from beach club to rooftop bar; these are the hotspots in Valencia
I have a thing for Spanisch cities. There’s always such a good vibe there. People live on the streets, eat a lot outside and at night the cities truly come to life. It always seems like life there has a different pace than in the sometimes rushed Amsterdam. Exactly because of this I fell in love with Valencia a couple of years ago. A big city, but not too big, situated by the beach and it has lots of fun districts. I felt at home immediately! You can perfectly explore the city by foot and on your bike you’ll be at the beach within 15 minutes. Valencia is perfect for a city trip where you want to combine the coziness of the city with the relaxed vibe of the beach. Which makes it a dream destination for sure and in this blog I’ll share my favourite hotspots in Valencia with you!
10 X hotspots in Valencia you’ll want to know
La Mas Bonita: This hotspot, with its with walls and fun Azure blue details still remains my favourite! It once started with a restaurant by the beach of Valencia and nowadays it has expanded with a beachbar and a restaurant in the trendy district Ruzafa. Whenever I’m in Valencia a visit isn’t complete without a lunch here!
Passeig Marítim de la Patacona, 11, València, Spain – read the elaborate blog here
Canalla Bistro: Another restaurant where I keep on coming back to is Canalla Bistro. De best gastrobar of the city where Michelin star Chef Ricard Camarena serves tapas with a modern twist. A resveration is a must, but if you come directly when they’re opening you might get lucky for a spot at the bar.
Carrer del Mestre Josep Serrano, 5, Valencia, Spain – canallabistro.com
Simple: In the area of the Mercado Central (which is a recommendation on its own for foodies!) you can wander through the small alleys for hours. One of the stores I bumped into on coincidence is the concept store Simple, where they only sell things made in Spain and you can use back home. Perfect for buying souvenirs!
Carrer Danzas 5 Bajo, Valencia, Spain – simple.com.es
Petit Bistro Terrace: The first time I was in Valencia I wandered around the city looking for a nice rooftop bar, but funnily enough they weren’t there at the time. Luckily we now have Petit Bistro Terrace in the old centre of the city. If you ask me, having a drink or a bite on a roofterrace remains the perfect ending of a day in the city.
Carrer dels Cavallers, 42, Valencia, Spain – petitbistro.es/terrace/
Marina Beach Club: Valencia lacked a nice beach club like you might know from Ibiza. With the opening of the Marina Beach Club that changed for good! You can relax here by the pool all day on one of their sunbeds. Ver convenient if your hotels doesn’t have a pool and the city is tropical hot.
Carrer Marina Real Juan Carlos I, Valencia, Spain – marinabeachclub.com
Federal Cafe Valencia: Who has been to Spanisch cities often might recognize the name. Because this hotspot also has an establishment in Barcelona and Madrid. In Valencia, the Federal Cafe is situated in a very cool building with high ceiling and a minimalistic interior. A fun spot for lunch or for a drink, in the centre of Valencia.
Carrer de l’Ambaixador Vich 15, Valencia, Spain – federalcafe.es/valencia
Santo Spirito: Whoever loves vintages stores as much as me, came to the right place in Valencia. Especially in the districts Ruzafa and El Carmen you can find lots of nice stores with secondhand finds. One of the best vintage stores is Santo Spirito! They sell a good selection of vintage things here (from designer to an oldschool Levi’s 501), but they also have their own clothing line for ladies and gents.
Carrer de Dalt 22, Valencia, Spain – santospiritovintage.com
Riff: My favourite restaurant in Valencia for a fancy dinner is Riff. This restaurant has a Michelin star and is your budget allows it, a delightful change from the restaurants that serve paella and tapas. Here they cook following the seasons and if you’re into an elaborate dinner just like me, the tasting menu is definitely a recommendation.
Carrer del Comte d’Altea 18, Valencia, Spain – restaurante-riff.com
La Fabrica de Hielo: Hielo stands for Spanish ice cream and as the name might suggest, this hotspot is situated in an old ice cream factory. Now it’s a cultural center where you experience something different almost every day of the week. From theatre to live music! If you want to go here, it’s best to check the agenda beforehand.
Carrer de Pavia 37, Valencia, Spain – lafabricadehielo.net
Dulce de Leche: My favourite place to have a coffee and the most delicious pastries in Valencia is Dulce de Leche. This hotspot is situated in the district Ruzafa (where you’ll find lots of more nice spots if you wander around there) and it has such a cozy interior and a nice terrace.
Carrer del Pintor Gisbert 2, Valencia, Spain – pasteleriadulcedeleche.com
5 X nice to do in Valencia
Rent a bike: If you’re going to Valencia I definitely recommend you to rent a bike. The most trendier hotels often offer this possibility as well. Hop from hotspot to hotspot on your bike and get to know the city even better in a short amount of time! From the city there’s a bike path leading to the beach where you can cycle along the boulevard.
Watch Street Art: In the district El Carmen you’ll find lots of street art. You can do a street art tour, but strolling around in this district is just as fun. Little idea for during the siesta, because most stores and restaurant will be closed then in Valencia!
Take the ferry to Ibiza: The past weeks I’ve written about Ibiza several times. Would you like to discover the newest hotspots on Ibiza, of perhaps the hidden gems? You can take the ferry from Valencia to Ibiza. To make your city trip even more special!
Enjoy the beach: Valencia is surrounded by several nice beaches. Personally I love the beach where La Mas Bonita is situated the most. Because here you can have a good cold diet Coke after a beach day at one of the restaurants before you get back on your bike!
Go city hopping: I always love travelling by train and combine different cities. From Valencia you can take either the high speed train to Madrid or to Barcelona. A great tip to combine these cities!
TIP: WIN a trip to one of these 74 dream destinations!
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Happy travels!
Amsterdam Bucketlist
THINGS TO DO:
⋙ Canal Cruise by day or in the evening
⋙ A bike tour through Amsterdam OR Rent a bike by yourself
⋙ The best view over Amsterdam from the A’DAM Lookout
⋙ Visit Artis Royal Zoo
FAVOURITE MUSEUMS:
⋙ Rijksmuseum with the Dutch masters
⋙ Van Gogh Museum, a staple in Amsterdam
⋙ Stedelijk Museum for modern art lovers
⋙ MOCO Museum for street art
⋙ Photography museum FOAM
SEASONAL:
⋙ Amsterdam Light Festival (during winter months)
⋙ Cruise like a local with your own boat (great with good weather!)
ONE OF A KIND:
⋙ Discover the Instagrammable experience WONDR
⋙ Red Light District tour
⋙ Get out of town and into the Dutch country side of Giethoorn
| TIP: Buy an I amsterdam City Card. Save money on entrance fees to museums and attractions, public transport and profit from discounts on everything from restaurants to concerts. You can also skip some lines to make the most of your time in Amsterdam! You can buy a card for 24 hours up to 120 hours. Check the prices here >>
Our favourite hotels:
AFFORDABLE // €
☾ Generator Hostel: the best poshtel of the city located in a park.
☾ The Student Hotel: budget proof in trendy East.
☾ Het Volkshotel: affordable and with a cool rooftop bar.
☾ CitizenM: all you need is that XL bed (location near Amstel is great).
☾ Motel One: budget design hotel with locations at
VERY VERY NICE // €€
☾ Hotel V: with two locations and a great restaurant, in the city center and East.
☾ Sir Adam: with the coolest view over Amsterdam.
☾ Sweets: a unique stay in former bridge houses.
☾ Park Plaza Vondelpark: located next to Vondelpark and beautifully renovated.
☾ Hotel Dwars: small scale around the corner of the trendy Utrechtsestraat.
☾ Pillows Anna van den Vondel: great hotel close to Vondelpark.
☾ Hotel Mercier: new hotel in the cosy and historic Jordaan district.
☾ INK Hotel: lifestyle hotel in the heart of the city.
☾ The Hoxton: favourite lifestyle hotel right on the canals.
☾ Morgan & Mees: boutique hotel in Amsterdam West.
☾ Conscious Hotel Westerpark: in a beautiful building at the industrial Westergas area.
☾ QO Amsterdam: eco design hotel with a great skybar.
TOP LUXURY // €€€
☾ Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam: if you have something to celebrate this is the one.
☾ Pulitzer Amsterdam: on the canals at the border of the Nine Streets and the Jordaan.
☾ L’Europe: this hotel has the best spa with a view in Amsterdam.
☾ Conservatorium Hotel: located in one of the most beautiful buildings in town.
☾ W Amsterdam: with great restaurants and a rooftop bar with swimming pool.
Let’s get social
I really hope you enjoy your time in Amsterdam! On my Instagram account @yourlbb you can find more recommendations and new hotspots in town.
Follow @yourlbb on Instagram
| PS: Traveling to Amsterdam with kids? My other website Travelkids.co & @travelkids.co is dedicated to family friendly travel. Check it out here >>
In collaboration Coca-Cola
Anne de Buck
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