Casa Carmela

No visit to Valencia is complete without having paella. While you can get paella throughout Spain, Valencia is its birthplace and the city is extremely proud of it. Because of that, you'll see it offered throughout the touristy areas — but I don't recommend just ordering it anywhere. It's a dish most Valencians make at home, always over an open wood fire. If you want an amazing experience, take a short car ride out to the beach and go to Casa Carmela. It was literally the best paella I've ever had (and I make a mean paella). They have a massive indoor kitchen with live-fire cooking, often 20–30 paellas at a time. Traditional Valencian paella is made with chicken, rabbit and small snails — you'll need to make a reservation and order the Valencian-style paella in advance. It's totally worth it.