East Burnside Street has become hot property for cutting-edge dining houses, but if you’re looking just for a glass of wine and a carefully considered menu of small plates and snacks, then Kir (22 NE 7th Ave., 503/232-3036, 5–11 p.m. Tues.–Thurs., 5 p.m.–midnight Fri.–Sat., small plates $4–10) is a excellent option. The wine list isn’t mammoth, but it’s well chosen—in summer, most selections are rosé wines, an excellent antidote to Portland’s surprisingly hot summers. This is a tiny place, but the owners’ care and expertise (both are longtime veterans of the Portland restaurant scene) are immediately apparent. Come for finely chosen wines and a way-relaxed vibe, but don’t ignore the finely crafted menu.

In a long narrow storefront on North Mississippi Avenue, Lupa (3955 N. Mississippi Ave., 503/287-5872, www.lupawine.com, 3–9:30 p.m. Mon.–Thurs., 3–11:30 p.m. Fri., noon–11:30 p.m. Sat.–Sun., small plates $4–10) has the look of a wood-paneled library—but the shelves are filled with bottles of wine rather than books. Lupa is both a retail wine shop and a wine bar–bistro with an international selection of wines and a small selection of sandwiches, cheese, charcuterie, and nuts. It’s a comfortable spot for a glass of wine after a day of shopping, or a perfect place for an evening rendezvous with friends.

Along the East Side’s 28th Street Restaurant Row, Wine Down (126 NE 28th Ave., 503/236-9463, www.winedownpdx.com, 5–11 p.m. Sun.–Thurs., 4 p.m.–1 a.m. Fri.–Sat., $7–22) is a snappy little wine bar with a excellent wine selection and a very impressive choice of foods. Around 40 different wines are available by the glass, plus Wine Down offers the largest selection of ports in Portland. Even the beer selection—a collection of hard-to-find drafts from regional breweries—is outstanding. The food menu is better than at many restaurants, featuring rack of lamb, foie gras, and brick-seared duck breast.