Sky-high views, surprisingly grounded wine list
Downtown / Amway Grand Plaza · Grand Rapids · Spanish / Modern European · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 29, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You're on a rooftop in Grand Rapids with a skyline view and a menu that's clearly thought about Spain more than your average Midwest hotel bar — that alone earns some credit. The wine list opens with enough range to signal real intent: Michigan, Patagonia, Napa, and the Iberian Peninsula all show up. It's not a deep cellar, but it's not a hotel afterthought either.
The list spans roughly 50-80 bottles and actually earns its Spanish-leaning concept with Old World representation that matches the paella on the menu. Michigan gets a nod with Stranger Wine Co.'s Lake Michigan Shore Pinot Noir — a genuinely local pick that shows some self-awareness. Argentina sneaks in with Bodega Chacra's 'Cincuenta y Cinco' Pinot Noir from Patagonia, which is a legit producer and not the kind of wine you expect to find above a Michigan hotel. Napa and Sonoma round things out on the New World side, though those selections trend predictable compared to the more interesting stuff elsewhere on the list.
With 10-16 by-the-glass options, there's enough to work with across a full meal without being overwhelmed. The glass program leans toward crowd-pleasing accessibility, which makes sense for a rooftop crowd that's here as much for the view as the wine. Rotation appears limited — this reads more like a stable list than one that's actively swapping in seasonal pours.
Stranger Wine Co. Pinot Noir — N/A — price not confirmed in research data
A Michigan-made Pinot Noir from Lake Michigan Shore that's the most interesting regional call on the list. Supporting local here actually makes sense — this appellation produces genuinely food-friendly Pinot, and it's the kind of bottle that makes you look smart at the table without breaking the bank relative to the imported options.
Bodega Chacra 'Cincuenta y Cinco' Pinot Noir
Most people at a rooftop hotel bar are not scanning the list for Patagonian Pinot Noir, which is exactly why you should. Chacra is a serious producer working with old vines in Rio Negro, and 'Cincuenta y Cinco' (named for the 1955 planting year) is the kind of wine that routinely shows up on serious restaurant lists for good reason. It will almost certainly be the most interesting bottle on the table.
Napa Valley selections (generic tier)
The Napa and Sonoma entries on this list are doing the heavy lifting for name recognition, not for value. At hotel rooftop markups, you're paying a significant premium for the California brand cache. The more adventurous picks elsewhere on this list drink better per dollar.
Bodega Chacra 'Cincuenta y Cinco' Pinot Noir + Paella
Patagonian Pinot has the acidity and red fruit brightness to cut through saffron-rich rice without bulldozing the seafood or chorizo. It's a lighter-touch red that actually plays well with the mixed proteins in a traditional paella — something a bigger Napa Cab would flatten entirely.
🎲 The Bottom Line
MDRD is a Wild Card because it earns its badge the hard way: a hotel rooftop in the Midwest has no business carrying Bodega Chacra or a thoughtful local Michigan Pinot, and yet here we are. Markups keep it from being a destination wine list, but if you're already up there for the views and the paella, there are worse ways to spend your glass pours.
Downtown · Grand Rapids · New American / Teaching Restaurant
A teaching restaurant that could embarrass a few actual restaurants on the wine front — fair prices, genuine producers, and a France-meets-Michigan list that has more intention behind it than most spots charging twice as much. Go in without expectations and leave genuinely impressed.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown · Grand Rapids · Fondue-focused American/Swiss-style chain
The Melting Pot's wine list is the dining equivalent of a reliable sedan — it gets you where you're going without any surprises, good or bad. Send a friend here for the experience, not the wine, but reassure them they won't be embarrassed by what's in the glass.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Kentwood / Southeast · Grand Rapids · Upscale Casual American
Cooper's Hawk Kentwood is exactly what it is — a well-run chain winery restaurant with fair prices, a crowd-pleasing list, and staff that's enthusiastic if not deeply expert. Don't come here expecting to find your new favorite grower Champagne; do come here knowing you'll drink something decent without getting gouged.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Midtown · Grand Rapids · Gastro Pub / Contemporary American Comfort Food
The Friesian is a neighborhood pub that happens to have wine — and there's nothing wrong with that. Come on a Wednesday when glasses are half price, order the Tempranillo or the Malbec, and stop overthinking it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown · Grand Rapids · Casual Italian-American, Sports Bar
Uccello's Downtown is a perfectly solid place to watch a game and eat a pizza — just don't show up expecting the wine list to match the ambition of the kitchen. Order the Nero d'Avola, grab it during happy hour if you can, and save your serious wine drinking for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown / Riverfront · Grand Rapids · Modern Spanish
MDRD is a hotel rooftop bar that actually tried with its wine list, and in Grand Rapids — or anywhere, really — that clears the bar. The markups have some sharp edges and the list is short, but the Spanish focus is genuine and the Txakoli alone makes it worth a visit.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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