Contemporary American with Winemaker Dinners and the Same Cellar Pedigree
Buford Highway Corridor (Brookhaven) · Atlanta · Contemporary American · Visit Website ↗
Updated March 2026
Reviewed February 16, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Haven is the third pillar of the Word of Mouth Restaurants group alongside Valenza and Arnette's Chop Shop. Set in a warm loft space with exposed brick and pecky cypress, the restaurant carries a 4.8 rating with over 3,200 reviews. The wine list shares the same curation philosophy, supporting a Southern-inflected American menu: BBQ shrimp, braised short ribs with red wine and veal jus, Green Circle Farms chicken. Craft cocktails and a full bar round out the program.
Haven regularly hosts winemaker dinners, including a recent Kerr Cellars event pairing boutique Napa and Sonoma wines with a four-course seasonal menu. That signals a restaurant that takes its wine program seriously. The ownership group's track record at Valenza speaks for itself. Haven is a comfortable, consistent choice for wine with dinner on the corridor, even if the list does not reach the Italian cellar depths of its sister restaurant.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Haven is a 4.8-rated contemporary American restaurant with winemaker dinners and the same ownership group behind Valenza's deep Italian cellar. A reliable wine-and-dinner option on the corridor.
West Midtown · Atlanta · Alpine / European
Avize is doing something genuinely rare in Atlanta: building a short wine list with actual conviction, pointed straight at the corners of Europe that deserve more attention. If you eat here and don't order something you've never heard of, you're doing it wrong.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Contemporary American
By George is a fine place to drink wine if you know what you're walking into — a curated-but-safe list built for a stylish crowd that wants rosé and bubbles without friction. Come for the Crémant and the Tavel; don't expect to find anything that'll make you rethink your relationship with wine.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Gastropub / Rooftop
Nine Mile Station isn't a destination for wine nerds, but it's a perfectly decent place to drink something cold and recognizable while the Atlanta skyline does the heavy lifting. Come for the view, drink the Crémant, ignore the Rombauer.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Wine Bar
Vin Atl is doing something most Atlanta wine bars aren't: curating a short list with genuine intention instead of padding it with safe bets. At these prices, it's worth a stop even if you only come for one bottle.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Rooftop Bar / Small Plates
St. Julep is a place to drink wine, not a place to drink well. If you're here for the skyline and the scene, pour the rosé and enjoy it — just don't come expecting the list to surprise you.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
BeltLine · Atlanta · Cocktail Bar with Kitchen
The James Room is a cocktail bar first and a wine destination never — but the list is competent enough to get you through a bottle without frustration. Come for the atmosphere, order the Cava or the Sancerre, and let the cocktail menu handle the heavy lifting.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Jolla · Chula Vista · Contemporary American
Nine-Ten is a genuinely good restaurant with a competent wine program — the sommelier is present, the list is legitimate, and the setting earns the price of admission. But the markups are aggressive enough that you'll want to be selective, because this list can eat your wallet if you reach for the obvious names.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Winston Salem · Contemporary American
Sir Winston is the rare hotel restaurant that makes a real effort on wine, and for Winston-Salem, that counts for a lot. Pricing runs steep enough that you'll feel it by the second bottle, but the selection earns at least one visit from anyone who takes wine seriously.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown LA · Los Angeles · Contemporary American
Otium is pulling serious wine weight for a restaurant most people visit for the food, and the combination of an eclectic 300-label list, knowledgeable staff, and a by-the-glass program with genuine personality earns it a Rager without hesitation. Send your wine-curious friends here — just tell them to actually read the list.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
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