You come to Valencia and you start existing on a diet of Paella, (or rice with things as Valencians call anything that isn't just traditional Valencian Paella with chicken, rabbit, green and white beans). Don't you? Although that was mostly true when I got here in the late 1990's, that's not the truth these days.
Picture this. You're sipping morning coffee on your private terrace, gazing across the rooftops in Valencia or perhaps even the sparkling Mediterranean Sea, knowing that within a 15-minute stroll or taxi ride from your Valencia apartment, you could be dining at not one, but numerous Michelin-starred restaurants. This isn't a fantasy, this is the reality of calling Valencia home. And in today's blog we are giving you the links you need to book that enticing dinner this evening*
(*Maybe not this evening, some of these need to be booked well in advance or you have no chance of getting in even if you are something big in The Hamptons or Kensington)
Valencia has quietly evolved into one of Spain's most exciting culinary destinations over the last few years, boasting more Michelin stars per square kilometre than almost anywhere else in the country (while casting envious looks towards San Sebastian perhaps). While the world knows Valencia just for paella and maybe horchata, savvy property buyers are discovering something far more valuable: a city where world-class fusion gastronomy meets more affordable luxury living.
From Ricard Camarena's two-starred homage to veggies at the former Bombas Gens factory, to the intimate 10-seat Japanese artistry of Kaido (Yes, ten seats, get your booking in early here), Valencia's dining scene reads like a love letter to both tradition and innovation. These aren't just restaurants—they're neighbourhood gems that transform daily life into a celebration of flavours, textures, food art and just a little bit of pretension.
For discerning buyers seeking that perfect blend of culture, cuisine, and coastal living, Valencia offers something unique: the chance to live within walking distance of culinary excellence while enjoying property prices that remain refreshingly reasonable compared to Barcelona or Madrid, you'll notice we no longer say cheap.
Whether you're considering a chic apartment in Russafa near Begoña Rodrigo's La Salita, or a historic property in the Eixample close to Riff's Mediterranean mastery, Valencia proves that you really can have it all if you want, exceptional dining, vibrant culture, and smart property investment—all under the warm Mediterranean sun. Let's take a look at them shall we.
How To Think About This
In a world with so many problems and inequality currently we are not saying here that living in Valencia means going to a Michelin starred restaurant every day, that would be rather absurd both for your waistline and wallet. Conspicuous over-consumption is never a good look. However, when we go away on holiday we often do a bit of gastro-tourism, finding a Michelin starred restaurant and treating ourselves to a new experience. Yes, you could just get a takeaway or go to a cheaper place but that's not the same experience. When you are living in Valencia you could do the same because there are plenty of Michelins to choose from and each restaurant might bring you a new experience of tastes and textures, and the truth is, Michelin starred eating in Spain is affordable compared with so many other places and the prices for a one star tasting menu in Valencia, Barcelona and Madrid average around 170-180 Euros with drinks and in Valencia you can get this experience from 70 Euros still. So they are not in the cheapest bracket around the World but equally well away from the prices in Copenhagen or New York for example (WTF are they serving in Denmark at $443? Sauteed swan stuffed with caviar and gold leaf!!). If you click on the image below you can see the full report on prices around the World.
Valencia's Michelin Starred Restaurants
Two Michelin Stars:
- Ricard Camarena Restaurant: https://ricardcamarena.com/en/
- El Poblet: https://elpobletrestaurante.com/home
One Michelin Star:
- Riff: https://restaurante-riff.com/
- Kaido Sushi Bar: https://kaidosushi.es/en/
- Fierro: https://fierrovlc.com/en/
- Fraula: https://fraula.es/
- Lienzo: https://www.restaurantelienzo.com/en/
- La Salita: https://www.anarkiagroup.com/inicio/la-salita
- Around Valencia
- Origen (Carcaixent): https://www.origencarcaixent.com/es/
- Arrels (Sagunto): https://www.restaurantarrels.com/en/
- Quique Da Costa (Denia 3*) https://quiquedacosta.es/
I'm not going to kid you that I've been to all of these restaurants and have intimate knowledge of their offers and menus but you could explore each one through its own website and then take a look at other pages such as the Michelin Guide itself for Valencia's starred establishments or this alternative page on the guide for Gourmand establishments and places considered to have excellent cooking in Valencia. The latter places tend to cost less too but expect their prices to rise if they get their coveted Michelin star because that's what many of them are aiming for.
Two Michelin Star Restaurants in Valencia
Ricard Camarena Restaurant
Situated in the Arts Centre at Bombas Gens, the Ricard Camarena restaurant is one of the two starred Michelin places in Valencia. The main tasting menu will cost you 220 Euros currently if you can get in and will take about two and a half to three hours. You want drinks with that? Well, wine and drinks pairing is available from 95-145 Euros.
El Poblet Restaurante
With menus priced at 165 or 190 Euros with your wine matching costing another 112-127 Euros, El Poblet got its second Michelin star in 2019 and is in the Quique Dacosta stable though the kitchen is led by Luis Valls. On the website it says "Luis "cooks Valencia" through innovative, committed and local market cuisine. Recovering products from the environment and incorporating them into haute cuisine." So yeah, there's that!
One Michelin Star Restaurants in Valencia
Riff
A classic of Valencia, Riff has been around for years and continues to be very well considered by all who visit, or almost all looking at the reviews. The website is a bit of a shocker but it's better to concentrate on the food rather than bringing a website into the 21st century isn't it? The menu is priced at 138,80 Euros currently which is probably the strangest price out of these. They have an extensive wine list to accompany your meal but if you want to bring your own bottle they'll open it for you for 25 Euros.
Kaido Sushi Bar
Good luck getting into this one with its ten seats and 57m2 but if you do... You get an experience. I love the recommendation on the webpage here, don't bring kids, don't bring a pushchair, don't come with loads of perfume on and this... "Our cuisine is closely linked to the sea. We therefore recommend that vegetarians, coeliacs and people with possible allergies to fish, shellfish and seaweed do not book our restaurant" That's called filtering. The menu is currently 145 Euros plus 85 Euros for wine matching if you haven't alrready been filtered out.
Fierro
Menus from 135-175 Euros and drinks matching from 70-115 Euros Fierro doesn't give any clear menu options but that's because they use whatever is in season and has been caught in the Mediterranean recently. It wants to entice you in and then surprise you. The main menu "wants to awaken feelings, transmit our journey through technique and innovation, exposed in a thread of seven snacks, eight dishes, three desserts and our petit fours". Not bad at all if it tastes as good as it sounds.
Fraula
I'm not sure what it is about websites that look nice but just don't work well. You can find the menus here eventually at 90 or 120 Euros for the one and a half hour or two hour experience.
Dani who runs the kitchen along with Roseta is another alumni of Quique DaCosta, Roseta trained with some of the best Catalan chefs and is their sweets specialist.
Lienzo
Two menus at 100 and 120 Euros Lienzo is a family run operation with Maria Jose as the head chef and Juanjo as Head Sommelier and Room Manager. Lienzo got its name from the art gallery is used to be and it continues to host exhibitions on its walls on a regular basis. Lots of the desserts involve honey as Maria Jose has received the Aquanaria Madrid Fusión 2024 Sustainability Award for her contribution to the study and protection of bee pollination and organic products from her farm in the Valencian Community.
La Salita
A-ha! One I have been to. However, not in its current location in the heart of Ruzafa. I went when Begoña had her restaurant in the wilds of Calle Seneca and the menu was around 45 Euros before her Michelin star. Menus now range from 128 to 190 Euros with a kid's menu of 55 Euros also available. The location is excellent, the menu is probably the most extensive of all of those in Valencia (Translation: More dishes) and the whole package is excellent.
Worth Visiting Near To Valencia
Maybe forget the wine matching if you are going to drive out from Valencia for some of these places or maybe make a night of it and book a local hotel but the following three options need you to spread your wings a little.
Origen
The cheapest of our options here and quite right too as Carcaixent is no longer a town where the streets are paved with gold unlike in the past when it was the centre of the Valencia fabrics industry along with Ontinyent. Menus here are 62, 72 and 82 Euros, the latter for the full enchilada. As you'll be going to take a look at the area too then try the Pou Clar for some bracing river bathing.
Arrels
Menus at 110 and 138 Euros in the old town of Sagunto, Arrels is set in a 16th century palace with preserved Roman and Mozarabic arches within. If you want some history with your food then this is the option for you. Arrive early and you can take a walk up to the Roman/Muslim Castle, ruins and "restored" amphitheatre as well as wandering around the labyrinthine streets of the Old Jewish Quarter to build up your appetite beforehand. You can get to Sagunto on the train quickly enough from Valencia so you might not have to forego the wine matching here.
Quique DaCosta
Drive down to Denia, stop off at your hotel and walk along the Golden beaches to the north until you get to Quique Dacosta's original restaurant and make sure to come with a brand new clean credit card because this is a three-star Michelin restaurant with prices to match. Do not take small children here for a menu unless you want to resent them forever more for asking questions like "What's that?" and have them turning their nose up at everything while you still have to pay oodles to have your lunch or evening spoilt. It's better to get a baby sitter, a few clowns, a balloon artist and a group of Cirque Du Soleil performers to keep them entertained while you are out or at least get Bluey on a loop on their TV at home while the grandparents do their job. The menu is 315 Euros per person now and if you wine match expect to pay around 500 per person so that's a grand for a couple. You have to really want to experience top end cheffery to go there, or get it given to you as a gift which would be nice (Hint, hint).
Property of the Week 200K
Let's try something shall we. Two descriptions and let's see which you prefer. The AI of our camera and floorplan creator Giraffe 360 or our more nuanced on the ground view. But to do that we'll have to get you to go and take a look on the website. Click Here to read and see everything.
Stepping Stone Rental of the Week
Enjoy being in the center of the historic district in our newest Stepping Stone. Just one bed so just for a solo person or couple. Available now.
Both the living room and the bedroom have balconies (3 in total) that overlook the typical facades of the historic center and if you're one of those people that soak in a relaxing and slow evening watching the sunset with a glass of chilled white wine then head on up to the large common terrace where you can sit back and listen to the pleasant chimes of the church domes and catch a glimpse of some pretty iconic buildings that make Valencia centre what it is.
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