Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Estelle's

    3.5 (347 reviews)
    Closed • 4:00 pm - 4:00 am (Next day)

    Estelle's Photos

    Business Info

    ESTELLE'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Moderate noise
    Juke Box
    Happy hour specials

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Estelle's

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Great cheese curds! Me thinks the sauce is a garlic ranch.
    Maureen M.

    Cool place! Estelle's has been on my Yet List for more than a decade. We went for happy hour last Sun (1/5) about 5p. There was one other patron; two more arrived a little later. It reminded me of "After Hours" (when Paul gets to the bar)- too early and a work night to be crowded. We'll go back on a Fri or Sat. It has that cool old feeling like Simon's.

    Denyce M.

    The short and sweet of it...we stopped in to get something to eat before heading to Subterranean for their 70s Disco night DJ set. We walked into the bar and were immediately hit with very loud music. There wasn't a lot of available space to sit so The Doctor, Queen and I went to a table top for four in the window. It was clear some people had been sitting there, but the table had not been cleared. The Doctor moved everything over to the table next to us and we sat down. A bartender eventually came over to remove the empty glasses from the table next to us and cleaned it. Looked over at us, said he would clean the table but it would leave the table wet, so he just walked off. We looked at each other and decided that we did not want to order anything. Fortunately we saw Cafe Robey, which was a lovely find and ate there. Just didn't feel the vibe there. Maybe the food is good, I don't know. But I am a big fan of talking and while I love music, I don't want it so loud that I to yell to have a conversation.

    We went on a Friday evening during their happy hour. Half priced drinks was a great deal. We had a few canned drinks and two house cocktails - they were good, but nothing out of this world. The ambiance is dark and moody. At around 5:30 all the tables were taken except the one we were at. It was a little difficult to find the restrooms. Overall would come back and recommend for an affordable happy hour.

    a man working in a restaurant kitchen
    Faheem A.

    Estelle is a local neighborhood dive bar. I ordered a BYO-Burger- this just means I created my own burger. It was amazing my only critique would be that it was a little bit over seasoned, but who cares anyway it's a dive bar lol The drinks were amazing and kind of crafty if you ask me. The service was surprisingly good if you ask me. I do think that the music was a little too loud for me but I still did enjoy the place.

    Had a great experience Sunday at Estelle's. Grace, Ashlee and Nate were all amazing. Music was on point. Highly recommend the nuggets if you're hungry.

    Michelle L.

    I don't want to gatekeep but this is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE LATE NIGHT bar to frequent. Like it closes at like 4am and food is still served pretty late. It's not like a super masculine dive bar, it's for the girlies & movie buffs since they always have really interesting movies playing (like Perfect Blue or LOTR). Plus the bartenders are always so sweet and respectful and check in with you. The jalapeño poppers are my fave and the havarti burger always hits the spot after clubbing.

    See all

    Photo of Kyle H.
    1431
    2124
    7970

    17 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 16
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Carol K.
    1477
    3172
    1475

    17 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of David H.

    David H.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lily Z.
    121
    955
    1031

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Great burgers, I always come here after bartending bc nothings open and let's just say I haven't stopped also good cocktails and music.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Diane D.
    16
    30
    25

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kat E.
    17
    38
    56

    9 years ago

    My favorite local bar. It's never packed and annoying; not even on the weekends. Good movies always playing. Just simple.

    Business owner information

    Photo of David H.

    David H.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tana R.
    251
    505
    1906

    9 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of David H.

    David H.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 18
    Thanks 0
    Love this 51
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 13
    Thanks 0
    Love this 23
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 14
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jelena Z.
    4966
    1802
    1795

    16 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 12
    Oh no 0

    19 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 17
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    20 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    20 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ericka A.
    1373
    1607
    3207

    16 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    20 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    19 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of David H.

    David H.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of The S.
    161
    191
    1

    14 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    19 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    20 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of David H.

    David H.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 9

    Ask the Community - Estelle's

    Review Highlights - Estelle's

    “It's a typical dive bar with good beer on most days, but on $2 Tuesday, you can get drunk on tasty microbrews.”

    Mentioned in 35 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Cindy's Rooftop - Prawns Nayarit

    Cindy's Rooftop

    4.1(2.9k reviews)
    3.4 mi•The Loop
    •$$$

    Since we were visiting Chicago to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday, I wanted to make sure that…read morethere was a wow factor wherever we went on her special day. In browsing through the pictures of Cindy's Rooftop, it looked like it hit that criteria spot-on. The pictures did not lie. When entering the restaurant, the views of Lake Michigan through floor to ceiling windows were amazing and it was nice to enjoy the bright natural light from the glass roof. Once seated, I told our server, Gerardo that it was her birthday and he immediately got her a glass of bubbly on him! He was positive and easy to talk to. This was quite the contrast with the service at Bar Mar for dinner the night before where the server made no attempt to make the night special. We ordered the Blueberry French Toast and the Chilaquiles. The french toast was superb, being thick, fluffy and sweet. The Chilaquiles were pretty average...what I'd expect at a cheap Mexican joint so at $25, it was quite pricey but I will say the over-medium eggs were cooked perfectly. Throughout brunch, Gerardo checked on us frequently and when I asked for the check, he came back with a dessert and a candle as a final gesture to making my girlfriend's day special. I am so glad we came here because it truly was an experience, thanks to the great service, beautiful rooftop, and good food.

    Cindy's Rooftop has beautiful views of the city. It's overlooking Millennium Park and The Bean…read more Perfect place to bring out of town visitors or if you just want to enjoy rooftop views. We definitely picked a beautiful fall day to come by. Came around 3pm on a Tuesday and they had a limited menu until 5pm. Ordered the cheese curds and arancini as appetizers. Both were tasty and the sauces were great. The smashburger and fries were really good too, and filling. Overall food was good but pricey. Guess you're paying for the downtown rooftop views with your food Our server was nice and attentive and my water glass was never empty.

    Photos
    Cindy's Rooftop - Inside the rooftop bar and restaurant

    Inside the rooftop bar and restaurant

    Cindy's Rooftop - Pink Moon Oysters* (Half Dozen)

    Pink Moon Oysters* (Half Dozen)

    Cindy's Rooftop - Jeppson's Malört

    See all

    Jeppson's Malört

    Gretel - elevated! butter chicken curry soup with cilantro + crispy paratha

    Gretel

    4.5(485 reviews)
    1.2 mi•Logan Square
    •$$

    This is my third time at Gretel and the food was even better than I remembered it! We came around…read more5pm on a Sunday and there was only about a 10 minute wait. They sat us downstairs. I had only sat upstairs at the bar and outside, so I was happy we were able to see the downstairs. It's very intimate down there with only a few tables, while the upstairs is a lot more of a lively bar atmosphere. Service was good and fast. They are known for their burger but I am not a huge burger fan. Their other food is amazing though! Even my boyfriend who loves burgers agreed that the chicken sandwich was one of the best and maybe even better than the burger. Definitely get the mac & cheese, chicken sandwich, and french onion soup. The french onion soup was super cheesy and the mac & cheese was so creamy and perfect. Typically I don't like bacon in mac & cheese, but I love that they don't overdo it here where it overpowers the entire dish. It was only some tiny pieces of bacon just for the flavor.

    I've heard a lot of great things about Gretel so I was excited to finally try it! This review is…read morereally for 4.5 stars! We ordered a smorgasbord of items including the (infamous) burger (which lived up to the hype!), steak frites, and Mac and cheese and mashed potato sides. We also ordered a mocktail, something lime and coconut ish, which was truly outstanding. All the food was SO good, and the portions were really big which surprised (and delighted!) us. The server was very nice, perhaps not the most bubbly, but she was extremely accommodating regarding a dietary restriction which we appreciated. She was understanding and validating, which went a long way with us! This is such a great neighborhood spot with a menu so varied, there's something for everyone. Can't wait to return and try some ramen on a fall night soon!

    Photos
    Gretel - Flowers

    Flowers

    Gretel - Outstanding butter & brine oysters from portsmouth maine

    Outstanding butter & brine oysters from portsmouth maine

    Gretel - Beautiful italian orange wine with great minerality

    See all

    Beautiful italian orange wine with great minerality

    Boka

    Boka

    4.3(1.9k reviews)
    1.6 mi•Lincoln Park
    •$$$$

    Boka was a special dining experience. The restaurant offers an intimate, cozy atmosphere, and the…read morestaff were wonderful. They were attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful with their recommendations. We opted in for the vegetarian tasting menu. Each course was thoughtfully prepared, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. Nothing felt like an afterthought, and the menu offered an impressive variety of flavors and textures. We were super full at the end. The restaurant also prepared a special birthday menu with all the great dishes the chef made for us that day. Some of our favorites included the Cherry Tomato Tart, Smoked Turnip, Chestnut Ravioli, and Roasted Maitake Mushroom with Meyer lemon and black truffle. The Chocolate Tart and Elderflower Panna Cotta were the perfect finishing touches along with the birthday ice cream popsicle. Overall, Boka felt intimate, elevated, and impeccably executed. It was clear that tremendous thought went into every dish. This was a truly memorable meal, and we will be back :).

    I got a bar seat reservation for the missus and I (two) at 7:15pm on Sunday, September 6, 2026. The…read morefront desk was courteous - they give you a key for your bags (looks like an ancient key) as part of bag check, and led us to our table at the leftmost side of the bar. The bar seating itself wasn't super crowded - but every booth and table looked like it was taken, so that was interesting. On my way to the bathroom I saw their numerous michelin years of guide and stars. It's noticeably missing 2026 - and after having dined here, I kind of get why. For a drink I got the local Eris Pedestrian cider. We debated getting the chef menu ($195/each) , but we ended up ordering a la carte: chicken liver mousse ($9/each, we ordered two), roasted veal sweetbreads ($30), black truffle chicken ($43), and roasted dry aged pork loin ($51). We later ordered a financiers for dessert (forgot the price). We were full after eating everything that we ordered, but given the lack of quality of the cuts of meat, the small portion sizes, and the extremely high cost, it's hard for me to recommend this place. If this is what Michelin star-quality food tastes like (at least in Chicago), the Michelin evaluators here have either no actual taste buds, or are awarding stars for "vibes" only. The vibes are fine - don't get me wrong - but the food here isn't anything worth writing home about. Dish by dish: mousse was decent, the veal was kinda dry, the chicken was very dry, and the pork loin, while decent, wasn't as special as we thought it'd be. Financiers was kinda sweet but it was actually the only part of the meal I truly enjoyed the bites of. The post-meal truffle thing was too sweet for the missus so I ate both. The cider was... Pedestrian, as the name implies. Definitely the most fitting name for the drink. The bathrooms are down the stairs - so it's terrible for those in wheelchairs or that are mobility challenged. The bathrooms themselves are high-quality - which is part of the experience, but idk if it's "worthy" of adding stars to a mediocre food experience.

    Photos
    Boka
    Boka
    Boka - Chocolate Angel Food Cake

    See all

    Chocolate Angel Food Cake

    No Vacancy

    No Vacancy

    4.5(181 reviews)
    2.6 mi•River North, Near North Side
    •$$

    If you're coming here for drinks, it's probably a great vibe, but if you're coming for food, I…read morewould recommend elsewhere. I want to preface my review with the positives, Londyn was our server & was truly so kind, thorough, and friendly. The restaurant itself is clean & all tables have clear views of the TVs on game days. Now for the room for improvement- the food was very underwhelming. Being from the Chicago area previously, I regularly advocate for the Chicago food scene, and this unfortunately did not meet those standards. We ordered the Brussels sprouts, buffalo cauliflower, wings, and sesame ginger salad: -Brussel sprouts: tasted like they weren't seasoned just air fried and drenched in balsamic dressing -Buffalo cauliflower: soggy, unseasoned, runny buffalo sauce -Wings: PERFECTLY CRISPY, but no flavor (we ordered lemon pepper & buffalo) -Sesame ginger salad: sloppy mix of vegetables tossed in an overly sweet sauce with no sesame or ginger flavor in sight If you're not going to eat, this is probably a great spot, but from a food standpoint, there is room for improvement.

    Great place for late dinner (kitchen open until 11pm on weekdays). I was in the mood for some…read morechicken wings and yes, No Vacancy for the win. Good draft, liquor and can/bottle selection and great menu for food. Buffalo style wings were suberb!

    Photos
    No Vacancy
    No Vacancy - Blackened Fresh Florida Grouper Sandwich

    Blackened Fresh Florida Grouper Sandwich

    No Vacancy - Pigs in a Blanket

    See all

    Pigs in a Blanket

    Yardbird Table & Bar

    Yardbird Table & Bar

    3.8(472 reviews)
    2.9 mi•Near North Side
    •$$
    Full bar
    Gluten-free friendly

    Dropped into Yardbird in Chicago for their happy hour, and it proved to be a great choice. The…read moreatmosphere was lively, but what really elevated the night was the exceptional service. Our server, Miguel, was phenomenal. She was attentive, fast, and gave us some spot-on recommendations. Per her advice, we ordered the deviled eggs with jalapeño, hands down the highlight of the table. The deviled eggs with paired with that subtle jalapeño kick was absolutely perfect. For the mains, the chicken and waffles were good, carrying that solid comfort food flavor you expect. The waffles were a bit soft for my taste. To drink, the sidecar was mixed perfectly, well-balanced, crisp, and hit the exact right note. Giving it 4 stars only because while the mains were good, the starters and the outstanding service from Miguel were what truly stole the show. I'll definitely be back to hang out at the bar again nest time I am in town!

    Visiting Chicago and decided to try Yardbird since we frequent Yardbird Miami. We drove from by the…read moreairport ( an hour ride) for mediocre food and lackluster customer service. The biscuits were the only thing that were very good. We ordered the fried chicken which was lukewarm and dry. We asked if we could have hot chicken that was just dropped. Our server said sure, it will take a minute to cook. We said okay, no problem. Two minutes later, I assume a manager(since he did not introduce himself), brings dark greasy chicken on a plate with mashed potatoes and salad. He condescendingly said, let's see this is hot enough. Our server comes backed shocked that the chicken is there already. The chicken appeared to have been old chicken sitting under a warmer that they dropped in grease. It tasted burnt. Another manager came to inquire as he saw we weren't eating the chicken. We asked him to remove the chicken and we'll eat the sides only. He offered to try again. We said no thanks. Why should it take 3 times to get fresh, hot, almost $40 fried chicken? The bill came with the chicken till on it even thought we sent it back. We politely asked him to remove that charge. The manager had the audacity to say "come back next time so we can get it right". Really? We're is the customer service? Our dinner was ruined, No gift card to come back? We have frequented this restaurant for years. This is not Yardbird Quality. Shame on you Chicago

    Photos
    Yardbird Table & Bar
    Yardbird Table & Bar
    Yardbird Table & Bar

    See all

    Au Cheval

    Au Cheval

    4.4(9.6k reviews)
    2.4 mi•West Loop, Near West Side
    •$$

    I read all the bad reviews before coming and... they were just hating, having a bad day, or have…read morenever eaten a burger before to be an objective judge! Because no way did we eat at the same place. WOW! It's only been a handful of times that I've had the urge to write a review while I'm still eating because of how amazing the experience is. The ambiance is bustling and will FOR SURE keep you awake as you fill your belly. And the burger? It's not just a burger, it's culinary art and a full on flavor experience. I was full well before my plate was empty, but I simply could not imagine reheating any part of it later. The egg was cooked to sunny-side perfection, and every bite was ridiculous. It's bar-style, so the fries came out first, hot and paired with a garlic aioli that absolutely did what it needed to do. Everyone moves with purpose. The food, the service, the atmosphere--this place is a well-oiled machine of greatness. 1000/10. Will absolutely be back.

    Finally made it to Au Cheval and it did not disappoint! It seems to be busy all the time, so make a…read morereservation or plan to be there when they open. Not a huge inside seating area, but it is nice to sit outside on a nice day. We got the single cheeseburger with egg, the double cheeseburger with egg, the fried bologna sandwich with egg, crispy fries and the crispy potato hash! The single is a double patty and the double is a triple. The burgers were deliciously cooked and very hearty! Root beer compliments the burgers well! The crispy fries with the garlic aioli and mornay sauce were very yummy! The crispy potato hash was probably the lowlight of this meal... love the crispy-ness of the hash, didn't love the gravy. Service overall was okay, they were busy so it got slow once our food arrived. It does get loud inside so be prepared. Au Cheval lives up to the hype! We will totally go back for the burgers, crispy fries and root beer!

    Photos
    Au Cheval - Beers

    Beers

    Au Cheval - Single Cheeseburger

    Single Cheeseburger

    Au Cheval - Crispy Fries & Potato Hash

    See all

    Crispy Fries & Potato Hash

    Estelle's - bars - Updated October 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...