Historic grandeur, hit-or-miss markups on the list
Downtown · Spokane · New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 13, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Palm Court at the Davenport Hotel’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
Walking into the Palm Court feels like stepping into a Spokane time capsule — ornate Edwardian ceilings, white tablecloths, and a wine list that leans hard into its Pacific Northwest identity. The list is substantial, clocking in somewhere between 100 and 150 bottles, and the Washington State focus is a genuine strength rather than a lazy hometown call. But flip past the local section and the markups start to sting.
The list is anchored by Columbia Valley heavyweights — L'Ecole No. 41, Arbor Crest, and Barrister Winery all make appearances, which is exactly what you want from a flagship Spokane dining room. California and France fill in the gaps without a lot of depth or surprise, and Oregon gets a token nod with the Erath Pinot. There are no real curveballs here — no natural wine, no interesting small-production stuff — but the Washington State coverage is genuinely solid and represents the region with some pride. The gaps show most clearly in the white wine section, where the list thins out fast beyond a few Riesling and Chardonnay options.
Twelve to eighteen pours by the glass is a respectable range for a hotel restaurant of this caliber, and the Washington State bottles reportedly rotate through the program. That said, there's no evidence of an active rotation or curated by-the-glass program — it reads more like a static selection that gets refreshed when something runs dry rather than a thoughtfully managed lineup.
L'Ecole No. 41 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley — $58
At only a 29% markup over retail, this is the most fairly priced bottle on the list — and L'Ecole is no afterthought producer. Serious Columbia Valley Cab from one of Washington's benchmark wineries, and the Palm Court is practically giving it away by hotel-restaurant standards.
Barrister Winery Rough Justice Red Blend Columbia Valley
Barrister is a Spokane institution and Rough Justice is one of their signature bottles — a bold, structured red blend that most out-of-town guests will walk right past. At $58 the markup is real, but this is a wine you can't easily find outside the region, and drinking it here, a few blocks from where it was made, is worth the premium.
Erath Pinot Noir Dundee Hills
A 135% markup on a $20 retail bottle is hard to stomach. Erath Pinot is perfectly fine supermarket wine, but at $47 a bottle you're paying a lot for something you could grab at any grocery store on the way home. Pass.
Château St. Michelle Syrah Columbia Valley + Prime Rib
Washington Syrah and prime rib is a classic Pacific Northwest move for a reason — the dark fruit and peppery backbone of the Ste. Michelle Syrah cuts right through the richness of a carved prime rib. It's a local-meets-local moment that plays to the Palm Court's strengths.
The Bottom Line
The Palm Court is a beautiful room with a wine list that gets the Pacific Northwest right and then undercuts itself with some ugly markups on anything outside that lane. Stick to the Washington State bottles — especially the L'Ecole — and you'll drink well in one of Spokane's most storied dining rooms.
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
7th Ave / Dolores · Carmel By The Sea · New American
Seventh & Dolores isn't a destination wine list, but it's a respectable one that at least knows where it is geographically. Come for the steak, order the Wrath, and don't expect to go down any rabbit holes.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Vail · Vail · New American
Vin48 is a genuinely surprising wine program hiding inside a Colorado ski resort, and if you're a wine-first diner passing through Vail, it absolutely warrants a stop. The markups reflect the zip code more than we'd like, but the depth and curation of the list are the real deal.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown Solvang · Solvang · New American
Root 246 is the rare hotel restaurant that actually earns your wine attention — a focused Santa Barbara County list with real producers, a sommelier who knows the material, and pricing that doesn't punish you for being curious. If you're passing through Solvang wine country, this is where you eat.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
