January has come and gone, and with it various New Year’s resolutions, including Dry January, where those who partake vow to swear off alcohol consumption for the entire month. But for those who may want a do-over, or simply just want to keep the partying a bit more low-key, zero-proof cocktails or mocktails might be a good start.
New York’s bar scene is quickly becoming a sobering sight, with non-alcoholic concoctions popping up on menus all over the city. Below are some of the best places to raise your spirits, spirit-free, in the city.
Overstory– Financial District, Manhattan
Overstory is a stylish, contemporary bar located in the Financial District of Manhattan. Its location offers beautiful 360 panoramic views of the city from the 64th floor terrace. While the standard cocktail here is priced on the higher end – $20 – their “No Buzz” menu features drinks from $14 to $16. One I would check out is the Chrysanthemum Sour, made from four ingredients: snow chrysanthemum (a flower-based tea), yellow apple, and celery. The drink is a perfect mixture of sweet and tart, with a slightly earthy note from the celery. The yellow apple translates into a refreshing pleasant fruity flavor, while the snow chrysanthemum adds a subtle floral aroma.
Drink name: Chrysanthemum Sour
Price: $15
Location: 70 Pine Street
The Penrose– Upper East Side, Manhattan
The Penrose Bar on the Upper East Side of New York City has a classic, vintage feel that is cozy and inviting. The bar is decorated with dark wood furnishings, antique mirrors, and vintage-style lighting. They also have an extensive zero-proof drink menu, including a $12 Espresso “Mocktini” made from cold brew, cinnamon demerara syrup, and Lyre’s Amaretti (a non-alcoholic Amaretto), which makes for a smooth, creamy martini with hints of nutty, almond-like flavors.
Drink name: Espresso Mocktini
Price: $12
Location: 1590 Second Avenue
The Django– Tribeca, Manhattan
Located in the Roxy Hotel in Tribeca is this Parisian-inspired underground jazz club with beautiful architecture, exposed brick walls, and vaulted ceilings. Their jazz-themed cocktails include four free-spirited cocktails. The High Priestess is a light, vibrant, beautiful drink with seedlip garden, Lyre’s dry aperitif lemon, ginger, and elderflower tonic lemon bitters – a refreshing mixture of zesty citrus and herbal flavors. Each drink on their non-alcoholic menu costs $15.
Drink name: The High Priestess
Price: $15
Location: 2 Avenue of the Americas
The Dead Rabbit– Financial District, Manhattan
This Irish cocktail bar had been named number one in The World’s 50 Best Bars two years in a row. Inside has a traditional Irish pub feel with wooden interiors and sawdust on the floor. One of their three alcohol-free drinks is the Low Key made from a non-alcoholic spirit chai, toasted raspberry, ginger, lemon, and soda water. This $16 drink has a warm, spicy and slightly sweet flavor with a subtle kick of ginger. The effervescence of the soda water adds an unforgettable zing to the mix.
Drink name: Low Key
Price: $16
Location: 30 Water Street
Tong– Bushwick, Brooklyn
Tong, a modern Thai restaurant in Bushwick, Brooklyn is perfect for those looking for tapas-style Thai food that encourages drinking with your meal. The rustic, yet modern restaurant has a cozy feel and is perfect for a date night. The three drinks featured in their mocktail menu are all $10. Check out their Na Nar Tong: a mocktail with hibiscus, passionfruit, pineapple, basil, and tonic. This fruity mixture is sweet and tangy with well-balanced flavors and even brighter colors. Just like its name, Na Nar Tong’s taste is one you won’t forget.
Drink Name: Na Nar Tong
Price: $10
Location: 321 Starr Street