An Intimate Dinner Party Experience at Esters Wine Shop and Bar
When the wine collection is so vast that there is an entire corner of the shop dedicated to what appears to be a wine library, you know you’ve just reached a wine mecca. No detail too small for attention, Esters Wine Shop and Bar has quickly made it to our summer go-to spot with their simple and classic take on a Santa Monica style, Parisian wine bar. From the patio to the corner living room, Esters’ charming and timeless beauty is the perfect COVID getaway for even just an hour or two. (but don’t forget your mask. We’re still in this!)
Apart of the Rustic Wine Family, Esters Wine Shop and Bar was opened in 2015 by co-owners Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan with the group’s Wine director, Kathryn Coker and husband Tug. The Rustic Wine Family includes Rustic Canyon, Huckleberry Bakery and Cafe, Sweet Rose Creamery, Milo and Olive, Cassia, Milo SRO, Cassia Rice & Noodle Kitchen and Birdie G’s. As impressive as the stack of ever-growing restaurants is, the even more impressive fact about Rustic Wine Family is the integrity of their desire to make each restaurant apart of the family. Each restaurant is a little taste of those early days of intimate family dinners that originally inspired Josh Loeb to open their flagship restaurant in 2006.
At Esters, you’ll get a fun and relaxed approach to an elegantly curated wine collection. Though the indoor seating is currently closed due to COVID, the expanded patio is perfect for a slow summer night, sipping wine, and eating off their delicious menu. You can still catch a glimpse of the gorgeous interior by exploring the wine library and if you’re not ready to eat out yet, they offer curbside, takeout, and delivery. And the best news yet? They’re still offering happy hour from daily 4p-6p! (With the major hit the restaurant industry has taken from COVID, we don’t blame ANY restaurants or bars for nixing the HH menu.)
One final detail that proves their commitment to excellent service and a family approach to their business; they’ve set up a phone number to receive questions via text about wine during business hours. Any questions about which bottle from their collection of 250+ wines would fit perfectly for whatever occasion you’re drinking for can be texted through to this number:310-598-5650. And if you do want to come in for a gorgeous night in the patio but want to ensure you’re spot, check out their new feature of reserving your spot on Yelp’s Waitlist.