Scranton

The Loft Wine Bar + Urban Venue

Downtown · Scranton · Wine Bar

The Wild Card

The Loft earns its Wild Card badge by doing something genuinely uncommon in Scranton: building a wine bar with a real point of view, even if the public-facing details don't yet let us verify every bottle or price. If you're in downtown Scranton and want wine over cocktails, this is your best legitimate option — just go in curious, ask the staff what's open, and be willing to try something you wouldn't normally order.

Warney Cellar and Tap

· Scranton · New American / Wine Bar

The Wild Card

Warney is doing something legitimately weird and committed for a mid-sized Pennsylvania city — an aperitif-forward, cocktail-wine hybrid program that rewards curiosity and doesn't punish your wallet for it. Send your most adventurous friend here and tell them to skip the Sauvignon Blanc.

Mutant Brewing Company Taproom

Downtown fringe · Scranton · Brewery/Taproom with Pizza and Pub Fare

The Wild Card

Mutant Brewing isn't a wine destination, and it doesn't pretend to be — but the all-Pennsylvania lineup from Maiolatesi is a genuinely thoughtful move for a taproom in Scranton. Come for the beer and the pizza, stay curious about the Sparkling Traminette.

Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar

Scranton Area · Scranton · Farm-to-Table / Wine Bar

The Reliable

Harvest isn't a destination wine list, but Wine Wednesday — 50% off every bottle — turns a steep-markup, crowd-pleaser program into a genuinely good deal worth planning around. Come hungry on a Wednesday and order the Rombauer without guilt.

Marzoni's Brick Oven & Brewing Co.

Scranton Area · Scranton · Italian / Brewpub

The Lazy List

Marzoni's is a brewpub that's very good at being a brewpub — order a house beer and enjoy the pizza. The wine list exists to serve guests who won't drink beer, not to give anyone a reason to seek it out.

Alfredo's Pizza & Restaurant

Downtown · Scranton · Italian-American Pizzeria and Restaurant

The Wild Card

Alfredo's isn't a wine destination, but it's a pizza place with a functional, fairly priced list and one of the better midweek wine promotions we've seen in northeastern Pennsylvania. Show up on a Wednesday, order the Bonanza Cab at half price, and get a large pie — there are worse ways to spend a weeknight.

POSH at the Scranton Club

Downtown · Scranton · New American

The Reliable

POSH isn't a destination wine list — it's a safe, slightly overpriced selection that leans on brand recognition over discovery. Come on a Wednesday, grab the Colombo rosé at half price, and you'll leave happy; show up any other night and you're paying full markup for wines you could find at the corner store.

Sambucca Italian Kitchen & Bar

Downtown · Scranton · Italian

The Lazy List

Sambucca is a perfectly decent Italian restaurant where wine is clearly an afterthought — steep markups on recognizable grocery store labels, no specials, no depth. Order the pasta, maybe a glass of something bubbly to start, and don't look at the wine list too hard.

Backyard Ale House

Downtown · Scranton · Gastropub

The Lazy List

Backyard Ale House is a solid beer destination that treats wine like a legal obligation rather than an opportunity. Order a craft beer, enjoy the bar scene, and save the wine for somewhere that actually cares.

Cooper's Seafood House

North Scranton · Scranton · American, Bar, Seafood, Soups

The Lazy List

Cooper's earns its reputation on the seafood — the wine list is purely an afterthought, with steep markups on grocery-store staples. Come for the food and the atmosphere; if it's Wednesday, at least the half-price bottles make the math less painful.

Bar Pazzo

Downtown · Scranton · Italian (wood-fired pizza and pasta)

The Wild Card

Bar Pazzo won't win any awards for list length, but the seven bottles they chose punch well above their weight for a casual Italian spot in downtown Scranton. If you're willing to let go of the familiar and trust the list, there's a genuinely good night of wine drinking here.