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José Salinas, CEO of the Valencia Conference Centre and Valencia Tourism
My favourite spots: Top three restaurants:
Today I am choosing three in which the quality of the product, the service and the location are excellent. All three of them have been awarded with the prize for the ‘Best Menu’ after various competitions by the ‘Valencia Cuina Oberta’, a choice made by its diners.
Firstly I would suggest tasting the delight of Mediterranean and International cuisine at La Sucursal restaurant, distinguished with a Michelin star. The delicacy of its kitchen, its selective ambiance and perfect service will make the dinner a perfect evening. This establishment can found in the IVAM (Instituto Valenciano de Arte Moderno) (Valencia’s Modern Arts Institute) giving the restaurant a special touch.
Seu Xerea has a much more relaxed style, where the fusion of Asian and Mediterranean tastes provides us with exotic and tasty dishes. The personalised and direct attention of the room and its excellent location in the heart of the historical city centre make this restaurant a good choice, as you can finish off with a pleasant walk down main roads and squares of the city.
And if what seems fitting is a more elegant, intimate and a more minimalist restaurant, the Riff would be the one. Distinguished by its Michelin star, the building was designed by an artist from Valencia, Alfaro, creating a warm atmosphere in a minimalist restaurant. Its ‘Brut’ rice or its ‘Mousse au Chocolat’ conquer even the most demanding palates.
Top three bars:
A relaxed evening in Valencia can take place in exclusive and elegant bars such as the ‘H Club’ located in the Westin Hotel, where you can have any of the city’s latest cocktails. During the spring and summer nights the ‘H Club’ extends its services to its chill out terrace in order to enjoy its Mediterranean garden under the Valencian sky, known as the ‘H Club Mediterranean’.
Situated in some of the most spectacular areas of the city, the bars and discos of Las Animas group allows you to have a drink with sea views in Ani+Puerto or enjoy the most select atmosphere in the heart of the city centre, with a very unique decoration like that of Las Animas or Number One.
And if what you are looking for is to combine a few drinks with the traditional atmosphere of the casino, the Casino Cirsa Valencia offers various possibilities. Situated in a building carefully designed both externally and internally, it has everything that any modern European Casino can offer.
Top three hot spots:
In the northwest of the town rises the prestigious Congress Centre - Palacio de Congresos. Designed by Norman Foster, the building has already hosted more than 2,000 events and boosted the economy by more than 660 million Euros. In the surrounding area there are various standards of hotels with business services and meeting rooms. Also in this area is the Casino Cirsa Valencia, where the business day can end and leisure may begin.
The historic “old-town” in the centre of Valencia stands as a focal point for the city. Its streets are lined with ancient buildings as unique as the Lonja de la Seda, listed by UNESCO as a Heritage of Humanity. Other impressive buildings include the Cathedral of Valencia, the Palau de la Generalitat, the Plaza de la Almoina with its Museum, Central Market, the Palacio del Marques de Dos Aguas and the streets of La Paz and Caballeros which all have their own Valencian unique beauty and charm. Amongst this historical beauty are the shops, bars and restaurants which are some of the most lively and exciting in Valencia.
The City of Arts and Sciences, designed by Santiago Calatrava and now a symbol of contemporary Valencia, is an example of great modern architecture. Set in what was once the bed of the Turia River, it forms part of the Turia Gardens; eight miles of green space, sports and cultural facilities that run from the west to the east of the city.
Turismo Valencia Convention Bureau is a Foundation created by Valencia City Council, the Chamber of Commerce, the Valencia Business Confederation and Feria Valencia, in collaboration with other companies in the tourism sector. It aims to promote Valencia as the perfect place to hold conferences, conventions, meetings, seminars, and incentive trips, whilst encouraging the development of the city’s tourist infrastructure and services. www.turisvalencia.es