Accurately dating Interior of a Restaurant in Arles has been difficult, largely because van Gogh never mentioned it in any existing letter.

[1] Pierre Leprohon placed it in late August, 1888, due in part to the blossoming sunflowers;[2] this has been generally accepted by authorities such as 20th century van Gogh scholar Jan Hulsker.

Long assumed to be a view from inside the Hotel Carrel, de la Faille remarks they were probably the interior of the restaurant next to the Yellow House.

Also, the flower arrangement on the left now resembles the top of a poll axe and is at about the same position where Simon Peter wields a blade in Leonardo da Vinci's version.

[7] Finally, van Gogh has enframed a female serving figure within vases of flowers, a motif he would return to months later with his Berceuse triptych.