When I first heard of non-alcoholic bars popping up, I certainly didn’t think they’d catch on. Now, I hear about a new non-alcoholic bar, bottle shop or mixer happening monthly. Whether people are teetotalers, in recovery from addiction or just sober-curious, more and more people are showing up to dinner parties and barbecues with canned mocktails, adaptogen-boosted spirits and CBD elixirs.
For any variety of temperance, we’ve rounded up a list of the best zero-proof and alcohol-free bars in the country. (A note here: the terms zero-proof and alcohol-free denote a cocktail, beer or wine that contains 0.0% alcohol while the term non-alcoholic or NA is used to describe a drink that contains 0.5% alcohol or less.) Each of these spots has something that makes them stand out from a standard drinking establishment, and all of them come hangover-free.
Dry Spokes – Omaha, Neb.
Dry Spokes crafts “na-cocktails” and alcohol-free drinks with flavor profiles like cotton candy and creamsicles. You’ll find these sweeter drinks alongside micheladas, cosmos and Car Keys, a blend of toasted coconut syrup, lime juice, aromatic bitters and club soda that I haven’t stopped thinking about since I tried it. In the heart of Omaha, this sober watering hole first launched through a series of pop-ups and markets before opening its brick-and-mortar location in February 2023 with a selection of mocktails, non-alcoholic beers and wines. Be sure to try one of their experimental concoctions while you’re here, then stock up on Hazy IPAs, Kolsch brews and other non-alcoholic libations for your next dinner party.
Hekate Café and Elixir Lounge – New York, N.Y.
If the witches from “The Craft” were sober-curious and lived in Manhattan, they’d hang out at Hekate Café and Elixir Lounge. Helmed by Abby Ehmann, the East Village sober bar channels the divine feminine as it serves a permanent cast of alcohol-free mocktails and a rotating seasonal menu at its long, wooden bar. You’ll find plays on your favorites like the French 75 and Amaretto Sour, but if you’re feeling adventurous, order a summery potion like the Café Mexicano, made with Namari, Pathfinder, cold brew, cinnamon ginger simple syrup and cocoa bitters. If mocktails don’t pique your interest, Hekate also serves a variety of zero-proof beers and wines as well as sodas, coffees and teas.
In Good Spirits Non-Alcoholic Chicago Bottle Shop & Bar – Chicago, Ill.
From the city that brought you one of the biggest bootlegging rackets of all time comes In Good Spirits, a non-alcoholic bottle shop and bar that just celebrated its first anniversary. Roughly 17 miles away, Al Capone is rolling in his grave while the rest of us happily peruse the shelves of the modern shop for canned goodies like Ghia and Phony Negroni. Though In Good Spirits primarily sells pre-mixed cocktails and non-alcoholic spirits to enjoy at home, the shop previously ran a weekend bar service that they’ve paused to focus on growing their business and hosting events like mocktail workshops and tastings. Make sure to check their Instagram for information about upcoming events.
Luxe Lounge – Albuquerque, N.M.
Top off a day exploring the land of “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul” with a round of non-alcoholic beverages at Luxe Lounge. Situated in Albuquerque’s historic Old Town neighborhood, this is New Mexico’s first mocktail bar, and it specializes in adaptogen-based beverages that lean whimsical. You can choose between sober takes on a mojito and negroni, and let your friends try inventive, alcoholic concoctions like the boba fashioned – yes, this includes brown sugar boba. If you want to see what adaptogens are all about, spring for the unicorn kisses, made with herbaceous Garden 108, desert pear and club soda.
Ocean Beach Cafe -San Francisco, Calif.
Ocean Beach Cafe isn’t afraid of doing it all. It’s the first non-alcoholic bar in the city but also operates as a bottle shop and a cafe, slinging lattes, salads, wraps and sandwiches in San Francisco’s Outer Richmond neighborhood, just a block from Ocean Beach. Owner Joshua James opened Ocean Beach Cafe following a long tenure working in the hospitality industry and as a bartender. After James took a year off from drinking, he started reviewing non-alcoholic drinks on his YouTube channel under the handle @joshthenonalcoholic, and the rest is history. Today, the cafe’s beverage program comprises a stellar selection of non-alcoholic beer, wine and mocktails, and includes a small selection of “Hemptails” made with hemp-derived delta 9 THC for those 21 and up.
Sans Bar – Austin, Texas
Those well-steeped in the non-alcoholic scene know the impact that Sans Bar has had on the sober movement. Founded by Chris Marshall, the Austin bar was the first of its kind in North America and paved the way for other sober establishments. Marshall worked as a counselor for those living with substance use issues before starting Sans Bar as a pop-up. Now in a permanent home a block from the Texas Capitol, you can stop by for the nada colada, a play on a classic pina colada and the alright, alright, alright, named after hometown hero, Matthew McConaughey.
Verbena Free Spirited Shoppe – Cleveland, Ohio
In July 2023, Molly Cheraso opened Verbena Free Spirited Shoppe, the first gathering space of its kind in Cleveland. The menu at this café, dry bar and retail shop in the Hingetown neighborhood is split between day and night, with the former focusing on teas, coffees and nutritious midday fare, and the nighttime menu focusing on non-alcoholic cocktails, wines and snacks, like a cheese board and tinned fish plate. Those of you looking for an espresso martini and spicy margarita will be pleased with the selection, but the lemon meringue martini gives them a run for their money, made with Seedlip Grove and Spice, Spiritless Kentucky 74 Bourbon, lemon curd, vanilla syrup and sweetened condensed milk. Oh, and have we mentioned the lychee margarita?
The Volstead by Unity – Philadelphia, Pa.
It may be home to rivalrous cheesesteak empires and America’s most unhinged NFL fans, but Philadelphia has lived up to its nickname as “The City of Brotherly Love” thanks in part to community-driven organizations like Unity Recovery. With outposts in Philly, Pittsburgh and Weatherford, Texas, Unity provides recovery programs and resources that support those overcoming addiction. In 2022, Robert and Arielle Ashford took Unity’s mission to the next level, opening The Volstead on the city’s historic Main Street. The sober bar serves sustainable vegan food and zero-proof drinks for those abstaining from alcohol, whatever the reason may be. Classic drinks like Volstead sangria, espresso martinis and the timeless old fashioned pair with meatless options like sweet Thai seitan wings or a Vyro (Gyro). You can grab a bottle of nonalcoholic wine or zero-proof spirit from their bottle shop on your way out, but the best part about supporting The Volstead is that they’re dedicated to employing folks in recovery or post-incarceration and paying them a living wage.
