We got to Valencia quite late in the evening, and although it wasn’t midnight yet, by the time we got picked up at the airport, checked into the hotel, and prepped for dinner, it was nearly midnight. From past visits to Spain, we knew to expect late dinners, so we just relaxed with a bottle of wine while getting ready for our evening plans.
Once we finished our wine, we headed out to Casa Montana in Valencia for a delightful culinary experience. Casa Montana is a longstanding local favorite, dating back to 1836, and it attracts everyone from Prime Ministers and celebrities to locals. The locals bring their own bottles to fill with Vermouth and wine as part of a tradition that’s nearly a century old.
The restaurant’s owners personally source their ingredients from farms across Europe. Their dedication is impressive; for example, they ensure the olive oil is up to their standards by personally visiting farms, regardless of whether they are in Italy or elsewhere.
The wine selection at Casa Montana is remarkable, and some bottles are priced as high as £5,000. I discovered just how much I’ve been missing out on when it comes to ham. The Iberian ham here, particularly from acorn-fed pigs, is exceptional. It melts in your mouth like butter, unlike any store-bought cured ham.
Before dinner, we had an exceptional wine tasting. In past tastings, I’d often ended up tipsy without knowing much more about wine. This time, the experience was different. Even though the staff conducting the tasting only spoke Spanish and my Spanish is terrible, they ingeniously communicated how to properly taste wine.
After the wine tasting, we enjoyed a fabulous dinner at Casa Montana, featuring a range of Spanish tapas. The steak, beans, and patatas bravas were standout dishes. Dinner was incredible, with each ingredient carefully sourced and prepared.
We spent the rest of the evening enjoying more delicious wine and dessert, which is probably my favorite activity! By the time we left, the streets were empty, and our stomachs were full. This was just our first night in Valencia!
