The first time we went to Bar Mestalla was for a couple pre-game beers, before watching Valencia FC destroy Barcelona 4-0 in a historic victory at the Mestalla Stadium, in 2008. Little did we know that this restaurant would become one of our favorites, for a quick and cheap lunch for years to come.
The restaurant is located in the neighborhood of Pla de Real, wedged between the Turia River Park and the Avenida de Blasco Ibáñez. The Viveros Park and Monforte Gardens are just down the street. We love this barrio, because it has somehow managed to retain its local flavor despite being pretty much in the center of the city, near some of the biggest sights. And 4 out of 5 times we find ourselves in Pla de Real, we end up sitting down for the Menú del Día at Bar Mestalla.
This is a classic Valencian restaurant, with gorgeous tiling, a classic tapas bar and a semi-open kitchen. Paying dues to the stadium from which it took its name, there are tons of old football-related photos and posters adorning the walls. At €10, the menu is incredible value, and we also love that there are a lot of different seating options: tables outside on the sidewalk, a large indoor dining area, and a small interior courtyard. With so much seating, you’ll almost never have to wait for a table.
Normally, we prefer the courtyard, because you can enjoy the sun as well as the separation from the street traffic. On our way there, we always make sure to take a peek into the kitchen. There’s just something about seeing a giant paella pan simmering and bubbling, which brings us joy.
On this particular day we ordered:
Mike
- Judias con Jamón
- Peluda
- Coffee Flan
Juergen
- Paella Valenciana
- Lomo Adobado
- Natillas
We visited on a hot June day, so the drink of choice was Tinto de Verano — a drink which has long been popular with locals in the summer (far more so than Agua de Valencia or sangria). Tinto de Verano is red wine mixed with lemonade over ice, served with a slice of lemon. Refreshing!
After a short, pleasant wait with our wine in the shade of the courtyard, our first round of plates arrived. Mike’s Judias con Jamón serving was huge, a plate of green beans with ham. And Juergen’s plate of Paella Valenciana was just as generous. Both were delicious, and we ended up eating off each other’s plates in order to try everything.
Juergen’s second plate, Lomo Adobado, looked a bit sad and small. The flavor of the pepper marinated tenderloin was good but the slices were quite thin. On the other hand, Mike’s Peluda (a local type of flounder) was delicious and satisfying. Peluda translates as “hairy”, and refers to the texture of the fish’s skin. Kind of a startling word for a fish, and this was the first time we dared to order it!
Both deserts were great. The natillas are a traditional way to finish a Valencian lunch: vanilla pudding poured on top of a butter cookie, with cinnamon on top. And the coffee-flavored flan was delicious as well. And here is a bonus tip, since we’ve seen some tourists complain that Spain doesn’t have iced coffee. They do! You just need to order it “del tiempo”. The waiter then brings your freshly brewed coffee with a glass of ice — you then pour the coffee over the ice, yourself.
Bar Mestalla Photos
