We are Alenar, a tapas and wine bar in Valencia city centre, and we have been cooking Valencian food here since 2019. Visitors often ask us where to eat in Valencia, what they should try and why the restaurants seem empty at 7 pm. This is the guide we would give a friend: the dishes Valencia is famous for, the local meal times, the neighbourhoods worth the trip and, of course, what you can eat with us in the old town.
What food is Valencia famous for?
Valencia is the home of paella, but its kitchen goes far beyond it. These are the dishes and drinks every visitor should try at least once:
- Paella and rice dishes. Valencian paella is made with chicken, rabbit and green beans, not seafood. The region also has arroz al horno (oven-baked rice), arroz negro and arroz a banda, all made with rice from the Albufera.
- Esmorzaret. The Valencian mid-morning breakfast: a big sandwich or a coca, a drink, a coffee and often a small glass of mistela, a local sweet wine.
- Coques. Thin, crispy flatbreads topped with vegetables, cured meats or salted fish, typical of the coast of Alicante and Valencia.
- Figatell. A traditional patty made with pork liver and meat, served grilled or in a sandwich.
- Horchata. A cold, sweet drink made from tiger nuts, usually served with fartons, a soft elongated pastry for dipping.
- Valencian tapas. Esgarraet (roasted peppers with salt cod), salted and smoked fish like mojama, and everything from the local larder. We explain them in our guide to the best tapas in Valencia.
Spanish meal times, explained for visitors
Meal times are the biggest surprise for many visitors. Locals have a mid-morning snack, the almuerzo or esmorzaret, around 10 or 11 am. Lunch is the main meal of the day and is eaten between 2 pm and 4 pm, and dinner starts around 9 pm, often later at weekends. Many restaurants close their kitchen between lunch and dinner, so it can be hard to find hot food in the late afternoon.
At Alenar our kitchen does not stop. We are open Monday to Friday from 8:45 am to 11 pm and on Saturdays from 10:30 am to 11 pm, serving non-stop, so you can have lunch at noon or dinner at 7 pm if that suits you better. We are closed on Sundays.
Where do locals eat in Valencia?
Valencia is easy to explore on foot, and each area has its own way of eating:
- The old town (Ciutat Vella). The historic centre, with the Central Market, the Cathedral and the Town Hall Square. It is the best area for tapas bars, traditional breakfasts and a quick lunch between sights.
- Ruzafa. A lively neighbourhood just south of the centre, popular for dinner and drinks, with many young restaurants and bars.
- El Cabanyal and the beach. The old fishermen’s quarter next to the Malvarrosa beach, where locals go for rice dishes and seafood by the sea.
- The Albufera and El Palmar. The rice fields and lagoon south of the city, where paella was born. If you want an authentic paella, it is worth the short trip, especially for lunch.
Eating in Valencia city centre: breakfast, lunch and dinner at Alenar
If you are staying or sightseeing in the old town, this is what you can eat with us throughout the day.
Breakfast. Until 12:30 pm we serve the esmorzaret valenciano: the Esmorzaret Popular (€10.90) or the Gastro Esmorzaret (€12.90), with a sandwich or a coca, a drink, a coffee and mistela.
Lunch. From Monday to Friday, at lunchtime, we serve a set menu of the day for €16.90, with a starter and a main course, bread and coffee, and homemade dessert for €2 more. For two or more people there are also set menus to share, with coques, D.O. Valencia oven-baked rice or a wine pairing.
Dinner. In the evening the table fills with tapas to share, from coques and figatell to signature dishes created by Two Many Chefs, paired with wines from the Comunitat Valenciana. As the kitchen never closes, you can sit down for an early dinner whenever you are hungry. Our cooking has earned us a Solete from the Repsol Guide.
If you enjoy food and wine, once a month we host a dinner with four wines and four dishes from a guest Valencian winery.
Where to find us in Valencia old town
Alenar is at Carrer de Martínez Cubells, 6 (46002 València), between the Town Hall Square and the Estació del Nord train station, a short walk from the Central Market and the main sights. Our menu and online booking are available in English. We recommend booking at weekends and for groups, and you can also call us on +34 960 039 603. If you are passing by, drop in: we welcome walk-ins depending on availability at the bar.
