Wine Spectator Best of Award in Downtown Atlanta
Downtown · Atlanta · Seafood / Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed February 10, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Ray's in the City’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Ray's in the City holds a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence, which is the highest tier of recognition and puts it alongside Atlas of only two Atlanta restaurants at that level. The list is deep, global, and organized with the kind of precision that makes a 500+ selection program feel navigable rather than overwhelming. The sommelier team is strong, and the by-the-glass program offers enough range to sample across regions without committing to a full bottle.
Downtown location with the energy of a high-volume restaurant that has not sacrificed wine quality for throughput. The menu covers seafood and steaks with equal commitment, and the wine list is built to handle both. This is a restaurant where a table of four can order oysters, steak, lobster, and a vegetarian entree and still find a single bottle that works for everyone.
Ray's in the City is the downtown counterpart to the suburban Ray's on the River, but the wine program here operates at a different level. The Best of Award recognition means the list has been vetted by critics who evaluate thousands of programs annually. If you are downtown and want a wine-forward dinner, this is the first call.
The Bottom Line
Ray's in the City holds one of only two Wine Spectator Best of Awards in Atlanta. Deep list, strong service, and a downtown location that makes it the go-to for serious wine with surf or turf.
Brookhaven · Atlanta · New American/Southern
Roc South is a genuinely fun restaurant — the food sounds great and the vibe is undeniable — but the wine program doesn't give us enough to work with or get excited about. Until there's a verifiable list with real producers and fair pricing, let the bartender guide your evening instead.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · New American/Southern
Park 82 has a wine list in the same way a gas station has a wine selection — technically present, practically limiting. If you're a Pinot Noir devotee who doesn't mind paying restaurant markup for bottles you've seen at Kroger, you'll survive. Everyone else should probably lead with cocktails and ask what's on tap.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Asian
Tabla's wine list punches above its weight for an Asian restaurant in Atlanta. The white-heavy, aromatic-focused selection makes genuine sense with the food, pricing at the entry level is fair, and the BTG depth is real. We'd send a friend here for wine without hesitation — just order the Grüner first.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Other
MCK isn't trying to be a wine destination — it's a bar and restaurant with a list built for toasting and crowd comfort. The sparkling program punches above the list's weight, the by-the-glass selection is generous, and the markups on still wines are steep but not outrageous. Send a friend here if they want Champagne and something easy to sip; send them somewhere else if they're chasing a wine experience.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Gastropub/Tavern
Blue Moon Brewery & Grill is a beer bar first, second, and third — the wine list exists so your friend who doesn't drink beer doesn't feel stranded. If that's the situation, the Cava at $9 or the Elouan Rosé at $10 are perfectly fine. But if wine is the reason you're going out, go somewhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Thai
Pink Lotus has built a wine list that takes its cues from the food — acid-forward, bubbles-heavy, and genuinely curious — which is more than most Thai spots in town bother to do. Markups are fair, the by-the-glass selection is wide, and there are real finds here if you look past the Dom Pérignon showpiece bottles at the top. If you're eating Thai in Atlanta and you want something interesting in your glass, this list deserves your attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Troy · Seafood / Steakhouse
Eddie V's is clearly investing in the kitchen and the room — the wine list suggests nobody got the memo. Four labels with no pricing transparency at an upscale seafood destination in Troy is a hard sell. Order the cocktails and hope someone fixes this soon.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Kailua-Kona · Seafood / Steakhouse
Huggo's is a reliable enough place to drink wine if you're already there for the view and the fresh fish — just don't come expecting value or discovery. The regional mix is competent, the setting is genuinely spectacular, and the list will get you through dinner without incident. If you're a wine-first traveler, this probably isn't your destination, but it's a perfectly reasonable stop if the ahi tuna is calling your name.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Harrah's Atlantic City · Atlantic City · Seafood / Steakhouse
McCormick & Schmick's inside Harrah's is a wine list on autopilot — safe brands, static program, and markups that remind you you're inside a casino. Drink the Port, keep your expectations low, and don't skip the cocktail menu.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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