“You have to eat well there because there are a lot of trucks.” This phrase, very useful on long road trips to town or to a vacation destination, has recently become a guide developed by Repsol in which distinguishes the best bars and restaurants on the road throughout Spain.
Los Soletes de Carretera identify those places to eat cheap and tasty food on highways and national highways throughout the country. In the Valencian Community we have 2 of the main roads: the A-7 that connects the whole Mediterráneo and the A-3, which connects Madrid with the Valencian coast.
In addition, this 2024 El País has prepared a ranking of the best restaurants of the summer to stop during the journey to your vacation destination, which we have also collected in this article.
The best Valencian restaurants on the A-7 highway
These are the best restaurants to take a break on your way to Catalonia or Andalusia from Valencia.
El Refugio
The guide defines it as a “rustic bar for lunch and grilled food overlooking the nature of the mountains of the Desert de les Palmes in Benicàssim”. It is a favorite of hikers, locals and cyclists. Here you can have lunch or treat yourself to a traditional calçotada.
📍Disememinado la Parreta, 15, 12560 Benicàssim, Castelló.
Bar Coratge
In Beniarbeig we find a bar that has been serving travelers from all over Spain since 1999. Its couscous is famous throughout the region, according to the Repsol guide and you will have to take a detour to visit it.
📍5 kilometers from the AP-7, at exit 62.
Racó Casa Tere
In Vall d’Uixó, recommended for those traveling with children and looking for a menu based on tapas and sandwiches.
📍 AP-7, Vall D’Uixo.
The best Valencian restaurants on the A-3 highway
On the way to Madrid we find authentic temples of good food.
The Bairetas
The best wood-fired rice dishes you’ve ever tasted. This restaurant specializes in high quality rice dishes and they are the main focus of its menu, which consists mainly of closed menus, both daily and on weekends. C. Ramón y Cajal, SN, Chiva 46370, Valencia.
L’Alter
At the height of Picassent we find another restaurant of traditional Valencian cuisine, specializing in rice and paella to firewood. Here it is typical the paella, cooked with fire with orange tree firewood, and the esmorzar.
📍Calle Ca Juliet 3, Picassent (Valencia).
Other recommended roadside bars
Sant Jordi Sale
On the N-340 at the height of Alcoy with an economic menu of the day at 11 euros and popular breakfasts at 7 euros.
N-340 at Alcoy.
Casanova
A restaurant with a tasting menu for 32 euros located inside the hotel Te Maná in Torreblanca.
📍AP-7.
Restaurant Piero
A space specialized in less common rice dishes such as snails or galleys.
📍 Torreblanca, N-340, Km. 1009.