Welcome to Restaurante Arbequina

“ We did the 9 course wine paired menu via the Fork / Mastercard. A solid 9/10 - the tuna with tom yum needs a rethink as does the final sweets course - this is all known, the rest was divine and the wines really well paired. Fran our main waiter was fabulous - TBH, all the staff were. The tour of the Roman ruins that you’re sat above was great. Thank you Chef and Team - we will be happy to return :) ”

“ Timing is everything - particularly when afternoon siesta is imminent. With this added pressure and little success as we made our way around various sites of interest during our day trip to Cordoba, we resorted to the tried and trusty five star hotel restaurant. A google search brought us to Palacio del Bailio and Restaurante Arbequina! In spite of an initial hint of “are you lost?” (we were after all dressed for sightseeing), our maître d’ quickly redeemed herself and ensured we felt welcome and valued - including my coeliac requirements which I was happy to note were not to derail my dining experience on this occasion. Artisan breads and a pretty darned good GF alternative served with truly noble olive oil and balsamic, were to keep us going while waiting for our mains. The quite delicious Pedro Ximénez white while not strictly speaking ideal for our main course, was very much to my liking and perfectly chilled! On my glowing recommendation, we both opted for “Rabo de toro tradicionale alcachofas y patatas baby” (Traditional oxtail stew with artichokes and baby potatoes) and a shared generous selection of char grilled vegetables. Well… not since my dear old mum cooked this meal for my husband some decades back, was I this joyful with the result! We’ve been treated to some pretty exceptional “cheeks” these past weeks - both pork and beef - but oh my god… the humble and frequently overlooked “tail end” hands down takes out the best on tour award! Clearly that “Michelin ‘25” was deservedly bestowed. But to dessert then. My cousin opted for “Crumble de manzana asada, vainilla, avellanas caramelizadas y helado de mantecado” (Baked apple crumble with vanilla, caramelized hazelnuts and shortbread ice cream); while my adapted for GF “Cremoso de leche fermentada con velo de flores, crumble y helado de violetas” (Fermented milk cream with flower veil and violet crumble ice cream) suffered no discernible hardship in catering for my needs! The trail beckoned and having consumed an extremely elegant sufficiency, not even coffee could be added! Five stars from this apprentice food critic and well deserved! ”

“ Very tasty food, we ordered salmon and oxtail and it was the best one we’ve tried in Spain. Cheesecake top tier! Would love to come back ”

“ Our meal at Arbequina was exceptional! We shared the risotto and the eggplant dish, which was a starter big enough for a meal. The service was good, the staff was attentive and kind. I was really pleased with vegetarian options. Our only disappointment was that there was an event in the dining room where the glass floor view of the ruins. If I had known, I would have made our reservation for the following night, when it was open again, since we were hotel guests. If this is part of the experience you’re wanting, I would call to find out if there is an event there. The second dining room lacks ambiance, which is odd for such an interesting property. I’ve given five stars for the wonderful food, though the atmosphere lacked. ”

“ The food was fantastic and how amazing to be floating above a 1st century mosaic while you eat. However the room is quite sparse and the staff a little stiff. Would recommend the glazed pork, it is fantastic. ”

“ All the food we ordered were so good, it exceeded our expectations. Bread was 1 of the best we ever had, so soft and pairs so well with the olive oil they provided. ”

“ Despite not reserving a table, we got accommodated as last minute guests. Very friendly and helpful staff. And the food was amazing. Especially the local specialty of oxtail stew with utterly tasty young potatoes. ”

“ The uneven reviews for this place make no sense to me: beautiful room, good service, great food and wines - and fully able to accommodate both vegetarians and gluten free. Excellent. ”