Where to eat VENEZUELA 🇻🇪 Basel: La Arepera

La Arepera is standard fare from the Venezuelan community in exile... At La Arepera in Basel, though, things are pared down to the essentials: the corn meal bun, fully loaded, with meat and a bit of cheese.

Where to eat VENEZUELA 🇻🇪 Basel: La Arepera

La Arepera

Steinentorberg 20 (inside Markthalle), Basel

Published July 22, 2025 · by Amanda Rivkin Häsler

What we ordered: For two people, one pelúa arepa (pulled beef with cheese) and one maracucha arepa (pulled pork with cheese). To drink, a Venezuelan Polar beer and a papelón (Venezuela cane sugar lemonade). 

Cost: 35 CHF / €38 / $43

Located in the Markthalle food court near the main rail station in Basel, La Arepera is standard fare from the Venezuelan community in exile that could be found with more or less garnish in Queens, New York or Madrid. At La Arepera in Basel, though, things are pared down to the essentials: the corn meal bun, fully loaded, with meat and a bit of cheese.

Everything was fine if not better than average but at the same time, quite ordinary. It is not until one begins attempting to replicate the delicateness of the dish that one realizes just how intricate it all is. As a stand in the Markthalle among many other options, service was friendly if not kind and recommendations were offered when sought. 

However, no attempt was made to upsell or offer anything extra, which is a pity because both the pulled beef and pulled pork arepas could have used a bit of avocado or even some hot sauce or other elements to pop off. Served without sides, both options we took, pelúa or pulled beef and maracucha or pulled pork arepas, looked a bit naked on the plate. 

To drink, the lemonade seemed to go down faster than the meal, whereas the beer was nice but nothing special. As far as plain, simple food goes, it hit the mark but did not surpass it. As a dish, it was unimaginative, which is a shame because arepas are really a blank corn patty canvas, a chance for creativity as they begin unadorned. 

What can be said is the meal was filling and there was no skimping on the meat and cheese inside. These arepas were stacked. While the meat was not dry, the overall lack of sauce or condiments made for a dry sandwich.

While I would go back and certainly will have arepas again, I would be more inclined to try out something else in the food hall given the plethora of options. As a stall in a Swiss food court, it was performative at best. But it might not stand up against the competition given the minimum was met and not more.

How to get to Venezuela from Switzerland: 

With an ocean between Switzerland and Venezuela, the only possibility to get to Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas from Zürich is by flying through Spain, Portugal or Turkey on Air Europa, Iberia, Tap or Turkish Airlines. Turkish Airlines offers the most possibilities but not at the lowest cost (though perhaps the greatest comfort).

Geneva offers no flights with one layover only, routing flights to Caracas through Paris on to Madrid via Air France before continuing onward across the pond to Venezuela. 

How many Venezuelans are in Switzerland: Around 1,500 

Distance between Bern and Caracas: 7,973 km 

Distance from the restaurant to the country capital: 7,988 km

Learn how to make Venezuela's national dish, arepa pabellón, and about its origins.

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