Take Paris, add palm trees and a handful of fruit to the wine. Then swap a snaking, sunken park for the Seine and paella for steak frites, and put the whole thing on the sea. The result: Valencia. With a youthful vibe driven in part by the University of Valencia, Spain's third-largest city bursts with cultural offerings, stunning architecture, a sometimes-jarring juxtaposition of the ancient and the contemporary — and some unique eats. Here's how to eat like a local in Valencia: Sample a signature cocktail: Check out the city's vibe at the Plaza de la Virgen. Try a sangria or, better yet, Agua de Valencia, a local concoction of sparkling wine, orange juice, vodka and gin. Beware, this firewater's gentle taste belies its potency. Take in the jumble of locals, tourists, pigeons and formally attired churchgoers attending a baptism or wedding just a stone's throw away at the Basilica de la Virgen. Find a bargain: In Spain, 9 p.m. is early for dinner. But you're a tourist, so go ahead and head to La Carme for a bargain 19 euro (about $25 U.S.), three-course, fixed-price menu. Choices might include hake in a rich white sauce, grilled pork, roast duck or specialty ribs, with perhaps a fig, pine nut and cheese salad or a creamy carrot soup starter, capped by the requisite creme caramel.
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