The Best New Cocktail Bars In The Country

If you live in a major U.S. city, you’re probably accustomed to a new cocktail bar opening every day. But it takes a lot of $14 drinks to figure out which bar is actually worth frequenting. Details magazine has now done some of the work for you.

The February 2013 issue includes a feature on the best new bars in America, which includes advice for where to go for the best specialty bars or the local favorites.

We’ve highlighted the best new cocktail bars below. Take a look (all text courtesy of Details):

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• Hop Sing Laundromat, Philadelphia

  The 1,000-bottle inventory and the enigmatic, always cuff-linked owner-host known only as Lêe are just two of the draws at this red-hot Chinatown spot.

  strongThe Vibe:/strong A feel of aristocratic exclusivity, thanks to Victorian accents and Lêe’s strict house rules (no sneakers, no photos).

  strongThe Drinks:/strong A mix of pre-Prohibition-era picks (like the orange-and-lemon-juice-laced Ward 8) and modern interpretations.

  strongAlso See:/strong a href=”http://www.details.com/style-advice/food-and-drinks/201212/gourmet-bread-bakeries”The Gourmet Bread Renaissance/a

  a href=”http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/hop-sing-laundromat-philadelphia?select=PA-5Ixh7XsfzpYR5WxrueA#PA-5Ixh7XsfzpYR5WxrueA”Photo: Yelp/a

• Middle Branch, New York City

  Sasha Petraske touches down in Midtown, bringing a subdued elegance to fratty Murray Hill.

  strongThe Vibe:/strong The bi-level bar is spacious downstairs and has an intimate living-room feel upstairs.

  strongThe Drinks:/strong Classic cocktails (including a Queen’s Park Swizzle) or bartender’s choice.

  strongAlso See:/strong a href=”http://www.details.com/style-advice/food-and-drinks/201211/food-truck-restaurant”Food Trucks Spawn Brick-and-Mortar Restaurants/a

  Photo: a href=”http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/middle-branch-new-york?select=dm63ppaQM9DNNhLmP09qpA#MUp4qeehBeb8acn6Kj0hHA”Yelp/a

• Pouring Ribbons, New York City

  Mixology stars Jason Cott, Troy Sidle, Toby Maloney and Joaquín Simó raise East Village tippling to new heights in this airy, absinthe-hued bar.

  strongThe Vibe:/strong Well-heeled Manhattanites crowd the 88-seat room, lit by Art Deco fixtures.

  strongThe Drinks: /strongImpeccably crafted cocktails like the Prabu Punch, a mix of whiskey, lemon, spiced pumpkin, orange cordial, and bitters.

  strongAlso See:/strong a href=”http://www.details.com/blogs/daily-details/2013/01/where-to-eat-in-2013.html”Where To Eat In 2013/a

• Vessel, Seattle

  The groundbreaking cocktail bar recently reopened in a brand-new, downtown space.

  strongThe Vibe: /strongCement pillars and exposed ducts give the room an austere coolness.

  strongThe Drinks:/strong The recipes of 25 rotating bartenders are bolstered by an in-house ice program.

  strongAlso See:/strong a href=”http://www.details.com/blogs/daily-details/2012/12/2013-cocktail-trends-bar-predictions.html”Key Cocktail Trends/a

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The Best New Cocktail Bars In The Country