Spokane's Comfort Food Spot Gets Wine Right
Downtown Spokane · Spokane · New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 11, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The Onion is the kind of place you already know before you walk in — a Spokane institution built around burgers, cold beer, and zero pretension. The wine list matches that energy: short, regional, and designed for people who want a glass of something good without a dissertation. It's not trying to impress you, and that's actually refreshing.
The list runs 20 to 40 bottles deep and leans hard into Pacific Northwest and California — exactly what you'd expect from a casual Spokane anchor. There's no Old World detour, no skin-contact experiments, and no esoteric producers hiding in the back pages. What you get is a focused, approachable hit list of crowd-pleasers that works for the room. Gaps are real — wine geeks will scroll to the bottom fast — but for a burger-and-beer joint, this list does exactly what it needs to.
Six to ten options by the glass keeps things manageable without feeling like an afterthought. The pours lean toward familiar varietals from the Pacific Northwest and California, which pairs logically with the comfort food menu. Rotation appears limited, but the real story here is the happy hour: half-price wine Monday through Friday from 3 to 6pm, and all day Sunday.
Akli Chardonnay — $10.50
At $10.50 a glass with a retail bottle sitting around $15, this is practically a steal. The markup is almost nonexistent by restaurant standards — you're paying barely above what you'd hand over at a wine shop, which almost never happens.
Akli Chardonnay
Nobody orders Chardonnay at a burger bar, which is exactly why you should. At this price, it's the smartest pour on the list and flies completely under the radar.
Unknown premium bottle
Without full list data, we can't call out a specific bottle — but as a general rule, skip anything here that pushes above $50. The list isn't built for high-end exploration, and you won't find the kind of cellar depth to justify splurging up.
Akli Chardonnay + Fish and Chips
A lightly oaked or unoaked Pacific Northwest Chardonnay and fried fish is a classic match — the wine's acidity cuts the grease and the bright fruit holds up against the batter without fighting it.
Monday–Friday & Sunday — Half-price wine during happy hour Monday through Friday 3–6pm, and all day Sunday.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Onion isn't a wine destination, but with near-zero markups and half-price pours most of the week, it's one of the better deals for a casual glass in Spokane. Send your friends here for burgers and a guilt-free pour, not for a deep-dive into Burgundy.
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 · Hotel Rooftop/Terrace Bar
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.
Crowd Pleasers
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
Broadway corridor · Fort Wayne · New American
Rune is doing something genuinely rare for its zip code: building a wine list with a real identity. Come on a Wednesday, order the Ovum, and feel good about finding a place like this.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
West Plano · Plano · New American
CraftWay Kitchen isn't trying to be a wine destination and doesn't pretend to be — but the markups are fair, the glass program is wide, and there's enough on the list to drink well with a solid meal. Send your friends here for dinner; just don't send them here for a wine education.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Clemmons · Winston Salem · New American
Sixty Vines is a solid, reliable wine stop in Winston-Salem — the by-the-glass breadth is real and the staff knows their stuff, but the list reads like a greatest hits album rather than anything adventurous. Come for the volume, stay for the pizza, but don't expect to have your mind changed about wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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