La Riuá

La Riuá is an oddity, it’s overrun with tourists yet still feels like it is family run. From the outside it looks like a modern strip centre. Inside it looks like Frankenstein’s monster; multiple levels and a strange layout.

The food- utterly amazing. Really delicious traditional paella and even better octopus. Both very highly recommended. We ordered a bottle of Rioja which was good and reasonably priced.

Service was sporadic, we were seemingly forgotten then given good attention. It seemed slightly chaotic.

The upstairs area is claustrophobic, they put in a mezzanine so the ceiling is very low.

We made reservations months in advance, yet they tried to sit us furthest away next to the toilet (and the restaurant was still mostly empty). We requested another table and they gave us a better one on a mid-floor. The seating choice was very strange as (tourist) walk-ins were offered a seat nearby- why seat us next to the toilet?

We tried to go again before we left. It was a Sunday, and we queued for 25 min (until 14:20 min after the advertised 14:00 opening time) yet no one showed to open the restaurant. Calls went unanswered, probably because it was empty within.

So definitely go, but take the opening hours with a pinch of salt and insist on a decent table.

We asked a local storekeeper for a good local restaurant, and this was the place he recommended. It did not disappoint. Super cute place that has been there almost 50 years with lots of memorabilia, awards, and accolades on their walls. I could spend a day just looking at those. The food was amazing with the best paella we had in Spain, which should be surprising based on the awards. Big salads. Delicious deserts. Sangria on tap. So glad we found this place.

Amazing food, the local feel (restaurant had been in the center of Valencia for 42 years!) and reasonable prices (though more expensive than restaurants at thr seaside) - it's quite popular, so it's always recommended to make a reservation beforehand. Keep in mind that the waiting time may be longer, especially when all the tables come all at the same time but the food is worth wait!

Amazing seafood paella. If your tastes run towards less salty food this may not be the dish for you as it is incredibly well seasoned, verging on being salty without crossing that line. The octopus starter with potatoes is also incredibly well cooked and I would highly recommend both.

Excellent, succulent octopus for a starter and paella with seafood for the main course accompanied with very good sangría. A rustic place full of charm frequented by the locals, so not a tourist trap, but an authentic experience. It is a small place and they are open for 2 hours for lunch, so make sure you make your reservation on time.

Hello there!

I wanted to share with you a hidden gem in the hearth of Valencia that never fails to impress - La Riua!

This charming local spot has a special place in our hearts every time we're in Valencia. The simplicity of the food is what makes it truly remarkable. It may not be fancy, but the flavors are simply delicious!
Excellent old fashioned service 👌

If you ever find yourself in Valencia and crave a memorable meal, do yourself a favor and give La Riua a try. I promise you won't be disappointed!
Don't forget to book 😉

Came for 12/21 reservation at 2 p.m. I had pre-ordered a seafood paella on their online reservation system. Promptly seated and the place has a very rustic, home style feel and decor to it. They let us know the seafood paella would take another 20 minutes to finish preparations, so our starter and drinks would come out first.
Sangria 1/2 liter- one of the best sangrias I’ve had. A good blend of the wine taste as well as the fruit juices. Great value at 8 euros for the half liter. 10/10
Grilled octopus- seasoned to perfection and with a slight char. Very impressed that they maintained the tenderness of the octopus yet still had a slight char on the outside. Served on a bed of mashed potatoes. 10/10
Seafood paella- came out hot and serves with people about 2 full portions. The shrimp and crayfish are shell on so you’ll have to peel them. Not too heavily seasoned and palatable even after the first plate. 9/10
Overall: 9.5/10. Quick fast service and a great meal that came out to ~70€ for 2.

Great place for Paella or any other rice dish. We were served by Paco, what a character. Talked to us about anything we asked him about. Gave us a great suggestion as to have the Arroz Senyoret, GREAT CHOICE!!!! Manager Carlos Dean was also very attentive and very amicable. They made us feel as if we were locals!!! We will definitely return as we are looking to make Valencia our future... Gracias Paco and Carlos, nos vemos pronto!!!

I recently visited this restaurant based on a friend's recommendation and had a delightful experience. I made my reservation two days in advance and arrived for lunch when they opened at 2 pm. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could order paella for one person without being charged for two. The paella was delicious, although I wished there were more seafood in it. Perhaps ordering a portion for two people would have been more worthwhile in that regard.

The restaurant tends to get busy, so I highly recommend making reservations. Despite the crowd, I really enjoyed the homely atmosphere and personalized service. It was charming to see that they still use pen and paper to take your orders. Overall, I had a great time and would definitely recommend this place.

On day one of our gastronomic paella tour in Valencia, we discovered this charming restaurant. We were advised to order the lobster paella. It was superb!! Highly recommended!! 😋😋🥳🥳

If you’re in the area you have to give this place a try, quality of the food is great, make sure you book in advance! The waiters couldn’t do enough for you, we had the meat paella and added duck!!

Great experience..the best paella in valencia.. A must go to place.

Took our two young kids here for a late dinner or first night in Valencia. We did have to wait for a table as it was packed. The staff sat us upstairs with a high chair for our smallest. The staff were all very pleasant, even making conversation and funny faces at our kids. The atmosphere was authentic Spanish, eclectic decor and warm feel. Seems to be family run. Excellent food and decent prices.

Got a recommendation from our tour guide as we wanted to try the paella. The walk was worth the wait. The food was delicious and service outstanding. Make sure to make a reservation, though, as it packs up quickly.

Best paella restaurant, service amazing, the atmosphere couldn’t be better and just at the city center!

Considered by many of the locals to be the best paella. We really enjoyed ours. The staff was exceptionally pleasant, the space authentic , and it looks like there was a Spanish grandma calling all the shots, which is exactly what you want !

From the outside, you might miss La Riuá. But that would be a shame. It is my favorite paella place in Valencia. This was our fifth visit since we first found the restaurant back in 2017. Every time we come it’s great. Normally we get the standard Valenciana with beans, chicken and rabbit. But today we decided on a vegetable paella. We asked for more socarrat, the crispy rice under the paella. You do need to ask if you like it that way.
This is a family run business and they are super friendly and welcoming. We recognize the same wait staff from past visits, an indication that all are happy here. The Muga Rioja was a great wine to pair and the mixed salad was excellent. Make reservations thru the fork which is linked in Google maps. They fill up every day.

A lovely place, busy, book to avoid disappointment. Price is pretty standard. Food very good and seemed to be a family run place. Really good wine too!

If I could give it 10 stars, I would! This was THE best food experience we had in Valencia! 100/10 service! The food is beyond amazing, from starters to desert! A definite must!

The best paella I ever had! Authentic Spanish restaurant with lots of locals. I would recommend reserving a table on their website as it makes the process easier. You can also pre-order you’re paella on there but still have to wait 45 minutes. It is worth the wait though!