esp
Bar · Lincoln Park ·
Intimate listening bar with vinyl, wine, high-end cocktails
Intimate listening bar with vinyl, wine, high-end cocktails
"If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like if the coolest record store in town also served biodynamic Slovenian skin contact by the glass, just pop into ESP. The bartender at this Lincoln Park spot is also the DJ, using a flashlight to pull obscure Laraaji albums from the walls in the (extremely) dimly lit room while discussing maceration times and spontaneous fermentation with customers at the bar. If this all sounds pretentious, we don’t disagree, but the feeling inside ESP doesn’t match its description on paper. This is a place that takes wine and sound incredibly seriously (as evidenced by the Garrard 401 turntable on the bar), and is happy to spread that gospel to anyone interested. They serve a charcuterie board and some other bar snacks, but this is not a place for dinner. The obvious move here is a first date, and it’s great for that, but we’d also recommend coming here solo for a glass of something you haven’t tried before while zoning out to records unidentifiable by Shazam." - Jonathan Smith
"Inspired by Japan’s jazz kissa, this ultra-chill listening bar (full name: ESP HiFi) is a whole vibe built around a remarkably eclectic record collection, a stellar sound system, and an equally well designed beverage list, ranging from cocktails like the Sun Song — a highball with mezcal, cantaloupe, cucumber, and lime — to geeky wines such as skin-contact Chasselas from Chile and Mission rosé from Baja, Mexico. Grown-up nibbles, including charcuterie boards and burrata with white balsamic, honey, dates, and pistachios, boost the mood." - Ruth Tobias
"I learned ESP is a second concept from Gracie Nguyen and Chad Newton of East Side Banh Mi, with more details forthcoming." - Delia Jo Ramsey
"A pop-up party called Listen Bar is among new concepts targeting the sober-and-sober-curious crowd." - Stefanie Tuder
