international, seven continent cuisine, including typical tapas from all over the world. They also organize theme weeks devoted to the cuisine of different areas of the globe. The clientele, not surprisingly, is very mixed, and the atmosphere of the restaurant is warm and comfortable, with room for everybody, no matter where you come from. This place is a bargain if you consider the category of this restaurant and the quality of its dishes.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Phileas Fogg photo by wcities
Photo: wcities
 

 
Río Sil-Civera


The best seafood
Mosén Femades, 10
Valencia 46002
Spain
+34 96 352 9764
This is a long-established, upscale seafood restaurant with attractive maritime decor that's run by the Civera brothers. They specialize in lobster and crayfish paella. The open-plan kitchen allows you to watch the chefs preparing other house specialties like Galician style octopus (steamed with oil and paprika) and steamed fresh mussels. On a lovely summer day, you can sit outside on the terrace and enjoy the atmosphere and the delicious cuisine.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Samaruch


Mediterranean restaurant on the beach
Paseo Neptuno, 58
Valencia 46011
Spain
+34 96 355 6648
http://www.samaruch.com
To be on the Mediterranean coast without visiting its beaches is unforgivable. And so it is, once you are here, not to sit down close to the sea and taste the best it has to offer us, such as the top quality fish and seafood that this restaurant situated on Las Arenas beach has on offer. This is the main beach in the city, with a wide range of touristy and fun things to do. Samaruch has been redecorated and modernized to offer its clientel the best quality, both in its specialties (rice, meats and fish) and the relaxed atmosphere that they have created. Prices are great, and the sea and surroundings do the rest.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Tariq


The best of Pakistan
Laui Volpi, 77
Godella
Valencia 46110
Spain
+34 96 390 4299
This restaurant specializes in Pakistani food. Although it is a little far from the center of town, the delicacies that this spacious and elegant restaurant serves make it worth the trip. There are mild and spicy dishes, rice, lamb, chicken and vegetarian dishes. Their bread and samosas (pastries stuffed with vegetables) are very tasty. Their wine list is not exceptionally large, but their tea is excellent.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Other Schmapplets in this city related to "Valencia - Dining & Drinking"
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Valencia - Neighborhood Guide
Valencia - Where to Stay
Valencia - Art & Entertainment

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