Hello, we’re Jürgen and Mike, a German-American couple who have been living in Valencia since 2008. We fell in love with this city during a short visit, and decided to make it our home. The copious sun, the relaxed way of life, the manageable size, the festivals, the markets, and (of course) the cuisine, were just a few of the things that won our hearts. And we’ve never regretted the decision — this is a special city in every regard. And it’s starting to gain a global reputation.
When we moved here in 2008, most of our friends and family didn’t know anything about Valencia. Despite being Spain’s third-largest city, it has historically been overlooked in favor of Madrid and Barcelona. Even smaller cities like Sevilla, Granada, and Bilbao had a bigger international reputation. We couldn’t believe how under-the-radar our new home was, and in order to help get the word out, we started a Valencia Travel Blog.
Two of the things we loved most about Valencia were the affordability and the cuisine: traits which come together marvelously in the menú del día. Almost immediately, we established a tradition of going out for at least one such meal each week. Two full plates, a drink (sometimes even a full bottle of wine), dessert and a coffee. When we first moved here, we could find these set menus for around €8 or €9. It was such incredible value, that we had a hard time believing it.
Over the years, the traditional menú del día has changed a lot. Many places no longer include drinks. Or they give you the choice of either coffee or dessert. And of course, they’ve become more expensive; €13 would now be considered a low price (to be sure: still a great deal).
Valencia’s Gentrification
Right now, the photo shown above is a common sight in Valencia. We’ve entered an era of constant upheaval among restaurants in the city center. Long-established, family-owned restaurants are being pushed out in favor of more glamorous and well-funded competitors. Every week, there’s some stylish new spot opening its doors, with chic decor, average food, and big crowds that tend to dissipate after a couple months, once the “buzz” has worn off and the next trendy new spot has opened. Many of our favorite places have closed in the past few years, and this is why we’ve embarked on this project, in an attempt to highlight smaller, local restaurants.
In Lisbon, Portugal, there’s a government project which aspires to protect traditional tascas. We loved this, and during our 3-month stay in the city, we ate almost exclusively at restaurants that belonged to the program. Every meal we had at these places was delicious, and we loved the vibe: very local, occasionally grubby, and decidedly anti-trend.
Valencia could really use a program like this, too. And soon. This city still has so many great restaurants with real tradition, but the number is starting to dwindle. Instead of giving your money to whatever group of investors funded the latest high-concept restaurant which is throwing open its doors, consider seeking out any of the places you find on this website. We highlight restaurants with rich history, great atmosphere, incredible food, and amazing value. What’s not to love?
Please get in touch if you have a recommendation for us! And make sure to sign up for our newsletter to read about the best restaurants and menús del día in Valencia!