Arbella

Chicago, Illinois

Arbella is a River North cocktail bar at 112 W. Grand Ave., run by the team behind Tanta, the Peruvian restaurant next door. Its menu is laid out like a world map, with every drink rated on a scale from light to boozy. Picks include Old School, Grey Goose vodka washed with peanut butter and poured over Concord grape jelly ice, and Smokey's Sidepiece with charred habanero mezcal, alongside old fashioneds named for Havana, Kentucky and Oaxaca and a spirit-free list. The bar has a 20-foot ceiling, brick walls and colorful murals, and an adjoining music room, the B-Side, is set up for DJs and live bands. Food runs from truffle fries to coconut shrimp and steak frites. Happy hour is weekdays from 4 to 7 pm, and Sundays and nights after 9:15 pm are walk-in only.