• UPPER EAST SIDE

• Charming Nails

  212 E. 87th St.; 212-987-7239

  Singled out by fashionistas for spa-quality attention—all that kneading and sloughing—on a budget ($8 for a manicure, $20 for a pedicure).

• UPPER WEST SIDE

• Fashion 74 Nails

  303 Amsterdam Ave.; 212-799-5252

  Several spa owners in the area admitted—sotto voce—that Fashion 74 is a great no-fuss choice; one even goes there.

• MIDTOWN EAST

• CoCo Nails

  164 E. 33rd St.; 212-684-7880

  Immaculate, spacious salon easily takes walk-ins and for only $10 turns out a precise manicure with quality OPI polishes in under half an hour.

• WEST VILLAGE

• Jin Soon

  23 Jones St.; 212-229-1070

  The rare local spot with gentle, nonfluorescent lighting. The Spirit of the Beehive paraffin wrap is the ideal cure for March hands.

• LOWER EAST SIDE

• Grand Spa

  389 Grand St.; 212-253-9978

  Airy, clean, reliable, and no more expensive than the neighboring Chinatown cheapies.

• FINANCIAL DISTRICT

• Salon 25

  111 John St.; 212-227-4255

  Spotless, with an array of Essie and OPI polishes. Thirteen dollars gets you a manicure and a brief shoulder massage.

• BOERUM HILL/COBBLE HILL/CARROLL GARDENS

• Dashing Diva

  129 Smith St.; 718-875-1210

  The latest franchise in the ever-expanding network. A little too pink, but clean, consistent, and inexpensive. Kiddie services available, too.

  Complete List of Local Winners

From the 2007 Best of New York issue of New York Magazine