Three casas in Valencia

As I truly enjoy to go out for a good meal, I feel lucky to be living in Valencia. The city offers a vast number of restaurants and the culinairy offer is quite dynamic as new (hot)spots open every week. The Valencian kitchen is rich as it offers fresh fish from the Mediterranean, fresh vegetables from the fertile fields around the city and of course paella with rice from the nearby Albufuera. This, combined with a generally very good price versus quality means going out for lunch or dinner in Valencia is like heaven for foodies.

Apart from the food, as a wine lover I am always interested in the wine list, this for me is an important factor in the choosing the restaurant. Fortunately there are many good restaurants with a more than decent wine list and some of them offer a great wine experience, which for me starts with a wine list that is available online. Below are three casas close to the place I used to live (Cabanyal) that I love for their food and good wine list.

Casa Montana

Bodega Casa Montana. A restaurant you will find in almost all city or food guides. It was voted best wine bar in Spain in 2023 and is located in the former fisherman’s area The Cabanyal or more precisely, The Canyamelar. Having lived in the area, I have visited this bodega many times and without any doubt they offer amazing tapas. Their brandada de bacalao, pimiento del piquillo relleno and solomillo are just a few examples. You are being served by professional and friendly staff led by Alejandro. The wine list is detailed, covering the classic regions including the top wines but also one of the largest selections of Valencian wines I have found. Or try a wine by the glass from their changing collection. Perhaps not the cheapest in town, but this is a classic place for wine fans. Reservation required.

Closed on Sunday night.

Casa Carmela

Restaurante Casa Carmela. Valencia is famous for its paella. When I first came to Valencia I thought of paella as just another rice dish. But it appeared I was terribly wrong after having my first proper paella. As they say in Valencia, a good paella is a gran plato and it’s delicious. Note that Valencianos eat paella for lunch -not dinner. Located near the beach, in Casa Carmela they prepare paella the classic way using wood fire. The restaurant is busy, classical Spanish with many tables in a vibrant atmosphere. And what about the wine list? Well, very, very detailed including sherries and sparkling as well as different vintages of the same bottles for many wines. An emphasis on Spanish wine from across the the country but it includes a French selection, too. This is the place to go for enjoying great wine with great paella.

Reservation required, closed on Sunday.

Casa Guillermo

Restaurante Casa Guillermo. Another classic place in Cabanyal or as mentioned before, Canyamelar. Casa Guillermo is famous for its anchoas. Their anchoas are from Cantabria in northern Spain and are so tasteful. Before I came to Spain I had a similar sentiment with anchovies as I had with paella: Unknown and therefore perhaps unloved. However tasting the right stuff made me change my mind completely and now it’s one of my favorite tapas! But there is much more than anchoa in this small and cozy restaurant such as the lovely croquetas de chipiron. The friendly ladies here always give us full attention and great service with a smile. When it comes to the wine list: Though it is modest it covers a number of quality bottles from various Spanish wine regions and importantly, all at really fair prices. It should not be difficult to choose a pleasant bottle that goes well with your selected food.

Reservation required, closed on Sunday.