Quick answer: Dénia's reference rice restaurants sit in four areas: Les Rotes (Mena, Ca Nano), the port (El Raset, La Barqueta), the centre (Jamse & l'Arròs, La Taverna del Mirall, Deniarrós) and Les Marines (Casa Federico). An arroz a banda costs €15-16 per person, with a minimum of two.
Dénia has its own fish market, market gardens ten minutes away, and a centuries-old rice tradition. The result is that almost all of its reference restaurants are rice restaurants: places that cook the rice to order, with stock made in-house, and treat it as the main course rather than a tourist add-on.
What exactly is a rice restaurant
A rice restaurant (arrocería) isn't simply a restaurant that has paella on the menu. You can spot one by three things:
- It makes its own stock. From rockfish, meat or vegetables depending on the dish. This is what sets a rice restaurant apart from a restaurant that just happens to serve paella.
- It distinguishes rice styles. Its menu separates dry, creamy and soupy rice, and usually has more than six different rice dishes.
- It cooks to order. It takes 30 to 45 minutes and requires a minimum of two diners.
If you want to go deeper, we have a specific guide on how to recognise authentic paella before you sit down.
Dénia's rice restaurants, area by area
Dénia is bigger than it looks and its rice restaurants are spread out. Choosing by area saves you half an hour in the car:
| Area | Reference rice restaurants | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Les Rotes (south) | Restaurante Mena, Ca Nano | Classic spots over cove and rock, with sea views |
| Port and Marina | El Raset, La Barqueta, Agua de Mar, Nómada | Fish straight from the market |
| Town centre | Jamse & l'Arròs, La Taverna del Mirall, Deniarrós, Tasca Les Monges | Tavern-style, urban rice restaurants, no car needed |
| Les Marines (north) | Casa Federico, Primera Línea, Bona Platja | Right on the beach, summer atmosphere |
| Inland and market gardens | Pont Sec | Own market-garden produce, worth the detour |
You'll also find the Arrocería del Senyoret in town, specialising in the rice dish that shares its name. List compiled independently based on local reputation and each venue's public information: we don't charge to be featured.
For the full detail on each house — what it does best, who it suits and its real prices — see our full guide with the six reference rice restaurants:
See the detailed rice restaurant guide →
Phone numbers and addresses of the rice restaurants
So you can book without leaving this page. Always book ahead: rice is cooked to order and it's worth requesting it when you call.
| Rice restaurant | Where it is | Phone | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurante Mena | End of Les Rotes | +34 965 78 09 43 | Limited parking in summer |
| Jamse & l'Arròs | Carrer Passarell 3 | +34 965 783 506 | Deposit charged for the paella pan on takeaway orders |
| La Taverna del Mirall | C/ de Loreto 54 (centre) | +34 865 67 20 17 | Lunch only: closes at 17:30. Closed Mondays |
| Casa Federico | C/ Ausias March 22 (Les Marines) | +34 965 78 30 41 | Closed on Tuesdays |
| Deniarrós | El Raset area | +34 966 27 93 38 | Open every day, 1pm–midnight |
| Pont Sec | Inland, camí de Gandia | Not published | Outside town: you'll need a car |
Data taken from each restaurant's official website on 2 September 2026. Confirm hours when booking: they change by season. We don't charge to be featured in this guide.
What rice to order at a Dénia rice restaurant
Paella is just one of the rice dishes on the menu, and almost never the most interesting one. Here's what you'll find:
| Rice dish | What it is | Price / person |
|---|---|---|
| Arroz a banda | Cooked in fish stock, served almost on its own. The most Dénia-born dish | €15 – 16 |
| Arroz del senyoret | Seafood, all peeled. Eaten without getting messy | €17.50 – 20 |
| Black rice | With cuttlefish ink | €16 – 17 |
| Valencian paella | Chicken, rabbit and vegetables. The inland version | €16 – 19 |
| Seafood paella | The most requested by visitors | €20 – 24 |
| Creamy and soupy rice | Juicy, spoon-eaten versions | €16 – 20 |
| Fideuà | Same concept, with noodles instead of rice | €19 – 21 |
| Lobster rice | For special occasions | €27 – 29 |
How much it costs to eat rice in Dénia
The prices above come from menus published by the restaurants themselves, checked in August 2026. Three things worth knowing before you sit down:
- The minimum is two diners. It's standard across every menu checked, and the price is per person on that basis.
- The difference between rice restaurants is minimal. An arroz a banda costs €15.00 at a classic in Les Rotes and €15.95 at a rice restaurant in the centre. What drives up the bill is the dish, not the venue.
- Bread and cutlery are charged separately, around €2.70 per person at some places.
See all prices dish by dish and by restaurant →
Frequently asked questions
What is a rice restaurant (arrocería)?
A restaurant specialised in rice dishes, which cooks them to order with its own stock and treats them as the main course. In Dénia, most of the reference restaurants are rice restaurants, because rice is the backbone of local cooking.
Where's the best place to eat rice in Dénia?
It depends on the area and your plan: Les Rotes for the classics with sea views, the port for fresh market fish, the centre if you're on foot, and Les Marines if you're coming from the beach. Everywhere, rice takes 30 to 45 minutes.
How much does it cost to eat rice in Dénia?
From €15 to 16 for arroz a banda, €16 to 19 for Valencian paella, €20 to 24 for seafood paella, and €27 to 29 for lobster rice, per person with a minimum of two.
What's Dénia's most typical rice dish?
Arroz a banda, cooked in fish market stock and served almost on its own with all-i-oli on the side. It's also the cheapest on the menu.