The venue celebrated this new stage with a special visit from chef Alfredo Villanueva, of Villa Torél, on February 20 and 21. Just a year and a half in, Clementina already has several reasons to celebrate. The venue located in the Cabanyal neighborhood has just been distinguished as a Repsol Guide 2026 Restaurant, which is equivalent to being a restaurant recommended by one of the most important gastronomic guides today.

“This recognition is the result of our passion for cuisine and attention to our customers, with the effort of the entire team,” says José Luis Soto, owner of Clementina along with his partner, Martha Avilés. The guide defines them as an authentic Mexican restaurant, which offers “a true and sincere cuisine, which successfully combines local products such as fresh fish with techniques and flavours from across the Atlantic.” In fact, for a few months now, Clementina has had a different message: they are from Mexico, but they cook culture. Always paying homage to their origins, but working with local ingredients.

Since starting their journey in Valencia in August 2024, more specifically in Plaza Virgen del Castillo number 3, ‘Clementina’ has tried to prepare recipes that are not so well known abroad, although with great significance in some areas of Mexico. Among them, their menu includes: cheese rinds seared on the griddle with meat, typical of Mexican neighborhood taquerias; their famous gobernador taco with prawns, which is a tribute to a Pacific classic; or the Valencian vermouth jelly with Mexican rompope. They also have specials that change according to the season and the taste of the customers. Something that the Repsol Guide qualifies by adding: “The experience celebrates authenticity and the intersection of culinary cultures in an environment close to the sea.”

An International Visit

As part of the celebration, and within Clementina’s monthly agenda of activities, this weekend, February 20 and 21, they hosted a very special visit: that of chef Alfredo Villanueva, who heads Villa Torél (Valle Guadalupe, Mexico), a restaurant recognized with the No. 16 spot on the list of the 50 Best Restaurants in Latin America.

For the occasion, they designed a joint menu for 69 euros per person, exclusive and composed of dishes such as sea bass with mojo picantón, the Baja taco (of fish in tempura), Iberian pork salpicón, or mole gorditas. Elaborations that combine technique, product, and character in an experience designed to celebrate the encounter between Mexico and the Mediterranean.

Convive Clementina

Coinciding with this recognition and with their desire to continue evolving, the restaurant presents ‘Convive Clementina’, a new movement with which they seek to generate community, while opening the space to gastronomic, cultural, and social events, designed to be enjoyed in a leisurely way and with special menus designed for each occasion. “It is one more reason to reaffirm our commitment to authentic cuisine and the creation of experiences that connect people around the table,” adds Martha Avilés.

 About Clementina

What more than thirty years ago was the dream of a couple from Mexico City who looked at Spain with nostalgia, came true. Clementina arrived in Valencia in 2024 to demonstrate that quality, product, and affection are the main ingredients of their recipe. There, everything is enjoyed calmly, because each dish hides a story that deserves to be heard and savoured. With José Luis Soto in the kitchen and Martha Avilés in the dining room, the experience at the restaurant will be familiar and like being at home.

Report by ‘24/7 Valencia’ team

Article copyright ‘24/7 Valencia’

@clementina__bar