Paella is Valencian cuisine’s most international dish, our contribution to global gastronomy. Paella is to Valencia what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris or the aqueduct to Segovia, an extraordinary landmark. With the difference being that ours is made from rice, vegetables from our farming region, l'Horta, and animal protein such as chicken, free-range if possible, and rabbit. Or if you prefer, there is the seafood version, with the finest raw material from the Mediterranean. This is the best example of the pairing of locally sourced products in human history!
You find yourself in the best city in the world to get paella. You won't want to leave Valencia without treating yourself. If you sample a good paella in Valencia, you are sure to repeat the experience. To find out which spots you can trust, you can turn to wikipaella, an initiative to honour and promote the original recipe, or go to Visit València’s rice restaurants section. Once you're in good hands, let yourself go. All you need worry about is what sort of surroundings you'd like to be in when savouring your paella: overlooking the Mediterranean? historic district? City of Arts and Sciences? The choice is yours. Enjoy the view and the food.
- For a nice paella by the sea, you can opt for Casa Carmela, both long established and by the beach. You’ll also get that salty scent at Balandret, Casa Isabel, El Coso del Mar and La Alegría de la Huerta, or La Marítima, Vlue Arribar, Panorama and Restaurante Destino Puerto. The last three are located at the spectacular La Marina de València.
- If you opt for the city centre, there are also excellent options, from Palace Fesol, serving our palates for over a century, to Borja Azcutia, Goya Gallery and La Cigrona. They all offer different rice dishes, seafood, arroz negro (squid ink rice), arroz a banda (paella-style rice cooked in fish stock), and more. Classic recipes and a few innovative menu items.
- In contrast, if you prefer to enjoy a nice paella in complete harmony with nature, there’s no place better for this than the area around L’Albufera Natural Park: Casa Quiquet and La Ferrera (winner of the World Paella Day Cup in 2020). A further location choice is right beside the pier: El Palmar, Nou Racó and Restaurante Mateu. In addition to being the birthplace of paella, one more traditional dish in this area is all i pebre, a stew made with eels and potatoes.
- Another alternative is to take in the view of the famous l’Horta de València, the fertile region near the city, as you engage in paella-ing at Barraca de Toni Montoliu (you can even ride a buggy!), in the unique space at La Mozaira, or at the rice restaurant Bergamonte. Just a short distance from the city, you can enjoy the best Valencia-style paella.
Don't forget, you’ll find more information and suggestions at Visit València, where you can book a table directly or opt for a ‘Paella Experience’, pairing an activity such as a boat ride or sightseeing bus with a nice rice dish to round out the experience. Bon appétit!
