Best Restaurants in Valencia

El Rincon Latino

This was a Colombian restaurant, therefore I left the choices to my Colombian friend. We startd with empanadas, which, unlike the Argentinian ones, have a dough that seems to be made with semolina flour. In my opinion, the filling defines the flavor of an empanada, and the meat-filled ones were definitely tastier. Then, following my friend’s recommendation and with a bit of trepidation, I tried the mixed meat and salty fried plantains (see the plate in the photo). I didn’t expect it to be this delicious, and now I’m left wondering where I’ll find this in Istanbul if I start craving it 🙁

Bodega La Rentaora

Bodega La Rentaora is located in Carmen and preferred by both locals and tourists. It is a great place for tapas. Tapas is a more shared, slow-paced, and conversation-friendly way of dining, so I had saved it for Valencia with my friend.

My friend insisted on duck, so I couldn’t resist. We also ordered some familiar tastes like Russian salad and hummus. Our friendly waiter suggested that the plates might not be enough if we are too hungry, so we also got salmon and duck on bread. For my drink, I chose tinto de verano, a popular Spanish mix of red wine, lemon, and soda. I had confused it with cava from my last trip, but it turned out to be a more flavorful choice than cava. The duck was excellent—I’ve had duck in Paris before, but this was a different kind of taste. The Russian salad and hummus were good too, but not particularly special for someone who are used to really good ones.

Sagardi

Thanks to a friend visiting from Alicante, we had a fun evening eating pinchos at Sagardi. Pinchos are small bites served on bread, and the waiters bring trays around for you to choose from. It’s a stylish spot, perfect for long conversations.We left satisfied with the pinchos we have tasted.

Restaurante Balandret

We had seafood paella at Restaurante Balandret on Playa Malvarrossa and found it tasty. The place is chich and offers a sea view. A note for paella: paella is typically eaten around 3-4 PM, and it’s hard to find it after that. On weekends, reservations are probably a must. We were lucky to find a spot and get paella even though we went late. I haven’t been to the restaurants in Albufera, but that part is actually famous for paellas.

Black Turtle

I stopped by Black Turtle in El Carmen for a burger. I have passed this spot many times and realized that there are many people eating here and the ratings on Google Maps were high. The portions were large, but the burgers were a bit pricey compared to the usual pricing in Valencia. However, the taste was delicious.

P.S. We have been to Gonzales & Co as well but the prices were a bit high for tacos, and honestly, I’ve had much better ones in my hometown.

You might also want to check out my posts on “Night Life in Valencia” and “Things to Do in Valencia“.