Skip it all together gets my vote. It’s never as good as the food in restaurants…
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Forgot to mention CASA Carmela is excellent as well. Many say it’s the best rice in the city. Not sure I’d agree but you won’t be disappointed . It’s also a tough reservation on weekends.
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Agree, in Madrid I had one breakfast at Casa Dani which is a must for me when I visit, the rest of the time was coffee only or coffee and a delicious pastry from Alma Nomad, in Malaga breakfast was included with the room, so I took advantage of it every day and it wasn’t bad but nothing to write home about, but went between 7:30 and 8am to still have room for lunch and dinner. Wouldn’t get a half board with my room again moving forward.
Napicol ok for Sunday lunch!!
Sunday was booked out, all day, but the following day I was able to book a table for two for 3:30pm on that Sunday…Motto: Keep trying! (Or phone!)
I booked CASA MONTANA for Saturday…could only book the 19:30 slot but the will be ok!
Blame the partner on not able to hold himself back from desayuno!!!
I go for the cheeses and pork at that meal.
Survey: In one glance, how can one decide if breakfast included in room rate is worth even sampling? For me, if I see those thin-sliced supermarket cheeses and salumi…pass. Likewise pass o those yogurts in plastic vessels… In Compostela, imagine that there was no local tetilla, even, just sliced supermarket cheese at a well-regarded hotel…(not the parador)…I am out of here!!!
Erica, I hope you booked your rice when you called? If not, please do so ahead of time so as not to be disappointed. Great that you were able to book.
TJ: Thanks to you, and to Maribel, I booked the Valencia since the partner is shellfish-shy. Shall I change this?
No. That is what I would order for your first time at Napicol. Start off with a couple of fresh seafood entrantes from their daily off menu specials.
I hope your plans aren’t ruined by the extreme weather in Valencia 
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Thanks, Peter. Besides the weather, I learned today that I may be the one having to order two paella for one person, as partner learned he need surgery (not terribly scary) very soon so I may have to go alone…and yeah another surgery looms in June when we had planned for a return to Puglia… Oh well, first world issues, I know…
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If you don’t want to order two paella’s, I highly recommend Navarro, if you call them ahead of time they can make you an individual order.
Hello Erica,
Based on yesterday’s severe " wind, hail & flood ’ storm damages in Southern Spain and in Valencia. Better check before heading out there?! It’s BAD!!!
I believe you’re not leaving this weekend. The high speed rail line connecting Madrid and Valencia has been suspended until Monday, November 4, when IRYO and RENFE hope to be running trains again.
The major impact of the DANA was felt outside of Valencia city and in Castilla-La Mancha but it is a huge tragedy for the region.
I’m sure you’re keeping abreast of the news in El País.
Other sources in English—
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Just an update on high speed rail service between Madrid and Valencia—both IRYO and RENFE anticipate because of the severe damage to the rail line, that high speed service won’t resume for at least 2 weeks or possibly 3. The damage to infrastructure has been far more severe than originally anticipated.
The neighborhood of La Torre in Valencia Capital lost 8 victims to the DANA because where they were sheltered, the garage door collapsed and allowed in a torrent of water. It’s such a tragedy.
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I think that 2 weeks is highly optimistic as there are tunnels flooded, bridges collapsed. It will probably be 3 weeks (perhaps even more) before the high speed line from Madrid to Valencia can run.
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Ugh 
Update!
Just a note here that the high speed line to Valencia, according to press reports yesterday, will be up and running either Wednesday or Thursday of this week.
I was at Chamartín rail this morning, and my advice is to allow PLENTY of time to taxi to the station and to find your way to the newly inaugurated high speed vestibule.
The station is in the midst of a massive construction project and on Nov 8 they did open the vestibule-waiting area for the high speed trains, but one has to navigate the construction to find one’s way there. Follow the white sign with the blue arrow, indicating the AV trains, both IRYO and AVE departures. There is minimal seating in the new vestibule and one coffee/pastry stand and IRYO doesn’t have a lounge so be prepared for a bit of discomfort and confusion.
Also the taxi rank has been moved to far below the station, although we did see a couple of taxis depositing their passengers upstairs near the new high speed rail vestibule entrance but at the bus stop, not an official taxi rank (possibly illegal but they were depositing passengers and not picking them up).
In short, if you are able to make your trip, and I hope that you can, please allow plenty of time to negotiate the construction mess at Chamartín.
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Thanks for the update, Maribel. That is fantastic-on-the scene information!
Now, did you happen to spy an IRYO office or booth? Since I asked for the assistance, I wonder where I am supposed to find that person? Our/my train leaves for Cuenca at 11:50am, so would an hour be enough time, do you think, to make it to the station and find the train? Maybe the hotel could call IRYO form and ask where to connect with this helpmate (??)
Hi Erica,
Yes there is an IRYO office but it’s not a lounge, just a sales office.
It’s painted bright red with the IRYO logo. Go in and ask them about your assistance or ask the hotel to contact the office. It’s totally separate from the RENFE office, which is much larger.
But about the greeter/helper, I would imagine that he/she would be at the gate waiting for you. The IRYO attendant who scans your ticket would tell you, I assume. IRYO will probably use only one or two of the high speed tracks, the rest “belonging” to Renfe, as they do at Atocha. I’m not sure, though, since we didn’t have a ticket, we couldn’t enter the gate area beyond security. This was just a “reconnaissance” mission on our part. (afterwards, we taxied to Coalla Gourmet to pick up some Güeyu Mar conservas, Asturian cheeses, then lunch 2. blocks away at Cachivache.)
About seating in this new vestibule: You’ll see a seating area outside of the newly inaugurated high-speed vestibule with monitors and many were waiting there, I suspect, because they thought that there would be no seating inside this newly inaugurated vestibule (still under some construction), but there IS some seating inside, beyond security, after you put your luggage, coats, scarves and handbags through the scanners. Passengers aren’t scanned but belongings are.
On YouTube there’s a short video with the title “Puesta en marcha del nuevo vestíbulo de Alta Velocidad en Chamartín”, so you can see what it looks like.
An hour from hotel to Chamartín should be enough, and ask the taxi driver if he can deposit you at the entrance to this brand new vestibule rather than leave you at the new official taxi stand way below the station.
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About your reservation at Restaurante Napicol, the town, north of the capital, was not affected by the flooding and you should be able to reach it on the Cercanias train C6 (Roca Cuper stop), as this line is functioning normally, according to Renfe.
From Renfe’s Spanish web page-
“Por su parte, las líneas C5 y C6 del núcleo de Cercanías de València funcionan a pleno rendimiento.”
Napicol’s owner, Chemo Rausell, along with many of the city’s chefs, has contributed to the food preparation and distribution by World Central Kitchen for the hardest hit towns south of the city.
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In a pinch the taxi or Uber ride is about 25-30 euros.
