The Best Paella Restaurants in Valencia urbantravelblog.com

The story behind the traditional Valencian paella, as well as the best restaurants in Valencia to sample this classic Spanish rice dish.

“In Valencia when we talk about the traditional paella we are always thinking of the paella we cook with rabbit, chicken and many different kinds of beans – never seafood. We do also eat rice with seafood and there are many other types of rice dishes, but then we don’t call them paella anymore: we call it arroz marinero, arroz a banda… we call them by different names.”

My mouthwatering dreams of munching on mussels and succulent langostinos may have just been destroyed (I decide best not to ask about the sangria), but judging from the aromas of frying chicken and rabbit, saffron and paprika, that are wafting over the courtyard from Santos’ giant pan they are about to be replaced by something equally scrummy. It’s not often that the country’s foremost rice expert cooks you a specially-made paella, so I get a bit closer to observe how it’s done.