Xanglot Restaurant — Restaurant in Valencia

We were traveling from NYC to Valencia with my family to celebrate my parents’ 55th anniversary (a group of 8 adults). We love discovering up-and-coming restaurants, and my mother had seen Xanglot featured on Zoom Tendencias. After doing some research, we booked back in February (two months in advance)—and to our surprise, the restaurant received a Sol Repsol the following month. So we were especially excited to try it.

I'm a bit conflicted writing this review. I love supporting rising restaurants, especially those led by young women chefs. The food was, overall, very good and reasonably priced for the quality (we chose the short tasting menu). The duck (the main dish), in particular, was superb—and I actually had two servings (more on that in a moment).

Xanglot is a small restaurant, and for a group of eight, we were seated in the back. To be honest, I didn’t love the space—it felt a bit sterile and lacked atmosphere. If possible, I’d recommend asking for a table in the front dining area. Some other reviews have mentioned a faint smell; while it wasn’t overpowering during our visit, it was noticeable.

As for the extra duck: my wife is pescetarian, and I admittedly forgot to mention this when I made the online reservation two months in advance. That’s on me. However, the way it was handled was disappointing. 1 - I already knew it was my oversight—there was no need to scold me. 2 - There should have been at least a simple attempt to offer an alternative (maybe a slightly larger portion of the vegetable appetizer as a main? Something). But no—she was just served the duck. The exchange felt dismissive and a bit rude, and honestly, it soured the mood for the rest of the meal.

One suggestion for Xanglot: consider sending an email or text a day or two before the reservation with the planned menu and a prompt to share any dietary restrictions. It would go a long way toward creating a more inclusive and attentive experience.

All that said, Xanglot is a very good restaurant with strong potential. Unfortunately, for us, it just wasn’t a...

Incredibly unprofessional establishment. We we’re looking forward to have a nice evening out, a multi course dinner. We made our reservation on time. Since my wife is pregnant we of course mentioned this during the reservation.

Coming here.. with excitement.. the place smells unbearably like sewage! We politely mentioned the smell and asked for a different table but the smell was all over the place. The hostess didn’t even apologize for it. After ‘trying’ for some time over a drink my wife got more nauseous and got a headache. Our appetite was going out of the door faster than we could.

We kindly paid(!) for our water and beer, not even got offered a compensation but okay. We left because it was sickening. ‘The streets of Valencia’ got the blame from the hostess.

Hours later they got the unbelievable nerve to charge us €60.-!! for ‘not showing up’ When we called and asked about this, thinking it was a mistake; “its your problem that you think it smells”. 🤦🏻‍♂️What a rip off and inconsiderable and sad people/restaurant. Do NOT advice going here.

Update: Since I can’t reply on the restaurants response; we both smelled the sewer-smell all over the place as soon as we entered. We’re not picky people and the owner actually confirmed the problem when we were there “we can’t do anything about it”. That other guest weren’t bothered isn’t our problem either. Making it seem that it’s the pregnant lady’s issue is just lame and discriminating.

We did not cancel (we where there and wanted to eat) we did NOT not show up, since we where there. The policy doesn’t say anything about the fact that we left because of inhabitable circumstances. Food is to be enjoyed with your nose as well.

Enforcing a no show fine is meant for other circumstances. We were polite and paid for our drinks, you should’ve been polite and wave any fees (AND the drinks). Poor management, poor...

Our dinner at Xanglot, right in the heart of Valencia’s old town, was absolutely outstanding. Every dish was a masterpiece: local ingredients reimagined with creativity, precision, and flawless attention to detail.

The tasting menus are beautifully designed, telling a story of modern Valencian cuisine while staying true to local flavors. Each plate is perfectly balanced, showing a deep respect for seasonal products and incredible technique.

The service is exceptional – warm, professional, and knowledgeable – creating an experience that feels relaxed yet refined. The intimate, minimalist setting is modern but welcoming, allowing the food to truly shine.

I’m convinced Xanglot is on its way to earning a Michelin star, and when that happens, prices will inevitably rise. Go now, while it’s still a hidden gem.

Flavio de Stefano - Chef @...