We are in the midst of the holiday season frenzy, and thinking of next year is the furthest thing from our minds. Some may think that it’s too early to even think of dry January, but mocktail ideas are perfect all year long. So, ditch the hangovers and dive into the world of booze-free beverages, where the only thing buzzing will be your tongue.
Whether you’re warming up for Dry January or just curious about booze-free options, these lounges serve up an inspired array of mocktails, as well as cocktails that prove you don’t have to stay home and miss out on the fun. From herb-laced tonics to inventive fruit blends, every spot adds its own unique flair, ensuring you’ll find a mocktail worthy of raising a glass. It’s time to get out there and see what’s on the menu!
IO Godfrey at The Godfrey Hotel Chicago
Boasting the largest and only year-round rooftop lounge, these mocktails are so good you won’t even know the alcohol is all but gone!
Mint to Be: Choice of Peach, Strawberry or Raspberry–$9
Acai, Lavender Oil or Cucumber, Muddled Mint, Fresh Lime, Lemon and Topo Chico brand soda water
Peach Out–$9
Blueberry, Yucca Peach Tea, Muddled Agave, Rosemary, Club Soda, Chia Seeds
London House is known for its iconic elegant and stylish setting. These beverages are the bee’s knees.
Aperitif and Soda--$13
Bitter-Sweet Aperitif Cordial (a sweet and bitter pre-dinner drink made from bitter orange, rosemary, rhubarb and clove), Soda Water and Orange
One in a Melon–$13
Seedlip Garden, Rare Tea Cellar Mallorca Melon Shrub, Pineapple and Lemon
Seedlip is a brand of non-alcoholic spirit blending the flavors Mediterranean bitter orange, blood orange, mandarin orange, lemon peel, lemongrass and ginger. Seedlip Garden is an herbal blend of peas and hops with traditional garden herbs like rosemary, thyme and spearmint.
Mallorca Melon Shrub blends the flavors of Spanish cantaloupe, honeydew melon, pineapple, hibiscus and Seville orange into a sweet and tangy delight.
Bodega Taqueria y Tequila(locations include West Loop and River North)
This Miami Beach original, a traditional taqueria blended with contemporary flair and award-winning tequilas and cocktails, has brought the vibrance and energy of South Beach to Chicago.
Spiced Mule--$14
Seedlip Spice 94, spiced ginger agave, lime, Owen’s Ginger Beer
Seedlip Spice 94 blends the flavors of Allspice and Cardamom with citrus notes and bitters.
No Paloma--$14
Seedlip Notas de Agave, spicy agave, Owen’s Ruby Red Grapefruit and lime
Seedlip Notas de Agave is a delightful blend of prickly pear, lime with notes of vanilla, the bitter taste of the Damiana flower and peppercorn.
Garden Lemonade–$14
Seedlip Garden 108, cucumber, lime, hot honey, Sicilian Lemonade and citrus rosemary salt
An elegant and upscale dining experience inspired by Mediterranean cuisine blending European and American style located in the iconic Talbott Hotel
Juniper Lane–$12
Juniper Berry syrup, lime and club soda
Yuzu Fizz--$12
Mandarin Boba and Yuzu Fizz Club Soda
Yuzu is a small, tart Japanese citrus fruit, blending the tanginess of lemon, the bitterness of grapefruit, and the sweetness of orange.
Holistic food inspired by the natural Greek lifestyle of health and wellness located in the Fulton Market neighborhood.
Halara--$12
Amass Riverine Zero Proof, pomegranate, lemon, mint and tonic water
Amass Riverine Zero Proof is a brand of non-alcoholic spirit with a citrusy and herbal taste profile with hints of conifer from the evergreen family and fresh herbs.
Cypress - $12
Amass Riverine Zero Proof, pineapple, lime and ginger
A luxurious 1920s-inspired supper club serving the best steak in Chicago.
Spiced Grapefruit--$15
Spice 94 Seedlip Non-Alcoholic Spirit, grapefruit juice, soda water and lime
Façade - $15
Ritual Gin Alternative, Ritual Aperitif Alternative, Giffard Elderflower Alcohol Free, lemon and tonic water
An Italian American steakhouse boasting old-world Italian cuisine, a creative cocktail menu, extensive wine list and live entertainment.
Pineapple Punch–$14
Seedlip, grapefruit, pineapple, cardamom, ginger and lemon
Secretariat - $14
Ritual Non-Alcoholic Whiskey, mint and lime
Non-Vintage Mionetto Alcohol Removed Prosecco, Veneto Italia
A non-vintage sparkling wine made with a blend of Italian white grapes with notes of sweet peach and apple.
Non-vintage wine is created by blending wines from different harvests to a unique blend.
Non-Vintage Giesen Non-Alcoholic Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand
A non-vintage wine flavored with freshly cut herbs, tropical fruit and blackcurrant leaf. The blackcurrant is a woody berry-bearing shrub. Blackcurrant berries are sharp and tangy. This wine is from the renowned Marlborough region in New Zealand, famous for its wine-making industry.
Non-Vintage Fre Non-Alcoholic Red Blend, CA--$12
Known for its selection of 90 beers on tap, Old Town Pour House has locations in Chicago, Oak Brook and Naperville.
Mellow Mule–$9.49
cucumber, honey syrup, mango syrup, lime juice and ginger beer
Strawberry Soothe - $9.49
strawberries, lime juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, and a splash of lemon- lime soda
Mindful Mocha–$9.49
Owen’s Nitro-Infused Espresso, chocolate syrup, cream
Nifty Nojito - $9.49
lime juice, mint leaves, soda water, simple syrup and ginger beer
Fun fact: Old Town Pour House uses a psychological pricing strategy by listing their drinks at $9.49, creating the perception that they cost less than $10.
The following is a list of restaurant bars, stand-alone bars and lounges around town that are also embracing the zero-proof trend.
Eli Tea Bar – 5507 N. Clark St. in Andersonville
Nobody’s Darling – 1744 W. Balmoral Ave. in Andersonville
Bokeh – 4716 Kedzie Ave. in Albany Park
Anelya – 3472 N. Elston Ave. in Avondale
Warlord – 3198 N. Milwaukee Ave. (Belmont Avenue) in Avondale
FAFO at Evette’s Lakeview – 2807 N. Sheffield Ave.
Chiya Chai Café – 2770 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Logan Square
Billy Sunday – 3143 W. Logan Blvd. in Logan Square
Galit – 2429 N. Lincoln Ave. in Lincoln Park
Bendicion Dry Bar and Non-Alcoholic Bottle Shop – 2540 W. Division St. in Humboldt Park
Liva at Chicago Winery – 739 N. Clark St. in River North
Arbella – 112 W. Grand Ave. in River North
The Omakase Room at Sushi-san – 63 W. Grand Ave. in Lincoln Park
Bar Goa – 116 W. Hubbard St., Suite 1 in River North
Rose Mary – 932 W. Fulton St. in Fulton Market District
Kumiko – 630 W. Lake St. in the West Loop
Bambola – 1402 W. Randolph St. in the West Loop
Elske – 1350 W. Randolph St. in the West Loop
HaiSous – 1800 S. Carpenter St. in Pilsen
Osito’s Tap – 2553 S. Ridgeway Ave. in Little Village
Marz Community Brewing Company – 3630 S. Iron St. in Bridgeport
Virtue Restaurant – 1462 E. 53rd St. in Hyde Park
From unexpected fruit combinations to herbaceous flourishes, each bar and lounge has reimagined the cocktail experience. You are invited to sip, savor, and celebrate without compromise. Whether you’re passing on the buzz for a month, a night, or just this round, these zero-proof creations ensure your glass is always filled with something worth toasting. Cheers to discovering a more inclusive, delicious way to drink !
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