Metacritic, a review-aggregator site which assigns a weighted average score based on a number of selected ratings and reviews from mainstream music critics, gave the album 73 out of 100.

"[7] Los Angeles Times reviewer Randall Roberts wrote that "the musician is in charge here, and he keeps his peacocking in check", and that "The best part: When he does reveal his instrumental flair, he does so as someone whose natural-born skill warrants the display.

"[12] Writing for the Daily Express, Stephen Unwin wrote that he felt the album needed "more oomph" and that it was "sometimes too formulaic", but that "Paradise Valley is certainly John Mayer on a good day.

"[17] Writing for The Gazette, Mark LePage wrote that the album "is consolidation, soundly done", but felt that Mayer was "not advancing anything in the form", noting that "Paradise Valley is not without soul, but it never stings the way it could.

[11] Writing for the New York Post, Michaelangelo Matos said that the fact that "Mayer had throat surgery before recording this album," and that "it's understandable if he's relaxing", "doesn't make the songs any less dippy.