Great Views, Wine List Phoning It In
Exchange Place · Jersey City · New American / Bar Food · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 23, 2026
RagingWine reviewed RoofTop at Exchange Place’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
The Manhattan skyline does a lot of heavy lifting here, and the wine list knows it. You flip open the menu expecting something as ambitious as the view and instead get a tight roster of recognizable names pitched at hotel-bar prices. The vibe says 'date night with options'; the wine list says 'we ordered what the Hyatt rep suggested.'
The list leans hard on California with a Sonoma Pinot Noir from Banshee and Markham's Napa Merlot anchoring the red side, while a single Tuscan entry — Il Poggione's Rosso di Toscana — nods toward Italy without really committing to it. France shows up with what's listed as a 'BMV Pinot Noir' that resolves to a Louis Jadot Burgundy, which is fine but not exactly a discovery. There are no grower Champagnes, no skin-contact wines, no domestic outliers — nothing to suggest anyone curated this with curiosity. The list covers the bases and stops there.
Glass pours run $14–$22 and there are an estimated 8–14 options, which is a reasonable count for a rooftop bar. The Banshee Pinot and Il Poggione Rosso both appear by the glass, which at least means you can taste before committing to a bottle. Rotation appears nonexistent — this looks like a static list that hasn't changed since someone filed the laminated menu inserts.
Il Poggione Rosso di Toscana IGT — $21/glass, $80/bottle
Il Poggione is a serious Brunello producer and the Rosso is their everyday wine done right — Sangiovese with actual backbone and structure. At $80 a bottle it's still marked up, but it's the most interesting thing on this list and it drinks well above what the rest of the menu implies.
Il Poggione Rosso di Toscana IGT
Most people at a rooftop bar in Jersey City are reaching for the Banshee Pinot because they recognize the name. The Il Poggione sits right next to it and most tables walk right past it — which is their loss. This is real Tuscan winemaking from a producer who knows exactly what they're doing.
Louis Jadot 'BMV Pinot Noir', Burgundy
Listed cryptically as 'BMV Pinot Noir' and priced at $118 a bottle, this is a négociant Burgundy you can find at most wine shops for $20–$30. That's a brutal markup for a wine with no story and no scarcity — drink the Il Poggione and put the savings toward dessert.
Banshee Pinot Noir, Sonoma County + Flatbread Pizza
Banshee's Pinot is fruit-forward and low on tannin — it's not a complex wine, but it's well-made and it plays nicely with the char and tomato on a flatbread without the grippy clash you'd get from a bigger red. Easy, accessible, and it works in this casual format.
The Bottom Line
Come for the skyline, order a cocktail, and if you're committed to wine, the Il Poggione is your move and the Louis Jadot at $118 is your warning sign. This list has the energy of a hotel bar that knows guests are too distracted by the view to notice.
Downtown · Jersey City · Australian-influenced, Natural Wine Bar
Frankie is a genuinely surprising wine program hiding inside a casual downtown spot, and the Italian-leaning natural wine list punches well above the Grove Street zip code. If you're in Jersey City and care about what's in your glass, this is where you go.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Hoboken Waterfront · Jersey City · Barbecue
House of 'Que is a genuinely fun spot for barbecue and live music — just don't come here expecting wine to be part of the experience. Order a beer, eat the brisket, and save your wine night for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Jersey City Waterfront · Jersey City · Steakhouse, Seafood, American
Edward's is a reliable steakhouse wine list for guests who want Napa Cabs with their dry-aged beef and aren't looking to be challenged. Send a friend here who loves Jordan and Stag's Leap; don't send the one who's been on a natural wine kick.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Jersey City · Jersey City · Mexican
Orale isn't a wine destination, but it's a casual Mexican spot that earned a Wild Card badge by putting a Bonny Doon orange wine and a proper Albariño on a short, accessible, fairly priced list. Send a friend here who thinks Mexican restaurants don't do wine — they'll leave surprised.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Grove Street · Jersey City · American
Mathews is a reliable neighborhood pour — fair prices, familiar bottles, and a by-the-glass selection that works well enough for a casual dinner on Grove Street. Don't come here to geek out on wine, but don't skip the Montepulciano either.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Newport · Jersey City · American Grill and Steakhouse
Fire & Oak is a reliable port in a storm — decent bottles, familiar names, prices that sting but won't shock you. If you're already staying at the Westin or catching a meal before the PATH, you could do worse; just don't make a special trip for the wine list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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