Arbella

Went here for DRINKS ONLY.This spots chill, the music is nostalgiclective for late millennials, the bar program is great.We ordered four drinks:Smokey's Sidepiece - Easily the best, if not, the most unique drink on the menu. This drink's flavor changes slightly from the initial sip to minutes later in a good way.Eazy Money - Very fruity and very easy to drinkPeru-N-Back - Very aromatic and very easy to drinkTokyo Old Fashioned - Your standard old fashioned with a very very slight hint of plumThis place reminds me a lot like Pacific Cocktail Haven in The City in The Bay the difference is this place got food. Both got unique and great drinks and maybe it's just their menus are similar with the pictures...maybe i'm trippin....maybe next time I can try their food...maybe you should stop reading this and go try this place out...

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!

We came on a whim for late / after dinner cocktails and we are so glad we did! I tried the Razzmatazz and Arbella Martini. Both were delicious but the Razzmatazz stole my heart. Others in my party tried other cocktails which were equally amazing. The service was friendly, quick, and polite. The bar / restaurant was well designed and had a backroom in addition to where we sat. They had a DJ playing really great music with a fun beat (perfect for cocktails with friends). The volume was perfect- loud enough to be fun but you could still hear your table companions without needing to yell. All in all, this is a new Paul Pick for Chicago cocktails and River North spots. I will need to try the food next time!

What a fun place with awesome cocktails. Enjoyed our time here. Staff was nice and atmosphere was fantastic. They did a nice job creating a space that inspires.

This place is such a vibe. Cozy lighting and booths. Such a great date spot! Good cocktails and drinks. Definitely busy! The music was great also! I think the dj changes at certain times but definitely a great vibe! Will have to try their food next time. Definitely take your first date here!

One of the best Happy Hour spots in River North because they include weekends and it's till 7PM! Cocktails are always 10/10 along with the service. They even have food options on their happy hour menu and everything from truffle fries to the chicken tenders are so good.It's pretty dark in here and loud so maybe not a first date spot, but good date spot overall. Also a fun spot to start out the night with some cocktails and bites before heading to dinner or going out late night.

Came here for Happy Hour and had a great time. Ambiance was great because eventually the Live DJ came out and made it even better! Whipped feta really stole the show in terms of food but everything was delicious. Our waiter kept checking in on us and made sure our food and drinks kept coming up. Happy Hour drinks were a good price too! Will bring more friends here for Happy Hour in the future

Came in around 10:30pm in a rainy cold day. Staff was extremely warm and friendly and comes up with their personal favorites and touch on some selections. After a few drinks, I preferred the more boozy ones:Chicago fire extinguisher - a very smoky cocktail, not only its smoky appearance but how the drink itself was able to contain all those smoky flavors. Would recommend to drink with some speed as the flavorful profile gets washed out by the melting ice but either way it was a very lovely drink.There's also a page dedicated to "traveling old fashioned" which I thought was extremely unique. The base remains the same with the liquor, bitters and syrup, but adds a regional twist based on the city you choose. Had a hard time deciding who to choose! I tried the Tokyo, which was iwai, toki, sake, plum bitters and goji berries. The taste is exactly what is described on the menu and gives you a hint of the city's vibe. Amazing experience!

My friends and I had an amazing dinner and we wanted to hang out at a bar for a couple of hours. I found this bar on Yelp and when we arrived - it appeared to be small from the outside but as we walked in, we were pleasantly surprised at the interior size. It was nice and spacious, and great music was on. My drink - all the smoke with mezcal was fantastic! The service was pretty fast too. I would come back here next time if I am in the area.

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.