The photos do a great job of capturing the ambiance. Cozy tiki bar with BFF vibes and often great local house/techno DJs, which being located in the birthplace of House Music, can occasionally mean world-renowned talent that also play for main-stages crowds around the world, but you’d never know it.Parking: It’s Chicago. When you go makes a big difference. After a few years of regular visits. I’ve never parked more than a block or two away on a normal night.Wheelchair accessibility: Ground level. No stairs
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Margherita
Sarah Tuchler
Giving food five stars but it’s for the cocktails. Excellent, well-priced tiki cocktails and great vibes. Thrilled to have Esmeralda’s in the neighborhood.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lula Doom
The owner and ambiance is very friendly and respectful! Enjoy the live artists and DJs have the dancefloor full on Thursday
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 1
Anastasia Anastasia
Me and a friend ordered exactly the same drink, it just happened that we ordered it from different bartenders. The bartender made my drink and gave it to someone else, came back like nothing happened. Completely forgot about my order. Than made another one which looked very different from my friend’s cocktail. After asking why it was different, I was told that the bartender diluted my drink! Thanks for being honest but nope!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 2
Patrick Rampson
Great music accompanied by artists creating live on Sunday
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Diana Aguila
Great drinks and atmosphere!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Daiana Acevedo
We walked into this bar for the first time not knowing it was a private event no signs, and no one at the door indicating it was a private event. We ordered drinks to pay for them. We were rudly told to leave by the bar tender! Like pointing to the door he kept saying no and we had to leave now I have never been treated in this manner and for him to be the owner very bad customer service. I will NEVER go there again!!!
Stefan Markov
A great place to enjoy a drink or two or whatever number I had… ask them who Esmeralda is ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
LIFE AS DIAMOND
ON THE HOUSE drink! Claudia is so sweet & makes the best drinks “shout out to her “
Great happy hour drinks but the real appeal was the bartender. He was so friendly and awesome. The bathrooms were clean. Perfect late night vibe! Put it this place on your night cap list!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Johnny Greco
I used to live down the street. had met the owner a few times (dino?) and was familiar with a main bartender (andy?), I know this is a late review but upon my last visit (maybe a year ago now), they were trying to impress guests via pouring alcohol on the bartop and lighting it on fire? it caught my phone and hand on fire and my only "apology" was a free shot of their well rum lol. my phone still has a singe on it from that experience. cute spot, cute location, don't love the idea of people being put in any danger for no apparent reason- and thats coming from someone who's worked in the service industry in chicago for more than 4 years.
lamark scott
Very chill and welcoming place. Definitely going back.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Ariel B.
We had a great time at Esmeralda's Lounge. We came during happy hour and enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere and the drinks. The DJ played a great mix of current hip hop, house, and cultural favorites. Service was fast and the bathroom was clean. Definitely a go to for a great night in Humboldt.
Stanley Aviles
Cool spot for a fine drink or two. DJ playing when we went. Parking isn’t ridiculous on the weekday I went. All around good experience here.
I love the fire trick at the bar for the drinks
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The photos do a great job of capturing the ambiance. Cozy tiki bar with BFF vibes and often great local house/techno DJs, which being located in the birthplace of House Music, can occasionally mean world-renowned talent that also play for main-stages crowds around the world, but you’d never know it.Parking: It’s Chicago. When you go makes a big difference. After a few years of regular visits. I’ve never parked more than a block or two away on a normal night.Wheelchair accessibility: Ground level. No stairs
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Margherita
Giving food five stars but it’s for the cocktails. Excellent, well-priced tiki cocktails and great vibes. Thrilled to have Esmeralda’s in the neighborhood.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The owner and ambiance is very friendly and respectful! Enjoy the live artists and DJs have the dancefloor full on Thursday
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 1
Me and a friend ordered exactly the same drink, it just happened that we ordered it from different bartenders. The bartender made my drink and gave it to someone else, came back like nothing happened. Completely forgot about my order. Than made another one which looked very different from my friend’s cocktail. After asking why it was different, I was told that the bartender diluted my drink! Thanks for being honest but nope!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 2
Great music accompanied by artists creating live on Sunday
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Great drinks and atmosphere!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We walked into this bar for the first time not knowing it was a private event no signs, and no one at the door indicating it was a private event. We ordered drinks to pay for them. We were rudly told to leave by the bar tender! Like pointing to the door he kept saying no and we had to leave now I have never been treated in this manner and for him to be the owner very bad customer service. I will NEVER go there again!!!
A great place to enjoy a drink or two or whatever number I had… ask them who Esmeralda is ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
ON THE HOUSE drink! Claudia is so sweet & makes the best drinks “shout out to her “
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Great happy hour drinks but the real appeal was the bartender. He was so friendly and awesome. The bathrooms were clean. Perfect late night vibe! Put it this place on your night cap list!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
I used to live down the street. had met the owner a few times (dino?) and was familiar with a main bartender (andy?), I know this is a late review but upon my last visit (maybe a year ago now), they were trying to impress guests via pouring alcohol on the bartop and lighting it on fire? it caught my phone and hand on fire and my only "apology" was a free shot of their well rum lol. my phone still has a singe on it from that experience. cute spot, cute location, don't love the idea of people being put in any danger for no apparent reason- and thats coming from someone who's worked in the service industry in chicago for more than 4 years.
Very chill and welcoming place. Definitely going back.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
We had a great time at Esmeralda's Lounge. We came during happy hour and enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere and the drinks. The DJ played a great mix of current hip hop, house, and cultural favorites. Service was fast and the bathroom was clean. Definitely a go to for a great night in Humboldt.
Cool spot for a fine drink or two. DJ playing when we went. Parking isn’t ridiculous on the weekday I went. All around good experience here.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5