travel bites: valencia

eat / drink

Cacao Sampaka

A delightful haven in the centre of the old town. Breakfast Spanish-style is a cup of liquid chocolate into which you dip churros, or long donuts. Mouth-watering. At Cacao Sampaka you can enjoy a cup of 72% chocolate, or be a little daring and try the version with cayenne pepper. This modern, airy café also stocks its own brand of truffles, from single bean origins – which take you on a trip around the chocolate producing world from Ecuador to Cameroon, to spices and cocoas from the Americas and gastronomic innovations – which includes flavours like balsamic vinegar and parmesan cheese. Conde de Salvatierra 19, Valencia www.cocaosampaka.com

Monkili

A cool, calm beachfront restaurant situated on the Malvarossa promenade. Arrive around 2pm and you’ll beat the lunchtime masses and get a seat in the covered terrace area. People watch over Monkili paella (with peeled prawns and calamari). To quench your thirst order a jug of sangria – cool and refreshing – some of the best we’ve tried in Valencia.

Avenida NEPTUNO 52, Valencia, Tel.+34 963710039

Horchata A sweet caramel coloured drink made from pressed chufa or (tiger) nuts. Infinitely refreshing, the locals consume it at around 5pm with long sweet finger shaped buns called fatons.

Valencian oranges the sweetest oranges around. Don’t be fooled by the trees flanking the Jardin du Turia, those oranges aren’t meant for eating.

Chocolate con churros – delicious long donuts, best dipped in a thick hot chocolate. Perfect breakfast for the sweet-toothed.

Submarino

Splash out on dinner at the Submarino Restaurant in the Oceanographic (aquarium). Amazing food and ambience – you dine surrounded by eight tanks housing 10,000 fish. Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Avinguda Autopista del Saler,C.P.46013, Valencia, Tel. +34 961975563

sleep

Home hostels three hostels in different locations www.likeathome.net/

Nest Hostels two locations www.nesthostelsvalencia.com

Barcelo http://www.barcelo.com/versionesinternacionales.asp

Hotel Neptuno http://www.hotelneptunovalencia.com/ing/neptuno.html on the beachfront, Hemingway used to drink here.

see

Jardin du Turia a reclaimed riverbed turned park, complete with a huge Gulliver children’s park, orange grove and great views of the City of Arts and Sciences. Each section of the park has been designed by a different architect.

City of Arts and Sciences – the aquarium is worth seeing and if there's a show at the opera house, it’s a must. http://www.cac.es

Plaza de la Virgin in the centre of the old town. Thursday morning at 9am check out the Water Court, still used to settle matters of water for farmers in the region. Stop at Plaza de la Reina for an icecream.

Mercado Central smells and tastes abound in this huge covered market. http://www.mercadocentralvalencia.es/

L’Albufera the home of paella, on a day trip to this nature reserve you’ll spot birds and fish. Catch a bus to El Saler.

Las Fallas the annual fireworks festival is a must – for sound alone – if you are around in March. If not, head to the Fallas Museum to see the life-size papier mache sculptures that win each year’s competition.

On the last or penultimate Wednesday in August, head to Bunol, about 40km west of Valencia City for La Tomatina, and age old and very messy tomato throwing festival.

shop

pick up paella pans and traditional Spanish crockery from the old town.

link

http://www.americascup.com/en/ Valencia web TV

http://www.alicante-spain.com/valencia.html - an overview of Valencia and particularly the arts and sciences area.
http://www.hostels.com/en/es.va.html