Restaurant
Ricard Camarena Restaurant
Ricard Camarena's two-Michelin-star flagship inside the Bombas Gens arts centre, serving tasting menus built around vegetables from the Valencian huerta.
La Pepica
A beachfront rice restaurant on the Levante promenade since 1898, linked with Ernest Hemingway and Joaquín Sorolla and known for its peeled-seafood paella.
At a glance
- Type
- Paella and seafood
- Area
- Poblats Marítims (Playa de Levante), Valencia, Spain
- Price
- $$$ · Upscale
- Official site
- lapepica.com
Good to know
- Beachfront terrace
- Group menus
Why we recommend it
La Pepica is the grand old name of the Valencia beachfront. It has been cooking rice on the Playa de Levante, next to the Malvarrosa, since 1898, and its long dining room and terrace face the sea along the Paseo de Neptuno. Over the years it has fed generations of Valencian families as well as visiting artists and writers.
Two famous names are tied to its story. The painter Joaquín Sorolla ate here with fellow artists, and according to the restaurant's own history, the kitchen began peeling his prawns and langoustines because he did not like to shell them himself. The result became the paella Pepica, a seafood paella with all the shellfish already peeled. Ernest Hemingway, who visited Valencia many times, was also a regular and wrote about the city in several of his books.
The menu revolves around rice. The paella Pepica and the classic paella valenciana are the signature dishes, alongside other rice dishes and fideuà. Fried fish and garlic toast with allioli make good starters while you wait. Paellas are made for a minimum of two people, and tables of up to six order a single type of rice, while larger tables can order two. Rice is cooked to order and takes at least 40 to 45 minutes, so the time of your booking is not when the food arrives.
The restaurant is open every day for lunch and dinner. On weekdays lunch runs from 13:00 to 16:00, and at weekends from 12:30; dinner is from 19:30 to 23:00. Book by phone or through the website, especially for weekend lunch, when Valencian families fill the room. Terrace bookings do not guarantee an indoor table if the weather turns. The restaurant asks that stag and hen parties are not held there and does not allow fancy dress.
La Pepica suits families, groups and visitors who want a traditional beachfront paella in a historic setting. It sits at the southern end of the main city beach, close to the Marina and the port, and a short walk from the Cabanyal neighbourhood. The tram's coastal stops are nearby, and a taxi from the centre takes around 15 minutes. Afterwards, walk north along the promenade or explore the tiled houses of the Cabanyal.
La Pepica FAQs
How old is La Pepica?
It has been serving rice on the beachfront since 1898.
What is paella Pepica?
A seafood paella with the shellfish already peeled, said to have been created for the painter Joaquín Sorolla.
Is it open every day?
Yes, for lunch and dinner; lunch starts at 13:00 on weekdays and 12:30 at weekends, and dinner runs from 19:30 to 23:00.
How long does the paella take?
At least 40 to 45 minutes, as each paella is cooked to order.
What is the minimum order for paella?
Paellas are made for at least two people.
Do I need to book?
Booking is recommended, especially for weekend lunch, by phone or through the website.
Are stag and hen parties allowed?
No, the restaurant asks that they are not held there.
How do I get there?
It is on the Levante beach promenade; take the tram to the coast or a taxi of around 15 minutes from the centre.