California hits on a Times Square rooftop
Midtown West · New York · American · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 23, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Terrace’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
You're on a rooftop in Times Square, somehow not hating it — that's the first trick The Terrace pulls off. The wine list leans hard into California, which makes sense given the crowd, and the by-the-glass prices feel surprisingly reasonable for this zip code. Wine Spectator has recognized this list since 2022, and while it's not a deep-cellar situation, there's more care here than most hotel bars bother with.
This is a California-forward list built around recognizable names that won't scare off a pre-theater crowd: Cakebread, Jordan, Rombauer, Stag's Leap, Chateau Montelena, Far Niente. It's not breaking new ground — you won't find a skin-contact Chenin Blanc or a Jura oddity hiding in the back pages. But what it does, it does with some conviction: these are reputable producers, not grocery-store fillers, and the selection covers both Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon with enough range to have a real conversation. The gap is everything else — other regions, varieties, and price tiers are underrepresented if they exist at all.
The by-the-glass program is where The Terrace earns its keep, especially for a hotel rooftop in Midtown. Prices in the $18–$28 range for pours from Cakebread and Far Niente represent genuine value given the setting and the names on the labels. Rotation details aren't clear, but the lineup appears consistent enough to plan around.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 — $22
Jordan Cab by the glass for $22 in Midtown Manhattan is the kind of thing you mention to your friends. This is a polished, food-friendly Sonoma Cabernet that typically runs $50–$60 at retail — getting it by the glass at this price, at this address, is a straight-up win.
Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 2021
Most people at this bar are ordering the Rombauer on autopilot. Slide past that and grab the Chateau Montelena instead — it's a leaner, more structured Chardonnay from one of Napa's historic producers, and at $24 it's the more interesting pour by a wide margin.
Rombauer Chardonnay 2022
At $20 the price is fair, but Rombauer is the Chardonnay equivalent of ordering a Caesar salad — safe, familiar, and available at every restaurant in America. You're on a rooftop in New York with better options on this same list. Use them.
Stag's Leap Artemis Cabernet 2020 + Short rib sliders
Artemis has the structure and dark fruit to stand up to braised short rib without steamrolling it. The slider format keeps things casual, which actually suits this wine's approachable side — it's Stag's Leap without the ceremony, and that fits the rooftop vibe perfectly.
Wednesday — Half-price wine night every Wednesday — the best reason to make this your midweek plans.
The Bottom Line
The Terrace isn't where you go to geek out over a wine list — it's where you go to drink good California Cab by the glass on a rooftop above Times Square without getting gouged. For what it is, it delivers.
Downtown · New York · Steakhouse
STK Downtown is a place where people order Champagne to celebrate, not to drink — and the wine program is built accordingly. If you're here for the vibe and someone else is paying, pop the Dom and enjoy it; if you actually care about what's in your glass, you're in the wrong room.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown · New York · Upscale Seafood & Steakhouse
Three happy hour wines do not a wine program make. Ocean Prime is a place you eat well and drink safely — but if wine is a priority, this list will let you down before the bread basket arrives.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Midtown · New York · Steakhouse
STK Midtown is a great place to see and be seen, but the wine list is there to pad the check, not to excite you. If you're here for the experience, lean on the cocktails or grab a glass of Bonanza at the bar — don't expect the bottle list to reward any real curiosity.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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
Union Square · San Francisco · American
The Rotunda is a lunch experience first and a wine destination a distant second — the list is safe, the markup is real, and you're largely paying for the address and the atmosphere. Come for the crab salad and the occasion, order something bubbly, and don't go in expecting a serious wine program.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Eagle Ranch · Vail · American
The Wild Sage is your dependable neighborhood spot in Eagle Ranch — the wine list won't blow your mind, but it won't embarrass you at dinner either. Watch the markups on the top-shelf Napa bottles and stick to the mid-range, and you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Waterfront · Traverse City · American
Warehouse Kitchen + Cork won't win any awards for depth or ambition, but it plays its hand honestly — fair prices, solid local representation, and a full by-the-glass program that respects your wallet. If you're in Traverse City and want a glass of something local with a water view, this works.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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