Estelle's Cafe N Lounge
Categories: Bars, Restaurants [Edit]
Neighborhood: Wicker Park2013 W North Ave
(between Damen Ave & Milwaukee Ave)
Chicago, IL 60647 (773) 782-0450
- Nearest Transit:
Damen (Blue)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 7:00 p.m.-4:00 a.m.
Fri, Sun 7:00 p.m.-4:00 a.m.
Sat 7:00 p.m.-5:00 a.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Late Night
- Music: Juke Box
- Best Nights: Thu, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour: No
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: No
- Coat Check: No
43 reviews
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
"I don't know if I can express to everyone my love for this place. If I were to close my eyes and invision my ideal corner, neighborhood…" read more »
97 Reviews for Estelle's Cafe N Lounge
I've only been to this bar a few times, so maybe I need to give it another shot on different days of the week...
BUT each time that I've been there, I thought the crowd was awful. It was a 'sausage fest' filled with the most pathetic and desperately annoying guys.
If you are a girl trying to get some drinks with your friends and don't want someone coming up to you every 2 minutes to try to sleep with you, then I don't recommend this place.
Oh boy, Estelle's. When I think of this place, I think of the smell of period shits. Estelle's is the used tampon of Chicago.
Let me think of some of the great times I have had here. Um... hmm... that comes up as a big, fat none. Every time I have been here I have almost gotten into a fight or got hit on by some choice women (read: psycho hose beasts). One night it was some lady's 30th birthday, so she decided that meant I should make out with her. I tried to politely decline, but that just egged her and her snatch-trap friends on. I eventually hid in the bathroom. The problem is, the bathroom is like stepping into a herpes pool, so that spot didn't last long. Eventually I just came out and took the handy from her, but I wasn't pleased.
Seriously, going into this place is about as much of a gamble as sharing needles with your heroin addict friend from Seattle. Except needle drugs are more fun and way cooler.
Note: I lied about accepting the handy.
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I knew I wasn't drunk enough for Estelle's before I even walked in the door. Maybe it was the surly doorman, maybe it was the fact that it was 2 a.m., or maybe it was the gaggle of women in front of me who were so dysfunctionally drunk, they spent five minutes figuring out how to remove their IDs from their wallets.
Well, when in Rome...
Three whiskeys later, things were getting a lot more entertaining -- and by entertaining, I mean I saw a woman's vagina. Repeatedly.
Normally I'm not that into cooz, but hey, this is Estelle's. And from what I'd heard, stumbling, batshit-crazy cooz just comes with the territory here. So I poached a chair, sat my ass down, and watched the spectacle of marginally attractive people trying to fuck each other unfold.
And guess what? I didn't even catch syphilis. And for that, Estelle's, you get three stars.
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"Do I know you?"
"Yeah, we met at Claire's thing a couple weeks ago."
"Oh fuck yeah! I love you!"
"I love you!"
"Do you do drugs?"
"Sometimes."
"Then you're going to do some coke with us tonight! Hey, Doug, this is- What's your name again?"
"Justin."
"Justin! I love this guy. Take care of this guy."
I don't do cocaine, and ten minutes after this conversation I wandered to the restroom and never saw this person again, but it was a very Estelle's moment. I also watched three separate girl-on-girl kissing explosions, had my chest rubbed by a total stranger, almost got into a fistfight with a kid in blue-blockers (so I don't know how he fucking saw me in the first place) and managed to turn a 1:40am trip to the bar into an enjoyable and festive 2.5 hours of booze-fueled fun.
I'm pretty sure Estelle's is actually a government funded STD farm, but that doesn't stop it from trouncing Nick's for late night Wicka Park fun. See, at Estelle's everyone will actually have sex with you. They are, in fact, trying to, from the minute you walk in. Since everyone seems to be on the same page, it's almost comforting. It's like someone gave Cupid some of that elusive bar coke and he's running around apeshit, arrowing everyone right in the pants until it's just a revolving door of Hepatitis L and syphillorhea and PBR.
I've had shitty nights at Estelle's, but they're few and far between. If I'm going to break the 2am barrier, there's no better people-watching in a three mile radius and I can crawl home in under five minutes. The beer is not quite as cheap as the ladies, but it's not terribly expensive either. Jukebox is good enough. Crowd is more hipster than dickhead, but still pretty varied and, again, really horny.
Stock up on condoms, because you're going to have to double-bag that thing.
Also, if you see me in this bar, it means I am utterly shitfaced. Feel free to walk me home and like, DO ME or whatever. There's nothing like the gentle chirping of morning birds to really get my motor running.
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In California we don't have the privilege of 4am bars like you do in the midwest so our last call is 130am sooooo lame.
Anyways, My first time here I was drunk and enjoyed myself a lot.
The second time I was sober with my drunk friends I was visiting and it was not fun.
I think that sums it up. Make sure to be drunk by the time you stumble in this place.
Christ I'm hung over and I have the fine bartenders of Estelle's to thank for that! After the Frightened Rabbits/French Kicks show at Double Door I skipped through the rain over to Estelle's before the 2am rush. It was near empty initially which was awesome, just the way I like my bars. Not entirely sure of when I left......but it had gotten pretty crowded.
They do pour very heavy handedly to the tip top of the glass and were quick to fill my glass once it'd gotten empty. After I'd had 4 or 5 Makers and Sprite the lady bartender hooked me up with a freebie. Sweet!
As far as bathrooms in bars go I actually think this one is fine. It's well lit, has a mirror that isn't coated in lipstick, stickers, or unknown substances, a toilet that flushes, and toilet paper.
I did end up loosing my ID somewhere between Estelle's and home last night/early this morning so if ya find it send me a PM! Some things are consistent about my trips to Estelle's, always sit at the bar, always end up hungover, always have the opportunity to hook up offered, and always lose at least one item. Ah memories, I think I drank away the ones from kindergarten last night.
Look, I'm gonna be honest here: I don't know anything about one night stands. But if I wanted to gain a little bit of knowledge, this would probably be the best place to start learning.
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Quite possibly the most overrated bar in Chicago. Its only redeeming qualities are the location and its hours. These qualities make up the thin veneer of an otherwise forgettable sack of bore. I would rather drink alone in my bathroom than drink at Estelle's.
I've heard all about how great this place is. I've been here more than once, and every single time I was bored to the point of absurdity. Half the people here were too cool to talk to anyone. The other half were frat-boy jocks trying to hook up with the "unique" girl they never got to nail, along with lincoln park whores fresh over from john barleycorn's trying out the "artsy" bars.
What you're left with is a dark, depressing and ugly wooden bar with rude service and lame clientele. There is no reason to go here, unless you like to torture yourself.
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This is in response to Christine P. who wrote a review lower down the line. I happen to know the door man you're speaking of. He is in no way racist. The race card is too often pulled out by ignorant people when they are losing an argument. It's an immature way of saying, "well, I know you're right but I need to save face in front of my friend cuz I'm not cool enough to get him in this bar with out ID." What a croc of s**t. So if you never go back then good riddance. Keep the trash out. Ok, now I'm done with you. Go away.
Stopped in here last night with the boyf. Cute place! Drinks weren't cheap, and the crowd was borderline trendy, but it still struck me as a nice place to sit, chill, and enjoy some conversation.
The music was great, too. It merits extra stars in my review, because they were playing trip-hop. I'll be coming back here, for that reason alone.
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A-wad bouncers. Flat drafts. Asses touching shoulders and other peoples knees. An overall forgettable atmosphere with just a hint of irony.
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Automatic four stars for having Karate Kid on the tv.
Even though it was Saturday night we were still able to find barstools towards the back and sit right amongst what seemed to be a Metallica "Ride the Lightning Tour" Roadie reunion. Words cannot describe how many times I wanted to yell, "HEY ARAGORN, son of Arathorn, what's your poison!?" Seriously, there were like four of these guys who must have taken a sacred oath to never let their hair be shorter than mid-back and never wear anything that's not black.
I wasn't really here to laugh at D&D players though (seriously though, those guys were cool by me, they could have populated the entire bar and headbutted all the sorostitutes hogging the booths all night as far as I'm concerned) - I digress- I was more here to get drunk. The bartenders were prompt and friendly. Nothing out of the ordinary to point out about the drink selection really - but I guess it's worth noting that they have both Tia Maria and Guinness so I was able to make a lovely Beer Milkshake. Mmmmm.
I had one of those moments were I nearly pooped my pants. I had been running a sizable tab all night (tip: make friends with me, I am world's most generous drunk) and then when it came time to close out my card wasn't running. Dude even brought it back and asked if I had another card - nope, nor do I have any cash. Turns out my card just had a small crack in it and with some finesse it finally worked but for a moment I had horrible drunken thoughts of being made to clean out the fryer and scrub the toilets to pay off my bill.
All is well though and I shall return.
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I've had average nights at Estelle's. I've had terrible nights at Estelle's. I've had incredible nights at Estelle's. Yea its dirty and dark but you get a pretty fine sample of every type of young drunk Chicagoan in one place. You can drink at other places but you can't really have the same type of experience. Sit at a booth for a couple hours and you'll never know who'll barge in next to you and either creep you out or start a very intelligent conversation.
The bouncer can be an asshole but he has a long night of dealing with every type of bro, douchebag, hipster, druggie, and whore ahead of him so just be patient cause the line does get long after 2 AM.
I don't know what all the complaints are about the drinks. I think the prices are about average for wicker park. They're about the same as Tavern.
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Was here on a thursday night at around 2am.
Loved the darkness and red colored walls. These walls either reminded me of being in the womb or being in the sacrificial room in the basement of the house in Amiityville Horror. Either way, I felt pretty comfortable.
I wasnt necessarily impressed with the music selection as others have mentioned, but maybe I'll pay attention more the next time I'm there or be less drunk on arrival.
Big booths were all full on arrival at a little after 2am so we stood by the bar. Wasnt too busy, but then again there were slight snow flurries. Had a fair time.
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Open late. If you get there before the other bars close, it can be a nice, comfortable, dark, laid back place where you can catch a seat and talk to your friends. But once the other bars get out this place turns into a pumpkin. But like Nick's Beergarden down the street, you shouldn't be out this late anyway. So if you are, your getting what you deserve anyway. Supposedly the food here is good, but I've never tried it, so I can't comment. Beer prices are avg to high. Parking in this neighborhood is nightmarish. Get here before midnight if you plan on sitting.
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Estelle's gets packed once 2 am rolls around. In Wicker Park, your late night options are either The Tavern or Estelle's. I'll gladly take the latter. The Tavern is a gateway to hell.
It gets loud in there. Good luck having a conversation, though if you're out drinking past 2 am, you're probably not looking to have deep meaningful conversations about life at a bar. (Let's be honest, you're probably looking for a warm body to go home with.) Order up a PBR and you'll fit right in. If it's crowded, however, you're likely to get jostled and bumped by bearded and bespectacled young men who can't manage to take off their messenger bags. It's annoying, but it goes with the territory.
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this is one of my favorite bars in chicago, its 4 am the beer list is ok, and the juke is awesome, there is a line that starts about 1230 or 1am, but im usually in there before, there are alot of bucktown ass hats that walk in the door at night but whatever they're everywhere it does get really crowded then but the juke and beer makes it all worth it...
What better place to go a few blocks from home when you get thirsty at 1am? Open until 4am is nice sometimes. Sometimes.
Ladies, if you would like a quiet beer by yourself, I don't suggest Estelle's after 1am. I had to ask three different guys if they knew where I could go poop, to get rid of them.
Drinks are reasonably priced, the bar is a good dark, and the bathroom isn't rancid.
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I will always have a fond place in my heart for Estelle's since that is where I had my first legal drink.
However, I only had that experience there because I lived in bucktown and it is a 4am bar.
It's crowded and expensive, I haven't been back.
i'm sure i would hate estelle's if i couldn't skip the line and didn't know everyone who works here. actually, though, i often agree with the music, and don't really mind fighting a crowd under those circumstances...
My friends and I went to Estelle's after giving up on the Violet Hour (watch out for private parties that take up most of the space for the entire night). Anyway, back to Estelle's - our expectations were pretty low at that point. We wanted feeling back in our extremities and a place to perch. Estelle's delivered. The bartender we had was great (and cute!) and made fine martinis. It wasn't too loud to talk and we all had a seat, so we were beyond satisfied. The atmosphere isn't anything to speak of but it lacks any major drawbacks, so it's solid. I don't expect it's going to become a regular sport for any of us, but it's good to know a simple, laid back bar is still an option on a Saturday night.
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I often end up here late after an already long night. Yes, sometimes you have to wait in line to get in, which really sucks when it's cold, and yes, its small and crowded, but it's almost guaranteed you'll be entertained.
The music is usually excellent and the bartenders friendly. The prices aren't cheap, but they're not bad for a Wicker Park late night.
Come here earlier in the night and it's a whole different experience - much more laid back and you might actually find a place to sit, but its the heavily intoxicated late night crowd that makes this place what it is.
Ew Ew Ew. Ew.
A place where broke hipsters drink PBR.
The choice method guys use to hit on girls here is walking up to her while she talks to someone else and staring at her until she is so uncomfortable that she turns towards you and finally says "what?!?" Oh good now you got your in, im sure you'll come off as dashing.
Sorry, my extreme hatred for this place comes from my visit over the weekend when i was sexually assaulted by some druggie groping me- and the wait staff didn't really care. This place is in no way safe late at night. I wouldn't come back here unless someone hired me to knock it over with a wrecking ball.
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What the hell happened to this corner of Wicker Park? It's like Lincoln Park now. I hate Wicker Park and hope that my current hood never turns out to be...Lincoln Park South.
I miss the old Estelle's.
Tuesdays are still alright though.
the bouncer's here are a-holes and the service is terrible. yes, it is a 4:00 am bar, but there are many other 4 am-ers in the city that are better than this economy sized bag of douche pretending to be a bar.
bleh.
one star because if i wanted to have a sloppy regretful one night stand with a tight pants wearing, heroin chic art kid hipster resulting in a lifetime lasting present of a incurable STD, i would go here for sure.
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I don't know when Estelle's became a "cafe n lounge" because the last time I was there all it was was dirty and crowded.
I am a tavern regular (any Estelle's lover's dreaded bar), so believe me, I understand the 2am crowd in wicker park. There are 3 options: nick's, estelle's, and tavern... take your pick. From what I can tell, there is something for everyone, but if everyone is still out that means these bars are crowded.
My problem with Estelle's, however, is not the fact that it gets crowded. Like I said, I know Estelle's has its own set of regular customers and people who love it, but this is why I don't like it:
1) It's often not very clean.
2) The drinks are over priced, even for bucktown standards, and the bartenders don't even pretend to care whether you want a drink or not.
3) There's always a line at the door. If you don't get there before 1:30 the odds of getting in are less than slim to none.
4) The crowd can have an attitude. It's a different set than the lincoln park crowd, but they're just as snobby in their own way. If you're not like them, you're not cool enough.
I used to like Estelle's, but from now on I'll pass. It gets 3 stars because it serves its purpose as a late-night bar, but otherwise, it would definitely be a 1-star kind of joint.
If you even entertain the notion of going to Estelle's, that's your best indicator that it is, in fact, time for you to GO HOME. You have had enough to drink, I promise you.
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This place kinda sucks but its kind of funny to see how drunk people get in here.. one time my friend and I actually played drunk jenga with some shleb who was passed out in his stool, we actually balanced a lit candle on his head.. man, kinda of mean, i'll admit but pretty funny
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There is a reason this is a late night bar: it's because it's a last resort. You go to Estelle's when you have nowhere else to go. When you don't care about maxxing out your credit card, the atm fees or whatever bad song playing there is blaring in your ear. Estelle's is where you embarrass yourself and hope they never remember your face because it was dark enough and you assume that something like that probably happens every night. So, after your favorite bar has let out or you realize you can't afford another overpriced Subterranean cocktail, make a quick trip around the corner to Flash Taco and then stumble into Estelle's.
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I'm not sure if I remember all that much about this bar. Other than it's dark, smokey and slightly over-crowded. As a late-night bar it tends to be one of those places where you stumble over to when you're just not ready to go home...it's also one of those places where you make those bad decisions. Luckily, I figured out that I was way past drunk and I didn't need to stay till the lights (and sun) came on/up.
Also, from what I remember, I believe they had really great drink specials during the week. For some reason I remember getting a blue moon for 2 dollars, but don't quote me on that.
To be reviewed more at another drunken night.
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The cocktail waitress I have seen every time I have been in here (a handful of times) has always been very attentive. The crowd reminds me of home but it's strange because I'm not a regular.
The prices are not bad but I try to avoid this place on the weekends, especially after 1am but it's either here or Nick's Beer Garden if I have a hankerin' for after hours boozin' it up. I have yet to fully scout the jukebox but for the most part appreciate most of what I've heard.
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It's a cool place.....if you're into tight jeans and tattoos.
I went there late on a Tuesday nigh with a friend and it was packed pretty tight. It's nice to know I'm not the only one that needs a drink on a Tuesday. My friend also knew the bartender so we got a couple shots for free.
I agree with other people here, in that it would be nice if it were a little bigger. But that's just the story of my life and I guess I'll have to deal..... sigh
But overall a cool place with a chill vibe. Hooray for hipsters.
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Estelles had the best bartender/waitress ever, and also the worst bartender ever.
That's it really.
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Estelle's is RACIST!
Some friends tried to go to Estelle's last night and they wouldn't let us in because one of my friends is "Arabic." The bouncer was a complete jerk.
I've had some good times at Estelle's in the past, but will never go back because their bouncers, or at least one of them, is a racist.
This is completely unacceptable.
Wicker Park is quietly turning into obnoxious Lincoln Park, as I recently discovered I am the last to know. Why didn't anyone tell me?!
After a frantic evening of trying to find an available restaurant and settling for a below average meal, I wanted to find a cool bar where we could talk, not shout, at each other.
As soon as we entered Estelle's I knew this was the best decision. It truly is a lovely bar with great booths, dim lighting and cool tunes.
Until the Trixies arrived.
A loud, drunk group of 20 arrived on their "Party Bussss!" with handheld signs announcing the 30th birthday of one of their clan. Leading the group was a young girl with a loud whistle in her mouth, which she used with every exhale.
I gently tapped her on the shoulder and said, "Excuse me?"
"WE'RE LEAVING!" she bitched.
"Oh, well that isn't what I wanted to speak to you about and I'm sorry for the interruption."
She used her whistle again to call out to her "homie" friends.
"I don't mean to spoil your good time, I was just hoping you could chill on the whistle. I'm sure you understand it isn't the most pleasant sound in the world."
She disMISSed me and I thought it was over.
The clan headed back to the "Partay BUSSS" to stop at their next drunken adventure.
One girl headed to the door and SLAMMED her beer bottle on our table before exiting.
We were pretty shocked... it was loud and rude, but so were they.
The next girl to leave did the same thing. Loud thud on our table and surprised looks on our faces.
Before the entire group left, one impish girl screamed at the bar,
"Whistles! I LOVE WHISTLES!!!!! YAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!"
If you can tolerate drunken idiot frat guys and girls, you can handle the uncool people that will frequent this place, as its location is on the firing line of frat and phat.
I'd go back.
But I'd have to bring a whistle in case we have another showdown.
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Estelle's is place we go when we want to grab a seat, have a good conversation while getting silly drunk on the cheap all in the mix of loud music. Honestly there is really nothing too special about this spot but its a good standby bar.
Granted, I have never been here late night or when it has been real crowded and I like it that way.
The staff is super friendly and didn't even flinch, roll their eyes or even sigh when I ordered my lone Miller Light in a sea of PBR. That's my kind of place. Thanks for making a Lakeview girl feel welcome in the WP.
Estelle's is where you go when you're drunk, want to get laid and don't care who the person is or what the person looks like. if you are a female and like to get oogled by a bunch of drunks when you walk in the door, go here.
Blech, I very rarely enjoy going to Estelle's. The only time it's even remotely fun is if you go with a group of friends. The drinks are pretty cheap and the music isn't too bad.
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Went here as an after dinner chill spot with a date and freaking LOVED this place. I'm a dive bar fan and I'd put this one on a step up from dive bars. You have to like 90s rock to enjoy this place, was actually my date's suggestion and I can't find fault in it. As long as you know what you're getting into, that is.
We had 2 waitresses, the second one was drunk as hell herself but they were both very friendly and I even fanagled a couple freebies out of the drunk one. Needless to say, any bar where I can get free drinks at I'm a huge fan at. The music is fairly loud but not enough where I couldn't make conversation.
Will definitely go back to this place.
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Definitely full of hipsters, but that's cool. Better than being fratty! Right off the Damon blue line stop so it is really easy to get too. I wish that it was a little bigger because I would def. hang out here more! Since it is a 4 a.m. (5 a.m. on Saturdays!) bar, we generally end up here after some of the other places close, so it gets pretty packed as an after hours bar. Overall, cool crowd and they have some really cool music.
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my favorite part of estelle's is the doorman. yah, you know the one. really sweet, big dude, red hair, beard. i lovingly refer to him as mario batali, but i wouldn't recommend you doing it.
the bathroom situation sucks. one time after i'd been waiting for a good fifteen minutes, just crossing my legs waiting for the door to open, this girl in a dress saunters up and asks to cut me. i told her she was out of her mind and turned back around. a few seconds later, jokes on me. she just let her rip. gave my apparently filthy ankles a really superb golden shower. classy. maybe estelle's should hand out complimentary diapers.
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