Great Views, Wine List Phoning It In
Downtown Los Angeles · Los Angeles · French-inspired, New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 21, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The rooftop views of downtown LA are genuinely stunning, and the French-leaning menu sets expectations for a wine list that could match. But flip open that list and it's mostly greatest hits — the same bottles you'd find at any hotel bar from here to Chicago. The vibe is clearly selling the altitude, not the pour.
The 75-100 bottle list leans on France, California, and Italy, which sounds promising until you realize the selections skew hard toward crowd-pleasing brand names rather than anything that required actual curation. Whispering Angel is doing heavy lifting on the rosé side, Cakebread holds down the Chardonnay fort, and Jordan and Justin anchor the reds — all perfectly drinkable, none of them interesting. There's no real depth in Burgundy, no Rhône to speak of, and the Italian section appears to exist mostly as a formality. A list this size with this much real estate should be doing more work.
Somewhere in the 12-18 glass pour range, which is a decent count for a rooftop bar, but the selections largely mirror the bottle list's brand-name tendencies. Don't expect anything rotating or seasonal here — this reads like a list that got set once and hasn't been seriously revisited. If you're drinking by the glass, go sparkling or rosé and enjoy the skyline.
Justin Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2019 — $70
At a 133% markup it's still not cheap, but it's the least egregious bottle on the list. Justin drinks well above its retail price point and holds up against the steak frites without making you wince too hard at the bill.
Dom Pérignon Brut 2012
Ironically, the most expensive bottle on the list is also the fairest — a 98% markup on Dom P is practically charitable by restaurant standards. If you're celebrating something real and going big anyway, this is where Perch actually shows some restraint.
Veuve Clicquot Brut NV
A 164% markup on a bottle of Veuve that retails for $55 is hard to justify when Dom P is sitting right there at a better markup. Veuve is fine — it's just not $145 fine, especially when it's ubiquitous enough to find at the corner wine shop for a fraction of the price.
Whispering Angel Rosé Côtes de Provence 2020 + French Onion Soup
Look, Whispering Angel is marked up aggressively and there are better rosés in the world — but on a warm LA evening, on a rooftop, next to a properly done French onion soup, it earns its place. The bright acidity cuts through the cheese and broth, and frankly the vibe demands something in a pale pink bottle.
❌ The Bottom Line
Perch is a place people go for the view, the scene, and the Instagram moment — the wine list knows this and doesn't try very hard. Order something simple, enjoy the skyline, and save your serious wine drinking for a restaurant that wants to earn it.
Hollywood · Los Angeles · Upscale Italian, Seafood
Marino is a reliable, well-curated Italian wine list that earns its stripes on selection and staff knowledge, even if the pricing makes you wince on the everyday bottles. Send a friend here for the Guidalberto and the Franciacorta — just steer them away from anything under $60.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Hollywood · Los Angeles · Neapolitan Italian, Pizza
Da Michele's wine list is narrow by design and better for it — a focused, fairly priced tour through Southern Italy that most pizza spots in LA wouldn't dare attempt. If you're even mildly curious about Campanian wine, this is one of the better excuses in the city to start learning.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Los Angeles · Los Angeles · Seafood
Water Grill is a reliable choice for serious wine with serious seafood — the list is deep enough to reward exploration, and the sommelier presence means you can actually ask for help. The markups sting, but this is Downtown LA and you knew that walking in.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Bel-Air · Los Angeles · Modern Californian with European/Mediterranean influences
This is a serious wine list dressed in a garden party — the depth is real, the sommelier is engaged, and if you're willing to pay the Bel-Air premium, the experience delivers. Just go in knowing the bill will reflect the hedge-lined address.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Beverly Grove / West Hollywood · Los Angeles · Greek / Mediterranean
Kassi Club is a party restaurant with a wine list that punches above its vibe — if you ignore the markup and order Greek, you're going to drink well. Send a friend here specifically to work through the indigenous varietals; just tell them to skip the Chablis.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Fashion District / Downtown LA · Los Angeles · Latin-inspired / Pan-Latin
DAMA is a great place to drink a cocktail in a beautiful room — and that's genuinely not a bad night. But if you came for wine, the list charges Fashion District prices for grocery store ambition, and that's a deal we can't recommend.
Crowd Pleasers
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
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