Usually the tourists visiting Valencia, want to eat paella, typical Valencian dish. It's a fully understandable thing, but like not all Italians know how to make fresh pasta and pizza, not all Asians knows karate. Not all knows Valencians paella. for this reason is a mistake to go to the first bar or restaurant that you find to eat paellabecause usually is not too good, or is pre-cooked and are often be expensive.
First of all, I do not recommend too much eating paella in the area around the town hall, because it is very touristy area, which is very expensive price, and quality is no big deal (plus many have individual pre-cooked paella, which I hate).
Normally in Spain, paella is not eaten at night, because it is more indigestible. Only done in festivals (where you will go to bed late).
A cheap and surprisingly so good, is the Neco buffet, where you can weekday lunch or dinner for 9.95 euro (plus drink), and on weekends for 13 euro (plus drink). It is a buffet of Mediterranean food (although I don't usually trust in these sites), where tapas, paella and others have a good quality. Also you only worry of serving the food, because the waiters removed the dirty dishes and they bring you the drinks. It is recommendable to go during the week because on weekends there is usually a long queue There is also the option of taking away food to go from 3 euros.
I know the one in El Saler Mall, opposite the museum of science (on the south side). It is an ideal place to finish a walking route whithin theTuria's the river bed . Or you can ask for food to takeaway (if you're not going to take advantage of the buffet, or you want to spend less, you may eat in the park within the river)
I've seen they have two more:
Calle Pascual y Genis 9 in Valencia (two blocks behind the post office in the Town Hall Square). Taking the food to takeaway here, depending on what you like walking, the most peaceful sites are:
A little over a kilometer is the church of St. Augustine, which has a mini park behind with a drinking fountain. 300 meters ahead is the Hospital's Library Park, where you have more space (although currently is fenced by half for be under construction) in the area also has drinking fountain
Other choice a little shorter, it can be to follow the Calle Pintor Sorolla to the Parterre's park or to the Glorieta 's park. Although the traffic surrounds them are pretty calm.
And there's another on the street Rambla del Saler 16, (which Google Maps tells me it is in the Saler´s natural park, but I can't locate where is exactly).
You can also call me to make a route for this and other areas and try to convince my mother (who is the greatest cook paella in the world) to cook a paella
NOTE: On the parks and sites I mentioned, I will publish specific post.
picture from de restaurant sited on El Saler mall made by me
