Views are great, wine list less so
Downtown Spokane · Spokane · Hotel Rooftop/Terrace Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 17, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The Grand Terrace Bar earns its name — sweeping views of downtown Spokane, a lively lounge energy, and the kind of setting that makes you want to order a second glass just to stay longer. The wine list, though, is an afterthought dressed up in hotel branding. You're here for the atmosphere, and the wine program knows it.
Washington State loyalty is the one thing you can say in the list's favor — Columbia Crest, Chateau Ste. Michelle, and 14 Hands represent the approachable, commercially reliable end of the state's wine scene. There's no real dig into Walla Walla's serious Syrah country or the Yakima Valley's more interesting Grenache and Riesling producers. The list tops out around 20–35 bottles and stays well within the safe zone — nothing here will surprise or challenge you, but nothing will embarrass you either. If you were hoping for a Leonetti or a L'Ecole No. 41 hiding somewhere on the back page, keep looking.
Eight to fourteen pours by the glass is a reasonable range for a rooftop bar, and the Washington-forward focus at least gives the list some regional coherence. Expect the usuals — a Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling, something red from Columbia Valley — rotated infrequently if at all. Don't count on staff to walk you through the differences; they're more cocktail-fluent than wine-literate.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — $12
Chateau Ste. Michelle's Riesling is one of Washington's most consistent wines at any price, and by the glass at a hotel bar, it's the lowest-risk, highest-reward pour on the list — especially on a warm terrace evening.
Columbia Crest Grand Estates
Easy to overlook because the label screams 'grocery store shelf,' but Columbia Crest Grand Estates consistently punches above its price point. Order it before someone at the table talks you into the more expensive bottle.
14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon
14 Hands is a fine $12 retail wine, which makes hotel bar markup a genuine sting. You're paying rooftop prices for a bottle that lives at eye level in every grocery store wine aisle in America.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling + Shared small plates and bar snacks
The Riesling's bright acidity and slight sweetness cuts through salty, savory bar bites without overwhelming them — it's the most versatile thing on the list for a table full of snacky plates.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Grand Terrace Bar is a great place to drink wine in Spokane — just not necessarily great wine. Come for the skyline, order the Riesling, and save the serious bottle hunting for elsewhere.
Kendall Yards · Spokane · Winery and craft distillery tasting room with small bites
Browne Family's Spokane room is a confident single-producer tasting experience done right — fair prices, knowledgeable pours, and a genuine case for why Washington State deserves your attention. Send a friend here if they think Washington wine is just an also-ran.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
West Downtown / Riverside · Spokane · Barbecue / American Tavern
The Blackbird is a genuinely good barbecue tavern that simply doesn't care about wine, and the steep markups on uninspired bottles make that indifference expensive. Come for the smoked meats and a cold beer — if you insist on wine, grab the Milbrandt and move on.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Spokane · Spokane · Fondue / Upscale Casual
The Melting Pot Spokane isn't a wine destination, and it's not trying to be — but the Washington State anchors on this list are genuinely good, and if you stick to those, you'll drink well enough for the occasion. Come for the fondue experience, order the Ste. Michelle, and save the serious wine night for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Spokane · Spokane · Hotel cocktail bar and lounge with small plates
1919 won't blow any minds, but for a hotel bar in downtown Spokane it earns genuine respect for keeping Washington State producers front and center. Come for the room, stay for the Beresan — just don't expect any surprises in the pricing.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Spokane · Spokane · Wine Bar
Barrister is a genuine Wild Card: a serious urban winery tucked into Spokane's rail district that most wine travelers blow past on their way to Walla Walla. If you're in eastern Washington and you haven't stopped here, you owe yourself a visit.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Spokane · Spokane · Wine bar with Pacific Northwest-focused wines and light bites
Pacific to Palouse is doing something genuinely rare in eastern Washington: treating regional wine as a destination rather than an afterthought. If you want to understand what the Pacific Northwest is capable of in a glass, this is a better classroom than most.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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