In this section of AU we have already walked through Sueca, Dénia, Cadiz, Cuba and Literato Azorín, but Russafa doesn't seem to end and this month we opted for a street that is aligned in a grid to end up at Cádiz Street, where the disorderly tangle of tracks around the Mercat de Russafa begins. Puerto Rico street is small and humble, discreetly crosses the bustling Sueca and Cuba to die somewhat languidly in the Parc Central, but it has little corners that are worth visiting. A vegan temple, a screen printing workshop, a moroccan restaurant, a haberdashery that is also a vintage clothing store and a freak shop with the name of a witch they have opened their doors to us in October. Wait, there is more: a family-owned and veteran natural honey store, and cowork of craftsmen and artists, a corner to drink specialty coffee, an Argentinian steakhouse and an Asian-Filipino fusion restaurant. Are you spending with us?
Cafe Madrigal
— Puerto Rico, 41
He Cafe Madrigal It is one of the reference vegan temples in Valencia. This kitchen opened four years ago whose stove doesn't turn off all day, you can have breakfast, have lunch, comer, snack and dine all kinds of culinary proposals in which there is no trace of traces of animal origin. Designed for vegans but made for anyone to enjoy, in fact, They tell us that the majority of clients are not vegan and they leave delighted. In addition to making customers enjoy, The objective of Café Madrigal is to teach that you can eat delicious and varied foods while avoiding meat., the fish, milk and eggs and demand an anti-speciesist vegan culture. They make it with a delicious Thai red chickpea curry, spinach and pumpkin, a potato omelet where the binder is not the egg, but a mixture of chickpea flour with water, o one fake fat made with lentils, a sautéed garlic and onion, arrows, thyme, romero, nuts and soy sauce. The result is a kind of spreadable and tasty herb pâté. For dessert you can try the carrot cake or a cheesecake made with tofu and cashews. The owner is German, hence the menu also includes German potato salad, smoked tofu and pickles, y Glühwain, the mulled wine typical of German Christmas.
Lanevera
— Puerto Rico, 46
Lanevera is sold. The owners of the premises have sold it and Jussi will have to leave it before October 2025 and look for another place to continue tinkering with screen printing. But, at the moment, activity does not stop in Puerto Rico 46, even if it's with one gear less. You come to Lanevera to buy screen printing or to learn it, and enjoy exhibitions in a charming loft that wants to break with that cemetery aura that surrounds conventional museums. Right now you can see the exhibition Species in split where Toni Cuatrero presents symbolic wooden sculptures painted with those reds, blues and oranges so yours, a reflection on the tendency of human beings to separate themselves from nature and themselves. On the other hand, In Lanevera works are sold at very reasonable prices, signed by artists of the stature of Luis Galbis, Lawert, Enric Alepuz, Victor Visa, Elena Unamesa, Agustín Esteso, I sell gold, Elías Taño, Fatima Bravo, Don Rogerio, Israel Pinilla AKA Oveism or Raquel Barberà with that sadistic but kind pop line of hers. And from the Uruguayan Negro Illustrious, according to Jussi, an illustrator who is going to give a lot of talk in Valencia in the coming years. He informed us that his designs are already triumphing in Korea. If what you want is to give way to your artistic vein, in Lanevera they do screen printing courses (initiation and improvement), in four-color, in duotone or direct printing with silkscreen monotypes. And the silkscreen monotype workshops (monoprint) with Luis Galbis this summer have worked so well that they will probably continue with them the rest of the year. Lanevera is also an artisanal printing company that makes its own editions and for illustrators and external companies.. They stamp, above all, posters and t-shirts, but also tote bags, book and album covers, wine labels and craziest and most demanding supports such as fans that are unique and original pieces.
Madame Mim
— Puerto Rico, 30
Don't tell me you haven't heard of the crazy wonderful Madame Mim? The lunatic and unique, loca, genial, Madame Mim! The witch of Merlin the enchanter give name to this freak shop by Russafa, a clothing store vintage and second-hand gadgets that is quite a museum. A large old film projector presides over a room full of bizarre treasures: a gas mask, braces, very old radios, jewelry of the years 20-50, shunga dolls, old tarot cards, ocean amulets made of bone and natural hair, a corset full of chinese medals, laboratory material from the beginning of the 20th century, original headdresses from the fifties, bikinis retro, antique skirt flutters… Madame Mim sells and rents material for audiovisual and theatrical productions, worlds that are very present in space because María, the owner, comes from there. We have already told you about the film projector, but you will also discover a small theater stage in the background and the most theatrical changing rooms with their curtains pendants. This store is so original that it serves as a movie set, A little piece of the Movistar film has just been filmed here Little ordeals of the Polo brothers (The mistery of the pink flamingo) which opens next year. The back of the store has one last surprise in store for us, a space in which, before the pandemic, exhibitions were scheduled, microteat, photo sessions, contemporary dance… last month, Russafa Scenic pieces. At the moment the programming is somewhat stopped, but the idea is to recover activity as soon as possible, Let Madame Mim fly again on her broom.
Zakaria
— Puerto Rico, 26
Does 28 years that the very friendly Amina cooks homemade Moroccan dishes in Zakaria, a feast for food lovers from our southern neighbors. You have to try the homemade msemen, that flatbread so typical of Maggreg cuisine; el zaalouk, typical Moroccan starter which is a kind of very spicy tomato and eggplant ratatouille (You can't miss the cumin!!); pumpkin with sesame, And of course, couscous prepared in the traditional way, with the original recipe that Amina learned from her mother, with caramelized onion, prunes, almonds and that wheat semolina that soaks like no other the broth in which the vegetables have been cooked. The meal must end with a well-sweetened Moorish mint tea and some (or everyone) of the homemade Arabic sweets that are spread across the bar: don't worry, that crispy fried food completely covered in honey and rose water with sesame seeds on top so typical during Ramadan; briwat, the small fried triangle sweetened with honey and filled with almonds or the ghriba, soft almond cookies. ¡Reservad ya!
Located Botones & Camomile Vintage
— Puerto Rico, 15
Few haberdasheries remain, especially in neighborhoods as gentrified as Russafa, but in the number 15 From Puerto Rico Street a call goes up Located Botones for eleven years. Elisabeth sells yarn, antique trimmings and buttons, many buttons, that can cover you with one of the old machines that is a pleasure to see. They are two partners, the other side of the business is Marta, which has its area of vintage clothing selected from different suppliers in Spain and Europe. Camomile vintage exists online from 2018 and in 2021 found a little physical space in this Russafa business that is two in one and complements each other perfectly. Here you can buy vintage clothing in Kamille and customize it with all the resources that Lokita offers.
Canoa Lab
— Puerto Rico, 40
Of Canoa Lab we have spoken to you more than once in AU, so we will be brief. It is a ceramic workshop where creations inspired by classic Mediterranean Iberian pieces are made., egyptians, Greeks and Romans, but with a contemporary design that makes them unique. Golden brass sometimes accompanies candelabras and vessels coated with enamels of its own formulation that give the piece a rocky and rough texture with a Mediterranean essence.. handicraft, design and art at the service of clay.
Honey J. Regal
— Puerto Rico, 6
We start with the most traditional business in the area. 65 the family has years Regal growing rich natural honey in Valencia and selling it on the streets of Puerto Rico, in the only store dedicated exclusively to honey in the capital. Susanna, behind the counter, presents the different classes for sale, there are rosemary ones, eucalyptus, heather, orange blossom… and bits of honeycomb too. The eucalyptus and rosemary ones are good for colds., orange blossom for insomnia, that of milflowers to prevent anemia and that of heather (a natural antibiotic) for urinary problems. You will also find it in cream format, It is cold-beaten, crystallized raw honey that acquires an ideal texture for spreading on toast.. In fact, over time, All pure honeys crystallize naturally with the cold of the environment, They turn yellow and hard and absolutely nothing happens., It is definitive proof that honey is 100% natural. Honey is a natural sweetener without sucrose that has no empty calories and combines wonderfully with infusions., yogurt or fresh cheese. But its usefulness is not limited to gastronomy.. You can also buy soaps made with honey, rose water, pollen for sores, hand cream, propolis (resin-like substance extracted by bees from the buds of trees) for sore throat, flus and colds and facial cream made with royal jelly, substance that in the kingdom angel It is reserved to feed the queen bee and helps humans strengthen our immune system.. Large buyers come from Holland or Morocco to take five-kilo buckets of honey, attracted by the quality of a business that regularly receives awards at Fivamel., the Valencian honey fair that has been held in Montroi every November for more than 25 years.
Punk-O
— Swedish, 30
we know, we know, Punk-O It is not on Puerto Rico Street, but we don't want to leave it aside because, when we dedicated a Carrers Agranats to Sueca Street, Punk-O didn't exist yet. So we shoehorn it into this review of Puerto Rico Street, which it is on the corner of.. Nanay has been serving Asian-Filipino fusion food for three years, inspired by the concept of pungko, is what they call street food stalls on the island of Cebu, where is she from. You have to try humba (o adobo), a slow-cooked pork stew in sauce made with soy sauce and coconut vinegar that exudes Spanish and Chinese influences. Of Chinese origin are the typical ngohiong of Cebu City, appetizer that is sewn into rolls filled with minced meat, carrot and cabbage that Nanay finishes with bamboo and beet to give them a personal touch. His signature is also on the lentil samosas, a dish that was invented so that his daughter would eat this typical spoon dish without even realizing it. At Punk-O these samosas are stuffed with zucchini and a combo of Filipino spices, soy or mushroom mayonnaise and kimchi mayonnaise. and calm, because at Punk-O they adapt the level of spiciness to our Western palates, don't panic!
Coworkshop Spain
— Puerto Rico, 52
Coworkshop Spain It is an innovative business model, different, who last month celebrated eight years in Russafa. It's a cowork where different craftsmen and artists work. Two painters have their corner, Pablo works with recovered wood and has manufactured the structure of the workshops, and Rosana, the most visible face, is dedicated to ceramics. It offers regular ceramic workshops and an experience per month for €40 in which you can listen to live music while you taste wine or vermouth and mold the ceramic piece that you will end up taking home.. The next appointment is held on November 10, with flute music. Rosana tells us that the place, before, It was occupied by a Muslim association from which they preserve a wooden Koran, and that it had an access that connected with the mosque on Buenos Aires Street, missing today. You could hear the tantric sound of neighboring prayers!! Coworkshop Spain is also a craft store that displays, over big doors (precious!) converted into counters, postal, keychains, earrings, structures made with different pieces of recycled wood and treated with natural wax (without varnish) and ceramic objects. If you enter, you won't be able to resist, you will take a pot home. We did it!
Fran Cafe
— Puerto Rico, 29
Since we are somewhat tired and sleepy, we stop to rest in Fran Cafe, It was recommended to us at the second-hand store Kamille Vintage. There are no tables or chairs inside., just a nice bench from which you can see the street behind a giant glass window while you drink your cup of spatial coffee. Lana attends to us, a very nice Ukrainian who is not yet ready to have a conversation in Spanish, but he explains to us in English that every month they serve a different espresso coffee, We have the Colombian Santa Bárbara. They also have teas, orange juice and homemade sweets: vegan banana bread, brownie, cookies, croissants and alfajores. The owner, Vicky, she is argentinian.
San Telmo Grill
— Puerto Rico, 14
The meats and their different cuts in the purest Argentine style are the stars of the grill. Saint Elmo, one of the good Argentine steakhouses in Valencia. Most of the meat is imported from Argentina, but they also serve Spanish cuts of meat, always cooked on the grill. Angus strip roast and high loin reign supreme, but on the menu they have meat for all tastes: sirloin, veal Milanese, beef (ribeye), picaña, roast strip… As a starter they propose Argentine empanadas, the criolla with minced beef, another with ground chili, onion, beef and cheese vacuum, the spinach with goat cheese dried tomato, mozzarella and onion, the Tucumana with beef matambre cut with a knife or the Pobre Juan with a mixture of minced pork and seasoned beef. This empanada gives its name to the position that San Telmo has within The Printing Market., where they serve Argentine meats and empanadas for those who want to try them. And for dessert, a chocolate cookie cake with dulce de leche mouse and crunchy almonds, the Balcarce Cup with vanilla sponge cake, merengue, walnuts, dulce de leche and Cahntilly cream, all covered with grated coconut, or apple crumble, like typical english, but thinner and with a lot of caramelized sugar on top. If you want to pay a good tribute, there are tasting menus 40, 49 o 70 euros.
