L.A. Prime Steakhouse

Walk into L.A. Prime and the wine list arrives like a flex — 400 to 600 bottles deep, anchored by the kind of California names that make collectors go quiet. The Westin Bonaventure backdrop adds ceremony without stuffiness, and the panoramic city views don't hurt either. This is a list built to impress, and it largely delivers.

The California focus is serious — Screaming Eagle, Harlan Estate, Opus One, Caymus Special Selection, Joseph Phelps Insignia, and Ridge Monte Bello all show up, which tells you the cellar team has been paying attention for years. Burgundy gets proper treatment too, with Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Château Latour representing the old-world depth. The France-forward additions — Château Margaux included — round out a list that earns its Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence without much argument. Where it gets thin is outside those core regions; if you're hunting Rhône, Austria, or natural pours, you're in the wrong room.

With 20 to 35 options by the glass starting around $15, there's enough range to build a proper dinner without committing to a bottle. The glass program skews predictably toward crowd-pleasing California reds and Chardonnay, with Silver Oak Alexander Valley almost certainly anchoring the Cabernet end. Rotation appears minimal — this is a set-and-forget program that leans on reliable names rather than seasonal discovery.