We love Arbella!! Atmosphere inside was great, really large space! We sat at the bar, the bartenders were super friendly and attentive easy to talk to and order from. LOVE the $6 cocktail of the day happy hour (M-F 4-6pm) . Our cocktail of the day was a watermelon lemon drop which was delicious!! Will be coming back next time in Chicago! My local friends new favorite staple bar. read more

Arbella - Peppadews - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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(Kari's Rating 8.75/10) Came with a friend late on a Friday night after dinner time We were able to be seated almost immediately at a nice little private Cove table. We ordered a flight of whiskey sours, which contained whiskeys from Japan, Vietnam, and Wisconsin. I also was able to order an amaretto sour, which they made with freshly hand beaten egg whites, which was a nice cherry on the top. As far as the whiskey flights go, I think the best one was the Vietnam flight because it had a slightly lemongrass twang and was a little bit lighter than the other two. The heaviest one was the Wisconsin which came with a little bit of a bite at the end, but it still wasn't bad if you're trying to blackout on a $15 budget. I would definitely come back with a larger group this seems like a great place, but is a little bit loud- so if you be prepared to yell or wear earplugs. The bathroom took my a second to find, which should have been intuitive considering it was on the opposite end of where you come in. I blame the lighting as things are already pretty hard to find in the dark, but eventually I made it there-Pat myself on the back. read more

Arbella - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Months after visiting, Arbella still ranks among the best cocktail bars in the city for me! One thing that really makes Arbella unique is their globally inspired old fashioned menu- whether you're an old-fashioned fan or not, these are a must! They've upped their happy hour game by including a rotating global cocktail with previous menu drinks and a daily kitchen special. This time, I ordered the oldest old fashioned and the Oaxaca old fashioned to drink. I thought the first was the best old fashioned I had ever had, but the second was even better! I loved the subtle yet not overpowering smokiness of the mezcal in the Oaxaca. Neither were too sweet and you could really taste the high quality bourbon. We ordered the Korean fried chicken and coconut shrimp to eat from the happy hour menu. The shrimp was super crispy with a delicious ginger-orange compote and rice vinegar pickled onions. Highly recommend! I did think the chicken was a bit tough, but the flavor was good. Another great experience of many to come! If you haven't stopped by Arbella yet, add this to your bucket list asap! read more

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We adore this cocktail bar! The drinks are fantastic and if you're an old fashioned fanatic, they have a whole separate menu dedicated just to them. It's a very fun spot for a date night, double date, or girls night! The only con is sometimes the music is turned up just a tad too loud. read more

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Made a quick stop here for drinks. The ambiance was super fun with good music. The service was quick too. They have great options for cocktails, we had this cocktail called 'Yes, honey' and 'Chicago Fire Extinguisher', which were amazing. Will definitely visit again to try out some more cocktails. read more

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Arbella has the cutest ambiance and it would be the best spot to take a date or meet for the first time. Drinks are amazing. Can be a little pricey if you're going for the signature drinks, but they were very delicious. I had the In Assignment and the hubby had an old fashion called Lagos. We enjoyed the food, the DJs, the servers, ... Guys! Just visit. Mind you I was there on a Wednesday night. Sooooooo, I can only speak for that night and me having the most awesome time. read more

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Yummm! Went for a drink and a snack for my birthday and it was wonderful. The truffle fries were amazing and came with a delicious garlic aioli. The service was great and the place itself is cozy. Will definitely be coming again! read more

Arbella - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Finally made it to Arbella after passing it a million times and overall had a solid first visit. It's a bigger space than it looks from the outside, with plenty of seating and a great bar setup and definitely feels like a good date spot or place to meet friends. Drinks were good, especially the PB&J cocktail, which was my favorite of the two I tried. Nice to see a lot of creative menu options under $20. We also split the whipped feta dip, which was really tasty and a great small plate to have with drinks. Only real gripe: the music near the front was pretty loud, which made it tough to hear conversation and had us leaving a bit earlier than planned. That said, I'd come back and just aim to sit at the bar next time or in the back next time. read more

drinks were decent but the music was SO LOUD ended up being seated right by one of the speakers and I'm pretty sure my right ear doesn't work anymore. Hard to have a conversation tbh. Servers were very friendly and checked up on us often read more

This Club is awesome with resident DJ Adam. Great lighting and great music . Downtown Chicago has many clubs, but we love this place. read more

Arbella - DJ Adam in the middle - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Lots of options here, pretty extensive menu but these drinks are not the cheapest! Friendly and helpful bartenders I always have the best service here! They also have amazing music playing but not loud enough to where you can't hear who you're with! Super vibey place, it feels so warm inside! I got the sangre de mi sangre and loved it! The bars underneath the drinks signify how alcohol forward the cocktails are so basically like if you can taste it which I thought was cool! 10/10 read more

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Amazing vibes, great food, music and drinks. Lots of options to select from, service is top notch. Enjoyed some appetizers with our drinks, the aioli truffle fries were excellent. The chicken item was less of a hit. The highlight is the menu of "old fashions" from around the world. Personal favorite and recommendation is the Cubano. We also ordered the Chicago fire extinguisher, really strong and perfect. I really loved the way the drinks are presented. The Croquettes tasted good. Great deals during happy hour, not many restaurants in Chicago downtown offer happy hour on Friday's but Arabella does. This proved to be ideal, the atmosphere is relaxed, comfortable and it could be said "cozy". The patrons were at ease, winding down from the day. The staff was attentive and friendly. Overall a great experience. Thank you, Arbella! read more

Loved this cocktail bar! We came on a Wednesday night and it ended up getting super busy so I'm glad we got there when we did. The vibes were good and we loved the live music. The drinks were also very good and pretty strong. Our server was super accommodating and apologetic when we had to move tables. read more

Arbella - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

"Old school" pb&j drink was AMAZING. That very well is my favorite alcoholic drink I've ever had. Tasted like a smuckers sandwich and very well balanced. A bit pricey for drinks. Truffle fries were good and solid toppings. The cauliflower fondue was decent. Wouldn't go out of my way to get it again though. read more

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Beautiful cocktail lounge with special events over the year. The mixologist is super talented and can surprise you with specially crafted cocktails other than the ones on the main menu. This place had friendly staff with great suggestions and a late night menu as well. Great music great vibe! Must try!! read more

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I wouldn't come back for the food, but would return to try the other Old Fashioneds on the menu. Stumbling upon Arabella while looking for a late night bite, my friends were revived by the chicken tenders. Admittedly, I think the tenders were overpriced based off serving size alone. One of my tenders was about a quarter the size of the rest. For context, the tenders costed as much as a cocktail. read more

Arbella - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Can I give this 6 stars? Truly amazing spot in river north. Just around the corner from several other restaurants / bars which makes this spot excellent and easy to incorporate into your night out. Their drink menu is insanely interesting. I got this drink with Brazilian limeade and cachaça. It is pretty rum-forward but overall very good. The ambiance really sells this place. Extraordinary for a date night or girls night. The staff was incredibly kind. I'm excited to go back and try their food. Drinks ranged from $14-18 with a huge variety you'll definitely find something you like. read more

Arbella - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Really great little place. Came for the DJ and music. This was a truly good find. DJ was Adam Pecho. He was amazing. Very lively, and awesome music. Staff is very friendly and efficient. Drinks are reasonable. Food and drink options are more broad than I expected. I'd definitely return. read more

Arbella - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped by for late-night drinks and did not have a reservation (on a Saturday night) and was seated immediately. I found the drink menu to be not only innovative, but aso very user-friendly. There is a booze scale detailing "Light" to "Boozy" and various stops in between (i.e.: "Dancing on Tables"). Each cocktail was paired with a picture so you could visually expect the glass, color, or general pizzaz. I had Eazy Money (bombay sapphire gin, watermelon, peach rosemary essences, lime, nice ice rock); a pink drink, very girly, and listed as "tipsy". My friend had LET THAT MANGO, and liked the flavor, but found the carbonation to be a bit overwhelming. We saw many people who looked like they were on a date, though it was quite loud, so I don't know if I'd come here to catch up or get to know someone. But I'll be back because the vibe was fun and the cocktails were good :) read more

I think Arbella is a lot of fun! The place is cute and our waiter was great. I thought the food was decent. It definitely wasn't the best ever but I don't think it was bad. I thought there were a lot of good options on the menu between the cocktails and the food. read more

Tried this spot for the first time. We did go around 6-7pm on a Saturday so it was not super crowded. The vibe is darker speakeasy like. We got the cocktails (let that mango and abandon ship). We did not necessarily love the cocktails though, so we may not go back. But definitely solid happy hour / cocktail bar to try out. read more

Arbella - Abandon Ship (left) and Let that Mango (right) - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We popped in on a whim, not knowing what the location was. We ended up ordering drinks, and they were pretty reasonable. I'm not sure if that is the same all week, but it was on Sunday. They had a pop up truck food set up, but you could order it at the bar. I liked that you could sit anywhere and would still receive help. The music was great, the drinks were flowing. We had a great time, would recommend. read more

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Great ambiance. Very sexy and cool. Great list of cocktails. We didn't try the food but the place was pretty busy. We sat at the bar and chatted up the bartender who was very friendly. read more

Arbella - Watermelon cocktail - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came for after dinner drinks and a snack. Enjoyed the unique cocktails and mixed nuts. Service was friendly and attentive. Nice interior with great atmosphere. read more

Arbella - Drinks and mixed nuts - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I am very disappointed that i couldn't even try this locations food, service or see the space to give a heartfelt review. I unfortunately had left my license back at my AirBnB over an hour outside of the city area, but i had pictures of 3 forms of ID (passport, driver license, and supplemental license with a photo) The manager and security were not taking any of these stating they needed to see a hard copy. Normally I'd understand if someone was trying to show you one form of identification, but I had 3. Very disappointed that I could not be accommodated. read more

When I moved to Chicago in 2021 this was one of the first bars I ever went to. Since then, it's become a staple. I moved back to Seattle this year and while visiting Chicago I made sure to take my friend here. The staff is always nice, the drinks are hand-crafted (rotating) and delicious - and the lemon pepper chicken! It's juicy, crispy and perfect. They always have great music playing that fits the vibe of the bar. I 100% recommend. read more

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Cool, dark spot for a sexy cocktail date. Music is a perfect sound -- not too loud for a conversation, but loud enough that the tables next to you can't hear everything you say. Serviers provide good recommendations. Cocktails tend to be twists on classics, and everything I've had has been good. read more

Arbella - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A is for Arbella, A is for amazing. I meant to do this review long ago, infact, I was sure I did. I think I confused all my raving about this place to others as a review. My friend and I came here on a whim during a trip to the Windy City. We were blown away by the creativity of the cocktails and the delicious small plates. Some of the stars of the night were the whipped feta and lamb tacos. There was also some sort of wonton that I didn't capture but it was delicious! The ambiance of this place is classy casual. You could dress up. You could dress down and either way you wouldn't be out of place. The server was nice and made great recommendations. Highly recommend in a city with great food! read more

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Awesome spot for fun inventive cocktails with friends! Complex and exciting flavors paired with beautiful and cute presentation! Smokey's Sidepiece is served smoking inside a honeybear jar! So cute and fun - & most importantly delicious. Friendly service and helpful with picking a drink for you. Definitely check it out if you're trying to find new spots! Highly recommend making a reservation. read more

LOL I've been to Arbella more in the last couple of months than I've ever been before. It's a cute spot for cocktails and definitely one that will impress a date or out-of-towners. The cocktails are amazing and super creative, and every time I've been, the DJ is killer. Just expect it to be loud LOL. Favorite cocktails include: Arbella's Martini, Berrys & Cream, and personally for ME, Old School is the perfect cocktail. I love Grey Goose and I love PB&J sandwiches, and this is both of those things made with peanut butter and a giant grape jelly ice cube. It's beyond. The staff is great and provides super good service. Gorgeous aesthetic that makes you feel like you're on a TV show. Very, very vibey! read more

Loved this spot. Came in for a quick cocktail to kill some time before dinner and ended up grabbing a few happy hour menu items. The overall happy hour menu was good and had plenty of options to choose from depending on your preferences. Cocktails came out extremely fast. The music was great as there was more emphasis on bass versus the volume. Friendly service and an awesome interior with plenty of spacing. Would love to stop by here again. read more

Arbella - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love this place!!! I took my boyfriend here for his birthday because he loves an old fashioned and they have so many varieties of the drink. We had a reservation and our waiter Miguel was extremely attentive! We got a few different drinks. I tried the Gulf of Mexico which was really good and comes in a really cute cup. I also got the Peru and back, which was a bit tart but got sweeter as I kept drinking. My boyfriend got the Kentucky old fashioned and Jalisco. He preferred the Kentucky, but he enjoyed both! We had dinner reservations elsewhere, but decided to get an appetizer and went with the potato croquettes and omg! So good! They have a crisp outer shell and are the smoothest potato inside, the paprika aoli and chimichurri together. Just amazing! Definitely on my list to return and try out more food. This visit was amazing, great service, great drinks, and they have a decent happy hour! read more

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Amazing service and ambiance!!! The staff is incredible and so knowledgeable - bar staff is friendly and you always feel at Home :) read more

Really cool vibe and fantastic cocktails. We had so much fun we went back twice. Service was great! We will definitely come back next time in Chicago. read more

Wow! I was shook when I entered. The tall ceilings, the decor, the details, it was a sight to see. Very unique esthetic, I enjoyed every bit of it. They specialize in tapas and cocktails. We got there right before happy hour ended ordered a round real quick then, ordered food and more drinks. Met up with a friend for light giggles and eats. They played Rihanna all while we ate so we knew the night was for us. Enjoyed it! Enjoyed the staff as well. Will return read more

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great service, cool and chic ambiance. not busy on a monday evening around 9pm. i got the old school cocktail which was advertised as a peanut butter and jelly cocktail, it was delicious and tasted EXACTLY like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich but in drink form. definitely not a very strong cocktail though, which was fine. i really like the menu concept of the traveling old fashioneds and then the various unique cocktail options. i'd definitely come back here! read more

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Cool place to grab a drink and meal with friends. Food: This was my first time here and was surprised how tasty the food was. Expect appetizer/bar type food on the menu versus full entrees. However, the portion size is plenty. We shared the Kentucky fried chicken tenders, lamb tacos, coconut shrimp, and french fries. Cocktails: I enjoyed an Arbella Martini. My friend tried a zero-proof that was decent. And then we ordered shots of tequila. Ha! This place will def encourage the flow of alcohol. ;) come during HH for the deals! Interior: I really have no idea what's past the bar area, so if you come try to explore more than me! read more

Arbella - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here the the weekend before New Years 2025 to see some friends DJ in the lounge area. Nice bar with a nice menu for eating and drinking. Drinks are wonderful and the bar menu is excellent. Place is great for a date night, catch up with friends or just a night out to have drinks and dance. Beautiful spot with wonderful service and food. I would definitely come back even if I did not have friends DJing. read more

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Popped in for drinks late on a weeknight and thoroughly enjoyed the vibe and drinks here! It's dark with loud music and nice decor. We sat at the bar and the service was quick and checked in often. Highly recommend the Abandon Ship if you're looking for a delicious tropical cocktail - or just a fun cocktail in general, as they have many choices. read more

Arbella - Abandon Ship (left), draft beer - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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MOCKTAILS! Not only is their food delicious and amazing, but they have some of the best mocktail options I've ever had. My favorite so far has been their "Glad Matt is Gone-Lada" which is still currently on their menu. Their mocktails come in a pretty big glass which was lovely, and they really know how to make us non-alcoholic drinkers feel special. My hubby loves their traveling old fashioned selection as he is a huge old-fashioned fan. So far, his favorite is "The Oldest Fashioned." I had a taste of it, and it was really good. Everything from the ambiance, service, food, and location gives Arbella 5-stars. They do take reservations on their website. The hubs and I strolled in on a Saturday night at around 10:30pm without one and we were lucky to get a table so you never know. They have a live DJ and dance floor as well and the DJ was putting on some sick beats which I loved! read more

Arbella - Holding the "GLAD MATT IS GONE-LADA" Huge portion & amazingly delish! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chicago, Illinois