?? A look into all my gluten free Valencia finds. ??
It’s not hard to see why Spain is such a popular holiday destination. What with the seemingly never-ending sunshine, the beautiful picturesque towns and beaches, the friendly locals and of course, the delicious food. For many of us living in Northern parts of Europe, especially the Brits, Spain often takes the form of saviour rescuing us from abysmal British weather from time to time… ?
None of us really need convincing so the fact that Spain is also a gluten free paradise is just the icing on the cake! I know first hand that travelling as a coeliac can bring about a lot of food related anxiety, but I guarantee you won’t struggle in Spain. And Valencia is no exception.
I’ve been to a few different cities – Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, San Sebastian, all around Ibiza – and my experience is always the same. The supermarkets, no matter how small, virtually always stock gluten free products and sell many naturally gluten free foods with a clear ‘Sin Gluten’ logo. It’s easy to find restaurants that offer gluten free options and people are generally quite Coeliac aware. I’d say more than in the UK. For instance, some places even call their gluten free menu a ‘menu apto para celiacos’ (menu suitable for coeliacs).
Our trip to Valencia was short so we didn’t have enough time to try everything on our list… But we were pleased to find so many gluten free friendly (Coeliac safe) foods and restaurants that made us feel like ‘normal’ travellers for the few days were there. I included other potential restaurants we considered at the end of my post just so you know what’s out there. Make sure you ask questions as I can’t comment on how safe those are.
So without further ado, here’s my list of gluten free Valencia finds:
Note: many restaurants close mid-afternoon and reopen later during the evening so always check the opening times before planning your day.
My Gluten Free Valencia Guide:
1. Lalola
Address: Pujada del Toledà, 8, 46001 València, Spain
Cuisine: Spanish/Valencian food
Gluten free status: gluten free friendly + excellent knowledge of cross contamination | SAFE FOR COELIACS
Opening times: Sunday-Thursday – 1:30pm to 3:30pm + 8pm to 11pm, Friday & Saturday – 1:30pm to 3:30pm + 8:30pm to 11:30pm
Website: lalolarestaurante.com
Phone number: +34 963 91 80 45
This restaurant is fantastic for Coeliacs. It’s not the cheapest option out there, but it’s worth it. We were so well catered for and felt safe from the start. The paella Valenciana was pure perfection; so flavourful, great quality ingredients and cooked fresh right there and then. I can’t recommend this place enough.
They have a lovely quiet terrace tucked away in a corner which was the perfect place for lunch on a warm summer day.
2. La Parpadella
Address: Calle Bordadores, 5, 46001 Valencia, Spain
Cuisine: Italian
Gluten free status: gluten free friendly + excellent knowledge of cross-contamation | SAFE FOR COELIACS
Opening times: 1:45pm to 4pm + 8:30pm to 12am
Website: restaurantelapappardella.com
Phone number: +34 963 91 89 15
We absolutely loved this restaurant and would have gone back if only we had more time. Not only do they have a gluten free menu, but they are very coeliac aware. The food was delicious, great quality and the portion was huge. Amazing gluten free pasta!
The restaurant itself has a pretty cool vibe too; we loved the decor and atmosphere in general. It was the perfect place to relax for an evening meal and a drink after a long day out.
3. Celiacruz
Address: C/ Cuba, 54, 46006 Valencia, Spain
Cuisine: gluten free bakery/cafe/restaurant
Price: affordable
Gluten free status: 100 % gluten free | Coeliac heaven
Opening times: Monday-Thursday – 10am to 2pm + 4:30pm to 9:30pm, Friday & Saturday – 10am to 2pm + 5pm to 9:30pm, Sunday – 10am to 9:30pm
Website: celiacruz.es
Phone number: +34 963 41 33 88
This place is completely gluten free and basically compulsory if you’re a Coeliac in Valencia! ? They have a huge amount of options – sweet and savoury – including sandwiches, empanadas, pizza, cakes, cookies, etc.
We went there a couple of times and even brought food back to the hotel for breakfasts and snacks. My absolute favourite has to be the tiramisu cake. SO good and such a massive piece as well!
4. Telepizza
Address: multiple locations across the city (view on google map here)
Cuisine: pizzeria
Price: affordable
Gluten free status: gluten free friendly + excellent knowledge of cross-contamination | SAFE FOR COELIACS
Opening times: varies from branch to branch, but generally 1pm to 12-1am
Website: telepizza.es
This is another gluten free must in Valencia! You can find them here and there around the city and yes, they do gluten free pizza! And they’re amazing! And they’re cooked in their own separate trays (as you can see in the pictures) to avoid cross-contamination. We only tested the one near our hotel so I don’t know if the service depends on the branch, but we found the staff knowledgable and helpful every time.
Their pizza bases are really good; crispy on the edges, but soft and just the right thickness. One of the best pizza takeaway chain I’ve tired so far. And they’re not stingy on the toppings either which is a nice change! ?
5. McDonald’s
Address: multiple locations across the city (view on google map here)
Food: large selection of burgers available gluten free (bun included), fries, etc.
Price: affordable
Gluten free status: gluten free friendly + excellent knowledge of cross-contamination | SAFE FOR COELIACS
Opening times: varies from branch to branch
Website: mcdonalds.es
Out of all the countries in Europe where McDonald’s do gluten free, Spain is way up there in the best. Their staff clearly have a good allergen training and are coeliac aware. I’ve been to McDonald’s in different cities in Spain and have always had a good experience. Many of their burgers are available as a gluten free option, with a gluten free bun of course, and the fries are also safe. It’s just like the real thing! ?
6. Smooy
Address: multiple locations across the city (view on google map here)
Food: frozen yoghurt
Price: affordable
Gluten free status: gluten free friendly + excellent knowledge of cross-contamination | SAFE FOR COELIACS
Opening times: varies from branch to branch
Website: smooy.com
This frozen yoghurt shop has a few locations in Valencia and it’s the perfect gluten free snack on a hot summer day! All their frozen yoghurts are gluten free and come straight out of a dispenser so there’s no need to worry about cross-contamination either. I personally wouldn’t touch the toppings with a barge pole because you know, with all the containers side by side there’s just too much of a risk… But otherwise the frozen yoghurt itself is completely safe. ‘Sin Gluten’ is plastered in huge letters all over the walls so it’s safe to say they understand our cause. ?
7. Carrefour (supermarket)
Address: multiple locations across the city (view on google map here)
Food: great selection of gluten free products
Carrefour always has a great gluten free section and many naturally gluten free options too (all with a clear ‘sin gluten’ label). My local one even had gluten free palmeras.
8. Mercadona (supermarket)
Address: multiple locations across the city (view on google map here)
Food: huge selection of gluten free products, even gluten free churros!
9. Mercado Central (market)
Address: Plaça de la Ciutat de Bruges, s/n, 46001 València, Spain
Opening times: Monday to Saturday – 7am to 3pm, Sunday – closed
Website: mercadocentralvalencia.es
It’s always fun to wander around markets in Spain and you can find gluten free bites here and there like ham, chorizo, cheese, fruit cups, etc.
There’s a stall called La Moderna that sells cheese and chorizo cups along with many different flavours of Spanish tortillas. Nearly everything is gluten free, but coeliacs should be careful. The lady was adamant that they’re safe, but she also handles bread at the back. She uses different knives for the bread and tortillas, but she placed the tortilla knife on a surface full of breadcrumbs! If you’re not Coeliac and don’t have to worry about cross-contamination, then this place may be ok for you, but I wouldn’t recommend it for Coeliacs.
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Others I didn’t have the time to try:
Panaderia Baking Free (100% gluten free)
Mon Celiaque
Marina Beach Club
L’Albergina
Malkebien
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