Jersey City

Maddy Rose is a reliable pick for a special night out with the view doing heavy lifting — the wine list won't surprise you, but it won't embarrass you either. Send your friends here knowing they'll drink decent California wine against one of the best backdrops in Jersey City.

Hudson & Co is a well-run California list with a credentialed sommelier, a knockout view, and enough serious bottles to make dinner feel like an occasion. The markups and the lack of range outside Napa and Sonoma keep it from being a destination wine experience, but if you love California reds and want to drink well in Jersey City with the skyline as your backdrop, this works.

Felina Steak isn't going to surprise a serious wine drinker, but it's going to satisfy one — and that's not nothing. If you're crossing the Hudson for an Italian steak dinner, the wine list earns its keep.

Battello is a reliable destination for Italian wine done with genuine care — Carmine's Piedmont and Tuscany selections show real knowledge, even if the pricing on the prestige bottles requires deep pockets. Come for the Barbaresco and the view, skip the trophy bottles.