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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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

Come for the drinks. What a fun time. I had a few drinks and can't remember anything after the smokey whisky that literally had smoke coming out of my glass. It was wonderful. Great place to impress a date or have fun with a small group of friends. read more

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

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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Stopped in for some drinks. I had them surprise me with something w cucumber and Vodka. It was absolutely amazing, the ice cube is really not a cube but round ball severed with a physics looking beater for your drink! my friend had an old fashion and loved it. His ice cube was rather big as well! After about an hour they had a dj playing. Didn't expect that on a Thursday. This place was packed! Everyone was so nice and drinks were original read more

Arbella - 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!!

Waiter by the name of Alex physically assaulted a member of our party. Our friend was inquiring about a drink she had ordered. It had been over an hour, so she got up to find the waiter to ask. He grabbed her by the arm and said "you want your drink badly? Go get it!" and pushed her into the bar. When management was confronted about this, they did not care in the slightest, even pretending they did not know the name of the waiter. We had to ask another employee for his name. Other customers at the establishment came over to make sure our friend was ok - noting that they saw what had happened and were concerned for her. Terrible place, terrible service. Would not recommend to anyone. read more

Arbella was so nice. Good vibes, food and drinks. I had the KFC, which was like Korean fried chicken strips with a soy-based sauce that is similar to the sauce that comes with potstickers. They were hot and crispy, and I enjoyed the fried crispy noodles that were on the bottom. We also had the sliders (loved the bernaise sauce) and the shrimp tacos, which were also good. We had 4 drinks; I only disliked one. They were all strong and had ambitious flavor combinations. All in all, it was a great place to grab drinks with friends or for a date night! read more

Why didn't someone tell me about this place earlier?!?! This place is one of the best bars/restaurants in River North and I feel personally offended that no one told me this!! My husband and I came here and had such a great time! It was happy hour on Friday, so we got some drinks and decided to eat dinner there as well. The happy hour drink prices aren't amazing, but the drinks are quality and worth the price. My husband got an old-fashioned which he really liked and the mule which he liked as well. I don't remember the name of my drink but it was also really good! For food, we typically don't like small plates because we both have voracious appetites and are always afraid we won't have enough food. But these small plates were nothing but small! We got the flatbread (AMAZING), cheese plate (ALMOST AS AMAZING), salad (pretty good, but plate was way too small and so everything was falling off of it) and he got a burger. The burger was $15 and it was massive, came with fries, and was high quality. The atmosphere is super cool and music is not too loud. Our waitress was really great! We will absolutely be coming back! read more

Had a reservation for three and spammed 3 times to make sure we come. When we came, they turned us away. It was the reception. They pulled the white manager who declined our reservation on account of our 2 year old kid. As a tourist, I gotta wonder if the rest of Chicago is this cheap, lazy or stupid? We wouldn't have bothered coming if you bothered to say adult only or even just call to ask who was in our party. Bro, we just ate at Eddie V's last week in Pittsburg with our little one with the band playing and we spent almost 170 on just seafood for the 2.5 of us and the waiter was requesting to let him serve us if we ever come back. This place is no Eddie v. No worries man. We also visit maine regularly for lobster and like the mayor, food, and weather much better. read more

Grabbed drinks and a few dishes here meeting a friend new to the city! A great spot with dim lighting and a modern industrial feel. Great drinks! Food was good for apps but I wouldn't come back for dinner. read more

They put a lot of whiskey in that good old fashioned. Amazing. I also tried the Korean fried boneless chicken during happy hour. Pretty good, but it was on the salty side more than the savory. It should be more savory. I came here on a Wednesday night and it was crowded! It's a great place to relieve stress after work. The place is small but very hip and stylish. read more

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I haven't managed to get here for dinner yet, but I've been here for cocktails many times. Their cocktails are expertly crafted, and they change their menu seasonally. Love the ambiance here too - dimly lit with comfy booths. Highly recommend for a night out! read more

This place is just too cool for school. On a recent trip to Chicago, I did a lot of research into some of the best bars in the city. This is a tough goal since there are so MANY. Arbella struck me as a place that is trying to stand apart from the competition. With a fold-out map that doubles as a drink and food menu, Arbella attempts to help you chart a course across its vast drink territories. Each drink is more of a chemistry experiment and is thrilling to watch as the mixologists prepare it. They are also very personable, a great quality to have in a bartender. Definitely check Arbella out if you're in the area. read more

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Ambience: 3/5. This place is tiny. There is usually a line/wait to get in on any night of the week. When I was seated in the back, the club music was blasting (I think because they opened a music venue back there). It is also super super dark. Service: 4/5. I've been here several times, and it seems like the service is hit or miss. The most recent time I was here, it took 20 min for the server to come over, which is not cool. Drink: 5/5. Every single drink I've gotten at this place is outrageous. I absolutely love that the drink menu is based on a world map! My favorites have been the peanut butter and jelly drink (it really tastes like those foods!) and the ube cocktail--fantastic flavor. Overall: Essentially if you want to grab an incredible drink in a club-like setting, this is the place for you. Would recommend as a date place, but not a first date place--and definitely not a place to hang out with a bunch of people read more

Arbella - Ube cocktail front right, chicago fire extinguisher ft smoke bottle on the left. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cool atmosphere, delicious food and cocktails! A girlfriend was in the city visiting and we met there for happy hour. The shrimp tacos were absolutely amazing and hit the spot. The old fashioned was so good I had to have a second! However, the guacamole and taro root chips were the shining star! The guacamole was nicely seasoned and balanced but those chips were so addicting and I felt healthy for eating them (wishful thinking). I NEED MORE! Will be back! read more

Arbella - Chips + Dip - Guacamole and Taro Root Chips - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Loved the ambiance here! My friends and I stopped in around 7:45p last night and were able to snag a table by the window right away. In my opinion it was the best seat in the house! They have an extensive menu! Takes you on a shot trip around the world. At first I ordered a Sierra Madre, a very well crafted mezcal drink and it came with a sidecar. It was very good, a bit spicy and smoky. Just the way I like it. My 2nd cocktail was the pisco sour. It was tasty and well made. The have a variety of glasses they serve their cocktails in, all of them are so cool! The decor in this place it nice and not too over the top. The staff is polite, quick, and very helpful. From their menu I could see they have happy hour that ends at 7pm and they serve food. We didn't order anything from the food menu but I noticed a lot of the tables around us did. I am guessing in a few weeks or months this place will get really popular and it won't be easy to find a table. But last night it was perfect. There was a steady flow of people coming in but it was never packed with people. read more

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

Super cute, romantic spot for a date or to go drinking with friends! I highly recommend going for the tapas and drinks. The servers come by often (not often enough to annoy you) to ask how you're doing and provide recommendations. Andrew, our server, was great! The candle on our table kept going out and he probably relit that candle 10x that night. As the night progresses, the outer half of the bar becomes a regular bar where you stand around with friends and drink but the inner portion of the restaurant remains the same. One recommendation would be to create some space! The tables are so close to each other - ruins the vibe. You can literally hear other people's convos. read more

Romantic Date venue. Get flashy cock-tails! HAPPY HOUR -- 6 boozy selections between $5-10. 1 food special of the day. Interesting flavor pairings of common ingredients and boring dishes with excellent plating/presentation. EXCELLENT flavor balance. Thoughtful, 4 Boston lettuce for 4 EGG ROLLS. Feng shui approved. :-) Customized dipping sauce. Shareable. IMPRESSIVE...smokiest pineapple I ever had from a wood grill on a STEAK dish. Rockstar! Housemade salts to sprinkle or dip. Edgy, boozy, firm Pinot Shiraz FLAN with Cardamom Frosting and cashews. Getting lucky with whipped cream? ;) Scissorly for 2. Par excellence SERVICE. Water Glass was never empty at primary bar seating. Bartender MELISSA made a smooth drink according to my n-o taste list. Also knowledgeable about how food is prepared. Everybody works as a team. Yay! NOTE: Chatty Bunch that Sit-N-Stay for 3+ hrs per seat. Crowded by 6:30p. Reservations until 10 pm. Open Seating thereafter. read more

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I didn't expect that I would go to an establishment like this and get harassed for not tipping! My motto with tipping is if they give me a service that is worth my money to pay for and they are genuinely working hard to make my experience good, I would be happy to tip them. I arrived later in the night, expecting to get some food from the place but the kitchen closed at 10pm. The server brought us to our table and took our order, didn't really do much more than that, to warrant a tip. Nothing wrong what he did but just didn't feel like it deserved a tip. That stops here though, he made our whole experience uncomfortable after that. When we asked for the check, we asked the check to be split, I paid with card and it was through the portable card reader. Before signing, I could already tell that he tilted the card reader in a way that he could see how much I was tipping, I confidently put no tip, because his service wasn't bad but he just didn't do anything over the top than his job. We also had a small order, just 2 drinks. He snapped at me with attitude, "wow no tip?" He asked me, "did I do anything wrong?" and I was like "No, you did not." he should have stopped there, but he pushed me further and asked "Why did you not tip then?" and I said " I didn't feel like it." His whole dialogue really showed his character in how he works with customers. We split the check and my friend put a tip down, but he was already uncomfortable so he felt like he had to. The server proceeded to passively aggressively snap back at my friend and say "thanks for tipping" in a very rude tone, and he aggressively pulled the card reader back and snapped away. Why is he even looking at how much people tip and making comments? He made me feel fully justified for not tipping especially how he acted after not getting a tip, acting like he was very entitled to tip just for doing his job. We were super uncomfortable because we felt very harassed so we quickly chugged our drinks and left. I will never support this establishment again. I am not cheap, I tip generously when I feel the server is genuine, and I didn't feel it with this server and with this whole aftermath made me feel justified that he didn't deserve it, and was just rude. I feel like tipping culture creates a entitlement from servers that just because they do their job they deserve a tip. Mcdonald's workers do the same, but they don't get a tip, so why should you, just cause you work at a more expensive establishment doesn't mean you are better than anyone else. We also did not place a big order, we only had 2 drinks at the table. Avoid this place at all cost, drinks wise was expensive and average. The drinks that were highly rated was watered down and wasn't the flavor palate I was expecting. Get better at hiring qualified employees! read more

Really creative drink menu! We liked everything we tried and loved the presentation. The food was good but fell a little short of my expectations. Not bad, but could be tweaked. The fried chicken was a little overcooked. The sliders were a little dry. Overall we enjoyed the experience. read more

This place is such a hidden gem on Grand. I've been here twice now for dinner and their food just gets me every time. My personal favorites are the shrimp tacos (who's the genius that decided to use a taro shell?), spring rolls and grilled octopus. I also love the Chilcano drink. It's cucumber infused vodka mixed with ginger beer so you really can't get more refreshing than that. While the food and drinks were amazing, I think the ambiance and service can be improved. The music was bumping loud at 9 pm so it made it difficult to hear each other. Our servers seemed a little overwhelmed because the restaurant was packed. They forgot our drink order twice and added extra items to our bill. They handled it very well though. read more

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Did y'all know this place is pronounced, "Are - bay - ah?!" Arbella is indeed one-of-a-kind. It smells like incense, feels spiritual, appears ghostly, and then, you get to order drinks called, "Smokey the Bear" to pair with with Korean Fried Chicken. Honestly, what even is this place?! I'm not really sure, but it absolutely works! Look around the next time you stop by. It's got hella character. Take advantage of their happy hour menu. They actually serve the same portions at a discount price. Wow, that's really rare nowadays. PSA: If you haven't tried Smokey the Bear, you haven't lived. read more

We decided to go to Arbella to have some drinks and bites without knowing if we were able to get in since it was so last minute on a Saturday night. Luckily for us, the staff made room to squeeze us into a private corner table. The whole vibe of Arbella was very sophisticated but yet cozy. Definitely a great spot for date night! Our server was so friendly and attentive to our needs which of course made it an even better experience. Everything we ordered from the food to the drinks were excellent. We will be back in the future! read more

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

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Seems like a hole in the wall from the outside but the interior design contrasts with cool lighting, brick walls, and stylish seating. The atmosphere is great for catching up with friends. read more

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

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Awesome atmosphere and very accommodating to our large group. The food was fun to share with friends.

Someone should coach the doorman not to give guests a hard time about wearing masks if he doesn't have a mask on himself... what a joke never been to your place & never going back again.. good luck!! read more

Hidden gem!! I'm always around river north area and seemed to have missed the Arbella! The atmosphere is super sexy yet cozy. You could come here on a romantic date or a fun girls night. We had the "she said yes cocktails" I love any sparkling wine/vodka drinks so I was sold. Shared the flatbread and it was AMAZING. Super fresh and almost tasted like a vegetarian BBQ chicken pizza? Will definitely be back for dinner and if you're reading this before restaurant week is over, make sure you come by Arbella!!!! Only reason thhey got 4 stars was the waitresses did not seem interested in helping or answering questions and unfortunately something like that tends to ruin the overall vibe. read more

Arbella - She Said Yes cocktail - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Amazing food drinks and music. So Miami vibes, staff super friendly and helpful. Must def check it out read more

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

Arbella is usually booked so you'll want to make a reservation ahead of time because we got lucky to be squeezed into their reservations. Honestly, this was such a great bar from the aesthetics to drinks. I got the Chicago fire extinguisher which is scotch with smoked bitters as seen in the picture and you pour it on to a large rock cube inside the glass and was in my opinion a good drink and could serve two people. My girlfriend got the She Said Yes which is vodka mixed with lychee, peach, rhubarb and topped with champagne. The drink was great and had a deep flavor, maybe from the rhubarb? We tried their korean fried chicken and the sauce that they pair with this dish is delicious!! I will have to come back to this place soon or the next time I'm in Chicago to try their other drinks. Would definitely recommend this place to friends! read more

Arbella - Chicago Fire Extinguisher and She Said Yes - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place is GREAT for a date and is pretty well priced during happy hour! Happy hour ends at 7pm so for people who don't get out of work around 5 or 6pm, this is a pretty good place. Their happy hour includes deals on both drinks and food, and the deals are not just on their cheaper or lower quality offerings. As for why it's a great environment for a date, it's decently dark but not too dark so you can still see the person you are talking to. The music is also at the perfect level - loud enough so it doesn't feel awkward and you dont really hear the people near you but quiet enough so you can hear everything your partner is saying without them having to yell. The interior is also very cool as well. I had a great time here; I will admit a lot of the people there may also be on dates though because I came here with a friend and we noticed that. However we didn't feel weird or out of place and still enjoyed the environment. read more

Good and inventive menu. Only going to inclusive and friendly places and Arabella is definitely one of them Miss the pbj drink.

Came here for a New Year's Eve event, and had a great time! Staff was so friendly and speedy, even with it being very busy due to the holiday. We got to try some appetizers, and had some amazing cocktails. The cocktail menu was full of drinks, and I look forward to returning to try the ones we missed! Nice atmosphere, good service, great experience. read more

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

Was walking around the area with my boyfriend on a Wednesday night and found this gem. We had never heard of Arbella before so decided to pop and I'm glad we did! Very cool vibe and great cocktails! It was during happy hour so I had basically a bartenders choice cocktail and it was delicious. My boyfriend had a bartenders choice old fashion which he loved. He was amazed by how clear the ice cube was haha Over all great experience! Definitely somewhere to check out! read more

I can't comment in the food because we walked out. We were met Thursday night, September 16th around 9pm by an old, black man who was allegedly the host. He was rude, flippant and dismissive. The place was disorganized and unclean. Go there at your own risk. read more

You want to sip on a cocktail from a ross the world? Go across the world. You want a cocktail that will make you want to come back and try them all? Come to this place. I've been here many a times in the past years and it has never let me down. The Chicano is always a great option if you want something refreshing, and their fire extinguisher is good if you want an Alinea drink without the Alinea price tag. Come for the cocktails and you'll have an amazing time. Cheers mateys! read more

Ok so I've been back about 3 more times since my original review (although the service is a hit or miss I'm really loving arbella). My official food go to items are the KFC and the golden beat flat bread. Holy party in my mouth seriously the best. The tuna poke and steak skewers are also very delicious. I'm still drinking my way through the menu (which seems to constantly be changing so I guess I still have a handful more visits under my belt). I have to say the people that work there are super knowledgeable and passionate about cocktails and food so they have yet to steer me in a bad direction. read more

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