Gold Coast Gets New Rooftop Destination

ARLA, a Mediterranean-Japanese rooftop restaurant from Hospitality Included, opens June 18 on the sixth floor of 15 East Oak Street in Chicago's Gold Coast. The 8,500-square-foot venue marks the latest project from the hospitality group behind Adalina Italian and Adalina Prime.

Chef and Partner Soo Ahn leads the kitchen, drawing inspiration from coastal destinations ranging from the French Riviera to Okinawa. The menu emphasizes raw bar selections, hearth-fired seafood and meats, and shareable mezze-style plates that blend Mediterranean and Japanese influences.

Design and Layout

Designed by LG Group and its creative studio Offshoot Creative, ARLA seats 230 guests indoors across a dining room featuring terracotta plaster, walnut millwork, and polished brass. Two outdoor terraces add 60 seats and offer views of Lake Michigan and the surrounding Gold Coast neighborhood. Retractable floor-to-ceiling windows connect the terraces to the main bar and dining areas.

Private and semi-private dining rooms with sculptural chandeliers and custom wallpaper provide options for events and gatherings.

Menu Highlights

Signature dishes include Japanese Yellowtail Crudo with shaved fennel and toasted sesame, Caviar Sando on shokupan milk bread, and Tzatziki Salmon Maki with mint yogurt sauce. Shareable plates feature Crab Spanakopita, Black Garlic Baba Ghanoush, and charred octopus with Florina pepper and gigante bean purée.

Hearthfire entrees include Citrus-Marinated Skirt Steak with nori salsa, Lamb Chops with hoisin glaze, and grilled Cod with crispy enoki mushrooms and caramelized miso. Vegetable dishes like Cauliflower Steak with black lime crust and harissa pickles round out the offerings.

Beverage Program

Coastal-inspired cocktails include the Koka with tequila, yuzu, and Makrut lime leaf; the Verde with gin, ouzo, celery, and green apple; and the Mirage with coconut-washed Suntory whisky. The restaurant also features a curated wine and sake program with Old World and emerging varieties.

"We wanted ARLA to reflect the kinds of meals and places we dream of coming back to while traveling," says Chef/Partner Soo Ahn. "The menu pulls from a lot of different coastal cultures and flavors, but everything is rooted in being fresh and easily shareable. More than anything, we wanted guests to feel a connection from the moment they step off those elevators, whether they're stopping by for martinis and seafood on the terrace or settling in for a long dinner with friends."

Hours and Reservations

ARLA operates 4 p.m. to midnight Monday–Thursday, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday–Saturday, and 4–10 p.m. Sunday. Reservations are available via SevenRooms on arlachicago.com.

Why It Matters

The opening signals continued momentum in Chicago's Gold Coast dining scene and demonstrates the expansion strategy of Hospitality Included, which has established itself as a significant operator in the city's fine-dining segment. The rooftop positioning and year-round indoor-outdoor capability position ARLA to capture both seasonal tourist traffic and local dinner traffic seeking elevated casual dining with views.

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Written by FBM Publications Editors