Le Criquet Arles

Le Criquet stands at 21 rue Porte de Laure, close to the amphitheatre but with an identity that does not rely on proximity alone. The restaurant dates its beginnings to the 1960s and says the Gerin family continued the project from the 1990s. It describes its cooking as Provençal and Mediterranean, based on fresh local produce and a menu that changes with deliveries and season. This is an intimate dining room for travellers who want lunch or dinner to be part of Arles, not merely a gap before another photograph of the arena.

The official menu lists fish bourride with aïoli, fish soup, octopus, Camargue bull gardianne with local rice and lamb. It also advertises a set lunch subject to exceptions; check what is included on your date rather than assuming it applies on holidays. Diners praise the welcome, seafood and regional cooking, although a focused menu can be restrictive for a group with very different tastes and tables fill up. Booking avoids discovering that after a late exit from the monument.

The restaurant opens Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner, with fairly short service windows; its site lists Sunday and Monday as closed. It is steps from L’Escaladou, but comparison needs no absolute winner. Le Criquet focuses on a seasonal selection of fish and Provençal dishes; its neighbour offers a broader regional repertoire in a different family setting. If the arena visit ends close to the lunch cutoff, check whether a table can still be seated. For an unhurried meal, secure the reservation first and let the Roman walk lead to the plate.