Valencia has a bit of everything. The old walled city has cobbled streets, a giant cathedral rumoured to have housed the Holy Grail, crumbling fortress towers, and more history around every corner. The Central Market has every kind of food imaginable. Menus have horchata, paella, fartons, pinxos, and so much shellfish from the nearby seaside. The seaside itself has a beautiful white sand beach that stretches for miles to the north, lined with restaurants and bars. The parks have modern and historical museums, playgrounds and concerts. There really is no end to the Spanish experience and lifestyle in Valencia.

Paella at casa carmela

Paella is known all around the world as one of the must-try Spanish dishes. And Valencia is the home of paella. However, there are many ways to go wrong trying this plate in Valencia. Many restaurants know tourists will order paella, and being a basic rice dish with some meat, it can be made very cheaply. This means that many paellas in town are not done properly. Firstly, Valencian paella has no seafood. Abroad, seafood paella has gained more popularity than the traditional land animal version. But in town, paella Valenciana should have chicken, rabbit, and land snails. If you want to get a seafood paella go ahead, it’s going to be great, but follow a couple of rules. 1. Do not under any circumstance order paella takeaway. 2. Do not order paella off a menu del dia or lunch deal. 3. Do not order paella that is not cooked to order. Generally, this means a minimum of two people to order and a 45-minute wait, but it’s worth it to get it fresh. Casa Carmela was my favorite restaurant in town for real, traditional paella. They have a few options that are all cooked fresh, over a wood fire and served with a wooden serving spoon. This is the place to get started with this dish in Valencia.

Tribunal De Les Aigües De València

A fascinating bit of history about Valencia, the Tribunal de Las Aguas meet at noon every Thursday in the Plaza de la Virgen, in front of the Door of the Apostles. This is one of the oldest continuing legislative systems in the world and it is open to the public. Over the last thousand years, farmers have met here to discuss splitting the irrigation water in the surrounding lands. In the arid terrain, a farmer diverting too much from the shared water sources could disrupt crop yields downstream. The court still meets in traditional garb and discusses matters in the old Valencian language (not Spanish). So you may not know exactly what is going on at the meeting but it is a really interesting bit of history to witness.

 

Mercat Central De València

The Central Market of Valencia is simply gorgeous. The space is a vaulted ceiling with aisle after aisle of vendors selling almost everything that is good about Spain. Olives in 30 different varieties, over 500 wines, fresh octopus, horchata, tapas in every shape and form, cheese from all over the continent and whole ham legs worth thousands of dollars. As an added bonus, many of the stalls will offer free tastings. There are few better places to experience Spanish food.

 

 

Horchata And Fartons At Horchateria Fabian

Horchata is a must-try in Valencia. This is a milky drink made from tiger nuts that is served all over the city under umbrellas, awnings, or anywhere shade is found in the summer. You may see it spelt as horchata or orxata, but the drink is the same. Horchateria Fabian is a fantastic little place to try the regional drink. It’s out of the main tourist lanes but close enough to old Valencia to be convenient. They serve this cold, refreshing beverage with fartons. Fartons are kind of like Spanish beignets but a little heavier than their French brethren.

Holy Grail Museum

The Holy Grail Museum is a small exhibit off the side of Valencia’s main cathedral. The church here is famous for being the possible home of the Holy Grail a few hundred years ago. The Aula Grial exhibit shows various depictions of the Holy Grail through the millennia as well as explains the history of the mythical relic. It traces the timelines of where it might have gone, who might have found it and what it might have looked like. It is a really cool museum for anyone who likes historical mysteries, symbolism, or treasure hunts through time.

 

Pinchos at Finnegans of Dublin

I know, I know. I very rarely recommend visiting a new place and going to an Irish Pub. But honestly, I did not know this place was called Finnegan’s until I looked it up just now. The bar is incredibly Spanish. From the decorations and brass furnishings to the food, drinks, and space. The most wonderful thing about Finnegan’s of Dublin is the Pinchos. Two levels of appetizer-y Pinchos line the bar. Drinks are passed through these levels as there is no other space to reach the bartender. Pinchos are slices of baguette heaped with toppings such as cheese, cured meats, salads, olives, fried seafood and almost anything else you can think of. Grab them at will, whatever looks great. And hang on to the toothpicks as you go, as this is the payment system. When you pay at the end, a small toothpick will cost €1, and a long toothpick will be €2. The cashier will count the collection and bill you accordingly.

100 Montaditos

This is an institution across Spain for broke and hungry college students and backpackers. 100 Montaditos have 100 sandwich options, hence the name. Also on the menu are fries, salads, various starter things, deserts and of course beer, cider, and other beverages. It’s cheap already, but on Sundays and Wednesdays, the whole menu is €1. A jar of beer, fries with cheese and bacon, and three small sandwiches will set you back €5. It is not the most cultural experience you might have on the trip, but a good recommendation if you need something small in the middle of the day.

Museu De Les Ciències Valencia

The science museum building in Valencia is a wonder in itself. I have no idea about the price, the opening times, or the exhibits inside as I visited on a holiday. But the park surrounding the museum is a meeting place for people from all over the city. Some free exhibits and displays of solar science, constellation tracking, and more are scattered about the grounds and gardens, free to access. There are a few reflection pools that are deep enough and large enough for kayaks, paddleboats, and other water sports. In the summer, the area is also used for various concerts and festivals. Hanging out here before a night out is incredibly common and a good way to meet people outside of the bars.

Gulliver park

Based on the famous story, Gulliver’s Playground is a large public park area with a huge man lying on the ground that is bound by the ropes of hundreds of little folk on a mysterious island. The man has been designed with slides down his arms, steps and climbing walls up the sides, and many photo opportunities. Mainly designed for children, but amusing to see nonetheless, it is a bizarre visit in between all the ancient history of the city. A nearby bridge over the park gives you the best view to see exactly what you are climbing on.

Gran Mercat Cafe

Outside Valenica’s Central Market is Gran Mercat Cafe. This amazing, traditional eatery sits between two roads running to the market intersection, making it a perfect people-watching spot. Sit outside under an umbrella to see the hawkers in front of the market haggling away with locals and tourists. Enjoy a horcata or maybe something stronger. The wines from the Valencia region are excellent. And of course, anything on the cocktail menu with oranges is going to be fresh Valencian-grown fruits. Added note, all of the parades in town go by this intersection. If you are here for a festival, grab a table early and post up for the day.

 

“Eat, Drink and Learn in Valencia, Spain” was originally published on Wanderdash (follow Creed @creedevans)