Arles is a city best known for its Roman ruins and deep connection to Vincent van Gogh, but as the sun dips below the Rhône, a different side of the city emerges. The ancient stone facades begin to glow, the Provençal heat softens, and the clinking of glasses fills the air. While it may not have the skyscraper density of Paris or Marseille, Arles boasts a unique collection of elevated terraces and hidden rooftops.
Finding the perfect spot to enjoy a chilled rosé or a craft cocktail is an essential part of the Arlesian experience. Whether you are looking for a romantic date spot, a lively evening with friends, or a quiet place to watch the sunset, the city offers a surprising variety of heights. From modern architectural gems to terraces nestled within historic hôtels particuliers, the views are as diverse as the drink menus.
However, navigating the narrow, winding streets of the old town to find these gems can be a challenge if you don’t know where to look. Many of the best terraces are hidden behind unassuming doorways or require a specific elevator ride to the top floor. This guide cuts through the confusion, bringing you the definitive list of the best elevated drinking spots the city has to offer.
We have focused on venues that combine excellent beverages with atmosphere, service, and, of course, a view. Whether you prefer a panoramic vista of the Arena or a quiet nook overlooking the red-tiled rooftops, there is a perch here for you. We have evaluated the quality of the mixology, the comfort of the seating, and the uniqueness of the vantage point.
Because Arles is a city of festivals and seasons, hours can vary significantly between the high summer months and the cooler winter. It is always wise to check the venue’s current opening dates before you visit, as some rooftops close for the winter or operate on reduced schedules. That said, when the weather is right, there is no better way to end a day of sightseeing than with a drink in hand and the city at your feet.
Prepare to elevate your evening. Here is our curated selection of the best rooftop bars and terraces currently defining the social scene in Arles.
Le rooftop du Calendal
| Address | 5 Rue Prte de Laure, 13200 Arles |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | — |
| Phone | — |
A very pleasant spot overlooking the rooftops of Arles, with a view of the arena and the ancient theater.
We had a wonderful time there with a waitress who took excellent care of her customers. Top-notch service! 👌
L'Aire d'Arles
| Address | 25 Rue Prte de Laure, 13200 Arles |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM, 6:30 – 10:30 PM Tuesday: 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM, 6:30 – 10:30 PM Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM, 6:30 – 10:30 PM Thursday: 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM, 6:30 – 10:30 PM Friday: 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM, 6:30 – 10:30 PM Saturday: 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM, 6:30 – 10:30 PM Sunday: 10:30 AM – 3:30 PM, 6:30 – 10:30 PM |
| Phone | 09 52 91 71 10 |
Fiduea was amazing, Cesar salad big and very tasty. Fair prices for this Quality and size of meals. The staff was friendly and welcoming. I will go again, maybe for dinner, I think they have a bigger card then.
We thoroughly enjoyed our two meals here. On the first visit we had the paella and moules, on the second we had the tapas, excellent ratatouille!
The owner and staff are wonderful, the music great, and the vibe was relaxed.
When the forward to having a meal here again on our next visit to Arles.
Waited 35 minutes for Moules Frittes. When they came it was nearly 1kg per person which was great but from the whole 1kg about 90% were totally overcooked and dry. So unfortunate, what a waste. When the waitress asked if everything was fine I told her that they were overcooked and she just smiled friendly. I think she did not understand…..
Also there is men hanging out on the benches in front of the restaurant smoking not consuming or ordering anything which is very strange.
We ordered the paella Marisco and moules au Roquefort. The moules were cooked perfectly but the paella was too salty and slightly dry. The chips were also lacking in crunch.
This dining experience was quite disappointing. We felt that the staff treated Asian customers with noticeable indifference and largely ignored our needs. Throughout the meal, they were busy serving other tables, yet never attended to ours — it felt rather unfair.
We asked for tap water at least three times, but it never arrived, while every other table had it.
After two dishes were served, we still hadn’t received any forks, plates, or knives. It took a long time before two plates finally came, but still no forks — we ended up eating fries with our hands. Only after asking several more times did we finally get the cutlery.
The fish was also undercooked, and when we mentioned it, there was no apology at all — just a cold “we’ll redo it” before the plate was taken away.
Overall, the service lacked basic respect and attentiveness, which made the whole experience very disappointing.
Paddy Mullin's - Restaurant - Irish Pub -
| Address | 5 Bd Georges Clemenceau, 13200 Arles |
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| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 AM Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 AM Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 AM Thursday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 AM Friday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 AM Saturday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 AM Sunday: 3:00 PM – 2:00 AM |
| Phone | 04 90 49 67 25 |
I was denied a drink just be cause I returned a left over pint of Guinness wanted to be charged as original Guinness, I strongly doubt the owner is either Irish or someone that knows something about Guinness , just the only establishment in small town and no complaints allowed
Went to this pub both nights we were in Arles. Definitely the best spot in town by a long way. Seems very popular with the locals even in the low season. The good was very good, as was the Guinness. They also have a proper selection of quality Belgian beers (including Corsendonk!!). The blond bartender who is originally from Champagne was great (sorry, didn't get her name). The rest of the staff were just okay. Not a great place for watching sports, but otherwise a very good pub. We stayed nearby as the bus to and from La Camargue stops outside the door. We'll do the same next time and spend our evenings in Paddy Mullins again!
The person behind the bar today should find another career. She was charmless to the point of rudeness and certainly not the personality for an Irish themed bar. Didn't stay for drinks or food. 3rd day in charming Arles and everyone else has been wonderful.
Just had the worst meal I think I’ve ever attempted to eat anywhere. Hadn’t eaten all day and while there were better options in the vicinity, nothing else opened until 7pm. I’ve eaten a a number of Irish pubs in several countries and the food here is by far the worst. Ordered fish n chips and chicken n chips and they were both inedible. Chicken and fish were not fresh and the chips had been dunked into oil that was clearly not hot enough. Finished our drinks and left the meals pretty much untouched. My advice would be to not eat here. Go to the supermarket next door and buy a sandwich or some fruit.
Dirty tables expensive 🍺 beer chipped glasses.
Won't be rushing back.
Restaurant Arles - Le Comptoir du Calendal - La Table du Calendal - Garden Café
| Address | 5 Rue Prte de Laure, 13200 Arles |
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| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 8:00 AM – 8:30 PM Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 8:30 PM Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 8:30 PM Thursday: 8:00 AM – 8:30 PM Friday: 8:00 AM – 8:30 PM Saturday: 8:00 AM – 8:30 PM Sunday: 8:00 AM – 8:30 PM |
| Phone | 04 90 96 11 89 |
Nice place right next to the ancient arena. We had coffee and tea in the morning and decided to come back for lunch as we saw they had a quiet garden out the back, one of the trees there is 500 years old. We had the plate of the day which was very tasty and good value. Service was quick and the waitress was very friendly. Lots of staff were serving.
I had a very lovely afternoon. I had the grilled octopus which was delicious. The waitress with dark hair was incredibly friendly. I didn’t catch her name but she was lovely and bubbly. I was nervous because my French is bad and I had a bad experience in a restaurant the day before so she made me feel very welcome. Merci.
Just don’t. We came here for a glass of wine and a quick dinner. I knew going to a restaurant close to the arena would not be gourmet, but the pizza was inedible. It looked ok, but was very cold in the middle, so it must have started frozen. We should have just gotten a sandwich from the grocery store. But at least the wine was good.
Not the best bar in Arles, but probably the best located.
Seemingly the only place to get full afternoon sun, I think we went most afternoons for a drink in the sunshine. Views of the amphitheatre and antique theatre are a superb bonus.
Nice cafe, cool desserts, great ambiance.
The Rooftop Arles - Terrasse panoramique
| Address | 13200 Arles, France |
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| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | — |
| Phone | — |
Le Krystal
| Address | 696 Chem. de Krystal, 13280 Arles |
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| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 1:15 – 11:00 PM Tuesday: 8:45 AM – 11:00 PM Wednesday: 8:45 AM – 11:00 PM Thursday: 8:45 AM – 11:00 PM Friday: 8:45 AM – 12:30 AM Saturday: 8:45 AM – 12:30 AM Sunday: 8:45 AM – 10:30 PM |
| Phone | 04 88 60 56 11 |
Bathrooms could have been cleaner.
Fantastic experience! The welcome was warm, the staff friendly and very professional. The atmosphere was pleasant, and the premises were clean and well-maintained. The drinks were high quality, and the service was quick, even when it was busy. It's the perfect place to spend a great evening with friends or family. I highly recommend it and will gladly return!
Great place! Really nice atmosphere, especially in the evening with the DJ who brings excellent energy 👍
We had a really good time, relaxed yet festive.
Can't wait to experience the summer vibe, it promises to be some great evenings!
A very warm welcome. From management to staff, everyone was always attentive. Our family meal was a great success. The food was excellent. We had a wonderful time in a well-designed place that we highly recommend. Thank you again.
A very warm welcome and excellent service (especially on Tuesdays at lunchtime and in the evening) – a big thank you to our team!
We had a delicious meal.
A very pleasant experience, great atmosphere during the events.
Always a good time here, whether it's for sports, drinks, or a meal.
Hôtel Présent - Encore Mieux
| Address | 5 Pl. Voltaire, 13200 Arles |
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| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | — |
| Phone | 09 74 99 32 32 |
Excellent little hotel in the perfect location. You have to use your phone as an entry key which may be difficult for some older users, but I found it very straight forward.
Breakfast is simple but decent and the two members of staff in the kitchen were incredibly friendly. Couldn’t ask for more! 🙂
I had such a wonderful stay at this hotel. Marie and Edith were incredibly kind, took care of us, and were welcoming from the moment we arrived. She went out of her way to help with everything like arranging a car service/taxi and assisting with the language barrier, which made my trip so much less stressful. Her warmth and attentiveness truly made the experience special. Breakfast each morning was such a treat delicious and thoughtful. She left us croissants to go in the morning for our super early departure! Just the sweetest! The bed and pillows were so, so comfortable! I would absolutely stay here again and highly recommend!
Gorgeous retro style hotel with perfect attention to detail.
The location is perfect as only 5 minute walk to the station so you can use Arles as a base to explore this area of Provence by train and local bus.
The best restaurants are so close and all of Arles is no more than 10 minutes away.
A simple French breakfast is served daily in the very cool bar.
When booking I was not alerted that there is no staffed hotel reception off-season, even at the weekend. The room was clean and stylish; emailed door entry instructions meant we did get inside. However as we didn't book breakfast, we saw no staff during our one-night stay so were unable to request if we could leave our bags until our train departure much later in the day; messaging elicited no response. On the plus side, the hotel was midway by foot between train station and the centre of Arles.
This is an amazing hotel! Everything is curated. The theme of being present, why the hotel logo / typeface is vertical; each room has books curated by a publishing house, the wine in the minibar, the decorative in the room and the colour of each floor.
The passion of the owner is very present. A perfect Design Hotel.
Entire staff 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
The most interesting item in the hotel is the lift. 😀
The Rooftop Arles - Terrasse panoramique
| Address | 2 ter Rue Favorin, 13200 Arles |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | — |
| Phone | — |
The pros:
- [ ] Ideal location for exploring the city and its many points of interest.
- [ ] Authentic, cozy, and tastefully decorated apartment (the terrace is simply superb).
- [ ] The owner is very responsive to any request.
The cons:
- [ ] The city center parking lot is certainly not far, but it's not very convenient for vehicles as it's very narrow and relatively expensive.
- [ ] The apartment is not accessible for people with reduced mobility (56 very steep steps).
- [ ] The ventilation system for the restaurant, located on the ground floor and venting onto the roof of the apartment, is noisy, even though it's not continuous and only operates during opening hours!
La Caye
| Address | 4 Rue du Forum, 13200 Arles |
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| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: Closed Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: 6:00 – 11:30 PM Thursday: 6:00 – 11:30 PM Friday: 6:00 – 11:30 PM Saturday: 6:00 – 11:30 PM Sunday: Closed |
| Phone | 09 82 31 58 39 |
Had a fantastic dining experience here! Sat at the bar and chatted with Adrian, the owner and bartender (star-tender, as I called him 🌟). What an interesting and personable guy. BIG nod to the chef - she’s so talented at combining flavors! Her homemade cheesecake infused with herbs and citrus was the perfect way to end the meal. Warm, fun environment - chill, but upbeat. The energy in there feels really good. Go check it out and support Adrian and his partner! You’ll be glad you did 😊
We had a lovely meal at this bar something a little different for the evening. The cocktails were very good and most of all a great atmosphere and we spoke to the bar man who is one of the owners.
Well worth a visit if you are in Arles.
HIGHLY recommended! The tacos were amazing, the owners were incredibly nice and friendly despite being quite busy, and the atmosphere is cozy and very very cool! Will def go back when we return to Arles.
I accidentally left my water bottle in the alley outside the restaurant. One of the staff, Victor, had saved it so I was able to get it back. Thus we decided to eat here and I’m glad we did 🙂
Cozy little spot with incredibly friendly staff, delicious food, and spot-on cocktails. Highly recommend!
This establishment truly deserves nothing less than 5 stars. Adrienne and his whole crew were wonderful, kind, and enjoyable. The food was absolutely delicious. From entree to desert, it was all fantastic. Compliments to the chef. The space is warm and has tasteful ambient lighting. Great for a lively date or small group to attend. Music and flair was upbeat. Thank you for your kindness and the experience.
Brasserie Les Ateliers - Restaurant Arles
| Address | 31 Av. Victor Hugo, 13200 Arles |
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| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM Thursday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM Friday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM Saturday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM Sunday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Phone | 04 90 96 38 79 |
Had the salade de terroire and was blown away - simple dish but so refined and tasty with a mustard vinaigrette. Home-made desserts also good. Place is a bit outside the main touristy paths in Arles, at a rather busy street.
Good stop if you’re going to Luma Arles. Full of locals. Our burgers were great. Good value and fast service
This place is nice, very close to Luma. We liked the food and the host is very nice.
Very good value, tasty plat du jour. Good service, comfortable air conditioned indoor space, and nice terrace outside. Convenient location for La Luma!
Wendy and I visited this restaurant on the 8th and the 11th of September during out stay in Arles.
On both occasions the food and service were excellent.
We sat outside in comfortable seating and were provided with a pleasant lemon mosquito repellent.
Not the cheapest restaurant but the quality of the food and wine meant it was good value for money.
We were well looked after by Mona who was very friendly and provided good recommendations.
We would definitely visit again if in Arles.
L'Apostrophe Restaurant
| Address | 7 Pl. du Forum, 13200 Arles |
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| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 8:30 AM – 10:30 PM Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 10:30 PM Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 10:30 PM Thursday: 8:30 AM – 10:30 PM Friday: 8:30 AM – 10:30 PM Saturday: 8:30 AM – 10:30 PM Sunday: 8:30 AM – 10:30 PM |
| Phone | 04 90 96 34 17 |
Take the plat du jour. Always fresh and cheaper than the set menu. They certainly know how to cook and how to season the food.
No problem with the QR code payment option: very easy to use and saves everyone's time.
Amazing food after tiring day. The Buns Roll Gambas Cajun (prawns) for sharing...were really hard to share!! We loved it so much (including my wife) and happy to compare it to a Michelin star food.. both visual and taste. Coming tomorrow before we leave france again!
Service very friendly and thoughtful. Well done
You order a gin and tonic, and they serve it in a tiny glass with barely two sips in it. The €5.50 strawberry milkshake looked more like vomit than a milkshake.
Maybe it was just one particular staff member—a man with dark curly hair and glasses. He handled our drinks and gave us these disappointing servings. When we pointed out that another table had a normal-sized gin and tonic, he suddenly replaced ours with a proper one.
That makes it hard not to feel like we were being taken advantage of. Very disappointing experience.
A nice restaurant, in a very frequented « piazza » so it was very noisy.
The staff was very friendly and helpful. The service was quick.
The food was good but not as we were used to. My rice was a little « glued » together and the tartare lacked a bit of flavor. The French fries were really good and please take a expresso because it’s really good.
We had a great (humongous) lunch here and it was fantastic! The service was great and so was the atmosphere. We had the Parma pizza, octopus salad and beef burger, all dishes were equally delicious 🤤
L'Entrevue
| Address | Place Nina Berberova, 13200 Arles |
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| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 10:00 AM – 10:30 PM Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 10:30 PM Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 10:30 PM Thursday: 10:00 AM – 10:30 PM Friday: 10:00 AM – 10:30 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM – 10:30 PM Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:30 PM |
| Phone | 04 90 93 37 28 |
Simply fantastic Moroccan food. Big and very delicious portions. Everything we tried was simply excellent.
What a gem of a place! We are just delighted to have found this lovely restaurant which serves wonderful Moroccan food, think tagines, couscous and pastillas, all served on beautiful crockery and ALL delicious. The tastes are so fresh and vibrant, and truly North African. We loved every mouthful of our mixed platter for 2….a perfect lunch!
On top of that the whole complex contains a cinema, phenomenal bookstore, where there is also an incredible collection of vinyl and CDs, a stationary and artists’ materials store…unbelievable!
Finally, should you wish to finish your experience on a total high, there is a genuine hamman with an amazing array of treatments on offer.
Needless to say we WILL be back, as Arles is probably our favourite French city!
Definitely something wrong with this restaurant. Dinned at this place then threw up 3 times, kept me up all night long. Be REALLY careful chowing to eat here, it may endanger your life.
Very nice place - little off - but still busy
Very friendly staff and good food!
Decent selection in the wine menu … so all fine!
Really cozy restaurant right next to the river. Away from all the busy hustle.
Le Honky tonk
| Address | 7 Rue Molière, 13200 Arles |
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| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 5:00 PM – 12:30 AM Tuesday: 5:00 PM – 12:30 AM Wednesday: 5:00 PM – 12:30 AM Thursday: 5:00 PM – 12:30 AM Friday: 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM Saturday: 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM Sunday: 5:00 PM – 12:30 AM |
| Phone | 07 63 44 51 23 |
Great bar / pub for craft beer with a wide range of beers. Currently 4 IPAs, a standard (but highly recommended) lager, a wit plus some more exotic ones such as a sour Brett. Nice barkeeper, great music and live bands. Highly recommended for Arles
Aussie Travellers. Not many people here (we’re old and out early in the evening!) but this place still has atmosphere. Enjoying the music - Pink Floyd, in this case. Locally brewed craft beer from Cap Marca Arles - in my case an excellent NEIPA with plenty of citrus flavour on this exceptionally hot day. Awesome! And the bar tender speaks Anglais! Will hopefully get back here before our trip to this awesome French town is over.
Fun craft beer bar in Arles! The bartender was super knowledgeable and generous in letting us try so many beers. He answered our many questions about the beers and local breweries. Super cool decor with a lot of character. If you enjoy beer, definitely stop by for a drink (or more!).
Live music hub for blues and rock. Friday evening jam or concert performances from 19:00. Amazing vibe.
What a great little find. This bar serves a good variety of craft beers on tap from Cap Marca Brewery. Excellent beers. On all three of our visits the brewer was on site so great to chat with him about his beers. Other varieties of beer also available. Staff at the bar are fabulous. Happy to chat to us Aussies in English which is very hard to find in bars in Arles.
Atmosphere is relaxed, bar has a terrace at the back for those who like to sit outdoors and they even have live music on some nights. If you're an Aussie in Arles, go check this one out! You won't be disappointed.
La cachette
| Address | 19 Pl. Honoré Clair, 13200 Arles |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 11:30 AM – 5:30 PM Tuesday: 11:30 AM – 5:30 PM Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 5:30 PM Thursday: 11:30 AM – 5:30 PM Friday: 11:30 AM – 5:30 PM Saturday: 11:30 AM – 5:30 PM Sunday: 11:30 AM – 5:30 PM |
| Phone | 06 25 62 65 15 |
We were expecting a tapas dinner, but the experience was quite disappointing. The menu was set and seemed to consist almost exclusively of cold dishes and small portions of purées or sauces: olive cream, a hummus-like purée or lentils, a small piece of zucchini with goat cheese, etc. The only bites we liked were the falafel, although the portion was very small.
Furthermore, one of the dishes included chicken livers, something that wasn't clearly indicated and which we didn't even get to try. Overall, we missed having more substantial food and a more varied and balanced menu.
The biggest disappointment was the wine: we ordered a glass of red and were served a drink that was almost pink, with a slightly effervescent texture and a flavor more reminiscent of cider than red wine. All this for €6 a glass, a price we felt was excessive for what we received. This style of cooking may appeal to other people, but for us the value for money was not satisfactory
Great food. It's a cool and cozy little place. The sandwiches tasted great and they gave us a salad. The waitress was friendly. The menus were only in french so it was difficult to figure out what kinds of sandwiches they had because the connection wasn't the best in the part of the restaurant where we were. All in all a great restaurant, would recommend.
Very good food: flavorful, but balanced in such a way that your stomach is as happy as your tongue, plus lovely service, at a more than fair price
Everything we tried (including the coffee and desert) was just amazing.
The staff was really kind and quick and the restaurant was clean and beautiful. We chose eat inside because of the air conditioner, but they also have a nice terrace which we will try next time.
Very nice place!
A very tiny and nice place in Arles !
This place was recommended to us and we really enjoyed out lunch under the shade !
The cooker and the waiter are very nice and welcoming!
The food was absolutely delicious, simple but with lots of taste 🤩
I do recommend that place
Mon Bar Bistrot & Tabacco
| Address | 2 Pl. du Forum, 13200 Arles |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 7:30 AM – 12:00 AM Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 12:00 AM Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 12:00 AM Thursday: 7:30 AM – 12:00 AM Friday: 7:30 AM – 12:00 AM Saturday: 7:30 AM – 12:00 AM Sunday: 7:30 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Phone | 04 90 97 56 42 |
One of best dish what we have in Provence. Great GREAT meat, wonderfull service, the waiter was so nice and profesional atmosphere if again GREAT. If you are in Arles totally recomend.
We had a wonderful lunch at the Bar Tabac Brasserie in Arles France. Right off the square with lots of atmosphere.
We had butternut squash soup (Veloute' de butternut, Poe'lee' de champignons, lord grille et ses croutons) actually really thick, creamy and rich soup with lardons (small pieces of pork) and divine crunchy croutons.
In the USA this would be a bowl of soup, in France it's a meal and evidence of a dedication to making food a sensuous experience.
Busy Sunday so understandable we had a small wait for our meals. However they were worth the wait. My Plat du Jour was excellent and my husband struggled to finish his burger. Good value. Service was very good considering the amount of customers coming and going. Would recommend.
We stopped for lunch at Mon Bar Bistrot & Tabasco on our stop in Arles. Waiters were kind enough to speak English with us and we appreciated it. We ordered the charcuterie board with the tempura shrimp to share and I ordered a non-alcoholic beer. The food was excellent and the atmosphere was delightful. We ate at 3 pm, so there wasn’t much of a crowd.
The charcuterie board was listed as 24 euros and our bill came to 37 euros! My friend paid it before I could question the amount, so it was too late to question the price. Either we were charged more than the menu price for the charcuterie board, or a non-alcoholic beer was $13 euros ($15.47 in US dollars). We checked the cost of a 6 pack of the same beer and it was 10 euro. Yikes! Lesson learned - ask the price of anything not on the menu.
Food was fine but waiting almost 2 hours for it was not. Having ordered taco's was told 20 minutes later there were no taco's. How they didn't know that at the time is beyond me. Ordered a burger instead and then watched tables who came in a good half hour after us order and be served their food. After 90 minutes we questioned the time waiting to be told they'd run out of the dish of the day, which my wife ordered, and it was having to be remade. When we arrived there was only 3 other tables occupied. How do you run out of dish of the day? To compensate we were offered another bottle of wine as we'd finished the one we ordered. What we got was our old bottle half filled with an inferior wine. When we paid we were told the chef was working on his own. Sorry but having been literally the 3rd order of the evening they should have dealt with our order rather than serve the 7 tables who arrived after us. Plenty of other choices in the square, try one of them.
Tips for Enjoying Rooftop Bars in Arles
To make the most of your elevated evening, a little local knowledge goes a long way. The culture of drinking in Provence is relaxed, but the logistics of securing a good spot can be competitive, especially during the Rencontres d’Arles photography festival or the summer months. Here is how to navigate the scene like a local.
Timing is everything. The golden hour is the most sought-after time for rooftop seating. If you want a prime table for the sunset, aim to arrive at least 30 to 45 minutes before the sun is scheduled to go down. Alternatively, visit after the dinner rush (around 10:00 PM) for a more relaxed vibe.
Dress for the weather. Even in the height of summer, the Mistral wind can pick up in the evening, making a rooftop feel significantly cooler than the street level. Bring a light jacket or shawl, especially if you plan to stay past sunset.
Reservations are your friend. While some terraces operate on a first-come, first-served basis, many of the higher-end hotel rooftops reserve seating for hotel guests and diners. If the bar has a restaurant attached, booking a table for dinner or "apéro" is the most reliable way to guarantee your access to the view.
Understand the drink culture. In Provence, "apéro" is sacred. While cocktails are popular, the true local choice is a glass of chilled Rosé from the nearby Camargue or Les Baux-de-Provence appellations, or a classic Pastis. Don’t be afraid to ask the bartender for their local wine recommendation.
Check for private events. Arles is a hub for art and fashion. Rooftop spaces are frequently booked out for private parties, brand activations, or wedding receptions, particularly on weekends. A quick check of the venue’s social media or a phone call ahead can save you a wasted journey up the stairs.
The beauty of Arles is that it remains a living, breathing city rather than a museum. This vitality extends to its hospitality scene, which continues to innovate and reinvent the use of its historic architecture. Finding a rooftop bar here isn’t just about the drink; it is about connecting with the urban landscape in a way that feels both ancient and entirely modern.
As the evening deepens and the lights begin to twinkle around the Place du Forum and the Rhône, you will understand why artists have been captivated by this city for centuries. Whether you choose a minimalist designer terrace or a rustic stone balcony, the experience of looking down upon Arles is truly unforgettable.
