I think it’s worth mentioning that, in general, eating in Valencia is usually more affordable than in large centers like Madrid and Barcelona.
A basic, decent meal costs up to 15 euros with a drink included. Of course, it’s just an average and there are options for all values, but it’s a great average for you to keep in mind. Check out a selection of where to eat cheaply in Valencia.
Saona
It’s one of my favorite places to eat well and cheaply, as this chain delivers everything we need: strategic location, decor with a beach vibe, quality of dishes and affordable value.
The flagship is the menu of the day, which includes starter, main course and dessert and costs just €10.95 (lunch from Monday to Friday). Oh! Don’t forget to order the jamón croquetas! They are creamy and delicious as all croquetas should be!
Aegean
In the heart of Ruzafa , one of the most traditional neighborhoods in Valencia, is Egeo , a restaurant where when you walk through the door you will have the impression of stepping into Greece.
On the menu you will find some of the most traditional and uncomplicated dishes of Greek cuisine. Everything is always very well made, fresh and at a great price.
Filippa’s
Pizzeria that I recommend with my eyes closed, especially for lovers of the Neapolitan style.
If you don’t know this traditional style from Naples, well, in a simple way, you know that pizza that is almost always individual, with a thin but somewhat elastic dough, that you can even fold to eat? Then! That’s it! And the Filippa’s team knows how to do it with flying colors!
Pizzas start at €8.90 , but there are several options, with different prices. The diavoletta, which is my favorite, for example, costs €11.90 . Personally, I don’t think the size is too small to be individual, so if you’re going to share it with someone, the recommendation is to order a starter, which could be a burrata with pistachio mortadella for €13.50 or a small basket of breaded and fried provolone €6.
100 assembled
Here’s an option for those visiting Spain on a tight budget. 100 montaditos is a chain with more than 300 bars and is synonymous with drinks and snacks at super low prices.
And when I say it’s cheap, I’m not exaggerating, as there are portions for just 1 euro !
If you’re wondering where the catch is, well, I have to say there isn’t one. The truth is that the dishes are not large and that the flavor and quality are, let’s say, honest, as there is no God of gastronomy here.
Personally speaking, 100 montaditos comes into play when I’m tired of walking and just want to snack on something savory and have a cold beer. It doesn’t count as a place for a meal, but rather a pit-stop . No need to reserve.
3 in 1
And finally, I’m not going to give you a name, but rather an address: calle de Ribera, nº 16. This is the place you should go if you’re in the historic center of Valencia with a group of friends and face that logistical problem when everyone wants to eat a different dish.
- A cup of coffee? He has!
- Hamburger? Also has!
- Folder? Oops! It’s in your hand!
This is because three different restaurants share the same space and each of them has its own specialty. Savoiardi is a traditional café that also sells frappes and delicacies . The Fitzgerald has already been voted the best burger in Spain and Muerde la pasta is an Italian all-you-can-eat buffet.!
Best places to eat in Valencia
Among the things that Valencians are most proud of is the fact that the city has a vibrant gastronomic scene and that they can eat well without spending a fortune. Just look at the list below and see that many of the great restaurants are accessible and have a fair price.
Good beach
Right in front of the Mediterranean Sea and delicately decorated with wooden benches and straw lamps is Boa Beach . A super cozy, beautiful restaurant with good food, which brings that wonderful feeling of comfort and well-being and which definitely deserves to be on your list of where to eat in Valencia.
As the website itself says, the idea was to create “a restaurant where you enjoy eating and where you enjoy being”. And that’s exactly how I felt when I visited Boa Beach for the first time.
La Salita
As you pass through one of the streets in the Ruzafa neighborhood, you will come across a mansion, one of those old ones, but carefully restored. With white walls and a black iron gate, just a little red sign at the entrance makes it clear that there is a restaurant with a Michelin star.
Voltereta – Welcome to…
The Voltereta chain has four themed restaurants and is always on the most varied lists of where to eat in Valencia. They pay homage to four precious places: Bali, in Indonesia, Kyoto, in Japan, Manhattan, in the United States and Casa, the one that tastes like grandma’s food.
The decoration of each of them is a point to be highlighted, as it is so well done that it immediately transports us to a journey to the destination of the theme. And the menu follows the same tune!
La Sastrería
Sewing in Spanish can be freely translated as sewing, uniting, joining , and this is how La Sastrería presents itself: “We cosemos flavors with taste of the sea”.
Located in El Cabanyal-El Canyamelar, a neighborhood that is pure maritime tradition, La Sastrería not only takes hold of this identity but also pays homage to the region, from its decoration to the choice of products used in the kitchen.
And this is completely visible in both areas of the establishment. The bar and the restaurant are completely different spaces, as both have different proposals in both their decorations and menus.
Pelayo Gastro Trinquet
This is a restaurant that is closely linked to the city’s history, as it is one of the few places where you can still play La Pilota, a game invented in Valencian lands.
The building has housed the Trinquet de Pelayo since 1868, a place to practice sports. Since then, the property has gone through several changes and crises (even due to the survival of the game), until in 2017 the restaurant was created, combining tradition and a pinch of flavor.
Despite having a traditional menu, the highlight is the mouthpieces menu. Well, in short, bocadillos are a type of sandwich that is very common throughout Spain. They are always served in a baguette and can have different fillings. Of course, it’s not a rule, but they are traditionally eaten between 10 am and noon, as they serve as a hearty snack before lunch, which tends to be later here.