Pacific Northwest Views, Pacific Northwest Pours
Waterfront · Seattle · American, Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Updated October 2026
Reviewed April 15, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Ivar's Acres of Clams’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The view of Elliott Bay does a lot of the heavy lifting here, and the wine list knows it. You're looking at a tight, Pacific Northwest-forward selection that reads more like a crowd-pleaser greatest hits album than anything adventurous. Nothing offensive, nothing that's going to make you put down your clam chowder in shock.
The list leans hard into Washington State — Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Crest, and a custom Lange 'Ivar's' label for both Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir give it a local identity worth respecting. That said, 20-40 bottles isn't a deep bench, and the range doesn't stray far from safe, recognizable names that sell themselves. There's no real exploration of Walla Walla Syrah or Yakima Valley oddities here — just the approachable stuff your aunt already likes. The Copain Tous Ensemble Pinot Noir from Sonoma is the lone outlier that hints someone thought about this list for more than five minutes.
Six to ten pours by the glass keeps things functional without being exciting. The 14 Hands Pinot Gris shows up here as a solid, inoffensive option for seafood, but don't expect any surprises. Glass prices running $10–$15 are reasonable for the waterfront zip code and the real estate you're occupying.
Lange 'Ivar's' Pinot Noir Willamette Valley, OR — $54
A custom Ivar's label from Lange Estate — a serious Willamette Valley producer — at a markup that's actually the most restrained on the list. You're getting a legit Oregon Pinot for what amounts to slightly-above-fair in a waterfront tourist corridor. Take it.
Copain Tous Ensemble Pinot Noir Sonoma County, CA
Nobody comes to Ivar's thinking California Pinot, which is exactly why this one gets ignored. Wells Guthrie's Tous Ensemble is a proper, food-friendly bottle at a markup that's actually the most reasonable percentage on the list. Worth the detour from the Washington heavy-hitters.
Chateau Ste. Michelle 'Indian Wells' Merlot Columbia Valley, WA
At $50 on a $22 retail bottle, this is the worst markup on the list at 127%. Indian Wells is fine Merlot, but it's widely available and not worth the premium here when better-value options are sitting right next to it.
Lange 'Ivar's' Pinot Gris Willamette Valley, OR + Pan Seared Crab Stuffed Alaska Halibut
Willamette Pinot Gris has the weight to handle a stuffed halibut without steamrolling the crab, and the bright acidity cuts through any richness on the plate. It's also the most on-brand bottle you can order at a Seattle seafood landmark.
Sunday–Tuesday — Half price on all bottle selections Sunday through Tuesday — the single best reason to think about wine here.
The Bottom Line
Ivar's isn't a wine destination, but the half-price bottle nights Sunday through Tuesday turn a steep list into a genuinely good deal — especially with Elliott Bay out the window. Come for the halibut, stay for the view, and let the deal do the work.
Downtown · Seattle · Brazilian Churrascaria
The real headline here is the half-price South American bottles — available Monday through Thursday, all day, on bottles under $150 — which turns a polished steakhouse into a legitimately reasonable wine night. The list won't excite anyone who came for the wine, but if you came for the meat and want a solid regional bottle at a fair price, this deal is worth planning around.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Active Program
Acceptable
Ballard · Seattle · Italian
A short, Italian-leaning list with most of its bottles in the Old World red section. Order the $11 Montepulciano by the glass, or the $69 Travaglini Gattinara if you want to splurge a little, and confirm prices on the day. This unrated guide covers the posted wine menus, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown · Seattle · Pacific Northwest / New American
A hotel wine list with a Pacific Northwest page up front, Champagne, Bordeaux and Italian sections behind it, and a separate glass list on the drink menu. Start with the $12 Treveri Blanc de Blancs at happy hour or the Mark Ryan 'Goldfinch Tavern Red Blend', and check the current list before you go, since the restaurant says menus are subject to change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list and drink menu, not service, storage or markups.
Lake Union · Seattle · Steakhouse
A long, Northwest-first steakhouse list with plenty of bottles under $100 as well as a $300-to-$550 tier of Leonetti and Quilceda Creek Cabernets. Start with the $20 Five Star Cellars “Prime” Cabernet by the glass, or the same wine at $55 on the bottle pages, and confirm prices because the list says vintages and availability change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Capitol Hill · Seattle · Italian
An all-Italian list that is easy to navigate: 11 wines by the glass from $13 to $30, a bottle list sorted by region, and $8 house wine during Apericena. Order the Soave at $13 or the $17 Kerner by the glass, or the Villa Venti Sangiovese with the tagliatelle al ragu, and confirm prices because the page says they are subject to change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Central District · Seattle · Seafood
A mostly natural, mostly French bottle list that stretches from $60 Muscadet to a $455 Champagne, with a deep run of Jura, Savoie and Loire bottles. Start with the $60 Hautplanty Muscadet or the $72 Laurent Herlin Cabernet Franc, and ask about the list’s ◆ and ◉ key if you want help choosing between classic and wild. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks selection, not service, storage or markups.
Rice Village · Houston · American, Seafood
Start with the Simonsig Chenin Blanc ($16 for 6oz, $55 per bottle) or the $70 Mâcon-Bussières, and look at the October Bordeaux page if you're ordering seafood. Confirm vintages and prices when you order, since the list is linked as 10.07.26. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or retail markups.
North Fremont / Beachfront · Monterey · American, Seafood
The Lantern Room is what happens when a hotel restaurant actually tries — a locally anchored wine list, a sommelier in the building, and enough interesting producers to make the steep markup sting a little less. Send a friend here if they love Central Coast wine; warn them to skip the Cab and lean into what this coast actually grows.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Scott's Addition · Richmond · American, Seafood
Lillian is the rare spot where the wine list is more ambitious than the address suggests — a focused, France-and-Italy-forward program with legit producers, a knowledgeable floor lead, and bottle prices that don't feel punitive. Send a friend here, tell them to sit at the counter, order oysters, and ask PJ what's open.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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