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It looks like Esters, the upcoming wine bar and small plates shop from wine director Kathryn Coker — plus her husband Tug, the Rustic Canyon team (Zoe Nathan and Josh Loeb), and chef Jeremy Fox — is in the early friends-and-family stages. The classy space next to the now-open Cassia on 7th Street in Santa Monica went Instagram-crazy over the weekend, with loads of local food folks converging on the space for mock service nights.
First, it’s a lovely-looking room, with tall library shelves for holding all that wine and beer. There’s also lots of communal seating and a tall white bar, with loads of beautiful lighting options hanging from high above.
As previously mentioned, the food comes by way of Rustic Canyon’s Jeremy Fox, and will include a wide array of charcuterie, both housemade and otherwise. There will also be cheese plates, breads, and other snackier options on board, giving the place a lighthearted drink-and-a-bite feel, as opposed to something requiring a more serious sit-down commitment.
As of now, it appears that Esters will be opening to the public this Thursday, though there are no official hours as of yet. Once it opens, though, expect Esters to make for a really wonderful pre-dinner option for anyone waiting to grab a table at Cassia next door.
Esters Wine Bar & Shop
1314 7th Street
Santa Monica, CA
