Let me start by saying that the views were 5 star and the place has a cool vibe - although the…read morehouse music they were playing was a bit loud for the small number of people eating when I was up there. That said, this place just completely disappointed. The food was just not good. I had the burger sliders and for $9 a piece you expect them to be something special. They were not. Overcooked with a little sauce and two pickles slapped on the bun with a tiny little dab of fake cheese - it was like a bad and way more expensive version of McDonald's. The onion rings were the frozen crumbly kind not the fresh beer battered kind and so that's a big "no!" for me. The dipping sauce was okay. Service was friendly and I think the guy was new but it wasn't good enough for a place like that at the top of the building. There were two servers so I'm guessing one was training maybe. They didn't make it to my table to check to see if everything was okay while I was eating and it even took them a while to notice that I was done eating. It's was slow so I don't think they were stressing with too many tables. That kind of place should knock your socks off - but it was on the low end of mediocre. I wouldn't go there again for food. Maybe it's a decent place to go to the bar but since I don't drink I can't help much on that end.

Great food, drinks, and view. We came on a Sunday and ordered some drinks to start, as well as…read moreBrussels sprouts. There were a small portion but delicious. Not too crispy but still tasty. We also shared the half chicken and Ceasar salad with shrimp. There were only 3 pieces of shrimp for the extra money we spent; but otherwise the food was delicious. Definitely on the pricier side because of the rooftop and area.

Everything was pretty great! Our first visit here for our Anniversary date:) We were fortunate to…read moreget an early seating. We were about an hour early. The weather was in our favor with sunshine and not too hot. This place does well with umbrellas and translucent awnings. There's are also several areas for a more curated experience in the future. Inside, inside bar area, outdoor bar area, rooftop booths, high chairs... it's great! The Grilled Octopus with Sweet Habanero Aioli was the star of the show! There are two legs served which was icing on the cake! We have never eaten grilled octopus better than this! The charcuterie board had a nice presentation. And it's pretty big. I'm glad we held off on the Tuna Tartar. Our server, (Myranda I think) was extraordinary! She was attentive and even brought a candle to ward off the little fly! It was nice when she took off her sunglasses. We got to see her friendly eyes which made the experience a little more down to earth and human. The only downside was the one bouncer guy that was not very friendly when we accidentally walked the wrong way to take selfies at another part of the rooftop. And he kept sucking on this blue plastic thing the entire time which kinda brings down the classy cool vibe. It's all about the customer experience that shapes the brand right? Nevertheless, this place is a great option. I love that it's a little further North of the River North area which can be congested. It was easy finding street parking! I was also impressed with the music and sound level. Because there are tons of speakers above, there's no reason the blast the volume to enjoy the music. I was able to hear my conversation without competing with the environment. Can't wait for our next date:)

The perfect way to start our girls' trip…read more We headed to IO Godfrey for happy hour on our first night, and it was the perfect introduction to the city. The rooftop views were stunning, the cocktails were delicious, and the atmosphere was fun and energetic without feeling overcrowded. We spent the evening enjoying drinks, sharing appetizers, and soaking in the Chicago skyline.

We made a reservation about a week before our trip to Chicago, and everything went smoothly from…read morethe moment we arrived. We were able to skip the line and go straight to the elevator, which was a great start! We had a beautiful table with an amazing view. The food and drinks were delicious. Since we had dinner plans later, we just ordered a couple of appetizers: the truffle fries with black aioli, which were absolutely delicious, and the roasted carrots. The cocktails were also on point! The service was excellent--our staff was friendly, attentive, and made the experience even better. But the highlight is definitely the view. It's one of the best views in Chicago! Definitely worth visiting for the cocktails, food, service, and incredible city views.

September 2026 - this place was recommended by a bartender at the Billy Goat. Even with the rain,…read morethe bar offered spectacular views of the skyline. Unfortunately, because of the view, the location also attracted a lot of IG posers and douchey bros. The bar staff is either completely disinterested or just over it all. But the views, though. Still a half-assed win.

My sons and I wanted to get something that was close to our hotel and good. Hothouse was on the…read morehotel so we couldn't have found anything closer but the question remains... was it good? The resounding answer is YES! My oldest son opted for finger foods so he got the pretzel bites and fries. He was delightfully surprised. It was just enough food where he was not stuffed and highly satisfied! My youngest son chose to go with the turkey BLT. He also added the side Caesar salad because he was calling himself trying to be healthy. He loved the bread choice for the BLT and also adored the turkey. The side Caesar salad was enough to feed two people. I know this because he had to share half of it with me. I opted for the burger and believe me when I say that this is one of the best burgers that I have ever eaten. I'm not a huge fan of cheddar on a burger but this one had me second guessing that notion. The bacon was to die for and the burger was cooked to my exact temperature. The food was served extremely fast. High quality food served fast is a formula for success! They also had multiple TVs and a bar. I did not get the old fashioned which Jose (our waiter) said was one of the best ones downtown. This was a win for all of us!

It was late. I was desperate for something that was quick and simple for my fiancé who hadn't eaten…read moreall day. I did quick google search for places that were still open at this time and relatively close by to me (10:00pm on Saturday), coming from the Sheraton Grand down the street. Walked in, greeted promptly by the bartender. Offered me water while I waited and was super nice. I ordered the chicken tenders and fries and they came out fresh and delicious for my order to go. Fiancé was happy, I was happy that he was happy and fed. No complaints. Inside was a little lounge area and a full bar with a few tables surrounding.

I'm not sure why this place isn't more popular?!?! It was so good!!! We had the cacio e Pepe…read morearancini, the filet mignon sliders, and the ricotta gnocchi, everything was amazing!! The disco ball, red lights, and music were all a vibe, plus they have matchbooks. It was pretty much dead on a Friday night which is crazy to me and it has no reviews on here, but I would highly recommend!!! We found it through resy and I'm so happy we picked it! Go go go! Also service was top notch!

The service was good but the food was hit or miss…read more The caesar salad was very weird. Tasted nothing like caesar and very fishy since lots of whole little fish in it. Was also very gritty... like sand in the lettuce The butternut squash pasta was very good. The pasta à la Norma needed more eggplant and cheese . Just tasted like bland marinara pasta The arancini were pretty good

If I were to pick one bar to go to every time I'm in Chicago it would be Arbella! Drinks were…read moreabsolutely phenomenal. Everyone enjoyed their drinks and they had a fun menu by the chef and we ordered off of both menus. Drinks were reasonably priced. Bartenders were great and explained what was going on. They were chill and the booths were comfortable. They had music on but not too loud so we could converse comfortably. Best bar I've been to in the city! Also wish I had taken picture of all the drinks.

October 1, 2026 TL;DR: Arbella was this close to a five-star…read moredate-night experience. The atmosphere was fantastic, our server struck the perfect balance between attentive and giving us space, and both cocktails I tried were creative and delicious. The truffle fries were pretty mediocre, but even that wouldn't have stopped me from giving Arbella five stars. What did? Discovering afterward that a 5% "service charge" had been added to the bill. I really dislike this growing practice of restaurants and bars adding percentage-based fees rather than simply pricing their menu accordingly, and it was enough to cost an otherwise excellent experience two stars. Ambiance: 5/5 Arbella absolutely nails the atmosphere. I came here on a date, and it was a great choice for that. The music was good, the lighting and decor created a really intimate vibe, and our booth was comfortable enough that we could settle in and actually enjoy the evening. There was energy in the room without it being so loud or overwhelming that we couldn't have a conversation. Even the menu design and presentation fit the experience. If you're looking for somewhere that feels elevated, interesting, and still comfortable for a date, Arbella definitely checks those boxes. Service: 5/5 Our server was fantastic. This was one of those rare occasions where someone found exactly the right balance between being attentive and not constantly interrupting our date. We never felt forgotten about, but we also had plenty of space to enjoy ourselves and talk. I especially appreciated the recommendations. Whenever we had a question or wanted guidance on what to order, our server was knowledgeable and genuinely helpful rather than simply pushing something on the menu. Excellent service from beginning to end. Drinks & Food: 4/5 The cocktails were easily the highlight. I tried the First You Take The Graham and the Trankilo Melon, and both were really good while also being different enough from what I would normally order to make the experience more memorable. This is exactly what I want from a cocktail bar: drinks that make me curious enough to try something new and then actually deliver. The truffle fries, however, were mid at best. They weren't terrible, but compared with how impressive everything else felt, they were forgettable. I'd absolutely come back for the cocktails, but I'd choose something different to eat next time. About That 5% Service Charge... This is unfortunately where Arbella lost me, and ultimately why I cannot give the experience five stars. I didn't notice until reviewing my bill afterward that a 5% service charge had been added. I strongly dislike this increasingly common practice of restaurants and bars adding percentage-based fees to the bill. If operating costs have increased, I would much rather an establishment incorporate those costs transparently into its menu prices so I know what I'm agreeing to pay when I order. Calling it a "service charge" also creates unnecessary confusion, particularly when customers are still expected to decide what to tip their server. At a cocktail-focused establishment, where you may be ordering multiple drinks throughout an evening rather than paying attention to every line of the check, I think fees like this need to be extremely clear and prominent before ordering, not something a customer discovers afterward. For me, it feels like an extra charge for simply using the establishment in exactly the way it was intended to be used. Overall: 4/5 The frustrating part is that without the service charge, this probably would have been a five-star review. Arbella gave us a genuinely great date night: beautiful atmosphere, excellent service, creative cocktails, and a space I otherwise would have happily recommended and returned to. Instead, that 5% fee left a sour final impression on what had been an excellent evening. It may seem small, but transparency around pricing matters to me. Arbella did so much right that I want to come back, but the service charge is significant enough that I would think twice before doing so.

We were staying at the RIU Plaza Chicago and wanted a few drinks and appetizers. Located on the…read more27th floor offering a great view of Chicago. You definitely need a reservation if you want to eat and have a few drinks. Our server Lupita was super friendly and very good. Drinks are standard city prices $15-20 each. Beers average $8-10. We ordered their Angus Burger which is 2 burgers with sundried tomatoes, arugula and pesto. Also tried the Jamon Serrano Croquettes which were amazing , Parmesan Truffle fries,Tacos de Barbacoa which were super tender short ribs with a roasted chili sauce. And of course we had to try the Pulled Pork nachos . All were very good and nobody left hungry. For a great panoramic city view,craft cocktails and light bites ...The Rooftop is definitely the place to go.

In a city full of incredible culinary experiences, this was a dud. Great clean and swanky rooftop,…read moreof course, but most of the delights stopped there. Food was average- we shared a bunch of dishes. All pretty standard fare. Cocktails were sub par (my Negroni was watery) and the drink menu was uninspired- literally just "standard" cocktails with zero innovative takes. For the price it was a real bummer. Server was nice but impossible to get a hold of for our check- we waited for 40 minutes and asked two different staff members to please send him over. I didn't expect anything much after reading reviews. Basically repeating what others have said.

Wedge salad was really good but the steak au poi-whatever was really, really mid. It was so dry and…read moreall that for $72 was not worth, do not recommend that one. But the appetizers (not pictured) sweet corn cake dip was so good and truffle fries were also very good. It was a good one-time experience

The staff is super attentive. We go here every time we're in town. Food is great and I like the…read moredecor and dim lighting.