Bar Tonyina

Bar Tonyina is a neighbourhood bar on Calle Chile, in the area between the Alameda and the City of Arts and Sciences, and it has been feeding local workers and residents for more than ten years. Its name is the Valencian word for tuna, which tells you what to expect: tuna appears all over the menu, alongside tapas and grilled sandwiches with a modern twist.

The food is simple and full of flavour. Dishes that have featured include bacon with brava sauce, cuttlefish with herb mayonnaise and clams with garlic, plus a variety of tuna preparations from raw to cooked. The kitchen also offers a daily set menu at lunchtime, with several courses and dessert, which is one of the best-value ways to eat well in this part of the city. The chocolate cake has its own following.

This is an everyday local bar rather than a destination restaurant, and that is its appeal. It suits solo travellers, couples and small groups looking for an honest lunch or an informal dinner, and it is a practical stop before or after a visit to the City of Arts and Sciences, where food options are more limited and more expensive. The space is small, with room for about 50 people, so it fills up at peak times. The bar is listed as accessible for people with reduced mobility.

The kitchen serves lunch from 13:30 to 16:00 and dinner from 20:30 to 23:00. Days of opening can change, so check the bar's website or social media before making a special trip, and arrive early if you want the set lunch, as tables go quickly. Prices are low for the quality, and paying by card is normal in Valencia.

The bar is a short walk from the Palau de les Arts and the Museu de les Ciències, at the eastern end of the Turia garden, and close to the Alameda metro station on lines 5 and 7. Several bus routes stop nearby. After eating, walk over to the City of Arts and Sciences to see the buildings, or follow the Turia garden back towards the old town.