26 Atlanta Restaurants Earn 2021 Wine Spectator Awards

ATLANTA — Coronavirus has brought unique and unprecedented challenges to restaurants in Atlanta. Despite the hardships, several were still able to shine in the last year, earning a 2021 Restaurant Award from Wine Spectator magazine.

The annual Restaurant Awards honor excellence in restaurant wine lists, as well as those who have demonstrated passion and devoted extensive resources to creating outstanding wine programs. This year’s awards are featured in the Aug. 31 issue of Wine Spectator.

The list typically gives us a generous glimpse at the best spots in Atlanta. This year, 26 restaurants in our city earned a nod from Wine Spectator.

More than 2,900 restaurants in 50 states and 72 countries and territories earned awards this year. The awards are given across three categories: Award of Excellence, Best of Award of Excellence and Grand Award.

The Grand Award is Wine Spectator’s most prestigious honor, given to the world’s most elite wine programs. Read profiles of all 100 current Grand Award winners.

Typically, recipients of the Grand Award offer at least 1,000 or more wine selections, showcasing “immense depth and breadth of regions, producers, vintages and bottle formats.” All Grand Award winners must also pass a rigorous inspection of their restaurants, including the wine cellars.

Three new restaurants won the Grand Award this year: Brennan's in New Orleans, Le Bernardin in New York and SingleThread Farms in Healdsburg, Cal.

New award winners for Atlanta this year were STK Atlanta in Midtown and Boone’s in Buckhead.

Check out the restaurants in our city that earned nods for excellence this year:

• Ray’s In The City: Award of Excellence since 2010
• White Oak Kitchen & Cocktails: Award of Excellence since 2017
• Ruth's Chris Steak House - Atlanta: Award of Excellence since 2020
• Morton’s, The Steakhouse: Award of Excellence since 2016
• Barcelona Wine Bar - North Highland: Award of Excellence since 2016
• Sotto Sotto: Award of Excellence since 2004
• STK Atlanta: Award of Excellence since 2021
• The Oceanaire Seafood Room: Award of Excellence since 2017
• Barcelona Wine Bar - Howell Mill: Award of Excellence since 2017
• Marcel’s: Award of Excellence since 2020
• Lazy Betty: Award of Excellence since 2020
• Boone’s: Award of Excellence since 2021
• Le Colonial: Award of Excellence since 2020
• Le Bilboquet: Award of Excellence since 2020
• Umi: Award of Excellence since 2015
• The Capital Grille: Award of Excellence since 2002
• Aria Restaurant: Award of Excellence since 2017
• Atlas: Award of Excellence since 2018
• Fogo de Chao: Award of Excellence since 2002
• Bones: Award of Excellence since 1990
• Ruth’s Chris Steak House - Buckhead: Award of Excellence since 1997
• The Palm Atlanta: Award of Excellence since 2003
• Del Frisco’s Grille: Award of Excellence since 2013
• New York Prime: Award of Excellence since 2018
• Blue Ridge Grille: Award of Excellence since 2020
• Canoe: Award of Excellence since 2016

See all winners of this year’s Wine Spectator awards.

See also: 14 Buckhead Restaurants Earn 2021 Wine Spectator Awards