Good wine, good tapas—what better combination? That’s the question Juan Arbelaez asked himself, and he answers it with a new spot on rue de l’Echiquier: Arbela—the slate in Basque.
It’s on the blackboard that you’ll find the savory and sweet offerings at this wine bar, which also serves food, all presented with the utmost simplicity.
On the wine list, around 100 choices, from major estates to more discreet wine houses that make room for new discoveries. And one unlikely but hugely exciting idea: every day, a blind tasting of a glass of white, red or rosé wine. Identify the mystery wine (its name and estate), and the bottle is yours!
On the plates, fine Basque Country produce and ingredients from the Iberian Peninsula arrive one by one or all at once, depending on the diners’ wishes, to be shared among friends without a second thought.
We happily pick and choose: addictive ham croquetas (€11), squid salad with potatoes and pickles (€16) — a little light on the squid —, tomatoes with xipister (the famous Basque sauce; €10), strawberries and purple basil; and to round off the savory dishes, a devilishly generous slice of chorizo tortilla (€12).
Fresh, seasonal ingredients, good bottles of wine, dishes cooked from scratch—not just assembled, as can sometimes be expected at a wine bar with food—a friendly, helpful team, and a crème catalane (€13), carefully caramelized to round things off... A little holiday feeling in Paris’s 10th arrondissement, but not only there.
Indeed, hot on the heels of the first, chef Juan Arbelaez is also opening a second Arbela in the 11th arrondissement, at 64 rue de Charonne!
Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health, please drink responsibly.
This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know.
Location
Arbela
49 Rue de l'Échiquier
75010 Paris 10
Route planner
Official website
arbelarestaurant.com
