Burgundy Royalty Hiding Behind Beekman's Atrium
Financial District · New York · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into The Beekman Hotel already feels like a flex — soaring Victorian atrium, ironwork balconies, the whole theatrical package — and the wine list matches the room. This is not a list someone threw together; it's a deliberate, focused document that tells you exactly what John Tarelton cares about. Spoiler: it's Burgundy, and he's serious about it.
With 350–500 selections, Temple Court goes deep where it matters and doesn't waste pages pretending otherwise. Burgundy is the unambiguous heart of this list — Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Leroy, Faiveley Gevrey-Chambertin, Joseph Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny, Domaine Leflaive Meursault, and Louis Jadot Puligny-Montrachet give you a legitimate tour of the Côte d'Or without leaving lower Manhattan. California holds its own alongside them, with Kistler Chardonnay bridging the two worlds and the usual prestige suspects — Opus One, Screaming Eagle, Harlan Estate — for the table that just closed a deal. The Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence since 2020 is earned here, not honorary.
Sixteen to twenty-four pours by the glass is a generous program for a hotel restaurant, running $15–$30 a pop. The range gives you room to explore without committing to a full bottle, though the selection skews toward accessibility rather than showcasing the deeper cellar treasures. If you're here to drink Burgundy properly, the bottle list is where the real action is.
Faiveley Gevrey-Chambertin — $60–$100 (bottle range)
Faiveley's Gevrey is a legitimate village-level Burgundy from a producer with real pedigree — it gives you the Pinot Noir experience this list is built around without requiring a wire transfer. In a room full of Screaming Eagles, this one punches well above what you'd expect to pay relative to the prestige bottles nearby.
Leroy Bourgogne
Leroy's entry-level Bourgogne is made with the same obsessive farming philosophy as their grand cru wines — most tables skip it because it doesn't have a famous village name on the label, but what's in the glass carries Lalou Bize-Leroy's fingerprints all the way down the hierarchy. If it's on the list at a sane price, it's the move.
Opus One
Opus One is a fine wine that's been marked up to fine-dining oblivion in virtually every upscale American restaurant, and Temple Court is no exception. The name recognition means the kitchen knows what to charge for it. The Burgundy side of this list offers far more interesting drinking per dollar.
Louis Jadot Puligny-Montrachet + Butter-poached lobster
Puligny-Montrachet and butter-poached lobster is not a subtle choice, but it's the right one — Jadot's Puligny brings enough mineral tension and citrus drive to cut through the richness while the wine's weight matches the luxury of the dish. This is what the list is here for.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Temple Court is the real thing — a hotel restaurant that actually earned its wine credentials rather than just hiring a consultant to populate a PDF. If Burgundy is your religion, this is a legitimate pilgrimage stop in lower Manhattan.
Midtown West · New York · Russian-American
The Russian Tea Room treats wine as an afterthought dressed up in Champagne flutes — five famous labels at punishing prices with no range, no by-the-glass program, and no apparent curiosity about wine beyond what looks impressive on a table. Go for the spectacle, order the caviar, but don't come here expecting a wine list.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
David Burke Tavern's list is a Chardonnay lover's comfort zone with a solid sparkling section propping up the top — but the narrow focus and steep pricing mean you're paying for familiarity, not discovery. Send a friend here if they want California whites and a glass of Champagne; send them somewhere else if they want to explore.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
Corima's wine list is proof that ten well-chosen bottles beat a hundred thoughtless ones every time. If you care about what's in your glass, this place is worth your attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Village · New York · American
Cecchi's is first and foremost a bar, but the wine list is more serious than the neon and noise suggest. Steep markups are the main ding — but if you know what to order, there's real pleasure here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SoHo · New York · Steak House, Small Plates
The Corner Store is a reliable, well-credentialed wine list doing exactly what a good SoHo steakhouse should — France and California, done with intention, in a room that makes you want to order another bottle. Just watch the markup on the big Bordeaux names and let the Rhône or Burgundy side show you a better time.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Tribeca · New York · American
Farra is punching above its weight class for a neighborhood wine bar, and the Wine Spectator nod is earned — just know that the serious bottles come with serious prices, and the no-sommelier setup means you're doing some of the navigating yourself. Worth it for anyone who knows what they want; potentially overwhelming for those who don't.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Southwest / Time Corners · Fort Wayne · American
Catablu is exactly what it needs to be for its neighborhood — a reliable, thoughtfully maintained list that won't embarrass you on a date night or bore you entirely. It's not a destination wine list, but it's a solid supporting act for a kitchen that clearly takes food seriously.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Otay Ranch Town Center · Chula Vista · American
BJ's is a fine place to drink a craft beer and eat a Pizookie. It is not a place to drink wine. Order a Brewhouse Blonde, skip the wine list entirely, and save your wine night for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SanTan Village · Gilbert · American
The Cheesecake Factory is a perfectly fine place to eat — the wine list just isn't a reason to go. Order a cocktail, split a bottle of Santa Margherita if you must, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that earned it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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