Ten sober bars to visit this Dry January
Whether you’re giving up for good or just trying to make more mindful choices, these alcohol-free bars across the world prove there’s more to the on-trade than booze.
January can be a difficult time for the hospitality sector, with wallets feeling thin and consumers looking to cut back on spending, food, alcohol, meat, and general merriment after a happy but heavy Christmas period.
But these bars are evidence that the on-trade can shine even without alcohol. Plus, if you head to one of these bars, you’ll really have no excuse for missing that 6am gym class you booked as part of your New Year’s resolutions.
Read on to discover 10 alcohol-free bars around the world.
Rosette, Seattle
The moderation movement is growing – and, accordingly, so is the alcohol-free bar scene. Rosette in Seattle is one of the latest to join the pack, having opened in early 2025 (that’s last year, for those of you still struggling with the date). The venue focuses mainly on non-alcoholic cocktails, but also serves regular wine and beer – in case you’re going out with those friends who are ethically opposed to the idea of Dry January. Highlights include the Squash Boulevardier, which is made with alcohol-free alternatives to Bourbon and vermouth, along with a butternut squash and red curry syrup.
Club Soda, London
You better be fast for this one – the Club Soda tasting room is closing on 25 January due to its lease ending. The team are on the hunt for a new site – so, if you know somewhere, please help them out so Londoners can keep drinking mindfully.
Club Soda first launched in 2015, aiming to explore low-and-no drinks options and rethink alcohol’s role in socialising. The brand opened its bottle shop, tasting room and bar in London in 2022, offering adventurous non-drinkers the opportunity to sample more than 150 low-and-no brands in one spot.
Sans, Austin
The oldest alcohol-free bar on this list, Sans Bar in Austin, Texas, opened in 2017 – when some of our readers were too young to drink. It claims to be the ‘first’ non-alcoholic bar in North America, and we certainly can’t refute that. As well as the bar, the brand has an academy that offers a 10-week course helping individuals build their own non-alcoholic bottle shops and bars.
NoLo, Dubai
Alcohol rules in the United Arab Emirates are a little hard to get your head around, but despite this, there are plenty of award-winning cocktail bars – particularly in Dubai. But there are also venues embracing the nation’s wariness around drinking – such as NoLo, which became the city’s first non-alcoholic bar when it opened in 2022. You can expect alcohol-free twists on classic cocktails, such as the Lavender Bee’s Knees Royale and the Smoked Honeycomb Old Fashioned – both of which are made with Lyre’s spirit alternatives.
Déjà Bu, Paris
You might not be surprised to hear that there’s only one alcohol-free bar in the whole of Paris – but good news, it’s a great one. As well as a cocktail menu made with non-alcoholic ‘spirits’, Déjà Bu also offers alcohol-free wine – it is in France, after all. The menu revolves around classic cocktails, with the spirits swapped out. Highlights include the Nolowpolitan (you’ve got to be sober to say that) and the Spicy Daiquiri. For those looking for something a little more out there, what about the Matchai – made with matcha, a non-alcoholic ‘rum’ alternative, and orgeat.
Soft Bar, New York
Another newbie, Soft Bar opened on the Greenpoint/Williamsburg border in September 2025, launched by entrepreneur and television personality Carl Radke. We’ve got our eye on the Bitter Beginning, made with The Pathfinder, cherry sarsaparilla and Three Spirit, and the Foam Party, which features jasmine-infused Seedlip Grove, Roots Divino, ‘acidified’ apricot, hazelnut orgeat and foamed jasmine.
Low‑Non‑Bar, Tokyo
Tokyo’s cocktail scene is famous worldwide – but people are generally expecting Highballs and classics executed with precision. Low-non Bar in Tokyo’s Akihabara district will meet many of these expectations, just without the alcohol. Its signature mocktail is made with cranberry juice, berries, grapefruit, paprika and Shrb Orange & Ginger, served in an amazing bird-shaped glass.
Hinterland Alcohol-Free Bar and Cafe, Manchester
Doing Dry January and Veganuary? Godspeed. But Hinterland in Manchester’s Northern Quarter has got you covered. Stephen Jeffreys opened the bar after struggling with alcohol addiction, hoping to create a home for people who want to have a great time without getting drunk. Cocktails include an Espresso Martini, a NoGroni and a Zenicillin – which you can enjoy alongside vegan burgers and small plates, like truffle gyozas and Taiwanese fried ‘chicken’.
Sobr, Aberdeen
Scotland’s first dedicated alcohol-free bar opened quietly on Aberdeen’s Thistle Street in late 2025, with founder Kate Kenyon hoping to offer a genuinely grown-up night out without alcohol, rather than a watered-down alternative. The menu spans non-alcoholic beers, wines and spirits, alongside carefully considered mocktails that lean into flavour and function, with ingredients such as lion’s mane and botanical extracts.
Hekate Café & Elixir Lounge
Based in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Hekate is a late-night sober bar with a distinctly witchy edge. Named after the Greek goddess of magic and crossroads, the space leans into ritual, atmosphere and intention, offering a menu of alcohol-free cocktails designed to feel just as considered as any boozy counterpart. Drinks are built around house-made tinctures, teas and botanicals, with each cocktail themed around a mood or moment.
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