Marisi

A.R. Valentien is doing something rare for a hotel restaurant: it's built a wine program that would stand on its own even without the Pacific Ocean views. Send your people here — just book ahead and don't skip the wine list.

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.

STK San Diego is a perfectly functional steakhouse wine list — it does exactly what it promises and absolutely nothing more. Come for the atmosphere and the beef, lean into happy hour if wine value matters to you, and don't show up expecting to be surprised.

Stake is the real deal — a 1,700-bottle list with genuine sommelier guidance and a kitchen that integrates wine into the experience rather than just selling it alongside. The pricing is steep, because this is Coronado and this is a serious steakhouse, but if you're already ordering a $75 Wagyu, the cellar absolutely earns its place at the table.

Callie is one of the most intentional wine programs in San Diego — curated, regionally coherent, and staffed by people who actually know what's in the cellar. The markups will cost you, but if you're going to spend, this is a list worth spending on.

Kingfisher isn't a wine destination, but it's a restaurant that took wine seriously enough to stock the right bottles for its food — which is rarer than it should be. Send a friend who appreciates the match between Riesling and fish sauce; skip it if they need a Napa Cab to feel at home.