PARIS’ BUZZIEST NEW DINNER SPOT: ARCANE 17
words by ANOUK WOUDT
As the days grow longer and terraces come back to life, there’s no better moment to enjoy tapas-style dining at Arcane 17 while basking in the springtime sun. Located in Paris’ fashionable Le Marais neighborhood, its moody, dimly lit atmosphere immediately invites you in, making it the perfect spot for date nights or late-night drinks. With a menu full of Basque-Catalan deliciousness, presented through a shared dining concept, it keeps the ambience alive with buzzing conversation, clinking glasses, and the warm hum of an evening spent savouring every bite.
all images via @arcane17paris
Created by a trio of Iberian-Basque restaurateurs—Ivann Laur, Pablo Escriva, and Jules Flottes—the concept feels truly authentic, mimicking a Barcelona eatery with its minimalist, wild-panelled space emphasised by raw materials. Candle-lit lighting or natural bathing sunlight gives the place a sense of warmth and cosiness, which is only accentuated by pops of carmine red.
The menu, crafted by the talented chef Sophie Léger, specialises in the complexities of the fish and the many ways to bring out flavour profiles— through maturing, smoking and salting. The sea bream carpaccio remains a restaurant fan-favourite—and for good reason! Other standouts come especially in seafood form, with the tuna carpaccio and sardine à la flamme being a must-try! Though the menu is seasonal and ever-changing, we can not ensure that these dishes will be there on your visit, but we can ensure that whatever takes their place will be equally rich in both flavour and presentation.
Apart from the plethora of delicious bites, we need to talk about the cocktail menu. If you’re a savory martini type of girl, this is the spot you’ve been looking for. The olive oil black pepper martini is the kind of drink you’ve dreamt of stumbling across, and it perfectly lives up to the hype. A dedicated wine list is also offered for a classically elevated experience that enhances every bite from the refined list of plates.
