Ace Hotel's Best Kept Drinking Secret
Midtown South · New York · British-American Gastropub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 25, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The Breslin's wine list doesn't announce itself — it sits quietly behind a bar scene that would rather you order a beer or a cocktail. But flip past the drinks and you find a focused, Old World-leaning list that actually makes sense with what's coming out of the kitchen.
At 100 to 150 bottles, this isn't a deep cellar situation, but it's curated with some intention. The Rhône Valley gets real attention here, which is the right call when you're serving lamb burgers and pig's foot — those robust, funky dishes want wines with grip and earth, not fruit-forward crowd pleasers. France anchors the list, with the Old World doing most of the heavy lifting throughout. There are gaps — don't come looking for a serious New World selection or much depth below the surface — but what's here fits the room.
Somewhere between 12 and 18 options by the glass, which is respectable for a hotel dining room that functions more as a bar than a destination wine spot. The pour program tracks with the bottle list's Old World sensibility, so you're not stuck choosing between generic Pinot Grigio and generic Cabernet. Rotation feels static rather than dynamic — don't expect a lot of seasonal surprises.
2007 Domaine des Martinelles Crozes-Hermitage — $55
A Northern Rhône Syrah from a solid producer at $55 a bottle is genuinely fair pricing in a Manhattan hotel restaurant. This is the kind of wine that earns its keep at the table — earthy, savory, and built for the meat-heavy menu.
2007 Domaine des Martinelles Crozes-Hermitage
Most people walking into the Breslin are ordering cocktails or reaching for something safe. The Crozes-Hermitage gets overlooked because it's not a famous appellation, but that's exactly why it's priced fairly and drinks above its station — Syrah from this corner of the Rhône plays perfectly against the kitchen's fat-forward, intensely savory cooking.
Generic by-the-glass house pours
With a list that has some real character on the bottle side, the lower-end glass pours feel like an afterthought. If you're not going to commit to a bottle, you're better off leaning into the cocktail program, which is clearly where the bar's energy actually lives.
2007 Domaine des Martinelles Crozes-Hermitage + Lamb Burger
Northern Rhône Syrah and lamb is one of those combinations that exists for a reason. The wine's peppery backbone and earthy depth go toe-to-toe with the lamb's richness without getting steamrolled by it — this is the bottle you order when that burger hits the table.
🎲 The Bottom Line
The Breslin isn't a wine destination, but it's smarter about wine than it has any obligation to be given its gastropub identity and hotel-bar foot traffic. If you're eating here — and you should be — the 2007 Crozes-Hermitage is your move.
Midtown West · New York · Russian-American
The Russian Tea Room treats wine as an afterthought dressed up in Champagne flutes — five famous labels at punishing prices with no range, no by-the-glass program, and no apparent curiosity about wine beyond what looks impressive on a table. Go for the spectacle, order the caviar, but don't come here expecting a wine list.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
David Burke Tavern's list is a Chardonnay lover's comfort zone with a solid sparkling section propping up the top — but the narrow focus and steep pricing mean you're paying for familiarity, not discovery. Send a friend here if they want California whites and a glass of Champagne; send them somewhere else if they want to explore.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
Corima's wine list is proof that ten well-chosen bottles beat a hundred thoughtless ones every time. If you care about what's in your glass, this place is worth your attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Village · New York · American
Cecchi's is first and foremost a bar, but the wine list is more serious than the neon and noise suggest. Steep markups are the main ding — but if you know what to order, there's real pleasure here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SoHo · New York · Steak House, Small Plates
The Corner Store is a reliable, well-credentialed wine list doing exactly what a good SoHo steakhouse should — France and California, done with intention, in a room that makes you want to order another bottle. Just watch the markup on the big Bordeaux names and let the Rhône or Burgundy side show you a better time.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Tribeca · New York · American
Farra is punching above its weight class for a neighborhood wine bar, and the Wine Spectator nod is earned — just know that the serious bottles come with serious prices, and the no-sommelier setup means you're doing some of the navigating yourself. Worth it for anyone who knows what they want; potentially overwhelming for those who don't.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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