What's new, Valencia?
There is no turning back. After time of hard work to ensure that the city has the recognition it deserves –finally–! Valencia is presented as one of the best cities in the world to live. And we do not say it only from here –which also–, but as the years go by, more and more studies are supporting us and confirming that we have T-E-R-R-E-T-A for a while.
Whether due to its quality of life, sustainability, gastronomy, tourist offer, design or the possibility of teleworking that is so in demand during the pandemic, the capital of the Turia has a lot of reasons to be celebrating –without forgetting the long-awaited Fallas, its most traditional and authentic festival that is lived just these days, with caution but with the same fervor as always–.
Do we allow ourselves to be conquered by everything that is going to deserve our attention? Whether you are a local or a tourist… Hold on tight, curves are coming!
LUXURY AND COMFORT SETTLE IN VALENCIA WITH NEW HOTEL OPENINGS
If there is an opening that is impossible to ignore and that resonates strongly these days, it is none other than the long-awaited landing of the hotel chain Only YOU Hotels, that, after months of delay due to uncertainty and restrictions, at the end They have inaugurated this September 1 their first five stars, being the first time that the brand leaves Madrid. Because the good is made to wait, but the excellent even more.
It does so at number 5 of the Plaza Rodrigo Botet (popularly known among Valencians as the Plaza de los Patos). In what was once the historic Astoria Palace Hotel, today this 191-room hotel stands, whose interior design inspired by the Mediterranean has been carried out by the prestigious Lázaro Rosa-Violán.
But if they wanted to emphasize something from the beginning in Only YOU Hotel Valencia is that we are not only dealing with a hotel for foreign visitors, but rather the locals themselves who are also going to be able to enjoy this jewel located in the center of Valencia.
"The essence of this establishment is the same as that of our hotels in Madrid: the customer at the center of the Only YOU experience; a premium location within the city; a decoration that invites you to enjoy its spaces; and the spirit that the hotel is not a sealed box of the city, but a totally permeable space, with a varied agenda of events where travelers and locals coexist with absolute naturalness”, he tells Traveler.es Juan Serra, CEO of Only YOU Hotels.
Only YOU Hotel Valencia
“With this project, we are going to try to recover two important characteristics that were very relevant in the founding of the original Hotel Astoria in 1959. On the one hand, we want this accommodation to be the benchmark for luxury hotels in the city, but from the perspective of new behavior patterns, more carefree, less apparent, closely linked to the richness of the experience. And on the other hand, We want the hotel to once again become a place of celebration and a benchmark social and professional meeting place for Valencians” , adds the general manager of the hotel brand.
Here in addition to sleeping like angels, you also come to EAT like gods. Taste one of the most emblematic ingredients of the city such as rice, with his rice restaurant called El Mirador. Fusion with Japanese gastronomy comes from the hand of wild group where his success precedes him in cities like Miami, Barcelona or Madrid.
And of course, The Trotamundos space could not be missing in the hotel lobby, where they converge from a classic of the Valencian imaginary such as the esmorzaret and in contrast, a creative cocktail offer designed and led by the renowned Iván Talens.
Flowers are also protagonists thanks to the florist Atelier de la Flor that has been staining the city with the most beautiful arrangements since 2001 and that is now going to do the same with its space at the hotel entrance. And on the mezzanine? A tailor shop from the Madrid firm Tom Black, so as not to stitch without thread.
Wild: Japanese fusion cuisine by Venezuelan chef Fermín Azkue
But the Hotel Only YOU Valencia has not been the only addition worth having on our radar this season. Changing the central neighborhood of Sant Francesc for the cosmopolitan district of Russafa they receive us –at number 19 Cuba street– Daphne and Wouter, the brains and creators of YOURS Boutique Hotel.
This translates to a boutique accommodation with 12 rooms, which also has a patio with a swimming pool and a cafeteria where a delicious breakfast is prepared every morning (The coffee is provided by Bluebell, one of the most cutting-edge specialty coffee shops in the city!).
The entire space is an ode to minimalism and good taste transmitted by the objects found in each of the rooms. “The idea for this hotel stems from a passion for hospitality and design. For creating something beautiful and lasting. A site that stands out for its design and at the same time invites disconnect and enjoy an experience where everything fits ”, indicates the couple of owners to Traveler.es
“We want the guest to experience Valencia as we do as inhabitants. We have opted for quality and comfort in the rooms, but at the same time personal treatment and attention to detail are very important to us”, they add.
Yours Boutique Hotel
WE KEEP DEVOURING VALENCIA, BITE BY MOUTH
This 2021 there have been many brave people who have decided to jump into the pool and open new gastronomic projects in the city of Turia. Some of them already came from the restaurant sector and others, on the other hand, have given a 180º turn to their lives to undertake, the result being a complete success!
We can start by mentioning Hōchō, the last adventure of Nacho Honrubia after his and his family's separation from the Komori restaurant at the end of 2020. It was a few months later, when he opened at number 32 Paseo de la Alameda, inside the SH Valencia Palace hotel, this new project in which he proposes the best of Asian gastronomy with that of the Mediterranean.
On the parallel street, we are welcomed by Bar Cremaet (Avenida del Puerto, 20) by the same promoters of Bar Mistela and La Sastrería, great referents of the current Valencian gastronomic scene. On this occasion they delight us with the traditional Valencian cremaet as the main protagonist for everything that comes before or after it: from the iconic esmorzaret with a wide selection of sandwiches to the best lunches and dinners where meats, grilled fish, rice dishes and tapas to share are the order of the day (Watch out for the low-temperature rolled torrezno!).
Bonito usuzukuri with tartar sauce
More news to put in the spotlight? The sisters Laura and Marta Benito, famous for their catering Capicúa Gastro who turned their hobby into a profession, They took another step in this beautiful dream in 2021 with the opening of Casa Capicúa, a shop at number 14 Calle Jesús (in the heart of the La Roqueta neighbourhood). A comfortable, innovative and carefree space where there is no lack its mythical biscuits, focaccia or the Rugelach Jewish sweet. And of course a spectacular specialty coffee!
If we continue in matters of coffee, the protagonists of News & Coffee have installed in one of the kiosks of the Plaza del Doctor Collado the practice of coffee to go and they have also brought back the importance of acknowledging paper that has long been overshadowed by digital media. here they sell Bea Bascuñán and Albert Jornet (designers and founders of SOLO Magazine) , all kinds of press and specialized magazines at an international level.
The original project by Pablo, Gautier, Yaël and Davide started in Barcelona at the end of 2019 and after the four existing kiosks in Barcelona, this latest addition landed in Valencia in mid-June 2021. “In the end, it is a proposal adapted to our days that aims to give continuity to the press booths that in many cases are closed or about to do so” , tells Traveler.es Albert Jornet.
Capicua House
And from coffee we go to wine with Mes Amours in Calle de la Reina Na Maria, 1 (Russafa neighborhood), a space that comes to break with the stereotypes of wine, bringing an alternative proposal dedicated to natural wines which has caused a furor among residents and locals. The founders of the place are Sophie and Matías, a French and an Argentine who after living in Paris, Buenos Aires and Barcelona where they worked in the digital world, finally decided to move to Valencia and set up their own business.
“The pandemic was the trigger for a change that we longed for, settling in Valencia and dedicating ourselves to what we are passionate about: natural wines, good food and being hosts” , they comment to Traveler.es. And to accompany the wines? They themselves propose fresh seasonal dishes, made from organic products from small producers.
love month
The differentiating point is put by Andrea Valls with her colorful mochis in Mochisan (Martí l'Humà Street, 4), an initiative that was born during confinement due to the need of its founder to reinvent herself and have a plan B in the face of the great uncertainty caused by the pandemic. "This is a very personal project, with which I intend to contribute my grain of sand as an enterprising young woman, vindicating the artisanal product and good work" , indicates its creator.
And of course, Sergio Mendoza continues to do his thing. After El Astronomo and El Observatorio, he arrived in the same neighborhood, El Almacén de Patraix, a 'store' where the customer finds from t-shirts, preserves, wines, potatoes, sausages, its already famous black market cremaet and many more options! In addition to the restaurant sector, a few months ago he launched himself into the world of flowers (continuing the family legacy) with the opening of the Floristería de Fulanito y Menganita (Calle Conde Altea, 3).
Mochisan
If we move a little away from the city –but only very little–, in the Alboraya orchard we find the Sequer Lo Blanch space, where tradition, culture, sustainability and gastronomy coexist. “A place where you can taste an authentic Valencian horchata, savor the specialties in its food trucks, discover the products of its marketplace and have fun with its music sessions at sunset” , they invite their own founders. Doesn't sound bad at all!
And what is to come? Sergio Giraldo – who until a few months ago was in charge of the kitchen at La Sastrería – embarks on a new adventure together with his inseparable Cristóbal Bouchet, changing Cabanyal for the center of the city. If everything goes according to plan, next October he will open the doors of his latest project called Señuelo (Calle Conde Salvatierra, 39).
To finalize this selection in culinary matters, we must not forget that On December 14, the Presentation Gala of the Michelin Guide for Spain and Portugal 2022 will take place, with Quique Dacosta being the coordinator of this great gastronomic event. Shall we start with the bets of the future stars?
Sequer Lo Blanch
VALENCIA WORLD CAPITAL OF DESIGN
And we could not close this article of everything that is about to arrive in the City of Turia without mentioning its appointment as World Design Capital 2022. actions like TypesQueMatter, Ceramic DNA or the Disseny Map They do nothing more than show that from the capital they are stepping very hard.
The organization led by Xavi Calvo predicts that design, creativity and quality are going to be very strong from now on. Do not hesitate to pay attention to the coming months!
City of Arts and Sciences of Valencia