Ace Hotel's Best Kept Drinking Secret
Midtown South · New York · British-American Gastropub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 25, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Breslin Bar & Dining Room’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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.
NoHo · New York · Italian
Il Buco has one of the most compelling Italian wine lists in New York City — deep, principled, and staffed by people who actually care. The markup is real, so budget accordingly, but this is a room worth splurging in.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · New York · Steakhouse
STK Downtown is a place where people order Champagne to celebrate, not to drink — and the wine program is built accordingly. If you're here for the vibe and someone else is paying, pop the Dom and enjoy it; if you actually care about what's in your glass, you're in the wrong room.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown · New York · Upscale Seafood & Steakhouse
Three happy hour wines do not a wine program make. Ocean Prime is a place you eat well and drink safely — but if wine is a priority, this list will let you down before the bread basket arrives.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Midtown · New York · Steakhouse
STK Midtown is a great place to see and be seen, but the wine list is there to pad the check, not to excite you. If you're here for the experience, lean on the cocktails or grab a glass of Bonanza at the bar — don't expect the bottle list to reward any real curiosity.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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
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