California hits on a Times Square rooftop
Midtown West · New York · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 23, 2026
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.
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