Horchatería de Santa Catalina

The Horchatería de Santa Catalina is one of the oldest and best-known places in Valencia to drink horchata, the city's signature cold drink. It stands on the small Plaza de Santa Catalina, right next to the church of the same name and its Baroque bell tower, a few steps from the Plaza de la Reina. The business describes itself as a house with two centuries of tradition, and it keeps a traditional, old-fashioned feel.

Horchata, or orxata in Valencian, is made from chufas, the small tiger nuts grown around the village of Alboraya just north of the city. Served chilled, it is sweet, milky and refreshing, and the traditional way to drink it is with fartons, long, soft, sugar-glazed buns made for dipping. Santa Catalina serves both, along with hot chocolate with churros, which is the classic choice on cooler days, plus artisan ice creams, milkshakes, pastries and coffee.

The horchatería is open every day from 08:15 to 21:30, which makes it easy to fit into any sightseeing plan: a breakfast before the museums open, an afternoon break in the heat, or a sweet stop after dinner. There is no home delivery, but some products can be taken away. Afternoons in summer are the busiest time, when the tables fill with both locals and visitors, but turnover is quick.

This is an inexpensive stop that suits everyone, from families with children to solo travellers. Horchata is naturally free of dairy and gluten, which makes it a useful option for some dietary needs, though fartons and churros are made with wheat flour. If you are trying horchata for the first time, order a small glass with a farton and decide from there.

The Plaza de Santa Catalina is in the heart of the old town. The cathedral and the Plaza de la Reina are about two minutes' walk away, and the Central Market and La Lonja are around five minutes to the west. Another historic horchatería, El Siglo, stands across the same small square, so you can compare the two. The shops of the Calle de la Paz and the streets of the Barrio del Carmen are also close by.