Arco by Paco Pérez

We booked the 18-course tasting menu with the premium wine pairing, expecting a memorable Michelin-star experience. Unfortunately, the evening fell short of those expectations. While the wine selection itself was thoughtful and of high quality, the timing and portions left much to be desired. After ten courses, we had received only two very small servings of white wine, which made the pacing feel awkward. At one point, we even wondered if we needed to order extra wine just to avoid sitting with empty glasses. In terms of food, there were a few highlights — the creamy omelette was delicate and delicious, and the trout was well executed. However, beyond those dishes, most of the courses were underwhelming in flavor and failed to leave a lasting impression. Given the price point and Michelin-star reputation, we expected a more cohesive and elevated experience. It’s clear that the team is ambitious and striving for excellence, but unfortunately, on this occasion, they missed the mark.

Arriving at the room does not fall short in spreading its magic. No matter how often one does it, the view of a glimmering city from an upper position will never cease to amaze me. Besides that the interior leaves nothing to complain. Nice lights, comfy chair, uneventful yet pleasant tableware. Appreciated the little detail of exchanging the napkin for desert. To me the service was a bit ambiguous. Some folks were extraordinary, some a bit shy on words and very hasty. On average still a good, but not a very good experience. Let me move to what matters the most: The menu. I had the 18-course menu „Physis“. I enjoyed the menu telling a story, yet I would have felt that a little text or something similar on the otherwise splendidly designed menu card would have helped understanding the inspiration even better. The amuse bouche were a nice little storyline on their own, but taste-wise a bit unexciting. My biggest disappointment was the sour dough bread, which was clearly a bit overbaked. The first course of beetroot and yoghurt was an eyesight, but did not offer much for the tastebuds. Very plain. The bone marrow was similar, without the optical impressiveness. Not a good start in all honesty. Fortunately this changed with the next course. The Chawanmushi was phenomenal. Great variety in textures and flavours, very well combined. The sweetly fermented garlic rounded the dish. The first of my three highlights. Next up was broccoli pasta, which also convinced me. Not as pronounced as the previous dish, yet the complex flavours got the parmigiano to shine. The tuna taco did not excite me overly. The tuna was a tard bit plain, while the salad did not add anything in terms of flavour. The miso soup was lovely, but nothing to remember. The trout was a real piece of art. I will talk about the presentation later, but his one was amazing. The trout clearly had the main role in the play, but the sauces were great support acts. Enjoyed the fish. Next up was sea bass and what can I say: A classic, well executed with some nuanced flavours on the side. Well done! The creamy rice was a bit of an odd one, as the sous chef coming to the table to serve it marked it as something very special. While it was good, it could not live up to it. To me it lacked a bit of complexity and felt more like a high-level comfort food. The main course was, as it should be, my 2nd highlight of the day. Well executed pigeon with the nice twist of including it into a Mediterranean salad. Absolutely loved that twist. Build around a classic without stealing the show. Immediately after highlight #2, numero 3 arrived. Nduja ice cream , ricotta and honey. Sounds funky? Indeed. Took me a bit to get used to it, but once I did I absolutely adored it. The other two deserts were solid, but lacked the creativity of the first. After all the patisserie is still one of the main differences between 1 and mor stars. Ending the menu as it started, with potato-imitating and very tasty almonds was a lovely idea. To me, the Arco is in between 4-5 stars. Some dishes did not fully convince me, but there were also many great ones. What tipped the scale for me, was the amazing presentation of the dishes. In the Arco the plates are real art and I enjoyed that dearly.

My first starred restaurant, a discovery of flavors. The mix between land and sea, different countries, a culinary journey. I’m not used to eating seafood, fish eggs or seaweeds but here married with other ingredients, perfect. The only thing that disappointed me was desserts. I was expecting something more worked perhaps it’s my french side speaking… Again, nice experience and I’m glad of this discovery. Thank you so much to the all of the team.

Delicious food, with a special mention for the tiny buns filled with onion soup - if I could, I would’ve ordered a box of them. Some dishes were relatively unremarkable, but still very good, and there were a few outliers that we still talk about many months later, like the aforementioned onion soup buns or the variation on pasta e patate. Of course everything was beautifully presented. The weakest part of the menu in our opinion were the meat dishes, but still nothing to complain about. We’re also grateful for the gin recommendation, thanks to you we found a gin that we still love today! Although the portions veer on the smaller side, as expected from a tasting menu, after the longest menu we left feeling full, but not stuffed. The view is spectacular and I recommend planning your visit during the day, when you can appreciate it fully. The service at the reception downstairs is very unpleasant. We are not Gdansk natives, we were a bit unsure how to get to the restaurant (it’s not immediately obvious), and the lady at the reception was borderline rude when we asked. In the restaurant itself, the waiters were very kind and attentive, no major complaints. We’ve been to many restaurants in the area, and so far Arco has been the only fine dining place that really stood out. I can barely remember what I ate at some of the other ones without looking for pictures. It’s not an extraordinary fine dining experience that you won’t find elsewhere in the world, but there are very few places in Poland that can match it, and none that I can personally think of in the Tri-city area. If this type of cuisine is something you like and you don’t mind the expense, you should definitely book a table. We’re planning to visit again, even though it’s a rather long trip for us.

The floor-to-ceiling windows offer a great city panorama, allowing you to feast eyes on the sea line below. As day turns night, the windows transform into a unique canvas, blending the reflection of the bustling kitchen with the twinkling lights of the city, creating a special visual experience. The food is a delightful journey through flavors and textures. Their classic soup is a standout taste. The menu showcases a range of well-executed dishes that highlight both local and international cuisines. The only misstep is perhaps the Groseran risotto. While creative, the green peas didn't quite manage to balance the strong cheese flavor, leaving the dish slightly out of harmony. Nevertheless, this small imperfection was easily overshadowed by the overall quality of menu. What we really liked was the impeccable service. The staff's attention to detail and genuine care for guests' satisfaction elevate the experience from merely a meal to a memorable event. In conclusion, with its stunning views, excellent cuisine, and outstanding service, Arco was for us the best restaurant in Gdańsk.

One of the best meals and service, I ever experienced. I have been on 2 star Michelin resturant, who is under this level. It is a truly underrated resturant in the Michelin Guide. So go there before they get 3 stars, and more pricey ;) And so polite servive.

A visit to a Michelin star restaurant is my go to thing whilst visiting a city. This one did not disappoint. We went for the 16 course wine pairing and to say that every course was beautiful and yet so different is an understatement. We also went for the wine pairing that was so perfectly matched to the fabulous food. Our waiter was attentive and knowledgeable as was our sommelier. The staff we all super efficient and the head chef checked on us to ensure that we were ok and happy with the food. The views of the city are amazing and the restaurant was tastefully designed. All in all very happy with our visit and if returning to Gdansk we would return and enjoy it all again.

We went for the Physis menu with wine pairing. It was a fantastic experience. 18 delicious courses, great service, especially from the sommelier, and great view.