The Ginger-Berry Blast is a refreshing non-alcoholic option for Dry January happy hours. (Photo: Surety Hotel and Mulberry Street Tavern)
Writer: Hailey Evans
Associate Editor
Not satisfied with just Dry January, I spent all of 2025 sober as a judge. It was part of a personal challenge I made to myself to focus on my physical and mental health, and during that year I became acquainted with nearly every mocktail menu in the city.
This year I’m moving forward with a drink or two if I feel like it, but I still consider myself somewhat of a connoisseur of non-alcoholic cocktails. If you need some inspiration for your own Dry January — or Dry Year — I’ve already spotted a few fun ones.
Mulberry Street Tavern: The Ginger-Berry Blast, made with ginger-strawberry syrup, sea salt, lime, mint and topped with club soda, is a refreshing, zingy drink that makes a perfect N/A option for happy hour meet-ups. And if you like it even fruitier, the Cosplay, made with cranberry and lime juices, plus orange marmalade, is sweet and punchy.
Hello, Marjorie: Fans of floral, botanical drinks will appreciate the Flower Shake. It’s made with N/A gin for that subtle bite, mixed with rose hip hibiscus tea, orange oleo saccharum, pineapple and Cordino, a non-alcoholic bitter aperitif like Aperol.
Bartender’s Handshake: I sincerely hope I’m not the first to enlighten you to the Karate Kid, the N/A version of the popular Karate Kick. But if I am, here’s why it’s one of my go-tos: It has the exact same tart carrot-ginger flavor and ancho chili kick as its older sibling, just topped with ginger beer instead of the vodka and chili liqueur.
And for two honorable mentions, I have to include Noce and The Cave, both on Walnut Street. They both serve the Phony Negroni brand of premixed N/A Negronis, which remain my favorite way to vibe booze-free while enjoying music performances at either venue. To me, they taste pretty close to the real thing. Bonus: the Phony Negronis come in the cutest triangular glass jars that are perfect for propagating plants.
