That New New: Esters Wine Shop + Bar, Downtown Santa Monica

Places like The Oaks Gourmet in Franklin Village are always a good idea for a wine run, grilled cheese night, or to stock up on unique craft beers and grab a brick of cured meats and artisanal goods. To tailgate with that experience, downtown Santa Monica has gained a hot spot that breeds the same tone: Esters Wine Shop + Bar, an integrated wine shop, bar and market experience boasting a curation of 200-plus bottle selection and small plates from Executive Chef Jeremy Fox, and helmed by some of our favorite restaurateurs, Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan. Remember the LA CANVAS Teamwork Issue? Yeah, those two were all over that print.

The duo continue to grow their restaurant family from within and teamed up with another fun-loving power couple to debut Esters, co-owner Kathryn and Tug Coker (Rustic Canyon). The wine program is curated by Kathryn, who also curates the program for Cassia—the group’s other newly opened spot across the hall from Esters—all housed in the historic  1937 Art Deco landmark, the Telephone Building. On appeal and aesthetic, Kathryn states, “With Esters, we’re creating a cozy, approachable, neighborhood atmosphere where people can pop in for a glass of Champagne and a bite to eat with friends and family, stock up on specialty items for a dinner party or picnic, as well as learn more about wine by exploring our fun and unique selection.”

Use your photographic memory and clock the space and a few dishes below for your next SaMo trip. We’ll be grabbing things like Smoked California Fish in a jar with pickled ramps, Cook Pigs Ranch Pork Terrine with grape mustard, and Cucumber Panzanella with dill and house-cultured yogurt for our next westward beach day picnic get up. They do open at 11am, so why not?

Esters is located at 1314 7th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401 and is open Tuesday-Sunday 4-11 p.m., Friday-Saturday 4 p.m.-12 a.m., and closed on Mondays. Beginning on August 11, Esters will open Tuesday-Sunday at 11 a.m. For more information, please visit www.esterswineshop.com or call 310.899.6900. Catch what they dish on Instagram.