Havana Nights, Surprisingly Serious Wine List
Post Office Square · Boston · Cuban · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 15, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Mariel’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Mariel, you're not expecting a 150-bottle wine list — you're expecting rum and maybe a cursory selection of reds. What you actually find is a Wine Spectator-recognized program that leans hard into Spain and France with genuine conviction. For a Cuban-inspired nightlife spot in the Financial District, this is a genuine surprise.
The list does the smart thing: it leans into wines that actually make sense with the food. Spain anchors the program with Albariño from Rías Baixas, Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero, and Manzanilla Sherry — all of which cut through rich, pork-forward Cuban flavors better than a Napa Cab ever would. France fills out the depth with Burgundy Pinot Noir and Rhône Valley whites, while California shows up mostly in Chardonnay form, presumably for the guests who need that security blanket. The sherry inclusion alone is worth calling out — most Boston restaurants still treat sherry like a relic, and Mariel is smarter than that.
Twelve to eighteen options by the glass is a solid count for this style of venue, and the pricing lands between $12 and $18 — reasonable for Boston, especially given the quality of what's on offer. We'd like to see more rotation and a sherry pour added to the glass program permanently, but what's here gives you real choices beyond the obligatory Pinot Grigio and Malbec.
Albariño, Rías Baixas — $12–$15 (glass)
Crisp, saline, and built for seafood-adjacent Cuban dishes — at Boston glass-pour prices, this is exactly the kind of no-brainer pick that makes a wine program worth trusting.
Manzanilla Sherry
Most people walk right past sherry on a wine list and head for the familiar. That's a mistake here. Manzanilla is bone dry, briny, and wildly food-friendly — it's one of the most undervalued pours in the building and almost nobody orders it.
California Chardonnay
It's fine, but it's the path of least resistance on a list that's genuinely trying to do something interesting. With Rhône Valley whites and Spanish options available, reaching for a California Chard at a Cuban spot in Boston feels like ordering a burger at a taqueria.
Tempranillo, Ribera del Duero + Fufú Gnocchi
The earthy, structured Tempranillo stands up to the richness of the plantain-based gnocchi without steamrolling it — there's enough fruit to complement the dish and enough grip to keep things interesting bite after bite.
The Bottom Line
Mariel earns its Wine Spectator credential by being genuinely thoughtful about a list that could have easily phoned it in. If you're in Boston's Financial District and want something more interesting than another steakhouse Cab Franc, this is exactly the kind of wild card worth having in your back pocket.
North End · Boston · Italian, Steakhouse
A broad list with 29 glass pours, Italian and American bottle sections, and a From the Vault section that goes well into four figures. Start with the 2021 Mauro Molino Barolo at $26 a glass or the Batasiolo Gavi di Gavi at $15, and confirm vintages, since the list says they are subject to change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Back Bay · Boston · Seafood
A 12-page wine book that runs from $12 glasses to a $945 Opus One, with six- and nine-ounce pours for the still wines by the glass. Start with the $12 six-ounce Foral Alvarinho, or order the $59 Sur Lie Muscadet by the bottle, and confirm vintages before you go. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Back Bay · Boston · Contemporary Italian
An Italian-led list with bottles into the thousands and a glass page that gives you a way in. Order the $33 Giacosa Fratelli Barolo 2019 by the glass, or step up to a Coravin pour like the $54 Patrizia Cencioni Brunello di Montalcino 2018, and confirm prices before you go. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Fenway · Boston · French, Italian
A French-led list with a short glass sheet and a bottle list that runs region by region through Burgundy. Order the Chanteleuserie Bourgueil (15) by the glass, or the Leflaive Bourgogne (258) if you want white Burgundy, and confirm vintages, since the glass sheet is undated and the bottle list is printed 08.12.26. This unrated guide covers the posted wine lists, not service, storage or markups.
Back Bay · Boston · Seafood, Steakhouse
A beverage book that covers a lot more than California: 19 glass pours up front, then Napa, Burgundy, Bordeaux, the Rhône and Piedmont behind them. If you are spending, look at the Kistler Les Noisetiers Chardonnay at $175; if you are not, the Zlatan Otok Plavac Mali is the lowest-priced full bottle at $39. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks list, not service, storage or markups.
North End · Boston · Italian
A long, Italian-heavy list that starts with ordinary-priced pairs and climbs into four-figure Vault bottles. Start with the 14/56 Gavi di Gavi, or the 18/72 Ferrari Brut if you want bubbles, and ask which number is the glass price. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
West New York · West New York · Cuban
Son Cubano isn't a destination wine list, but it's a legitimately good one for what it is — a glamorous Cuban night out where the wine program doesn't embarrass the room. Send a friend who wants a fun evening with solid pours and a view; just steer them away from the Meiomi.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Museum District · Richmond · Cuban
Come to Kuba Kuba for the food, which genuinely earns its loyal following — but don't come here for the wine. Order a mojito, grab the Malbec if you must, and put your wine energy somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Norcross · Atlanta · Cuban
Mojitos delivers one of the best Cuban dining experiences in metro Atlanta with live music, salsa nights, and family recipes worth driving for. But the wine list is lazy, warm, and disconnected from the food. Order the namesake cocktail, enjoy the Ropa Vieja, and save your wine expectations for somewhere else.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Stemless Casual
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Hot Mess
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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