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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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.
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
West Village · New York · American
Cecchi's is first and foremost a bar, but the wine list is more serious than the neon and noise suggest. Steep markups are the main ding — but if you know what to order, there's real pleasure here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SoHo · New York · Steak House, Small Plates
The Corner Store is a reliable, well-credentialed wine list doing exactly what a good SoHo steakhouse should — France and California, done with intention, in a room that makes you want to order another bottle. Just watch the markup on the big Bordeaux names and let the Rhône or Burgundy side show you a better time.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Tribeca · New York · American
Farra is punching above its weight class for a neighborhood wine bar, and the Wine Spectator nod is earned — just know that the serious bottles come with serious prices, and the no-sommelier setup means you're doing some of the navigating yourself. Worth it for anyone who knows what they want; potentially overwhelming for those who don't.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown / Mamaroneck Avenue · White Plains · American
The Brazen Fox is a great place to watch a game and eat a burger — just don't come here for the wine list. Order a craft beer, save the wine night for somewhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Fallsview Area · Niagara Falls · American
Order a cocktail. The wine list exists because restaurants are expected to have one, not because anyone here cares about what's in your glass. If you want to drink wine in Niagara Falls, cross the bridge and find a winery.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Avenue · Grand Junction · American
We're not here to pile on a chain restaurant — Applebee's knows exactly what it is. But if wine matters to you even a little, order a cocktail and save your wine night for somewhere that's actually trying.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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