Top 9 places to eat the best paella in Valencia, Spain

Paella Valenciana with mussels and shrimps. Image by GarryKillian on freepik.com

The secret to making a fantastic paella involves several key elements. First, you should use short-grain rice, which does a better job of absorbing all the flavors. Second, it's important not to overload paella with too many ingredients, whether it's meat, seafood, or vegetables.

The dish is cooked in large flat paelleras without stirring, and the crispy layer of rice that sticks to the bottom, called socarrat, is a sign of expertise and a real treat. When dining at the following restaurants, expect to be served an exceptional paella that is prepared uniquely in Valencia.

In the heart of the city's pedestrian zone, right behind the Town Hall Square and close to the two major train stations, you'll discover Navarro. This restaurant has been a city fixture since 1951, now in the capable hands of the third generation of the same family. It's known for serving top-notch Valencian cuisine, including their custom-made paella.

If you're new to this place, start with the classics. Try their paella Valenciana with chicken, rabbit, snails, and veggies, and complement it with signature salad featuring salted tuna and cured ham. For those looking to explore different versions of the famous dish, consider options like seafood fideuà (made with noodles instead of rice) or senyoret rice with peeled seafood. They also offer more familiar choices like paella with lobster, cod, and cauliflower.

Their menu features various other enticing options, such as gazpacho andaluz, mushroom ravioli with pumpkin, or tenderloin steak with foie gras, making for excellent additions to a hearty cold-weather meal. To complete your experience, enjoy a bottle of Los Frailes de Caliza or a glass of sangria in the cozy setting with deep green and orange hues, all while watching the sizzling paelleras. This is your recipe for pure autumn happiness.

The iconic Goya Gallery has been serving delicious food for 73 years. It's not just known for its fancy Valencian cuisine but also for being a beloved spot for famous people, even back when it was a simple bar. The famous director Bernardo Bertolucci wrote the script for his Oscar-winning film The Last Emperor here, and many other creative souls used to stop by for a drink or two.

Today, this restaurant, recognized by Michelin, offers its guests more than 20 outstanding rice dishes, along with fresh steaks and fish bought early in the morning at the city markets. Don't miss their exquisite paella with Iberian pork secreto, foie, and vegetables, or the special Valencian version with artichokes and snails. If you're feeling adventurous, try shredded duck fideuà with mushrooms. And for those who love classic dishes, the chef's recommendation is pork ribs with pumpkin and curry puree.

The interior is eclectic, filled with plaster sculptures, paintings, and unique decor that will keep you entertained while you wait for your order (they prepare almost everything from scratch, so expect around a 20-minute wait). Despite its high quality and Michelin recognition, the prices remain reasonable, starting at €15 for paella, and the delightful Goya flan dessert is only €6.5.

An excellent opportunity for a day trip from Valencia and a taste of authentic paella in its birthplace is to visit Arroceria Maribel. It’s located in the small village of El Palmar in The Parque Natural de la Albufera, right along the picturesque water channel, where you can enjoy a boat ride after a hearty dinner.

You have the option to choose between two menus, which differ in price and the number of dishes. We highly recommend going for the Grand one at €75, as you're on a food adventure, and here, there's no need to hold back. After mouthwatering starters like platinum fish pancake and liquid duck croquettes, you'll be served the main attraction – prawn carabinieri and plankton paella, crafted from local rice and an intriguing ingredient known as phytoplankton, which is making waves in the culinary world.

One more thing to be proud of in this place is their 0 km approach, which means that most of the ingredients are produced and sourced locally. While you wait for the next course, take a moment to admire the large canvases on the walls depicting various stages of the rice-growing process, a tradition that began right here in these fertile lands.

Over the years, La Riuá has hosted many important guests, including the King of Spain himself, yet has retained its charming character instead of transforming into a flashy restaurant with mirrors and gold accents. You can trace its rich history through the numerous photos, porcelain plates, and antique engravings from past eras, all blending harmoniously with vintage items scattered throughout.

Here, you can seize the chance to sample their caldoso rice with ribs, mushrooms, and artichokes – an excellent option for those torn between having soup or a main course. There are also over 20 varieties of traditional paella to choose from. The chef recommends the lobster version, but we suggest trying the one with duck and chicken, or crispy baked rice with raisins and chickpeas.

Alongside these, you'll be delighted by signature beef scallops, garlic rabbit, or chicken croquettes as starters, and seasonal pumpkin pudding for dessert, especially if you visit in the fall. Located just steps from the main plaza near the Cathedral, Plaça de la Reina, La Riuá is a must-visit for anyone looking to experience the true spirit of the city.

Not far from Valencia's cutting-edge City of Arts and Sciences, a place you should definitely explore, you'll discover the Fum de Llum restaurant. They offer paella in either a dry or mellow style, and we recommend trying the second one with beach cuttlefish, squid, and smoked eggplant rice. Its rich and bold flavor will awaken your appetite, even if you're a fussy eater.

Fum de Llum is known for its creative approach to making and presenting dishes. For example, their empanadas de secreto ibérico, served on a black stone slate, are so tender they practically melt in your mouth, just like red prawn croquettes with miso mayonnaise. A jar of white chocolate mousse with berry coulis and cookie crumble looks like it's straight out of a trendy gourmet magazine. The stylish and minimalist interior, combined with great wine choices like a glass of Pedro Ximénez, will make your evening laid-back and beautiful, leaving a delightful aftertaste.

The 125-year-old La Pepica restaurant is an integral part of the city's history. It has hosted famous figures like Ernest Hemingway, Orson Welles, and Jorge Luis Borges, along with many Spanish celebrities. Legend has it that arroz del senyoret with pre-peeled seafood on top, was invented right here, specially prepared for the Spanish painter Joaquin Sorolla.

Its terrace on Levante Beach, overlooking the sea, feels like the perfect place to indulge in seafood and authentic Valencian rice which they cook either dry or creamy according to your preference. Kick off your meal with oysters or anchovies from the Cantabrian Sea served on freshly grated tomato and don't miss trying Pepica paella with scampi or free-range chicken and vegetables. They also offer freshly caught red tuna and seabass, a 30-day-aged Holstein beef steak, and pesto tagliatelle with prawns as a side dish. A wide variety of desserts, ranging from flan to lemon sorbet, and a bottle of Taittinger Brut Réserve from their extensive wine list, will turn your visit into a true exploration of hedonistic delights.

As you wander through Valencia's tourist hub and spot people at tables on the street savoring something red from the flat pans, don't be surprised – you've stumbled upon Masusa paella bar. Here, in a relaxed atmosphere with pleasant melodies in the background, they serve a variety of traditional rice dishes like arroz a banda, arroz negro, fideuá, and paella Valenciana. Their most popular innovations are spicy paella Ruzafa roja picante, featuring a vibrant red color from vegetables and well-chosen spices, and the green one with spirulina. What's unique here is that, unlike many other places, they can prepare it for a single person, which might explain the bustling crowd.

In addition to their 10 types of paella, you'll find a generous selection of tapas. Be sure to order patatas bravas and crispy golden brown chicken croquettes while you wait for your main dish. And remember, dining here without sangria is like throwing your money away. So don’t deny yourself this pleasure while sitting at a sidewalk table and watching the sunset paint the buildings of the hipster Ruzafa neighborhood in soft hues.

Casa Carmela started out as a humble shack used as a changing room for occasional swimmers on the Malvarrosa beach in the 1920s. A few years later, they began serving food and offering accommodations. Today, it has transformed into an upscale restaurant, recognized by Michelin, known for its exceptional rice dishes and traditional paella cooked over a wood fire with orange branches, and served with a rustic wooden spoon.

Their menu offers all the famous Valencia paella options, including slightly moist arroz meloso and even more liquid arroz caldoso. For appetizers, we recommend trying Galician or Valencian oysters, fresh salads made from locally grown vegetables, cured tuna from Almadraba, and local baby squids with Padron peppers. But the highlight of your meal should be paella. Consider indulging in the Mediterranean spiny lobster version or stick to the classic one with chicken, rabbit, duck, snails, and vegetables. With a wine menu that spans 25 pages, feel free to seek guidance from your server, or opt for a light, young Castaño Monastrell Tinto from the neighboring region.

In the Malvarrosa area, right by the sea, there's another exceptional arrocería that's always buzzing – El Trompo. People flock here for a delightful lunch during work breaks, to share a big paellera with colleagues, or at sunset to savor the last rays of the sun with a glass of sangria and some of their signature tapas.

Even though it's a beachfront restaurant, locals will tell you that paella here is outstanding. It's cooked in a hearty meaty broth infused with a fragrant sofrito – a blend of ingredients like peppers, onions, garlic, and herbs slow-cooked together for a long time. We suggest kicking off with tellinas and garlic prawns as entradas, and then indulging in their fish & meat paella, which enjoys just as much love from regulars as the classic Valencian and seafood versions.

El Trompo is also renowned for its top-notch fish dishes. If you're dining with friends, go for a tray of mixed shellfish, which includes prawns, scampi, cuttlefish, halibut, and squids. This place is a haven for seafood enthusiasts and holds a special place among those who appreciate a great Valencia-style paella.

You are now well-equipped for your trip to Valencia, and can make a good choice when selecting a restaurant with the right paella on its menu. Feel free to let us know which of the suggested places you liked the most.