Café Van Gogh
Café Van Gogh
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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2.0
801 reviews
Excellent
66
Very good
84
Average
101
Poor
130
Terrible
420
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FLnurseER
Boca Raton, FL5 621 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
I love van Gogh, and so finally visiting this place that I have admired for so many years in his pictures was like visiting the Vatican for a Christian. My visit was at night, so it perfectly created the ambience I was looking for. I was able to take as many pictures as I wanted, even inside. I was there with a group of people and the staff quickly put together several tables so we were able to sit down and enjoy our pastis and Kir royal while soaking up the art history. Yes the drinks were expensive, but it is to be expected. I will not be back, because I have so many other places to visit, but this one was on my bucket list and I would’ve paid double the price for the drink just to sit there and enjoy….
Written 22 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Austinn
London86 contributions
Sept 2022
This cafe was closed on the Monday I visited but had a drink in the adjoining bar which seemed more authentic anyway. On visiting Arles, I was quite astounded of how little there is of Van Gogh apparent in the town. Just one painting here apparently and the famous Yellow House where he lived with Gaugin doesn't exist anymore just a small board in the middle of a roundabout which you could easily miss. Given the thousands of tourists who visit Arles because of Van Gogh, you would have thought the local council or regional government could have built a replica of it or proper museum about his life here, but nothing. If you are a Van Gogh fan you will probably leave Arles feeling disappointed and you're better off seeing his paintings in Amsterdam or London.
Written 8 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fatima C
2 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Well, what you need to know is that it is closed tight, even though there is a reservation application that allows you to make reservations to eat. We got there and we were amazed. We ate very well in front and with views of Van Gogh's
Written 27 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah G
Cambridge, UK22 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
We were heading past Arles on a road trip so decided to drop in to and visit the Cafe Nuit. Being a fan of Van Gogh art, and the cafe paining one of my favs, I was interested to see it in the flesh. Well, it’s just a tourist trap to be honest. The outside decor is gaudy. I was expecting to see your typical French waiters in black and white uniform and a lot of them, stopping for a chat with the customers! Instead, one waiter wearing jeans & t-shirt. At first I thought he was a customer. Didn’t get served for a while as he was on his own by the looks. He couldn’t be less interested in customer service. Ordered two beers but only take card payment for over 15€ so had to have two more beers that we really didn’t want, as we had no cash on us. Don’t expect great things from this cafe, they are just cashing in on tourists. It’s such a shame because Arles itself is a very historic ‘quaint’ town with an arty/creative feel to it and definitely worth a visit.
Written 6 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul F
11 contributions
Aug 2021
In one word, overpriced. I had a cheese plancha for €17 consisting of a fair bit of cheese and a small lettuce salad. My family were equally underwhelmed, and we did not stay for dessert (there are several decent ice cream parlours in Arles).
I felt that we were paying an extra 5€ each for the privilege of eating somewhere that was once painted by Van Gogh.
Staff were rude when paying our bill.
I felt that we were paying an extra 5€ each for the privilege of eating somewhere that was once painted by Van Gogh.
Staff were rude when paying our bill.
Written 17 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jay T
Hartford, CT3 contributions
Jun 2023
Because we read reviews that said there were problems paying with credit cards we specifically asked when we arrived if they could take cards and they said yes. When it came time to pay they said their wi-if was down so they could not take cards, only cash. Food was fine and waiter was otherwise pleasant, but it seems like they are being dishonest about whether they accept cards or not.
Written 30 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lynsey C
12 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
The people running this place should not be. They are rude and are relying on tourist trade that will not return again, so they think they have the right to treat customers with arrogance and poor service. The food was mediocre and charging €8 for a bottle of Perrier was just a bit excessive.
Written 4 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Staveley8
Harrogate, UK7 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
Other reviewers are right, this is just a tourist trap. They had a woman standing outside wanting to 'advise' on their perfectly ordinary menu and another floating around on her phone but it still took ages to be served. When we were the salad came with no more than a teaspoon of dressing. Asked 'advisory' woman for more and she told waiter but had to ask him again when nothing appeared after long time. Salad pretty ordinary. Two identical desserts came in different containers, one a drinking glass, the other a kilner jar. Like others, told their credit card machine not working so directed to a cashpoint quite a long way from restaurant. Not sure except that husband was still sitting in cafe, why I went back to pay in cash! Give Van Gogh a miss and try Le Galoubet instead.
Written 14 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
valter195217
Cuneo, Italy10 220 contributions
May 2024 • Friends
This Café is located in the characteristic and lively Place di Forum.
According to tradition, it is said that in this Café Van Gogh argued with his friend Paul Gauguin by throwing a glass at him.
Outside of this episode, it is said that Van Gogh loved to sit here to observe the various people who passed by: people who were later immortalized in the famous painting "the terrace of the outdoor café".
The only flaw is the plastic flowers.
According to tradition, it is said that in this Café Van Gogh argued with his friend Paul Gauguin by throwing a glass at him.
Outside of this episode, it is said that Van Gogh loved to sit here to observe the various people who passed by: people who were later immortalized in the famous painting "the terrace of the outdoor café".
The only flaw is the plastic flowers.
Written 27 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Scott G
Los Angeles, CA538 contributions
Jun 2023 • Solo
I've had this Van Gogh painting hanging in my home office for 15 years, so since I was visiting the South of France anyway I knew I had to come to Arles and visit the cafe itself! I see lots of bad reviews here but it was a great experience for me. I went earlier in the day so no food was available, so I sat on the terrace and drank a pastis. The wait staff was pleasant and efficient. Paying with a card did give them pause, but they got their machine to work and all was fine. Feels very cool to know I have now sat inside the painting hanging on my office wall! They also sell unique souvenirs inside the cafe, which is huge and has multiple floors, it's worth going inside as well. The cafe is in a beautiful old square, a great place to just sit and chill and people watch. A great experience for me! And if you're a Van Gogh fan like me be sure to visit the asylum he was in where he painted The Starry Night (and many other famous paintings) in nearby Saint-Remy-de-Provence, only 17 miles/27 km away.
Written 20 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Why are you so expensive? I mean, ridiculously expensive? You food and/or drink is even worse than the other places in the square, still you charge far more! You thrive on "van Gogh", a man who never earned a penny for his paintings. Shameless, I hope you and your staff are proud of charing €12 + €1 (service charge) for a large Cola!
Written 15 August 2016
Sorry, i m french and i present you apology about this place... that is horrible
Written 28 December 2018
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