Monterey

Jack's Monterey is a dependable California wine list in a room with an excellent view — it won't surprise you, but it won't let you down either. Send a friend here knowing they'll eat well, drink well, and leave without a single complaint about what was in their glass.

Coastal Kitchen earns its Wine Spectator hardware — this is a deep, confident list run by someone who clearly cares, in a room that already has everything going for it. Markups drift steep in spots, but the range and the sommelier on the floor make it worth the splurge.

The Sardine Factory is the real deal — a 1,500-bottle list with serious producers across every major region, a sommelier who knows the cellar, and a setting that makes the whole experience feel like it matters. Yes, the markups will sting on the high end, but a wine program this deep and this cared-for earns its place among Monterey's best nights out.