CASA MONTAÑA

You can hold me to this when I say that I’m about to tell you about the best restaurant in Valencia. 

Set 900m back from the beach front on the corner of one of the quirky streets of Cabanyal, lies Casa Montaña.

Yes, there are many many wonderful and delicious restaurants in this city and I am slowly but surely making my way around all of them but Casa Montaña takes the top spot everytime. 

It ticks all the boxes:

Decor ✔️

Ambience ✔️

Price ✔️

Service ✔️

And of course, Food ✔️✔️✔️

The restaurant is small with a beautifully detailed doorway where the front of house staff are always waiting outside to greet you and check reservations. It is relatively normal looking from the outside but when you step through the door you see the walls are lined with wine barrels of all sizes, some absolutely huge! I now know this is the sign of a good Bodega. Something I really love is that you have to duck under the bar top to reach the back part of the restaurant which then opens up to a few high top tables surrounded by even bigger wine barrels. 

The menu is divided into various types of tapas; meats, seafood products etc but the first two tapas to put on your order list should be:

• ‘Pimientos del piquillo’ (stuffed piquillo pepper)

• ‘Pepito de titaina’ 

I can taste them as I write and my mouth is watering. 

On top of those two favourites the menu is stuffed full of all kinds of tapas that are all done with such originality and simplicity that shows how much the kitchen team and the menu creators really care about every aspect of each dish. Even the Valencian tomatoes, which is just a plate of tomato slices in a spiral, is next level. 

If you are lured in by my description you need to know that a reservation on the website or by phone is NECESSARY. If you are flexible then booking a week or two in advance is fine but if you set your heart on a certain day and time you’ll need to book a month or more in advance. 

I can guarantee you will leave with a belly full of delish combination flavours having been served by people who positively contribute to your time there and (surprisingly) without a huge dent in your bank account. 

*Please enjoy this shot of my wonderful family celebrating my 30th last year!