Friday nights here are so busy!!! Understandingly since the drinks here are so unique and delicious! They mixologist definitely had it right! They place itself isn't very big so it may be hard to find a seat. I pass by this numerous of times and didn't realize that they also serve dinner! Would love to try this place one day! read more

Love Arbella! My new go-to cocktail bar! Love the space, the music, the service, and omg the drinks!!! We went here to round out the night of birthday festivities so I was kinda bummed we didn't get to try the food... next time! Let me start with the menu. A place with cocktail menu that provides a scale of how potent a drink is my kind of place! I especially loved the "texting ex" potency scale. Onto the cocktails - Smokey the Bear was my favorite drink of the evening. Loved the flavors, the smoke, and the cute bear. I also really like the Van Down By The River. We had a bigger group so I got to taste everyone's drinks and they were all really good. All the different spirits were matched really well with different flavor profiles. You could tell this cocktail menu was very thoughtfully crafted. read more

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The food, service and drink were all so delish! Would definitely recommend! We got the kfc chicken strips, egg rolled and fries...all were soo good! read more

Arbella - Old fashion type drink - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Chicagos hidden gem. Good food and amazing vibes. Perfect spot for dinner after work. read more

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

Been meaning to try this place... barely made it in time for the happy hour. Ordered the mule special and Korean chicken. We also had 2 orders of Bao, hummus platter and flatbread. the service was a tad bit slow at times, place is noisy and packed. Overall a goodtime and a fun girls night out. read more

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I had heard about the cocktails at this place, and thought that was all I'd be getting when I met a friend here on a Saturday night. She got the Smokey bear cocktail - the smoke pours out of the glass bear eliciting a woodsy aroma that permeated our area at the bar. My cocktail, old school, was fantastic. The grape jelly ice cube mixed with the liquid contents to tug at your heartstrings and remind you of how good peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are. It was a little Willy Wonka-esque - peanut butter and jelly in a single sip. We shared the sliders, quinoa salad, and chips and guacamole, and a caramel or dulce de Leche meringue. It's possible I'm giving an extra star because I had such a good time catching up with an old friend, but I'd also love to come back here, which I don't say about every 5 star place, so that should count for something. Bill for 3 cocktails, 3 tapas/small plates and dessert came to ~ $85 before tip. read more

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Service was subpar and insulting. Imagine being seated 20 minutes at the bar and no service, while the white people are generously greeted and serviced immediately upon walking up to the bar. It was a date night for us two black professionals so this was very disappointing. When we got our waters they were wasted on table with no apology by the "bartender" or whoever it was drying glasses behind the bar, staring at us the entire time. If it wasn't for the the helpful bar-back finally assisting us (and me knowing some Spanish to get his attention) I would've had a heftier complaint. Even the black male bartender seemed as though ANY question we had was taxing or bothersome (ie, "when can we be serviced") However, when I asked how the tips are received I appreciate him letting me know it's spilt between everyone behind the bar. I politely gave ZERO dollars in tip but 50% in cash to the helpful, friendly bar-back and went about my merry way. Black people, if you're not there servicing be weary of you or your dollars actually being appreciated. read more

Would give 10 stars if I could. Drinks were incredible and every single food item was off the charts amazing. You have to get the edamame, it's next level. Service was incredible as well. The bar has a speak easy vibe with lots of low lighting and candles. At night they have a Dj so it turns into more of a club feel. Highly recommend! read more

Wonderful cocktails. Mine came with a smoking stick (Trunkilo Melon), it was fabulous (see picture). The pork belly Bao's are quite substantial and terrific. The Spring rolls were surprisingly good --- they were deep fried, but the crust was nice and crispy --- and wrapping them in a lettuce and dipping them in the sweet and sour sauce really enhanced the flavors. The Korean chicken is a pretty substantial dish, but this was my least favorite here. It was decent, but not as flavorful as the other dishes. I loved the stuff peppers (they do have a lot of ricotta stuffed in them, but they were delicious. A tip. If you come on a weekend night, come early (we used the time zone change to our advantage) and you won't have to stand in a long line. read more

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Amazing drinks and food and our server, Andrew, is my new favorite person! Highly recommend the old fashioned, rising sun and gentleman's agreement. For a group of five, we ordered the following: - Korean chicken - hands down favorite of the group and worth the hype on all the reviews - baos- good flavor and not too dough-y - empanadas - good flavor and sauce - shelled pasta - wish there was more pasta but the sauce and mussels were amazing - fried egg rolls - nice and crispy, a little weird to eat it wrapped around lettuce but still good with the sweet and sour sauce - calamari - I looooove octopus and this was just ok - tacos - disclaimer, Andrew brought this out as a joke bc I kept joking I had enough room for it. It was good BUT I was so full and couldn't do it justice - thanks Andrew! For dessert - highly recommend the passion fruit parfait. Not a fruits person for dessert but it was that good! Will def come back if only to be photo bombed by Andrew. read more

Was in from out of town visiting family and stopped into this restaurant since it was close to our hotel room. My fiancé and I had a couple different options and we were so glad we went with this one. Love tapas and small plates so we can try everything we're in the mood for. We went with the guacamole, the baos, tacos, and Korean fried chicken. Everything was phenomenal and the portions were generous. We were full with choosing 4 different small plates. The guacamole is some of the best I had. My fiancé raved about the baos. It was his first time having a steamed bun and needless to say, he's a fan. The Korean fried chicken was really crispy, yet super tender with the best sweet & spicy sauce. The drinks are also amazing. One look at the cocktail menu and you know this place is serious about liquor. It's very extensive, separated by region, and thoroughly explained. You have to get their "old school" drink. Peanut butter infused vodka with jelly ice - instant winner in my book! read more

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

Came for happy hour on a Tuesday! The drinks were very good. I got the Mexican Dance Off which was very refreshing, and the rest of my party got the Peru-N-Back which they said was very good. The food was only ok. I got the Chciken Tendies (Lemon Pepper) which were fine. Nothing spectacular. And then the kitchen special of the day was loaded nachos which were also good but again nothing to write home about. Service was great though and really liked the ambiance of the place. Would recommend coming here for drinks, especially during the happy hour! read more

Arbella - Nachos Chicken Tendies (Lemon Pepper) - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Pretty nice place for drinks! I came with a friend on a Friday. We had 630p reservations. The hostess was missing, but apparently any of the servers are able to help you to your table. One awesome guy helped me quickly after I asked what the process was for being seated. It's a really busy after work scene. The bar is pretty snug and the lady next to our table knocked over a water on our table while leaving . We had some old fashions and this gentleman's drink which was a spin between an old fashion and a Manhattan. Really boozy, but really good! We tried the chicken strips, the mussels and pasta and a kale salad. All were good, but the chicken is seasoned enough! DO NOT put any of the soy sauce on it that they bring you. I felt myself developing hypertension immediately as the two together was super salty! I would definitely return for drinks! The wait staff was really pleasant and attentive! read more

Arbella - Delicious old fashioned - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I love Arbella!! The Korean fried chicken, whipped feta, and shishitos are absolutely amazing. The drinks list is complex but approachable for a new cocktail drinker. The service here is always amazing. Fridays and Saturdays are an absolute party too. Would 10/10 come back. read more

This was my second time at Arbella and the food, service and drinks were all much better this time around. We got a couple of different cocktails and they were well made, and not watered down. They present their cocktail menu in a very creative way on a map and have a fun and interesting way of describing the booziness as well as the ingredients and the type of glass each cocktail is presented in. It makes for a fun start to the evening. The food menu is small plates and meant to be shared. We got the salad, the fried chicken Bao, the Chicken Shawarma empanada, the bean hummus and the beef skewer. For me the bao and the beef skewer were standouts. I didn't care for the salad since it had watermelon but watermelon season is over and it wasn't that sweet or red. The empanada filling was very flavorful but was a tad bit over fried. Overall, a great night out. I recommend street parking and reservations. read more

I loved this place to grab a drink and they had an excellent happy hour from 5-7 even on a Friday. It's very dark (cool ambience, cool art) and loud (cool music) but just keep that in mind if you're looking for a different vibe. Seems like a fun date spot but not necessarily a place you'd want to take your parents. read more

No paper menus available. We were ignored by server. It has a tacky ambiance. I will not return.

Very great service and a perfect place to celebrate a birthday with a group! Many options gluten-free, including the crispy chicken (: read more

I swear these are the best craft cocktails around. Their mezcal drinks beat anything I've tried, the waiters even help her you custom drinks if you want a new take on one of the many on their menu making it feel like a customized cocktail experience. Love the decor and ambiance. read more

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My friend took me here for my birthday dinner. Their cocktails are delicious and the finger food was pretty good too. The portions for the food isn't very big but the price tags aren't very expensive either considering the location. It actually allows you to order more and try more this way. Our server was super friendly and gave us a free shot for my birthday. read more

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I've been coming to Arbella for years now and it never disappoints. The mixologists are fantastic and can craft anything you'd like that is not on the menu. Although, you're bound to find something on the menu you'll love. The Chicago Fire Extinguisher was very spirit heavy, but wonderfully balanced with the right amount of smokiness and subtle sweetness. The tequila drink with squirt and horchata was the best version of a Paloma I could imagine. Great date spot, or place to just connect with friends, family & coworkers. Intimate, a little loud at night (but not so much you can't hear your party). I recommend making a reservation as bar seating is first come first serve and there are maybe 12-15 total bar seats. read more

So, you're planning a bachelorette party for 13, and two of the girls have gluten and dairy allergies. Where do you go in Chicago that will be fabulous? ARBELLA, THAT'S WHERE. I cannot say enough nice things about my experience at Arbella with a large party. The staff were rockstars, the shareable plates were awesome, and the drinks blew everyone away. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to the staff at Arbella for a phenomenal evening! read more

Service a bit wonky late night. You kinda snag a seat where you see. Such a great watermelon mezcal on the menu. Always a place to stop when I'm Chicago. read more

one of the best happy hours in the city as it doesn't end at 5:30 compared to most of them. service is amazing here the owner is super nice and you can frequently see him walking around helping the staff super accommodating to the staff and the whipped feta dip and truffle fries are a go to as well as whatever is the kitchen special of the day which changes so always ask! read more

Arbella has an expansive list of cocktails as well as daily food & drink specials that vary by the day. The Korean fried chicken was my favorite food item on the menu and Chicago fire extinguisher was my favorite drink. read more

Loved it! I came here for solely drinks, but the food people were eating around me looked delicious too! I tried the chilcano cocktail which was super tasty and refreshing, and replete with a kiwi-infused giant ice ball (see pic!). The drink was on the pricey side, but it was well worth it. They also have a happy hour menu with very reasonably-priced drinks. The service was awesome and the place had a nice ambiance. Can't wait to come back and try more drinks and the food! read more

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

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Great place to just pop in for drinks and a light bite! It's pretty small and not good for larger parties of 4 u less you have reservations. I was able to get a bar seat right away and the bartenders were so friendly and attentive considering they were serving us and the rest of the bar their drinks! Great service for such a busy Saturday night there! They make some good bourbon old fashioned! We had their bao tacos off their menu and it was really good! This is my new date spot and cocktail spot! read more

[December 2019] Arbella was the unexpected gem of the night! We wandered in on a Tuesday evening to find a surprisingly full (but not overly crowded), dimly lit bar. Although there were a handful of tables, it seemed like they were all taken by reservations (the back half of the bar was also closed for a private event, leading to less space than there may have been usually). That being said, we had a great time sitting at the bar watching the bartenders make all of our drinks. And the drinks! The menu is a grid, with each drink mapping to a specific city that served as its inspiration. There were so many that we wanted to try, but self-control called, so we limited ourselves to just a couple each. Most Refreshing: rotating HH mule (happy hour is from 5PM-7PM Mon-Fri) was bright and fruity - an easy sipper for only $7. Most Unexpected: ume ube sawa - I love ube, but this was my first time having a cocktail with ube as an ingredient! Egg white drinks are always delightfully creamy, and this one was no exception. Could easily have ordered a second. Biggest Throwback: old school - peanut butter vodka with a grape jelly ice cube. BF ordered this one and we weren't sure what to expect, but this honestly tasted like the liquified form of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. What a fun, nostalgic treat! Smokiest: chicago fire extinguisher - maybe also the most dramatic. I stole a sip of this one (after the grand pour) and the taste of the smoky bitters lingered in my mouth. Definitely a sipper! Strongest: rising sun - a whisky on the rocks to end out the night. Great place for a date night with surprisingly good happy hour deals. Arbella is a bar that we would frequent if only we lived in the Chicago area! read more

Loved everything about this place - the vibe, the cocktails, the food, the staff, the music, the ambiance. Everything we ordered was outrageously delicious. Plus I've found my absolute favorite cocktail - Palo Picante- perfectly balanced flavors. read more

Great ambiance. Good music. Bartenders and waiters are very attentive. KFC tenders are amazing. Happy hour is mom-sat. Drinks are good & strong. It's a great place for a date night. The lights are dim and the music is just at the right level. This place is a whole vibe. Will be back. read more

Arbella - Mexican Dance-off and eight & eight - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Always a solid place to get some drinks and food. Staff always super nice. Always a good time. Highly recommend.

The cocktails here are fabulous! They have a happy hour Monday through Friday 4-7 p.m. I always end up order the rotating mules for $6, and I have not been disappointed. They also have other cool drinks like the snow cone. The pork & shrimp rolls are also a really good appetizer to snack on. Great ambiance, one of my favorite HH spots! read more

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You walk through an unassuming door and enter into a bar that stretches deep into the wall, arriving at Arbella. The place is famous for drinks but I came here mainly to try out the food with friends. We decided to share family style and got a total of three dishes. Pork Tacos - At $4 per taco, these appetizers were filled with deliciously marinated pork topped with greens. The amount of meat was sadly on the lighter end of things but the taste was good as the meat was accentuated with the pineapple. Score of 3.5/5 Beef kebab - The dip with chips on the side was a unique touch but sad to say the beef kebab itself was disappointing. The meat didn't taste like it was seasoned well and again came with a paltry amount. Score of 2.5/5 Korean Fried Chicken - The redeeming dish of the night, the chicken was juicy and tender. The Asian inspired dipping sauce was just what we needed to turn the night around. Score of 4/5 Overall in terms of taste, would give the place 3.5/5 stars but in terms of value the bill definitely was a tsf pricy given the servings of meat so a score of 2.5/5 for value. Perhaps the drinks are where it's at? read more

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Another placeholder so my pictures link. I'll update with details later, but the 4 star rating holds true. read more

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I was recently recommended Arbella from a friend, and it lives up to everything he described. The apps are top notch. The drinks are super unique & have fun names. I also really enjoyed the menu layout & fun additions on it including a scale for how strong each drink is, serving as a nice guide. They also had a charity drink on the menu, which I always love to see. I had the Old School which is a peanut butter infused vodka served over grape ice cubes. The entirety of it made in-house. I could hardly taste the liquor for how strong & tasty this drink was. If you like peanut butter & jelly, this is worth trying. Took me back to my childhood a little bit. Next, I had Smokey The Bear with habanero mezcal, aperitivo, lemon, & yellow chartreuse. The presentation of this cocktail was adorable. My server brought it out in a teddy bear jar & poured it over ice. It tasted like inhaling a campfire in the best way possible. Super romantic atmosphere, perfect for a date or a night out with friends. read more

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

It's a lovely bar with a great ambiance. Went there on a Friday evening, they prefer if you have reservations. They have a happy hour till 7pm which is great. I had the arbella claw & the I eat stickers drink both valued at $11. Both were nice. Even ordered the vegetable spring rolls which I did not like personally. I will try the tacos the next time I go! read more

Arbella - Spring rolls. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Excellent across the board. Service was good. Drinks were spot on and the octopus was amazing!!

I'm not a fan of small plates restaurants as I like to eat bigger portions but i would recommend Arbella. I had the baos, which were good, but too small for me. It had the tacos but didn't like them: with pork belly, mango habanero chutney and taro root shell. I I thought they were too pricey for what it is and not enough to eat. My recommendation is the burger, one of the best one I had so far: juicy, tasty beef patty with provolone, lettuce, tomato, béarnaise, crispy shallots and delicious handcut fries fries...what else can you ask for ? And as far of drinks, my go to drink is the Chilcano: Cucumber infused Pisco, lime and ginger beer ! read more

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We had an AMAZING time!! This restaurant and vibe is totally worth everything!! Get the wet chicken tenders, the champi empanada, crispy egg rolls, tacos, and ranch Shishito peppers!!! ALL soooo good!! Also, Smokey the bear drink gives you life!!! Joseph is the Bomb! Get him as your server for a fun evening!! read more

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In search of a close-by place where my guy and I could grab a quick drink during out Chicago visit, we stumbled across Arbella Bar. This place was the perfect place to grab a drink in a low-key environment. When we ascended the stairs just beyond the doorman, I didn't know what to expect on the other side of the second door, but the bar had a sexy vibe with modern touches, beautiful brick walls and low lighting (which adds to the ambiance) ... and it was lively without being over the top. Subdued EDM was playing as we worked our way through the crowd to the smaller bar closer to the back of the restaurant to order drinks. There were few seats available at the time, but the bartender assured us we could grab the first two seats that became available. It didn't take long as a party at a nearby table headed out and we were promptly seated in their place. I guess what makes this bar special is that it offers drinks from different parts of the world (along with great food that seems to go far beyond typical bar fare), so I opted for the This Little Piggy with Cachaça and Blood Orange Hibiscus. We were planning to eat elsewhere, so we focused on drinks. My boyfriend who tends to like a great Old Fashioned, opted for a couple of drinks recommended by our waiter (I believe one was The Gentleman's agreement). This was a bad move because when allowed to sip both (unfortunately, the first was sent back), neither one agreed with me. I think he kept the second drink simply because he didn't want to be disagreeable. Poor guy! Anyhow, my drink was wonderful and I'd definitely return to try it again. Next time, my guy will have to go with an old, trusty option. read more

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