Casa Carmela, Mediterranean restaurant near Malvarrosa Beach, Valencia, Spain
Casa Carmela is a beachfront restaurant in Valencia, on the Mediterranean coast, specializing in paella cooked over a wood fire. The dining area includes both covered and open-air sections, set just steps from the water.
The restaurant opened more than a century ago, starting as a modest eating place for fishermen working along that stretch of coast. Over the decades it became a destination for families from Valencia coming to the beach on weekends, while keeping the same cooking methods throughout.
Casa Carmela is one of the few places where paella is still cooked exclusively over a wood fire outdoors, right next to the dining tables. The smoke and crackle of the fire are part of the visit, making the cooking process something guests can actually watch and smell.
Booking a table well in advance is strongly recommended, as the restaurant fills up fast, especially at lunch. Lunch is typically the main service, so it is worth checking current opening times before you go.
The paella arrives at the table still in the pan it was cooked in, straight from the wood fire. This means the crispy layer of rice at the bottom, called socarrat in Valencian, reaches the table fully intact and at its best.
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