Arbella

Arbella occupies a stylish stretch of W Grand Ave in River North, and for non-drinkers it punches well above the typical 'we have mocktails' disclaimer. The bar launched a standalone zero-proof menu — six cocktails with full ingredient builds — that gets updated alongside the boozy program. That decision signals a kitchen and bar team that treats the NA side as a creative exercise, not an afterthought, making it a rare River North stop where sober or sober-curious guests can order off the actual menu rather than asking what can be made without alcohol.

The zero-proof lineup is where Arbella earns its NA credentials. Smoking Kills layers lemon-ginger kombucha with fresh lime, ginger beer, and infused smoke for something genuinely complex. Secret Window uses a London Dry spirit-free base with hibiscus, Peachtree sipping vinegar, and citrus — tart and aromatic. Glad Matt Is Gone-Lada is the crowd-pleaser: ube syrup, oat milk, pineapple, lime, soda water, and cinnamon in a large-format pour that reviewers have specifically called out as a repeat order. Bartender Eric Trousdale, who has represented Arbella in the bar's Global Guest Bartender Series alongside Chicago luminaries, oversees the cocktail side of the program.

Arbella runs the full River North evening arc — it opens as a lounge with happy hour (Mon–Fri, 4–6pm), then transitions into a club-leaning space with live DJ sets Thursday through Saturday. The interior is dim, decorated with funky art and floor-to-ceiling liquor bottles, and seating is tight enough that walk-ins on weekends are a gamble; reservations via Tock or the official site are accepted for parties of six or fewer. It works equally well for a first date, a post-work debrief, or a late night out, and the globally inspired small plates (pork belly bao, crab rangoon, lamb tacos) are substantial enough to anchor the experience.