If you're in València and you still haven't had your late breakfast, something has gone wrong.
Here the esmorzaret is not a snack between breakfast and lunch: it's an institution, a social ritual through which the Valencians have been pausing their morning for centuries to treatthemselves to something special.
What does it consist of? A hearty sandwich — of blanc i negre, of llom, of squid… whatever the place fancies! — accompanied by a picaeta of olives, lupins or cacaus del collaret, a drink and a coffee at the end to round things off.
All of this before midday.
Want to know where to try this late breakfast near the sea in València? We've got three options for you.
#1 Front – Terminal Hub Building, Calle de la Travesía, s/n
Late breakfast hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Saturdays and Sundays 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Front is at La Marina de València, right on the seafront, and its late breakfast offering is one that deserves a very hungry visit.
From 9:00 AM they serve the esmorzaret with artisan bread and a list of options that goes well beyond the classic sandwich: tortilla, broad bean and sausage stew with chimichurri, pork with tomato and all i oli, roast loin with potatoes and garlic, tuna with tomato, anchovies and olives, or the veal pepito with spiced butter.
#2 Kabanyal – Pl. de la Setmana Santa Marinera, 1
Late breakfast hours: Saturdays and Sundays 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
This venue is on a pedestrian square in Canyamelar, with a large terrace under an enormous fig tree that in summer provides shade worth its weight in gold. It also has direct views of the Marina de Valencia.
The esmorzaret here is a weekend thing: it's only served on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM.
And what awaits you? A menu of sandwiches like the «Torreznito» — with Soria pork crackling —, the «Semana Santa» — with battered cod and green pepper —, the «Sorolla» — with black pudding and sausage — or the «Marinero» — with squid —.
And the «Kabanyal» — the house sandwich, of course — comes with suckling foal meat, potatoes, spring garlic, tomato and Manchego cheese.
Eight different sandwiches in total.
And if you miss the late breakfast hour, you can also come for lunch. They have an endless range of tapas, Valencian coca breads and an impressive rice menu — the speciality being the oven-baked ones served in the traditional Valencian llanda.
#3 Trencabeach – Av. del Primat Reig, 187
Late breakfast hours: from Tuesday to Saturday from 9:00 AM
Trencabeach is the furthest option from the centre of the three we're bringing you for a late breakfast in València near the sea, but that doesn't mean it offers fewer options.
For the esmorzaret they have over ten different sandwiches: tortilla — plain, with artichokes, with chistorra... —, aged beef, ox cheek, chicken breast, tuna belly... any combination you can imagine!
More temples of the esmorzaret
Although the three previous venues are a stone's throw from the beach, València has other spots you can't miss if you loved the late breakfast near the sea in València.
The Bar Cremaet — halfway between the city centre and the Cabanyal — is a perfect place to try the brascada or the classic almussafesstyle.
And as its name suggests, the thing to end with here is a cremaet — a coffee with rum, brandy and a touch of burnt sugar —. Classic, classic.
If you want to esmorzar and, along the way, discover the tradition of pilota valenciana, choose Pelayo Gastro Trinquet. Chef Pablo Margós has a menu of around ten sandwiches made with local produce that will leave you speechless.
And if you're around the City of Arts and Sciences, head to A tu Gusto, a restaurant with a menu of over twenty different sandwiches that is renewed season by season but never stops being delicious.
More options? Choose Barecito, Villaplana, Mistela, Mi Cub or Bajoqueta Bar, which won't let you down either.
