Beloved Neighborhood Spot in the Historic Telephone Building Will Pour Its Last Glass Soon
After more than ten years serving the Santa Monica community, Esters Wine Shop & Bar will close its doors for good on November 23, the owners announced this week in a post on the restaurant’s Instagram.
The popular neighborhood wine destination, known for its curated selection of small-production bottles, lively oyster bar, and welcoming atmosphere, has been a fixture at 1314 7th Street since July 2015, when it opened the spot in the Telephone Building, a 1937 Art Deco landmark in downtown Santa Monica.
In a statement shared on social media, the restaurant’s owners said Esters began with the goal of creating “a warm, welcoming wine shop focused on small-production bottles from around the world.” Over the years, they said, it evolved into “something far more special, a place where people came together to celebrate, unwind, and connect over beautiful food and wine.”
The team expressed gratitude to guests who have supported the bar throughout the past decade, calling them “the heart of what made Esters the place it is.”
Before closing, Esters will offer special discounts on wine purchases in the lead-up to Thanksgiving. The owners said, “As we prepare to close, we’ll be opening the shop for a few last days leading up to Thanksgiving, offering special wine discounts so you can take home a little piece of Esters to enjoy at your own celebrations.”
The note was signed Kathryn, Josh, Zoe & Colby, after this last message, “From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for the love and support you’ve shared with us all these years. With love and gratitude,”
Esters is part of the Rustic Canyon Family restaurant group, which also includes Birdie G’s, Huckleberry, Milo & Olive, Sweet Rose Creamery, The Dutchess, in Northern California, and Rustic Canyon restaurant. As we reported earlier this year, Birdie G’s will close on December 31, and Cassia, the sister restaurant of Esters and formerly of the Rustic Canyon Family, closed on February 22, 2025.
