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2014's Best New Cocktail Bars In Baltimore

Baltimore is a place of constant change when it comes to bars, restaurants, lounges and clubs. New and exciting venues are always popping up with new and exciting ideas about exactly how a place should be run. The last year has seen some pretty dynamic progress in the rise and expansion of new bars, and in particular, cocktail lounges. If you are a fan of relaxing at a lounge and trying a variety of cocktail mixes, or if you have an old favorite you like to nurse at an exciting bar scene, we recommend you give the following locations a try.

Lobo
1900 Aliceanna St.
Baltimore, MD 21231
(410) 327-0303
www.lobosbaltimore.com

Located in the always happening neighborhood of Fells Point, Lobo has already made a splash with its reasonable prices, eclectic menu - which includes a variety of Maryland seafood favorites - and diverse selection of delicious drinks at the cocktail bar. It's little surprise that Lobo has been so successful right off the bat. It was opened by one of Maryland's more successful and experienced restaurateurs - James "Jamie" Hubbard - who owns and operates the popular restaurant One Eyed Mike's, also in Fells Point. This makes Lobo not only one of the newest bars on the block, but also one of the best-run.

Pho One-O
2651 Annapolis Road
Hanover, MD 21076
(410) 551-0401
www.phooneo.com

Pho One-O brings a much-needed burst of variety to the Baltimore bar scene. A Vietnamese bar, lounge and restaurant, Pho is not only a place to experience a cultural change in palate, but also brings some foreign influence to its cocktail menu. Try, for instance, its freshly-squeezed sugar cane and Thai. Pho has announced its goal "To not become just another PHO restaurant with a catchy name... but to become the most delicious and the most frequently visited PHO restaurant in the area." Based on the glowing customer reviews, this spot is well on its way.

Guy Fieri's Baltimore Kitchen And Bar
1525 Russell St.
Baltimore, MD 21230
(443) 931-4387
www.caesars.com

It's not too often that a celebrity chef sets their sights on Maryland, however - hot off his major success with Chophouse in Atlantic City - Fieri's most recent venture is to spice up the brand-new Horseshoe casino scene with his new signature restaurant. A bold move for Fieri, this restaurant is not only opening in a still-green casino, but he also decided to put his name right in the title of the restaurant. But enough with all this restaurant talk. This may be Guy Fieri's Baltimore Kitchen, but it's also a Bar (it's right there in the title). Yes, the food is fantastic, but the cocktails are far from mediocre. Try the spicy "Smoke and Mirrors," the tangy and tropical "Monkey Wrench" the cheeky "Lemon Drop ... Not!" Before or after you try your luck at the casino, make sure you spare some time to test your fortunes and Guy Fieri's Bar.

Related: Best Frozen Cocktails In Baltimore

The New Edison Lounge
3133 East Monument St.
Baltimore, MD 21205
(410) 522-1382
www.facebook.com

The New Edison Lounge has been a staple of the neighborhood for several years, but in February of 2014, it re-opened under new management, and it has big plans for the coming year. The New Edison currently offers an intimate bar scene with an open jukebox, a variety of down-home cocktails and friendly and excellent service. In 2015, when it will renew its entertainment license, it will be bringing in a DJ, live entertainment and bottle service. The New Edison Lounge has flown under the radar so far, but neighborhood patrons will tell you it's a favorite hangout that is locally owned and has a family-run atmosphere.

Bar Liquorice
801 East Fort Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21230
(443) 708-1675
www.barliquorice.com

Liquorice is a comfortable and welcoming bar that attempts to appeal to everyone, from visionaries, to dock workers, to artists, to humbugs. The bar offers an upscale atmosphere with still-reasonable prices. A true bar, Liquorice focuses its sights on getting the drinks right. Consequently, its food menu is fairly basic, but it offers a staggering variety of excellent drinks that have made a splash locally. Be daring and try the Bond Martini, or have a light and flavorful Wick's Kir. In addition to the cocktails, Liquorice offers a hard liquor menu for a bar patron that wants to get serious. Any way you go, you are sure to be pleased with the results.

Related: Most Creative Cocktails In Baltimore

Joel Furches is a freelance writer and researcher for The Examiner and Logos Software, and also manages his own catalog of writing on Hub Pages. Joel is on the board of directors for Ratio Christi. He has a bachelors in Psychology and a Masters in Education.

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