Often overshadowed by the city’s restaurants, Philadelphia bars had a great year of offering patrons great service, atmosphere, food, and drinks, often at lower prices and without a need for a reservation, writes Jenn Ladd for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Several dozen bars joined the local bar scene in 2023.

Two of the busiest newcomers were Rittenhouse’s Superfolie and Callowhill’s Poison Heart. Both bars share a dark and moody vibe and offer freezer martinis on their menus.

Other bars stood out for their singular concepts.

Tapster opened with swing seating and an extensive drinks menu but with no bartenders. Post Haste cocktail bar sources all of its ingredients east of the Mississippi River. Meanwhile, 101 Unlockd opened as a members-only lounge at an undisclosed downtown location. Even a bacon bar — Bake’n Bacon — made an appearance.

Vinyl and 48 Record Bar joined other music-driven lounges in the city, while Forin and Char & Stave expanded the all-day cafe/bar combos numbers.

Picture-perfect designs at downtown destinations like Darling Jack’s, Enswell, and Bar Lesieur were as much of a draw for big crowds as their food and drink.

Two more dog bars also joined the local scene: The Boozy Mutt and Bark Social.

The influx strengthens an already strong Philly bar scene.

Read more about Philadelphia’s growing bar scene in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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