Wine Bars

Visit Aperitivo at the Grand Rapids Downtown Market for an evening of cheese, charcuterie and vino. The wine list ranges from $7-$16 for a glass, or under $52 for a bottle. If you can’t find what you’re looking for on the list, you can purchase a bottle from the restaurant's retail shelves for a corkage fee.

One interesting aspect of Aperitivo’s list is the option to add bitters or Som cordials (a drinking vinegar) to your glass of bubbles. Be sure to experience one of Aperitivo’s cheese, charcuterie, beer and wine classes –including virtual ones! You can find more details on Aperitivo’s events page .

Aperitivo expanded its indoor and outdoor seating in 2021, and introduced a new sandwich and salad menu, so it can comfortably accommodate even more thirsty and hungry oenophiles.

Cork Wine & Grille, located at the Watermark Country Club, is open to the general public and is a must-visit for wine lovers. Cork certainly lives up to its name, offering one of the area’s most extensive wine lists, with selections available by the bottle or in a glass.

Cork’s menu features plenty of California wines, as well as European, Oregon and Michigan varieties. Cork offers a modern bistro ambiance and has a fabulous patio to enjoy during the warmer months.

Divani, located near Van Andel Arena, is a good place to try something new. Its unique wine list covers most of the major wine regions.

The most interesting wines come only in bottles, with prices up to three figures a bottle, making Divani a great option for special occasions. If you’re looking for a more casual visit, Divani also offers bottles starting below $50.

Since street parking is limited, head to the Ottawa-Fulton Parking Ramp – it’s a close and easy place to park. If you're already downtown, consider taking the DASH (Downtown Area Shuttle), which is free to use.

Originally opened by the Brengman Brothers as a tasting room to feature their award-winning wines and bring the flavor of Traverse City to Grand Rapids, Forty Pearl has evolved to showcase the finest Michigan wines by pairing them with adventurous bites made with locally sourced seasonal ingredients.

Wednesdays are very popular at Forty Pearl, as selected wine flights are available for just $10. 

GRNoir seeks to make wine “fun and accessible” for all people. It’s a wine and jazz bar offering a diverse selection of global wines, a surprising small-plates food menu and live music.

Customers can find more than 100 varieties of wine here, including bottles from Black-owned vineyards. The wine list is curated by co-owner Shatawn Brigham,  a level II sommelier and the first Black sommelier to operate a wine bar in Grand Rapids.

Join GRNoir’s Wine Club so you can sample flights of four different wines in store and sign up for its Wine Club to receive monthly shipments (or curbside pickups) of three new wines monthly.  

Private tastings with a Brigham are also available.

The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck at the Amway Grand Plaza, Curio Collection by Hilton offers a smaller, curated wine list to accompany its globally inspired menu. 

The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck offers European-style wines, with a few California and Austrian wines included for good measure. All are available by the bottle or the glass.

Two other Amway Grand Plaza restaurants are also great wine destinations: MDRD features a satisfying selection of Spanish wines to complement its modern Spanish cuisine while Ruth’s Chris Steak House offers an extensive global wine list.

House of Wine offers more than 100 wines available by taste, glass, or bottle. Plus, there are 250 bottles of wine to choose from in the retail shop.

Pair your wine with House of Wine’s food menu, which features build-your-own charcuterie boards as well as small plates, salads and paninis.

House of Wine offers a Monday-Friday Happy Hour menu and a selection of creative wine flights.

Wine Spectator Magazine named Café Mamo one of the 12 best new restaurants of 2022, a list reserved for standout wine spots that also offer a memorable dining experience, and its wine program earned an award of excellence from the publication. Opened in summer 2021 by husband-and-wife team Michael Goessman (chef) and Summer Knoop (a certified wine sommelier), Café Mamo is an intimate wine-driven eatery tucked into the Creston Heights neighborhood northeast of downtown GR.

Knoop draws on her experience in the New York City wine industry to curate a rotating wine (and beer and mocktail) list that beautifully complements the farm-to-table food menu that also changes constantly based on the freshest ingredients Goessman can find. The restaurant is open Monday-Saturday for dinner service and offers brunch one weekend each month.

Noto’s Old World Italian Dining is a family-owned restaurant that’s been serving up fine Italian dining since 1982. Its expansive list of 1,200 Italian wines (covering all 20 of the country’s wine-producing regions) is worth a browse.

Not sure what to choose? Opt for a wine flight featuring three wines before you purchase a glass or bottle. The 28th Street location (Noto's also operates a lakeside restaurant in Grand Haven) features spaces for private parties and events.

Reserve pours more than 100 varieties of wine by the glass, including a wide range of California and Old World wines. The wine list includes such categories as “Crisp & Clean” and “Fresh & Funky” in addition to more traditional classifications like Chardonnays, Italian Reds and Pinot Noir. Guests can also choose from a variety of curated wine flights to sample different varietals.

Reserve offers an even larger selection of wine by the bottle, while the wine cellar houses 900+ selections available for retail sale. If you’re looking to enjoy food with your wine, Reserve’s lunch and dinner menus feature a wide range of fare, from distinctive cheese and charcuterie plates to burgers and pasta.

Reservations are recommended. If you’re visiting for a special occasion, you can reserve one of four unique private dining/event spaces – including The Vault, which is flanked by an original bank vault door behind which Reserve stores its best and most exclusive wines.

Two of the world’s favorite beverages come together at Squibb Coffee and Wine Bar, located in Uptown. Guests can order wine by the glass or bottle, and pair their choice(s) with a something from the food menu, which includes toasts, cheese, charcuterie and dips. Specialty coffees and pastries round out the offering.

Since its opening in 2019, Squibb has expanded its retail selection of wine bottles to include more natural wines and a wider range of wines from all over the world. Guests can take a bottle to go or open a bottle at the shop for a corkage fee.