Washington State Pride in a Hotel Lobby
Downtown · Spokane · American, Grill & Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 17, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Safari Room lands exactly where you'd expect it to at a Marriott Autograph Collection hotel bar — safe, approachable, and leaning hard into Washington State pride. It's not trying to impress anyone, but it's not embarrassing either. Think of it as the reliable co-worker who always shows up but never volunteers for anything extra.
The list runs 30–50 labels and sticks close to familiar territory: Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling, and California Chardonnay cover most of the real estate. Washington producers get the spotlight, which makes sense given the location — you're in the heart of wine country's backyard, and the list at least acknowledges that. There's no deep cuts here, no skin-contact anything, no boutique Walla Walla producers pushing the boundaries. What you get is a clean, crowd-friendly roster that will satisfy most hotel guests and locals who aren't looking for a challenge.
Eight to fourteen pours by the glass is a reasonable spread for a bar like this, and the $10–$18 range puts it squarely in hotel-bar territory — functional but not cheap. Happy hour drops Washington wine pours to $7, which is genuinely the best reason to show up early and plant yourself near the fireplace. Outside of happy hour, the BTG program doesn't do much to distinguish itself.
Washington Riesling (Chateau Ste. Michelle) — $10
At happy hour, this drops to $7 and represents one of the better deals in the building. Chateau Ste. Michelle's Columbia Valley Riesling consistently overdelivers for the price, and it's the kind of pour that actually makes sense with the menu.
Washington Riesling (Chateau Ste. Michelle)
Most people at a grill and bar walk straight past Riesling and grab a Cab. Don't. In a room full of barbecue plates and flatbreads, a slightly off-dry Riesling cuts through smoke and fat better than anything else on the list — and nobody at your table will see it coming.
California Chardonnay
At hotel-bar markup, a generic California Chardonnay at $14–$18 a glass is hard to justify when Washington's own whites are sitting right next to it and telling a more interesting story. You're in Spokane — order accordingly.
Washington Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley) + Hickory Smoked Barbecue Plate
Columbia Valley Cab is built for exactly this — dark fruit, firm tannins, and enough structure to stand up to smoke and char. It's not a complicated pairing, but it's a correct one.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Safari Room is a perfectly decent wine stop if you're already there for dinner or a post-conference drink, especially during happy hour when the Washington pours get genuinely affordable. We wouldn't drive across town for the list, but we'd order a second glass without complaint.
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Small but Thoughtful
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