Greek Grapes Meet Pacific Northwest Energy
Pike Place Market · Seattle · Mediterranean, Greek · Visit Website ↗
Updated October 2026
Reviewed April 9, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Lola’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Lola doesn't mess around with its identity — Greek varieties lead the charge in a room that smells like wood smoke and charred octopus. It's a Mediterranean list built for a Mediterranean kitchen, and that focus alone puts it ahead of half the downtown Seattle competition. You're not getting the usual California Cab parade here, and that's genuinely refreshing.
The list leans into Greece and Washington State with real conviction, anchored by Assyrtiko and Xinomavro alongside local Syrah that actually makes sense on the same page. Spain shows up with Garnacha representation, and Italy fills in the gaps without overstaying its welcome. The range runs 80 to 120 bottles deep, which gives you room to explore without getting lost. Where it falls short is transparency — specific producers and pricing aren't always easy to track down, which makes ordering feel like a small act of faith.
Ten to sixteen options by the glass is a solid count for a lively dining room doing this kind of volume. The Greek variety representation on the glass pour list is the real draw — Assyrtiko by the glass at a Greek-leaning restaurant in Seattle is not something you find on every corner. Rotation feels more static than active, but what's there is well-chosen for the food.
Washington State Syrah — null
Washington Syrah at a Greek-inflected restaurant is an inspired local call — it has the savory, peppery backbone to hang with lamb and charred vegetables without the markup premium you'd pay for a Rhône import doing the same job.
Xinomavro
Most tables at Lola will default to something familiar and walk right past Xinomavro — Greece's answer to Nebbiolo, with serious tannin and acid that cuts through fatty spreads and rich proteins in a way that crowd-pleasing Malbec simply cannot.
Spanish Garnacha
Garnacha is fine wine, but it's also the easiest default pick on any Mediterranean-leaning list, and you're almost certainly paying a downtown Seattle premium for something you could grab at a grocery store for a fraction of the price. With Assyrtiko and Xinomavro on the same list, ordering Garnacha here is a missed opportunity.
Assyrtiko + Octopus Hash
Assyrtiko's high acidity and saline, citrus-driven profile is practically engineered for charred seafood — it cuts through the smoky richness of the octopus and keeps every bite tasting fresh. This is the pairing Lola's list was built for.
The Bottom Line
Lola earns its Wild Card badge by doing something genuinely rare in Seattle dining — committing to Greek varieties with enough depth to reward curious drinkers. Markups and limited producer transparency hold it back from being a true Rager, but if you're willing to lean into the list's strengths, you'll drink better here than almost anywhere else near Pike Place.
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
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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.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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