Grocery Shopping in Valencia – A Guide to Eating Like a Local
The Peanut Butter Panic: My First Trip to Mercadona
Five minutes into my first grocery run in Valencia, I was already spiraling. There I was in Mercadona, sweating through a lightweight scarf (rookie mistake), standing slack-jawed in front of a towering wall of jamón. No cheddar. No peanut butter. No idea what 100 grams looked like. And definitely no clue where the eggs were. (Spoiler: not refrigerated.)Welcome to Spain. Where grocery shopping isn’t just about food—it’s about adapting your rhythm, rethinking your palate, and learning to live a little more slowly.
Everything Is Smaller—and That’s a Good Thing
Back in Seattle, I was a meal-prep mom with Costco instincts: bulk buying, freezer stocking, color-coded spreadsheets. In Valencia? I became someone who shops with acarrito, stops for bread twice a week, and actually knows which fish is in season.Everything’s smaller here—fridges, shops, packaging—and it turns out, that’s kind of the point. Grocery shopping is daily life woven into your walk, not a once-a-week mission. We eat fresher, waste less, and live more in tune with what’s available that day.
My Weekly Shopping Flow (Real Mom Edition)
Monday: Mercado Central with Evelyn (she picks the fruit based on color, not ripeness—every time)
Wednesday: Consum for cereal, cleaning products, and almond milk
Friday: Bakery and cheese stop with Frances. We grab croissants, wine, and pick a new Spanish cheese to try
We’re never overstocked. Nothing spoils. The fridge has breathing room. And our meals feel grounded in what’s actually good—not just what was on the Costco coupon sheet.
Where Locals Shop (and What’s Worth It)
Mercado Central
Walking into Mercado Central feels like entering a movie set—cured hams dangle from the rafters, wheels of manchego line the counters, and you’ll find everything from salted cod to live eels. It’s not just photogenic. It’s functional. Many locals buy produce, meat, and fish here because the quality is unbeatable.Mercado Centralis open Monday through Saturday from 7:30am to 3:00pm, and closed on Sundays. Go early for the best selection, and bring cash (some stalls don’t accept cards).
Supermarkets: Mercadona, Consum, Lidl
Mercadona: The most popular chain, with consistent prices and wide coverage. Website
Consum: A bit friendlier and more focused on sustainability. Excellent house-brand hummus. Website
Lidl: Great for international finds and surprise deals (last week I bought running shoes, olives, and a beach umbrella)
Each one has its perks, but prices across the board are generally lower than in the U.S. Organic and specialty items may cost more, but basics—produce, olive oil, wine—are significantly cheaper.
Fruterias: Sunday lifesavers
The fruterias are located on nearly every block in Benicalap. What we have found is that these independently owned businesses often struggle with having the freshest produce but often have products like fresh chili peppers which are hard to find at the chain stores. The fruterias often also carry a variety imported staples for the immigrants in the immediate neighborhood.
And of course the fact that they are generally open on Sundays often helps us complete our Sunday afternoon meal when shopping has slipped our mind.
Price Snapshot: 2025 Grocery Costs in Valencia
| Item | Typical Price |
|---|---|
| Fresh loaf of bread | €1.14 |
| Dozen eggs (not refrigerated) | €2.57 |
| 1L milk | €1.00 |
| 1kg tomatoes (in season) | €2.00 |
| Bottle of wine | €3.00 |
| Whole chicken | €5.50 |
For a full price comparison with U.S. cities, check out Numbeo’s Cost of Living Guide.
Seasonal Eating: What’s Fresh, When
Spring: Strawberries, asparagus, artichokes
Summer: Tomatoes, peaches, watermelon, eggplant
Fall: Persimmons, squash, figs
Winter: Citrus galore (oranges, mandarins, lemons), leeks, cabbage
Bonus: many of these are grown right here in the Valencian region, so they’re incredibly fresh and affordable. Check out this seasonal guide .
Spanish Grocery Language Cheatsheet
Fileteado: Thin-sliced (great for beef at the butcher)
Jamón curado vs. serrano: Cured ham, different regions/prestige
Entero / desnatado: Whole / skim milk
Pescado: Fish (fresh or frozen)
Huevos: Eggs (sitting unrefrigerated on the shelf!)
Things We Miss (and Sneak In Our Suitcase)
Ranch Salad Dressing and Mexican salsa (We have learned the tricks to making our own.)
Sharp cheddar (Spanish cheese is great—but different)
Trader Joes Hot Pepper Bomba Sauce (We are working on a recipe to approximate this using local peppers)
Adams Natural Peanut Butter (Frances and Evelyn got used to Mercadona brand after a year)
Things We Never Knew We Needed
€0.65 baguettes that rival anything in Paris
Wine that’s cheaper than soda—and doesn’t taste like regret
Locally grown fruit that tastes like fruit
How Grocery Shopping Changed My Life
Grocery shopping in Valencia made me slow down. It helped me learn Spanish. It grounded me in my new neighborhood. It became one of the first ways I felt like I actuallylivedhere—not just visited.I used to dread grocery runs. Now they’re my reset button. Evelyn knows the fishmonger. Frances picks out jamón like a pro. We’ve stopped searching for the exact products we left behind, and started falling in love with what’s already here.
Final Scoop from Amanda
If you’re new here, don’t panic when your go-to brands aren’t on the shelf. What you’ll find instead are new rhythms, local habits, and food that reflects this sunny, delicious corner of the world. And if all else fails? Ask the abuela next to you. She knows what’s good.
In Gratitude,
Amanda Chigbrow
Founder of LaVidalencia
@LaVidalencia | LaVidalencia.com