10 San Diego mocktail spots serving more than juice
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We'd like another round of the Merry Go Round and Woods cocktails, thank you! Photo: Kate Murphy/Axios
As people continue to cut back on drinking and join sober social clubs, there are plenty of local restaurants and bars embracing the mocktail trend.
Driving the news: Good News, a non-alcoholic bar in Hillcrest, opened last summer, and I recently went with a friend to try some functional and spirit-free cocktails during Dry January.
- Some are crafted with what the menu calls "brain and body-supporting ingredients" like CBD, adaptogens and kavalactones.
- Go during happy hour (Tuesday-Thursday, 4-7pm) for buy one, get one 50% off drinks.
Best sips: The Merry Go Round ($17) is citrusy, refreshing and calming with a botanical, hemp-infused spirit (20mg CBD) mixed with coconut, cucumber, lime, persimmons and star anise.
- The Woods ($15), made with a non-alcoholic distilled agave spirit, is smoky but balanced with warm fruit flavors of marionberry, pomegranate and orange bitters.
The vibe: The drinks were well-crafted and intentional at this spacious bar that felt elevated and fun with velvet and leather lounge seating, board games and a retail space with bottled and canned drinks, bucket hats and clothing.
Here are a few other places to get N/A drinks and mocktails that don't just taste like expensive juice.
🌮 El Sueno in Old Town can make most of their margaritas and cocktails spirit-free.
- Try the El Nino spicy margarita with cucumber.
🐅 The bartenders at Lou Lou's in North Park will mix up mocktails from scratch based on your preferred style and flavor profiles.
- The Lafayette Hotel's Lobby Bar also makes a delicious "painless painkiller."
🌴 Paradisaea in La Jolla has a fun selection of N/A cocktails.
🎵 Books & Records in Bankers Hill has a small but mighty menu with smoky vanilla, ube-mint and lemongrass drinks.
🍹 Try the tropical "Miracle Cure" at Bar Kindred or Sunrise Spritz at The Rose Wine Bar in South Park.
🍝 In Ocean Beach, Elvira's mocktails are so tasty, some people add liquor to them. Try the bitter sweet Bella Mora with an N/A aperitivo, blackberry and lemon.
✨ Splurge on the non-alcoholic beverage pairing with an upscale, immersive dining experience at the Michelin-starred Lilo in Carlsbad.