It’s time to learn the appropriate meal times in Valencia, so you don’t end up missing out on lunch! Because Spanish meal times are famously late, and the Valencian ones are no different. Let’s take a look at when you should eat in Valencia, so you can blend in with the locals. 

Meal Times in Valencia

In Valencia, there are 5 main meals of the day. Valencia isn’t really a snacking culture. Instead, they prefer to eat at established times throughout the day. 

And the truth is – these are fairly inflexible meal times. Unless you’re going to a restaurant specifically for tourists, they are not going to serve you outside of these times. Which means it’s super important for you to adapt a bit while you’re here if you want an authentic experience. 

So here is the list of the 5 meals of the day in Valencia, as well as what to expect during each of them. 

Desdejuni

The classic desdejuni is your breakfast. Also called desayuno in Spanish, this is the meal you eat right when you wake up. 

But unlike the eggs and pancakes you see in the US, Valencian breakfasts tend to be a bit simpler. Here are some examples of common breakfast foods:

• Pa amb tomaca (bread with grated tomato, garlic, and olive oil)
• Curasans (Croissants or other pastry to dip in your coffee)
• Pa amb formatge (Bread with cheese or deli meats)
• Coca de llanda (A sweet poundcake)

In general, it’s more common to eat bread-based foods. There are sweet and savory versions, depending on what you like. But they should typically be something you can just pull out of the pantry and put together in less than a minute! 

And of course – it’s served with a café amb llet (coffee with milk). 

Esmorzar

The well-loved Valencian Esmorzar is a staple of the culture. Originally eaten by fieldworkers, this is a hearty sandwich in the middle of the morning to give you enough energy to get through until lunch. 

A hearty esmorzaret should be eaten around 10:30–11:30 am approximately. Most of the time, people will eat a smaller snack during this time. But on special occasions, it’s common for people to have a sit-down meal that will absolutely fill you up!

A meal for an esmorzar will almost always be bread-based, as well. This is usually an entrepà (sub sandwich). But you can also enjoy some rosquilletes for a quick snack on-the-go! 

Dinar

I would say that the dinar (lunch) is the most important meal of the day. This is the largest meal and often involves multiple dishes, such as a starter and a main course. 

Valencians usually eat lunch around 2 pm. Of course, this changes slightly depending on people’s work schedules, but you’ll practically never see anyone eating earlier than 1:30. It’s also common to see people eating lunch at 3 pm. 

In general, you’ll see restaurants open from 1:30 to 4 pm. This Valencia meal time is fairly strict, as restaurants won’t be open before or after.

After el dinar, this is when people will often take a nap (a becaeta, or siesta in Spanish). This is because people here prefer to eat and sleep at the hottest point of the day. This is a great way to beat the heat! 

Lunch tends to be the most varied meal as well. So there are tons of different meals and dishes you can try. Most notably, dinar is when you should eat paella! It’s almost exclusively a lunchtime meal, so make sure to remember that! 

➡️ Check here to learn more about Valencian foods. 

Berenar

The berenar is every kid’s favorite meal of the day! Enjoy some sweets in the evening. From a little piece of cake or cookies to my husband’s favorite – a piece of chocolate in bread, berenar is the perfect time to satiate that sweet tooth. 

Of course, you can also enjoy a small savory snack if you prefer. But the berenar is a common time to go out with friends and enjoy a coffee and a sweet treat. 

The Valencian meal time for a berenar is around 5:30–6:30 pm approximately. 

And if you want a great place to enjoy a berenar, I’d recommend going to Dulce de Leche! You can also check out some of my other suggestions for bakeries in Valencia. 

Sopar

This is usually the meal that leaves every foreigner walking around the city with their belly rumbling. That’s because in Valencia, people have dinner after 9 pm. 

In fact, it’s not uncommon for people to have their sopar after 10 pm, depending on their schedule and the day of the week. I’ve even had dinners with friends where we started eating at midnight! 

So if you’re coming to Valencia, you have to be prepared to be a bit of a night owl! Since there are so many hours of daylight in the city, people usually wait until nightfall for dinner. Which means after 9 pm, even in winter! This is common throughout Spain, with most people eating dinner late.

During the week, it’s also not uncommon for people to have lighter dinners. This depends a bit on the individual, but in general – el sopar is lighter than el dinar.

➡️ Check out my full restaurant guide.  

Ressopó

Okay, so even though there are only 5 meal times in Valencia, there’s actually a secret one that most people don’t know about! 

That’s the ressopó! In English, you could translate this as “re-dinnering” or “second dinner”. This is a meal that’s only eaten after a night out of partying. This early morning drunken meal usually consists of whatever leftovers you have before drinking some water and passing out. 

So if you’re coming to Valencia to study abroad, then this is a crucial meal you need to know about. 

Suggestions for Eating in Valencia

The meal times in Valencia can be a bit of a culture shock for many travelers! Especially if you’re not used to dining in Mediterranean cities, it might take your stomach some time to get used to it! 

But here are a few suggestions to help you enjoy Valencian cuisine as much as possible:

1. Try your best to adapt. Especially to lunch and dinner, as these are the most important meals. It’ll help you get more authentic meals and enjoy the Valencian climate. 
2. Avoid chains. Even though fast food chains are always open, I’d avoid them if you can. Unless you have specific dietary needs, I’d try to go for an authentic experience. 
3. Get snacks at grocery stores. Head into Consum or Mercadona if you need some snacks. 
4. Eat fruit with your meals. Most families eat their fruit after lunch and dinner, but you can always buy some at the market and eat it for your berenar! 
5. Paella is for lunch! Unless you’re involved in a special festival, paella is lunch-exclusive. If they serve you paella for dinner, it’s a tourist trap. 

Travel Resources

@abroadinvalencia

Another day, another coca #valencianfood #gastronomiavalenciana #internationalfood

♬ original sound – Lila

That’s all there is to the Valencian meal times! They’re not super different from Spanish meal times, so it shouldn’t be difficult for anyone who’s traveled throughout the peninsula. 

So adapt a bit to the local customs and get a true experience of Valencian cuisine! And to help you find that authentic experience, here are a few more guides to help you out:

• Tipping in Valencia
• Restaurant Guide 
• What is Esmorzar?
• Valencian Cuisine Guide 
• Best Bars in Valencia
• A guide to paella

FAQs