Sustainable living in Valencia Pt.1 - EATING OUT
Find out why Valencia is a great place to explore L.O.V.E.-Food! (Updated: 07.04.2019)
Since I’ve been living here, I’m always trying to find more sustainable restaurants and cafe’s - many around the ‚place-to-be’: the quarter called Ruzafa. There are so many more and also lesser known and new restaurants which focus on sustainable food that I would like to show you. Enjoy the journey of trying out these 28 locations for yourself!
As I use the "L.O.V.E. Score" to determine how sustainable places are, all the restaurants have been rated according to these four categories: LOCAL, ORGANIC, VEGAN & ECO. In each of the 4 categories the location can reach 0 to 5 earths - which makes up to 20 earths in total. The more earths the more sustainable - it's that easy!
WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA BEHIND THE L.O.V.E. SCORE? Check out my overview in this blog post: „What is L.O.V.E.?“ And let me know if you want to know more details about the rating - I might give it a separate post for restaurant criteria. (unfortunately 'sustainable' doesn't always mean that it's also a great place - but you will see that easily by the ⭐️-rating in each review)
Most sustainable Restaurants & Bars for Breakfast, Lunch, Cafe, Snack or Dinner - in the order of their L.O.V.E. Score:
1. La Rogeta - 17/20 🌍 =💟 *Top-of-the-City*
2. Instituto Macrobiotico de España - 15/20 🌍
3. Jardin Urbano - 12/20 🌍
4. La Casa Viva - 10/20 🌍
5. Ana Eva - 10/20 🌍
6. Tierra Madre - 09/20 🌍
7. Aloha Vegan Delights - 09/20 🌍
8. NomÏt - 9/20 🌍
9. Loving Hut - 8/20 🌍
10. Atelier Pan Tan - 8/20 🌍
Find them here on the map and see all detail reviews below:
(Click upper left button to open list & legend)La Rogeta = 💟 *Top-of-the-City*
Category: LUNCH
‘L.O.V.E. Earth’ Sustainability Score: 17/20 🌍 (=best rating in Valenica!)
LOCAL: 🌎🌍🌎🌍⚪️
ORGANIC: 🌎🌎🌍🌎🌍
VEGAN: 🌎🌎🌍🌎🌍
ECOLOGICAL: 🌎🌎🌍⚪️⚪️
my Google Rating (overall experience): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Quick-Review: One of the best places for lunch in Valencia! Actually my favorite place - now that KI has closed down :) Fresh, seasonal, local, organic and macrobiotic lunch menu for decent 11€. Most dishes are quite tasty (but not all exceptional) and the service is very nice. I like to come here quite often.
Special Hint: The place is very small, so better make a reservation
Instituto Macrobiotico de España
Category: LUNCH
‘L.O.V.E. Earth’ Sustainability Score: 15/20 🌍
LOCAL: 🌎🌍🌍⚪️⚪️
ORGANIC: 🌎🌍🌍🌍⚪️
VEGAN: 🌎🌍🌍🌍🌍
ECOLOGICAL: 🌎🌍🌍⚪️⚪️
my Google Rating (overall experience): ⭐️⭐️
Quick-Review: Well, how do I say this? Eating IN the kitchen where it’s cooked in front of your eyes: a great new concept - unfortunately not implemented very well and comfortably...
I wish I could tell that this is THE new place to eat sustainably - but unfortunately it’s not: The main dish was served slowly, warmed up, but still cold and not very inspired or tasty - plus salad with whole big leaves. And feeling like in a canteen (self-service) - even with local, organic, vegan ingredients - might not quite justify the price (12,50€ lunch menu). Though it was arranged nicely and side salad & cake for desert tasted delicious. Plus it’s nice to read the recipes written on the wall and having the opportunity to take (expensive) cooking classes there. I might give it another try in a few months - in case they have grooved in by then...
I wish I could tell that this is THE new place to eat sustainably - but unfortunately it’s not: The main dish was served slowly, warmed up, but still cold and not very inspired or tasty - plus salad with whole big leaves. And feeling like in a canteen (self-service) - even with local, organic, vegan ingredients - might not quite justify the price (12,50€ lunch menu). Though it was arranged nicely and side salad & cake for desert tasted delicious. Plus it’s nice to read the recipes written on the wall and having the opportunity to take (expensive) cooking classes there. I might give it another try in a few months - in case they have grooved in by then...
Special Hint: This is the new location of former Restaurant “Kimpira” - so dishes and owner might be familiar to you...
Jardin Urbano
Category: BREAKFAST, SNACK, LUNCH, CAFE, DINNER
‘L.O.V.E. Earth’ Sustainability Score: 12/20 🌍
LOCAL: 🌎🌍🌎⚪️⚪️
ORGANIC: 🌎⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️
VEGAN: 🌎🌍🌎🌍🌎
ECOLOGICAL: 🌎🌍🌎⚪️⚪️
my Google Rating (overall experience): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Quick-Review: Decent vegan restaurant. I’ve come here quite often by now. Food tastes mostly good, service is very friendly and helpful - but quite busy most of the times (so no one might bring you the menu for example...). It is also a bit pricy, but therefore portions are quite big. So all in all a cozy little place and I’ll probably be back some other day soon…
Special Hint: Check out the pictures on the walls - you can buy them if you like it ;)
La Casa Viva
Category: SNACK, LUNCH, DINNER
‘L.O.V.E. Earth’ Sustainability Score: 10/20 🌍
LOCAL: 🌎🌍⚪️⚪️⚪️
ORGANIC: 🌎🌍⚪️⚪️⚪️
VEGAN: 🌎🌍🌎🌍⚪️
ECOLOGICAL: 🌎🌍⚪️⚪️⚪️
my Google Rating (overall experience): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Quick-Review: Cozy restaurant with nice range of creative, fresh, tasty veggie & vegan food! Don’t get fooled by the names - e.g. the ‚lasagna‘ or the ‚pizza‘ are far away from their name-giving ancestors - you rather get a modern, healthy and very tasty interpretation of the original dish. Prices are reasonable and service is very friendly and personal. They also veganize pretty much every vegetarian dish for you - just ask! The only problem I had is this: it’s called „sustainable eating“ - but the waitress (co-founder?) couldn’t explain to me what exactly this stands for. So give it a try - you won’t be let down. And maybe over time they’re also getting better at communicating what’s „sustainable“ about their place. I wish it was all organic & locally sourced…
Special Hint: Wear sunglasses. There’s no real sun protection at the sun room, so you might get blinded during your lunch :P
Ana Eva
Category: LUNCH, CAFE, DINNER
‘L.O.V.E. Earth’ Sustainability Score: 10/20 🌍
LOCAL: 🌎🌍🌎⚪️⚪️
ORGANIC: 🌎🌍⚪️⚪️⚪️
VEGAN: 🌎🌍🌎⚪️⚪️
ECOLOGICAL: 🌎🌍⚪️⚪️⚪️
my Google Rating (overall experience): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Quick-Review: Daily lunch menus give many options for 13€, but don’t taste amazing and dishes from the regular menu are tasty but quite expensive - so you chose (which is a good thing), but overall I can’t say it was exceptional...
Service was very nice, food came quickly and was arranged very well. The atmosphere was fine too. I liked that there were many vegan options, some local & seasonal cuisine and some organic ingredients - even it should be all organic for that price. I probably go another time...
Service was very nice, food came quickly and was arranged very well. The atmosphere was fine too. I liked that there were many vegan options, some local & seasonal cuisine and some organic ingredients - even it should be all organic for that price. I probably go another time...
Special Hint: Pay more and come here for a nice dinner instead of the daily lunch menu. You'll enjoy it more and you money will be invested better
Tierra Madre
Category: SNACK, LUNCH, CAFE, DINNER
‘L.O.V.E. Earth’ Sustainability Score: 09/20 🌍
LOCAL: 🌎🌍⚪️⚪️⚪️
ORGANIC: ⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️
VEGAN: 🌎🌍🌎🌍🌎
ECOLOGICAL: 🌎🌍⚪️⚪️⚪️
my Google Rating (overall experience): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Quick-Review: Real good & creative vegan kitchen! Many dishes with creative meat-alternatives might make it also interesting for non-vegan or vegan-beginners. The starter rollitos de ‚carne‘ and the ‚salmon‘ were quite tasty and very well arranged. Sitting inside unfortunately the atmosphere is not very pleasant - otherwise it would have been full 5 stars. Additionally i personally would prefer more local ingredients and use of organic ingredients. But i’ll come back to try more creative dishes…
Special Hint: Wonder how a self-made vegan salmon tastes like? Check it out here!
Aloha Vegan Delights
Category: BREAKFAST, SNACK, LUNCH, CAFE, DINNER
‘L.O.V.E. Earth’ Sustainability Score: 09/20 🌍
LOCAL: 🌎⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️
ORGANIC: ⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️
VEGAN: 🌎🌍🌎🌍🌎
ECOLOGICAL: 🌎🌍🌎⚪️⚪️
my Google Rating (overall experience): ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Quick-Review: Tiny vegan street food place - to go or to deliver (only 3 little seats inside). Mostly Burgers, Kebap & Salads... Tastes decent but not great - so it’s OK every once in a while if you look for vegan food and I might come back.
Special Hint: There’s also a second place in Valencia - check out if that’s closer to where you are...
NomÏt
Category: SNACK, LUNCH, DINNER
‘L.O.V.E. Earth’ Sustainability Score: 9/20 🌍
LOCAL: 🌎🌍⚪️⚪️⚪️
ORGANIC: ⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️
VEGAN: 🌎🌍🌎🌍🌎
ECOLOGICAL: 🌎🌍⚪️⚪️⚪️
my Google Rating (overall experience): ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Quick-Review: All vegan, which is great - but unfortunately not super tasty. (We had it delivered and it arrived cold.) The Pumpkin Burger was OK, but nothing special and the fries that came a a side were very few and not tasty. The (vegan) cheese was not great. The carrot cake was interestingly different and tasted good. Unfortunately it was delivered in plastic boxes.
Special Hint: Hungry at home? Famous for its Vegan Burger delivery!
Loving Hut
Category: SNACK, LUNCH, DINNER
‘L.O.V.E. Earth’ Sustainability Score: 8/20 🌍
LOCAL: 🌎⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️
ORGANIC: ⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️
VEGAN: 🌎🌍🌎🌍🌎
ECOLOGICAL: 🌎🌍⚪️⚪️⚪️
my Google Rating (overall experience): ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Quick-Review: Huge variety of vegan food for decently priced lunch buffet. Tastes OK, but many main dishes were not kept warm unfortunately and often just swapped meat for tofu/saitan/... - so not the most exciting vegan food, but decent. The interior & atmosphere didn’t feel great as well. But the owner was friendly :)
Special Hint: It’s an all-you can eat - if you’re really hungry and want to get a lot of food for your money, this is your place!
L'Átelier Pan Tan
Category: BREAKFAST, SNACK, LUNCH, CAFE, DINNER
‘L.O.V.E. Earth’ Sustainability Score: 8/20 🌍
LOCAL: 🌎🌍⚪️⚪️⚪️
ORGANIC: 🌎🌍⚪️⚪️⚪️
VEGAN: 🌎🌍⚪️⚪️⚪️
ECOLOGICAL: 🌎🌍⚪️⚪️⚪️
my Google Rating (overall experience): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Quick-Review: Tasty food and amazing personal service! Vegan daily menu available with great tasty starter (mushroom crepe) and desert (warm apple pie). The main dish tasted alright (veggie burger), but a bit difficult to eat - as burgers sometimes are… All the plates were arranged beautifully with a lot of love. Big portions for a 3 course menu and the owner was super friendly and helpful. Price of 12€ was OK - alright for the fact, that a few ingredients were organic. But with a special goodie and the owner even offering that i can recommend dishes, i will definitely come back soon!
Special Hint: Buy some of their home made organic bread if you’re there.
Here are a few more worth mentioning - with more or less of a chance for a decent L.O.V.E. scoring, but a more detailed review might follow soon…
VEGAN:
- Amaranta Bio Bar Vegano: It’s not all organic and unfortunately also not very tasty.
- La Mandrágora: Alternative Vegan restaurant, i have not tried yet
- The Vurger: Burger (Delivery), but haven’t tried yet…
- Almalibre Açaí Bar: Vegan bar, i have not tried yet…
- The Nature: Vegan Buffet, but i have never tried…
NON-VEGAN:
- La Lluna: Vegetarian restaurant, i have not tried yet…
- La Finestra: Yummy little (surprise) Pizzas with vegetarian & vegan options (Ruzafa)
- Olegari: Yummy little (surprise) Pizzas with vegetarian & vegan options (Benimaclet)
- El Carabasser: Tapas Restaurant, with super tasty tapas and many vegetarian & some vegan options…
- Los Picos Cafe: Tasty little cafe, but limited vegan options.
- Mano a Mano: Tasty little cafe, but limited vegan options.
- Dulce de Leche: It’s very hipster, not very sustainable, quite pricy and not the greatest taste.
- La Mas Bonita (Ruzafa): It’s very hipster, not very sustainable, quite pricy and not the greatest taste.
- La Mas Bonita (Patacona): It’s by the beach, very hipster, not very sustainable, quite pricy and not the greatest taste.
- Suc de Lluna BioCafè: Never tried…
- beGreen Salad Company: Mostly veggie & vegan options, few organic but tasty!
Eco-Restaurants that have (unfortunately) closed down by now:
-
Ki Biorestaurant - 17/20 🌍:
>My favorite sustainable restaurant in Valencia before...
- Kimpira - 13/20 🌍:
Decent sustainable restaurant, but was not great...
Where do you go usually for sustainable food? Have I been missing out on good restaurants? Let me know in the comments below or send me an email. And in case you’re the owner and want to provide me with further information, why you think you deserve more L.O.V.E. Earths, I would be happy to get in touch :)
SO, WHAT'S NEXT IN PART 2? Now you know where to go out for good sustainable food, but where to buy sustainable groceries? See you here soon (SUBSCRIBE)…
PLUS, HERE'S A GOODIE FOR YOU! As an early follower, you are selected to try the new „L.O.V.E. Price Check“-App for Valencia! We will keep you always updated on where to find the best quality, L.O.V.E.-rated groceries for the cheapest price in the pilot-city Valencia!!! Click HERE and enter your first product within seconds while shopping next time. If you want to add a few products and leave your email, you’ll be the first with exclusive access to see where your products are the cheapest! Feedback welcome! :)
PS: If you made it all the way down here, I assume you like what you read. Please subscribe to my blog HERE (or below) to not miss any updates, klick on „like“ on my facebook-posts and „like“ my google maps reviews HERE, so more people can find this. Gracias! :)
Que aprovece y hasta pronto!
Que aprovece y hasta pronto!
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