Wine Spectator Best of Award in Downtown Atlanta
Downtown · Atlanta · Seafood / Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · February 10, 2026
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 →
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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.
· Atlanta · Steakhouse
Hal's delivers a competent, Napa-forward bottle list that does exactly what a steakhouse wine program is supposed to do — just without much surprise or value mercy. Send a friend here if they want a reliable big-red experience; warn them to leave the credit card breathing room.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Fast Casual
Nando's is here for the chicken, and the wine list knows it — eight uninspired labels that exist to check a box, not to enhance your meal. Order the Vinho Verde, enjoy your peri-peri, and don't overthink it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Stemless Casual
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Italian
Bici's wine list won't knock you sideways, but it's honest, Italian-focused, and fairly priced — a reliable partner to the food. We'd send a friend here and tell them to skip the Sauvignon Blanc and go straight for the Greco.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Southern
SouthernNational is doing something genuinely unusual — running a tight, Europe-forward wine list inside a Southern kitchen, and mostly pulling it off. If you're tired of the same Sonoma Pinot and overpriced Malbec at every restaurant in town, this list is worth your attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Caribbean-inspired / New American
Apt 4B is a vibe-first spot where the wine list feels like an afterthought that got handed to a brand manager. Come for the food and the atmosphere — but if wine matters to you, order a cocktail instead.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Steakhouse
New York Prime's wine list is exactly what it needs to be for its audience — safe, recognizable, and priced for expense accounts. If you know what you want and don't mind paying for it, you'll be fine; just don't come looking for discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Historic Seaport · Key West · Seafood / Steakhouse
The Commodore is a reliable waterfront pick — the wine list won't surprise you, but it won't embarrass you either. Hit the happy hour if you can, stick to the Champagne or the New Zealand whites, and let the view do the rest.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Cannery Row · Monterey · Seafood / Steakhouse
Chart House Monterey charges destination prices for the view and delivers gas station wine execution — the list is inoffensive, cheap enough, and completely uninspired. Come for the bay, order by the glass, and don't expect anyone behind the bar to talk you through it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Route 1 / MarketFair area · Princeton · Seafood / Steakhouse
Eddie V's Princeton is a reliable, well-run wine program that excels on its own terms — California-focused, sommelier-staffed, and properly stored — but it won't challenge your palate or your loyalty to the coasts. Send your California Cab-loving friends here without hesitation; send the natural wine crowd somewhere else.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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