Mocktails have non-drinking New Yorkers feeling high-spirited.
There’s been an explosion of nonalcoholic cocktails in the Big Apple recently — and it’s not just for Dry January when the health-conscious trade their elixirs for Equinox. From those participating in dry January to the year-round sober curious, 48% of Americans are interested in drinking less alcohol in the new year, according to Open Table.
But Big Apple residents hoping to imbibe without getting intoxicated are demanding more than just a splash of grenadine in their sodas when clicking glasses with pals — and they’re willing to pay for it, too.
“Mocktails are no longer just substitutes — they’re a sophisticated choice in their own right,” said Dimitrios Michalopoulos, General Manager of Bemelmans Bar, where some options cost nearly $30.
“You don’t want to reduce your experience just because there isn’t a nonalcoholic option that’s on the same level,” Hilary Sheinbaum, the founder of GoingDry.co and the author of “The Dry Challenge,” told The Post.
“You want something that is going to balance out your palate to have the same quality and sophisticated experience as the people around you.”
Sheinbaum said that while folks indeed “reconsider their drinking habits” as part of the growing-in-popularity Dry January tradition, it’s extended beyond the first month of the year.
And bars have kept tabs, which is why many have begun to offer more than just Shirley Temples and juices year-round.
“Now menus are more inclusive every month of the year, not just January,” she said.
Thus, bars that charge $25 minimum for a martini have discovered tony New Yorkers are willing to pay as much for creative mocktails, too.
“New York is a place where if you want something you’re going to get it,” Sheinbaum said.
So, raise a glass (that doesn’t contain alcohol), and let’s dive into some of the city’s best mocktail options from under $10 to nearly $30.
Cocktail copies
“New York leads the charge on everything,” Tim Sweeney, head bartender at Rockefeller Center’s Pebble Bar, said, noting a rise of the local mocktail scene in recent years.
Thus, the iconic townhouse bar frequented by A-listers offers six mocktails on their menu ranging in price from $14 to $16 curated by Sweeney.
The spike in mocktail interest, he said, is a “natural evolution” as more become obsessed with wellness.
“Everyone should be able to go out and have a good time and no one should have to sit in a corner and feel like they can’t be part of the group,” Sweeney said.
“People always have said, ‘I can make you a Shirley Temple.’ And people walk around going, ‘I don’t want just a Sprite and grenadine. What’s the point of that? I want something for an adult palate.’”
That’s why his mocktail menu offers nonalcoholic takes on popular cocktails like the $16 Feign-Killer — a take on a Painkiller — and a $14 Ness & Malone Spritz — a zero-proof spritz named after the two main prohibitionists in the movie “The Untouchables.”
But it’s not just about copying cocktails, Pebble Bar also offers several other original sips including the Village Green and Garden of Dreams — both $15.
“What makes a good mocktail is that people want to order a second one,” Sweeney said, noting that the $14 Dancing Barefoot would be their best mocktail.
N/A bar hopping
Marshall Minaya, beverage director of Lolita, Madame George and Valerie, has expanded the no-booze options at all of his locations — all a five-minute walk away.
“We definitely saw an uptick after lockdown, for sure. Whenever everyone came back in general their drinking perceptions and their drinking habits changed a lot,” Minaya told The Post noting that people have stuck with their healthy habits.
He explained that the mocktail drinks at each location are “definitely very popular.” “If there’s a table of five or six. Usually at least one of them has an N/A,” Minaya said.
Some of these options include the Spanish Fly at Lolita, Paradise Garage at Madame George and Mary Ann Moriarty at Valerie — named after female bootlegger Moonshine Mary — all priced at $17.
“I think people are going out and want to be out with their friends but are also understanding [how alcohol impacts their bodies] more,” he shared.
A sober saloon
Hekate Café & Elixir Lounge is a sober bar and tea shop in the East Village that serves herbal elixirs and was recently named the best sober bar in America for zero-proof cocktails. Since opening two years ago, the intimate East Village spot has gathered a steady crowd of regulars and often welcomes newbies curious to explore unique N/A options.
“People want something sophisticated that respects them as an adult,” bar manager Eliott Edge told The Post noting that their drinks “don’t pile on the sugar.”
This weekend, the bar is announcing its new Dry Jan menu featuring the Ritual Socialite and the Sanito Coquito — both $13.
“People are willing to pay that extra dollar because they very much do enjoy the artistry and the flavor. They’re getting an experience watching us create a work of art that they can actually imbibe. And the flavors that they’re getting are not things that are mass-produced.”
“People are really just happy again to hold something in their hand that’s beautiful and tastes good. They’re looking for ritual.”
Affordable sips
One common complaint that people have is about the price of a mocktail. Some simply can’t justify spending nearly as much as they would for a cocktail for a drink that won’t get them buzzed.
If that’s you, head on over to JaJaJa. With locations in the Lower East Side, West Village, Hudson Yards, Williamsburg and Long Island City, the vegan Mexican joints offer several mocktail options for $10 or under.
The $10 Miche-Nada mixes Michelada Criolla with non-alcoholic beer, and the $9 Grapefruit Y Ginger is a refreshing paloma-style mocktail topped with ginger beer.
Refined refreshments
Those who are ready to splash out — but not blackout — at a legendary NYC watering hole should make their way to Bemelmans Bar.
The Carlyle Hotel’s piano bar known for its iconic wallpaper covered in scribbles from Ludwig Bemelmans — the writer and illustrator of the “Madeline” children’s books — also honors its eponym with its mocktails. The $28 Pepito “The Bad Hat” and $22 Miss Clavel mocktails are both named characters from the popular series.
“At Bemelmans Bar, we craft non-alcoholic and low ABV options with the same thoughtfulness and artistry as our signature cocktails, offering guests an indulgent experience in our iconic setting, no matter their beverage preference,” Michalopoulos said.
Mocktails on-the-go
Weary travelers who don’t want to add a hangover to their jet lag should make a pit stop at the Chase Sapphire Lounge by the Club at LaGuardia — the largest Chase lounge in the world.
The sparkling airport lounge offers mocktail options for all its cocktails designed in partnership with Apotheke Mixology, where the crown jewel is the Signature Sapphire.
All drinks are complimentary for Chase Sapphire Reserve card members and their guests.
“Mocktails have evolved into an art form,” Nicolas O’Connor, mixology director of Apotheke Mixology told The Post. “People aren’t just looking for ‘alternatives’ anymore; they’re seeking distinctive, vibrant drinks that stand on their own.”
