Wine bars

Jadis

Aah, comfy couches
Jadis
A pair of slick leather sofas is the focal point at this cavelike Lower East Side hangout, opened in 2006 by a particularly passionate Frenchman. House-made quiche and duck mousse complement boutique, mostly French wines. Frugal sippers will be comfortable here too, with by-the-glass prices averaging around $7. 42 Rivington St between Eldridge and Forsyth Sts (212-254-1675)

I want to try this, and this, and this…
Stonehome Wine Bar
The crowd here is a one-to-one mix of easygoing locals and Manhattan pilgrims. Both sets sit for hours at the extra-long cherrywood bar, sampling from a well-curated list of 35 glasses from around the world—most of which can be had for less than a ten-spot. 87 Lafayette Ave between South Elliott Pl and South Portland Ave, Fort Greene, Brooklyn (718-624-9443)

I just want a good glass of red, for crissakes
Wined Up
You don’t need a degree to understand the easy-reading menu here. Enjoy any red from the “Complex but not heavy” list while gazing up at the 100-foot wine wall, stacked with 3,000 bottles’ worth of architectural efficiency. 913 Broadway between 20th and 21st Sts (212-673-6333)

I’m superstylish
Blue Ribbon Downing Street Bar
Lit by dimmed, antique-style Edison bulbs that make everything look softer (and better), this is the sip-and-be-seen spot for the postwork summer-linen crew. Thanks to prices hovering at $10 a glass and the option of a three-flute sampler ($14–$28), trendiness and thriftiness don’t have to be mutually exclusive. 34 Downing St between Bedford and Varick Sts (212-691-0404)

I’m supersnooty (got a problem with that?)
Noble Food and Wine
An argon-gas system keeps the rare, by-the-glass vintages fresh at the burgundy-toned Noble. Stocking varieties that will set you back up to $60 a glass, the place appeals only to the very serious (and very overdressed). 7 Spring St between Bowery and Elizabeth St (212-777-0877)

8th Street Winecellar

Photograph: Beth Levendis

I can’t be bothered with a scene
8th Street Winecellar
This find is a comfortable, classy den with high bar seats and small, quiet tables. It’s so relaxed that the servers are known to introduce strangers who like the same wines. One hard-to-find gem new to the list this summer is a dry, honey-and-mineral-toned pinot blanc from Alsace ($44 per bottle) made by Jean-Michel Deiss, an irreverent winemaker with a cult following. 28 W 8th St between Fifth Ave and MacDougal St (212-260-9463)

Snacks come with that, right?
Terroir
The restaurateurs from Hearth make a foray into wine for the oenophilic intelligentsia at Terroir. Perched on aluminum stools at a blond-wood bar, imbibers interested in what terroir actually is sip varietals, paired with savories like fried sage leaves with lamb sausage ($7) and Gorgonzola-stuffed beet-risotto balls ($7). 413 E 12th St between First Ave and Ave A (646-602-1300)

—Anna McDonald