Arcachon's food scene is dominated by one thing: oysters. The bay produces millions of them and you can eat them freshly opened at harbour stalls, on boat trips, and in restaurants all around town. The standard order is a dozen with rye bread, butter, and a glass of Entre-Deux-Mers white wine. Grilled sole, bass, and other Atlantic fish are excellent in the better restaurants; mussels from the bay also appear on most menus.
The Marché couvert on Place du Marché is a reliable source of fresh produce and oysters from local producers; Tuesday and Friday mornings are the busiest.