La Riuà — Restaurant in Valencia

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...

In Valencia, 4.5 stars on Google Maps mean little. Everyone smiles, everything is "great." But La Riuà doesn't play that game. The waiters serve with a quiet warmth, no script. Then comes the paella—a memory being born. The rice, each grain distinct, is stained black with squid ink. The socarrat, that coveted crust, cracks like obsidian. It’s a dish of sea, smoke, and salt made by hands that have done this for decades. It's worth every cent and every minute of the wait. Some people whisper it’s the best in the city. The dessert isn't for Instagram. The Tarta de la Abuela arrives like a simple, homemade story—layers of smooth cream and soft sponge cake. It's a comforting classic that's rich without being too sweet, and it's the perfect way to finish an incredible meal.

Reality check: Come hungry and unhurried — or better, reserve ahead. The place fills fast. The atmosphere hums. And the food? Unforgettably good.

But maybe that’s the point. The best things in Valencia aren’t always there when you plan for them. They’re there when you least expect them — and exactly where...

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...