Petit restaurant BarBarella in Arnhem
While many people think Nijmegen's restaurants and cafes are more fun than Arnhem's, you'd be wrong. Petit restaurant BarBarella on Klarestraat is one of those places you'll want to visit every week. Cozy, friendly, and a truly excellent establishment. Under the guise of "small" (and we mean really small – think five tables) but cozy, you can enjoy French cuisine in a home-style restaurant, but with a sexy twist. Sound good? It is. Run, fly, and dash to BarBarella, because this Arnhem restaurant is a place you'll want to visit.
People from Arnhem undoubtedly know them: Rosalie and Kabel are the former owners of Café Babo. Both have years of experience in the hospitality industry, and BarBarella was a logical next step. They jokingly called Café Babo BarBarella. When Rosalie called Babo, she'd jokingly say: with the BarBarella. Why does the name BarBarella sound so familiar? We get it. BarBarella is a cult film from 1968 with a touch of soft porn and Jane Fonda in the lead role. Full circle, because pay-offs from BarBarella is 'simple & sexy'. Okay, that's nice backstory, but now tell us why we should be here, we hear you think.
First and foremost, the "sexy" atmosphere. We can't quite describe how that sexy vibe comes across, but we'll give it a try: wooden chairs, a cozy bar, an old granite floor, and the French dishes are simple yet perfectly executed. Kabel cooks classic dishes – he learned from, among others, Paul Fagel of Het Arsenaal in Naarden-Vesting. Because it's a relatively small restaurant, all the attention is truly focused on the guests. That extra chat at the table, extra attention to explaining the dishes, and the love for the ingredients on the plate – that's all that makes this restaurant so special.
Don't overthink what you want to eat, because our tip is to go for the surprise menu. None of Kabel's dishes will disappoint or taste bad. Do you have specific requests? Kabel will come to you, ask your preferences, and then create a divine dish for you.
Another great thing: all of Kabel's dishes fit on a single plate. No separate containers for fries, salads, or sauces. No fuss, just nice and simple – and incredibly good and delicious.
Inside, there are only five tables, and BarBarella might just be the smallest restaurant in Arnhem. Tip: in good weather, the front window slides up, giving you the feeling of dining outdoors. Or they simply move the interior outdoors. That's Barbarella in Arnhem. Oh, and reservations? Simply send them a message.
