It is appropriate that this is my 1000th review…read more A total blast. They kept us busy for 5 hours between shopping, cooking, learning, eating and the graduation ceremonies. Everyone in the class makes a complete Paella. Each student gets to choose whether they want to make a veggie, seafood or chicken/rabbit paella. The facilities are great. The class size is small, so it requires advanced booking. We shopped for our ingredients at the Mercado Central in Valencia: chicken, rabbit, 3 types of fresh beans, roma tomatoes, periwinkles (sea snails), smoked paprika, saffron, fresh rosemary twig and Bomba rice. We were taught ingredient preparation techniques, frying techniques in the paella pan and how to make a paella in any size pan without the need for a measuring spoon or cup. The chef is involved in every step of the process and coaches each student. The process of getting to add all the ingredients is not fast as each ingredient needs to stay in the paella pan until cooked correctly. The last step was adding the water, not stock. While we waited for the water in our paellas to cook down (30 minutes), we were served a fresh salad and steamed mussels with plenty of wine to wash them down. We returned to our paellas and added the rice and cooked for 25 minutes more. When we heard our rice start to crackle, the dish was complete and we then all joined hands and did the paella dance around the kitchen. The result was a paella that could easily feed 4 people, so expect to get a take-home container. The evening ends with a "graduation ceremony" and they sent us home with a cooking apron, our chef's hat, certificate and a paella tasting spoon. A very memorable evening and a good value considering you get a great meal plus the instruction from a seasoned chef instructor who answers any questions.

I for once, did not want to come here. 50euros for teaching me how to make something that was…read morepretty obvious. It's just like an arroz con pollo but shallower right? God, was I wrong. And I am ecstatic my friends made it happen despite me being a total bitch about it. You just can't make a paella unless someone who knows the deal teaches you step by step and you get to see what magnificent chemistry occurs after each ingredient touches that sizzling huge ass pan. What better way to learn the Paella, with Valencians, in Valencia, in a school that specializes in rice dishes. seriously. There is no way around it. You wanna learn the paella valenciana? got 50 euros to eat up? this is your 4 hour tour. 4 hours??? as we have learned, Spanish are not on time. They do things as they come, whenever they feel like it, so even though we were there at exactly 10am, we didn't start until almost 11. So be sure you don't have any plans for the next 5 hours (cushion). We were offered drinks as we waited, cafe con leche por favor, the way to go. We left to the Central Market with a few stops on the way for some fun facts... smallest building in the world? check. Parrot on top of the market. check. oranges all around the market inside, check. The tour person, Lidia, spoke English. Although needs improvement. I think if you have some extreme foreign language, you may not learn or understand everything you should've been. Half a chicken, half a rabbit, saffron, smoked paprika, various beans and off to the school. The experience is fun and they have their photographer take pictures as you go, they email them to you in 4-5 days... The market ingredients are purchased by the tour guide, you don't need to shell anything more than the 50euros and be left with a ton of ingredients. Get your chef paper hat, an apron to take home and you've been inducted to the paella world. Cute. For every 2 of us there was a pan (for 2). My friend is a vegetarian so they had a separate pan and chef for her, loads of veggie action over there. They got points for accommodating her and it was great. Thank you. Each step is done, the teaching chef makes they're own paella as we go, so we could see what happens. Translated as we go. We cut our own beans, prep our own tomato, it is the entire process were you grasp the concept of paella. Lots of work. Magic in the end. If you like the slight burn on the bottom of the pan, slightly crunchy rice, they cranck up the heat at the end, letting the rice crackle. When you hear that, turn it off. They call the crunchy effect, Socarrat. It is beautiful. While we let the paella take a short siesta, we were offered 2 types of wine (both from Valencia) and a salad to start. Then an appetizer. Needless to saay, we were efull by the time the paellas came to our table. As tradition, you are supposed to eat the paellas straight from the pan. So we dug in and i kid you not, it was one of the best paellas we had. Not too salty. Not too saucy. I can't explain, but it was so damn good we nearly ate all of it. I have to admit this was the highlight of the Valencia part of my trip. I loved it. It probably happened for a reason, so glad that my friends made me do it. I am back in NY and have made 2 paellas 4 days after coming back, oh yea, i bought a paella pan, the heavy duty, semi fancy one. Broke my back bringing it back, but it makes me happy to feed people so it was worth every kilo of it. An excellent experience. Worth the money and the time. A new found love for starch. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Gracias a todos en la escuela.

Live jazz music, good beer and reasonable prices…read more I ll suggest you get in early and take a table somewhere near the stage as the venue gets packed and if sitting near the bar you wont be able to see past the crowds standing up to watch the live performance.

Fantastic! Great music, cheap drinks, very intimate venue. Show up 20 minutes before the show…read morestarts. For us, there was a 15e cover charge. Was absolutely worth it!

We ended up at Cafe Berlin after dinner at a restaurant nearby. The bar has a very relaxed vibe. It…read morefeels like a place you would hear live jazz or attend. The bar is popular and gets very busy at night so seating can be difficult to find. As a result, even though it was chilly we ended up sitting at a table outside. The menu includes a variety of drink options from wine, beer, cocktails, coffee and tea. The cocktails are much more pricey than the wine and beer. The bar also serves some bar appetizers like nachos and burgers. We only got drinks but the food looked good. We sat and chat while enjoying our beverages until the bar closed outside. There is a mandate that the outdoor seating closes at midnight so everyone has to relocate inside if there is room. This rule is out of respect of the neighbors who live in the area. If you are arriving close to midnight, its best to get a seat inside for this reason. Overall this is a cool local bar. You will enjoy your drinks and conversation with your friends here. The drinks are very affordable overall and good quality.

It is a nice and quite a hipster place. I usually go for drinks but they also serve food. My…read morefavorite one is Gin&Tonic. I like that they have different types of Gin to choose from. I can't give a review on food here because I haven't ordered any yet. But what I like most about this place is the atmosphere. It's very comfortable and stylish. Cafe Berlin is always packed of people. Every certain day of the week (I don't remember the exact day) there is a language exchange event. I think it's a very good idea to meet new people and learn new languages while having food and drinks. The service was friendly. The price is average. I would recommend this place for drinks while you're in Ruzafa. It's very easy to access and surrounded by other fun places.

The Flamenco show was a rip-off. The performance was scheduled to start at 10:30 p.m., but it…read morestarted late, after a lot of loud recorded music. The first set lasted only about 20 minutes, of which about 15 consisted of somewhat repetitive vocal music, but only about 5 consisted of dancing, which in any case was pretty uninspiring. The guitarist, however, was quite good. There was supposed to be a second set, but by 11:35 it had not yet begun, and the recorded music was even louder. Most unpleasant. We left, noticing that the performers seemed more interested in socializing with friends than in performing. The sight lines in the performance space were not good.

Thursday night open mic was nice until the third from the last guy played cover of American song…read morethen it was down hill from there. Once open mic ends, 18+ take over and dance their little hearts out to reggaeton played by a DJ, equipped with fog, lasers, and little clips of Disney's The Little Mermaid which are projected on the big screen (do these kids even know who Ariel is?). Came for funk music as recommended by a local store owner, but Thursday night was more "what the funk". A San Miguel beer and a gin and tonic 12 Euros.

This was the very last restaurant my girlfriend and I visited in Valencia for a final bite before…read moreheading to Granada. I took a Salmon Bocadillo and my girlfriend the pasta salad, without tuna. WARNING TO VEGETARIANS: the "vegetable sandwich" contains tuna! The staff were very nice about replacing this with the pasta salad once we received that plate, though. Hence the "4-star-rating". Tasty foods. Thanks for the treat, Congo Bar! Fun vibes. WiFi pass: congo1962

Average bar located in the artsy and hip Ruzafa Barrio. It is situated across from the Petit…read morePalace and down the street from several great restaurants, a craft beer spot, a jazz bar, and public transportation. Perfect for those winding down a nice night with a night cap and dancing. They have a DJ and lighting on the dance floor. It does get busy and a diverse crowd. Check it out.

A nice place to feed your soul with live jazz jam sessions on Mondays. Great and small environment,…read moreit feels like having jam session in your living room or backyard. Nice audience or attendance. Un buen lugar para alimentar tu alma con sesiones en vivo del jazz en los lunes. Ambiente agradable y pequeña, que se siente como tener jam session en su sala de estar o de traspatio. Buena audiencia o asistencia.

GRACIAS NICO POR SER TAN HERMOSO. Me encantó la experiencia, fue increíble. Definitivamente quiero…read moreregresar. El ambiente fue muy casual y romántico. Servicio fue estupendo. No te vas arrepentir venir a este sitio.

What a wonderful experience! Such a warm, friendly, and welcoming place with terrific food! Nicolas…read moregreeted us warmly as we entered and took fantastic care of us. The paella was delightful as were the other dishes we had. It's a very cozy atmosphere. We ate inside but there were many tables outside as well. Highly recommend.