Local Wines, Waterfront Vibes, Zero Surprises
Downtown Monterey · Monterey · Breakfast / Brunch · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 23, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Club Room’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list here reads like a love letter to Monterey County — and we mean that in the nicest, most predictable way possible. You open it expecting to find Talbott and Morgan front and center, and there they are, right on cue. It's comfortable, it's local, and it does exactly what a hotel restaurant wine list is supposed to do.
The list runs 20–40 bottles deep and stays firmly planted in Monterey County and the Central Coast, which is genuinely the right call given where you're sitting. Talbott Vineyards Chardonnay and Morgan Winery Pinot Noir are the anchors — both solid regional producers that belong on any list in this zip code. Bernardus Sauvignon Blanc rounds out the headliners, and Bernardus is no slouch. The gap is everything else: there's no real depth beyond the obvious picks, no old-world detour, no wildcard bottle that makes you feel like someone actually curated this thing.
Eight pours by the glass at $12–$18 is a reasonable range for a hotel bar in downtown Monterey, though it skews toward the top of fair market value given the context. The selection mirrors the bottle list — Central Coast-focused, crowd-pleasing, predictable. Don't expect the glass program to rotate with the seasons.
Bernardus Sauvignon Blanc — $14
Bernardus makes genuinely good wine out of Carmel Valley, and if this is landing around the lower end of the glass range, it's the move. Bright, coastal, and actually relevant to what's on your brunch plate.
Morgan Winery Pinot Noir
Morgan flies under the radar nationally but earns its reputation in Monterey. Most people at a hotel brunch aren't ordering Pinot with their eggs — which means if you do, you're probably getting one of the better pours on the list with zero line.
Talbott Vineyards Chardonnay
Talbott is fine wine, but it's also the most recognizable name on the list, which usually means the markup is working hardest here. At a hotel restaurant with a captive audience, the flagship Chardonnay is where the margin lives. There are better values in the same pour range.
Bernardus Sauvignon Blanc + Avocado Toast
Coastal Sauvignon Blanc and avocado toast is not a revolutionary idea, but it works — the herbaceous brightness cuts through the fat and keeps the whole thing feeling light. It's brunch-appropriate in a way that a Chardonnay isn't.
The Bottom Line
The Club Room won't blow your mind, but it won't embarrass you either — it's a hotel wine list that at least has the sense to lean into its regional backyard. If you're already staying at the Portola, it's an easy yes; if you're driving across town just for the wine, keep driving.
Pacific Grove · Monterey · Sustainable Seafood / Californian
Wild Fish isn't trying to be a wine destination, but the list punches thoughtfully above its weight with genuine regional focus and fair pricing. If you're eating here — and you should be — drink local and let the terroir match the catch.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Pacific Grove · Monterey · Seafood-focused California/American
The Beach House at Lover's Point is a reliable coastal wine stop — not a destination for wine lovers, but a perfectly decent list for a date-night dinner with a sunset backdrop. Don't come chasing cellar depth; do come ready to drink local and enjoy the view.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Pebble Beach · Monterey · Steakhouse / American Tavern
The Tap Room is a reliable resort wine list — not inspiring, not embarrassing, and marked up like the real estate it sits on. If you're at Pebble Beach anyway, the list does the job; just go in with eyes open and budget accordingly.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Pebble Beach · Monterey · Seafood-focused California cuisine
Stillwater earns its reputation on setting and execution, and the wine list is professionally managed with real producers and proper care — but the pricing reflects the zip code more than it reflects generosity. Go in with eyes open, lean local, and let the view do the rest.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Pebble Beach · Monterey · Italian
Pèppoli is the real deal for Italian wine in a resort setting — deep list, knowledgeable staff, and an Antinori-anchored program that takes the Italian canon seriously. Just go in knowing that Pebble Beach prices apply across the board, and steer toward the mid-tier bottles where the value actually lives.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Pebble Beach · Monterey · Hawaiian Fusion
Roy's at Pebble Beach is a dependable wine list in a stunning setting — competently assembled, a little overpriced for what you get, and unlikely to surprise you. Order smarter than the tourists at the next table and you'll drink well here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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