|
Dining in Europe > Valencia The Mediterranean is not only a region, but also a way of life and a philosophy. Here more than anywhere else in Europe people enjoy the sun, the light, the sea and, of course, the food. The famous Mediterranean diet is known all over the world not only for its excellent flavour and its natural ingredients but also as a source of health and well-being. Valencia is one of the most important cities on the Mediterranean coast, and naturally, it has made important contributions to this cuisine. This is the city that invented paella, and restaurants like Samaruch stand out in its preparation. Other Mediterranean options include the baked rice which is the speciality of Hotel Lido or top-quality fish, meat and seafood as offered by the restaurant Casa Navarro, which has the added benefit of being next to the sea. Another option on the coast that would be unforgivable not to mention is La Marcelina, the most famous restaurant on Las Arenas beach. They have been preparing the best paella and seafood in Valencia for more than a hundred years. It is the best example perhaps of the Mediterranean lifestyle. If you're not all that hungry, then you could just order tapas. Tasty favourites include Spanish omelette (with potatoes), fried squid, peppers, baby squid and a lot more. Gambrinus offers a great selection of all of these, but other options in the centre include Bar Pilar or Río Sil-Civera. If we continue along our gastronomic route in the old part of the city, we will find fantastic restored buildings turned into restaurants. Among them, La Mamma, which is an old palace more than 100 years old, stands out. It is full of works of art and they serve delicious Italian food and pasta upstairs and cocktails on the ground floor. Similarly, another converted palace in the same area offers the best Valencian cuisine, both traditional and innovative. It is called Ben Fet, which in Valencian means "well done", an evening here and you will understand why. In the last few years, Valencia has been visited by increasing numbers of foreigners and some of them have stayed on, becoming residents and providing Valencia with a cosmopolitan touch in both the type of bars as well as restaurants available. You will find Mexican restaurants such as El Coyote Cojo, that brings us all the atmosphere and tastes of Mexico, French restaurants such as Les Mouettes or La Fondue, Tariq from Pakistan and also international restaurants with theme weeks dedicated to the cuisine of each of the six inhabited continents as is the case with Phileas Fogg. There are also several vegetarian options for vegetable lovers, such as the restaurant, Les Maduixes, and its fantastic meals without meat. But in Valencia people don't only eat, they also drink. A couple of typical local drinks worth trying include Agua de Valencia, a very tasty cocktail which mixes champagne and orange juice. It will help liven up those nights out on the town, though you should be careful, as it could cheer you up too much. On hot, sunny afternoons and especially in spring and summer, there is nothing better to fight the heat than a glass of horchata. This is a natural drink which consists of squeezing chufas (tiger nuts) to get a milky white liquid which will quench the worst thirst. The horchaterías, Daniel or El Siglo, make it better than anywhere else in the city. If you are hungry, you can order fartóns, an elongated pastry specially made for the occasion. As you can see, Valencia as a city has known how to preserve the best of the Mediterranean tradition, but it has also adapted to new times, new trends and incorporated the tastes and wisdom of other cultures, proving that Valencia is today more than ever a city open to the world, and one well-worth visiting. A. Tormo Entertainment in ValenciaThe high quality of life of the people in Valencia can be explained, in part, by the weather: the almost daily sunshine, the breeze from the Mediterranean Sea and the temperate climate are important factors to bear in mind. To these three basic ingredients you must also add the huge variety of cultural activities available, the excellent food and drink, the scenic beauty of its countryside, the elegance of the city and the enthusiasm for life of its people. That the people of Valencia know how to enjoy themselves is confirmed in March every year during the celebrations in honour of Saint Joseph. The streets are illuminated with the magnificence of the Fallas, works of art made from wood and cardboard and standing more than ten metres tall that dominate almost every square in the city and that are burnt on the eve of 19th March. The "falleras" and "falleros" dress up luxuriously in traditional Valencian costumes and add more colour and beauty to the streets of this city. In honour of Saint George, who according to legend helped the Christians defeat the Moors, the people of Valencia have the Moros y Cristianos (Moor and Christian) parades. They take to the streets dressed in clothing representative of both cultures and with a great deal of realism and enthusiasm re-enact the battles between the two armies. Although Saint Georges day is on the 23rd of April, various towns of the Community of Valencia hold these parades throughout the spring and summer months. The celebrations held in Alcoi and Ontinyent are particularly spectacular. In summer, you can also participate in the Feria de Julio festival, during which you can witness the Battle of the Flowers and important bullfights. If you have a passion for music then you should visit the Palau de la Música, whose programme includes all type of music, from jazz to classical music and opera. The Roxy Club (for rock) and the Black Note Club (for jazz) are two other venues that have gained a reputation for great live music. Another option is to take in a show during the International Band Competition which takes place every year. The many cinemas and theatres offer a wide variety of films and plays as well. The Filmoteca shows classic films and series, the ABC Park cinema shows the very latest Hollywood blockbusters, whilst in September the Mostra Valencia - Cinema del Mediterrani film festival gives out prestigious prizes for short and feature films, including national and international movies. And in terms of theatre, you can take in a show at the Teatro Principal, or Espai Moma for more vanguard theatre. If you enjoy going out at night, Valencia is a city that never sleeps. There are all types of bars, clubs and pubs to choose from: Irish pubs such as the The Black Sheep, Brazilian bars like Capoeira, or for a more authentic Spanish experience try Carmen Sui Generis. An area full of bars can be found around Plaza Xuquer which is frequented by students, whilst the trendy head for the Avenida de Aragon. If you want to dance throughout the night, then there are always lots of discos to choose from in town (Sala Quatre or Caballito de Mar on the beach) or outside town, such as the famous clubs that have survived the crash of the legendary Ruta del Bakalao ('Techno Route' when in the late 80s early 90s there were a series of bars and discos stretching from Madrid to Valencia that people covered in a weekend), such as Chocolate, Puzzle and Spook Factory. The Community of Valencia offers many other possibilities to enjoy your free time. If you are interested in art there is IVAM for modern art the Museo de Bellas Artes for more traditional art. Perhaps you prefer to spend your time in the open air in contact with nature, in which case we recommend you go for a walk along the Paseo Marítimo to admire the beauty of the Mediterranean on Malvarrosa beach or visit the Albufera Natural Park and lake by boat. You can also discover the Valencian countryside by horse, balloon, bicycle, canoe... the possibilities for having a good time are endless. Dining in Europe > Valencia
|