VALENCIA, SPAIN (Page 2 of 2 - Go to Page 1)
Restaurants and Bars in Valencia
There is a huge selection of restaurants and bars in Valencia. We've tried some really good, some not so good and we've listed some of our favourites below. If you discover a good restaurant in Valencia that you'd like us to add to this page, contact us with the details.
Our favourite restaurant in Valencia is the pleasantly-named Ginger Loft Cafe. It's a small, unobtrusive restaurant, down a side street on Calle Vitoria #4, by Calle San Vicente Martir and Calle Moratin in central Valencia, close to the Cathedral (Tel: +34 963 523 243). The restaurant is run by the friendly Peruvian Santi and Michael from Scotland. The food is absolutely delicious and the value second to none, whether you are looking for a four-course meal or just a snack. They excel in food with an Asian twist but also offer Mediterranean specialities. The first time we were there in the evening, we had delicious home-made hummus to start, followed by a very tasty Thai chicken curry and a spicy noodle dish with prawns which set our taste buds into overdrive! On our second visit we went for lunch and were offered a choice of two menus, one offering a 2 course lunch and the other a snack option with soup and a sandwich. 
We went for the 2 course lunch and weren't disappointed. For our starters we had tasty soup and a very nice salad, for mains one of us had the most delicious ginger chicken and the other had an equally tasty pork fillet dish with sweet potato. We've been back a couple more times and every time the food has been fantastic. The Thai chicken curry is to die for, very authentic and they will make it as mild or as spicy as you want. Their ginger and orange salad is also very tasty. We've really enjoyed all our meals so far at the Ginger Loft Cafe and look forward to next time! Visit their website for more information or go to Trip Advisor where the Ginger Loft is deservedly rated No 1 of all restaurants in Valencia. Please note that the Ginger Loft is shut every Monday and also on Saturday lunchtime.
The Spanish aren't generally very good at Italian food, but Pappardella, just round the corner from the Cathedral is an exception. We've had a couple of excellent meals there. The restaurant has a nice ambience and good selection of salads and pastas. Visit their website for more information.
Another Italian restaurant worth a mention is Bacco Doc, close to the Ginger Loft at Calle Derechos 29. Friends of ours love this restaurant and regularly take holidaying friends and family here, so our expectations were high. It's an interesting cave-like building which is a great setting for a restaurant and a bit unusual. We went at lunch time and their Menu del dia is good value at around €10*, but we've heard that it's a lot more expensive at night. The food was OK but didn't really do it for us, and the staff weren't very friendly, but it seems to be very popular so we maybe just caught them on an off day. There is a large selection of bars and restaurants in the Canovas area. We had a good meal at Restaurante La Mala Vida at Calle Conde de Altea 35 in April 2010. Their Menu del Noche at €12.50 was very tasty and good value and their was a nice ambiance in the restaurant. Visit their website for more information. |
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There is a large selection of bars and restaurants in the Canovas area. We had a good meal at Restaurante La Mala Vida at Calle Conde de Altea 35 in April 2010. Their Menu del Noche at €12.50 was very tasty and good value and their was a nice ambiance in the restaurant. Visit their website for more information.
In 2007 we had a lovely meal at Lambrusqueria on Conde Altea 31-26, also in Canovas. There are seats indoor or outside with candlelight and a nice ambiance. Our tomato and mozzarella salad to start was very nice and the pasta dishes for our main course were also delicious, accompanied by some very nice fresh bread. They have a smaller place directly opposite which looks nice too but doesn't have as extensive a menu.
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In 2006 we had a lovely meal at an Italian Restaurant called Il Ghittone. We had the most delicious mozzarella, tomato & basil salad to start, with a selection of nice breads then had a very tasty pizza and Pasta Arabiatta. Very friendly staff, opened very late and they don't rush you to finish your meal.
We also ate at Don Salvatore,
which gets rave reviews but we were disappointed with it. The bruschetta
to start (we were impressed as it wasn't on the menu but they offered to make
it for us) was very tasty, although a bit more cheesy and less tomatoey
than we're used to. For mains we had a Veal Pizzaola and their house
speciality pasta - maccaroni with bacon, cream, tomato and mushrooms.
The pasta was tasty but we were disappointed not to be offered parmesan
or black pepper, and the veal was quite nice but came with just chips and no
vegetables (this can be a problem generally in Spain, where you do not automatically get vegetables with your main course, even in a nice restaurant).
The Barrio del Carmen area
in the old quarter is a quaint area with narrow cobbled streets and
lots of bars and open air cafes. There's a nice little bar in Plaza
Negrito, La Cava del Negret, just off Calle Caballero where you can
sit and watch the world go by with a small jug of Aqua de Valencia
for €8.
Agua de Valencia is Valencia's speciality cocktail. It tastes like a
Bucks Fizz but with a bit of a kick - orange juice, cava with vodka
or gin added, usually vodka. Very nice!.
Another nice little bar with seats outside is Cafe
de Sant Jaume on the corner of Calle Cabellero and Plaza del Esparto.
They also do great Agua de Valencias but we had a very interesting variation
here, made with cava and lemon ice cream. Delicious and very refreshing!
*Note: Prices quoted above were
accurate in 2006-2010