Where to find mocktails in Philadelphia for your Dry January

Whether you’re participating in Dry January or simply want to drink less, these mocktails in Philadelphia are sure to satisfy your craving for creative drinks.

If you love a good cocktail but are avoiding alcohol for whatever reason, you need to check out Philadelphia’s mocktail scene. And Dry January is the perfect time to do so!

What’s Dry January?

Every year, thousands of people take part in Dry January, aiming to abstain from alcohol for the 31 days of the winter month. Those who choose to participate in Dry January may be motivated by one too many holiday season benders, may simply like to test themselves, or may want to be healthier in the new year. After all, the month-long sojourn into sobriety isn’t merely a popular challenge but also a public health initiative. People who give up alcohol, even for a short period, experience a number of positive results, like better sleep, more energy, and weight loss. And many of these benefits remain long after winter ends!

You can join the Dry January challenge and see how becoming a temporary teetotaler makes you feel. And it doesn’t have to be boring! Abstaining from booze doesn’t mean swearing off bars and other hangouts, because you can often find tasty and creative mocktails on menus around the city. (And sometimes, not on menus — you can always ask your favorite bartender if they can whip you up a mocktail.) 

There are a number of places to get mocktails in Philadelphia, and we’ve put together a list of our favorite places for these non-alcoholic libations. Party on — without needing to call a friend for a ride!

Where to find mocktails in Philadelphia for Dry January

1. Bar Palmina

As a fully zero-proof bar, Fishtown’s Bar Palmina is the destination in the city for sober hangs. The bar, which opened last year, offers more than a dozen non-alcoholic interpretations of classic cocktails like a negroni or Moscow mule, as well as its own cocktail creations. Rather than rely on sparkling water for their drinks’ kicks, Bar Palmina serves zero-proof versions of classic liquor, including rye whiskey, gin, tequila, vodka, and many more. And unlike most bars, which may only offer one non-alcoholic beer (if that), Palmina’s menu includes a wide selection of non-alcoholic beer or wine. Owned by a self-described “former heavy drinker,” you can be sure that Bar Palmina’s selections are curated by someone who knows alcohol, and who knows how to make non-alcoholic options shine.

2. Charlie Was a Sinner

Midtown Village’s Charlie Was a Sinner might convince you not just that good drinks don’t necessarily need alcohol, but also that good meals don’t necessarily need meat. The all-vegan restaurant has a full bar with a long list of cocktails, but that doesn’t mean the sober are left behind — indeed, Charlie Was a Sinner offers craft cocktails made with zero-proof liquor like bourbon, tequila, and even a mushroom amaro. It also serves natural soda and fresh juice, in case you want to mix the two and create your own mocktail. Enjoy your drinks while munching on vegan fare like a grilled cheese made with vegan camembert or “meatballs” served with housemade vegan ricotta.

Guests at Midtown Village restaurant Charlie Was a Sinner enjoy drinks at the bar. (M. Fischetti/Visit Philadelphia)

3. Spice Finch

When seeking out mocktails, it can be fun to order a drink that’s a play on what you already love. I spent a long time searching for my signature drink — the one that I’d not only reliably order at any bar, but that also seemed to fit me. The stars aligned when I stumbled upon the French 75, a classic cocktail made with gin, champagne, and lemon. Spice Finch, a Mediterranean restaurant in Rittenhouse Square, serves a non-alcoholic version of my signature drink cheekily called the French 37.5. Spice Finch makes it sans alcohol with grapefruit, lavender, lemon, and tonic water. You can also order an aptly named N/agroni as well as a mocktail made with mint tea. The joint’s Cooler Than a Cucumber mocktail is a play on a cucumber cooler, with an addition of juniper that is reminiscent of gin. During the restaurant’s happy hour, two of these mocktails drop to just $4 a pop, not to mention the delicious mezze you can enjoy alongside them.

4. R&D Cocktail Bar

Previously named the best cocktail bar in Philly by Philadelphia Magazine, you can trust that R&D Cocktail Bar in Fishtown has exceptional alcoholic beverages. But did you know that R&D also puts thought and care into its non-alcoholic options? The expansive and creative cocktail menu, which often changes, sits alongside non-alcoholic versions of cocktails, including smoky penicillin, a bitter and refined negroni, a simple and fun spritz, a tropical jungle bird, and a refreshing colada. 

5. Bud and Marilyn’s

Bud and Marilyn’s is a popular Philly institution known for its homey vibe and tasty American food, and its mocktails are an excellent excuse to visit the restaurant for lunch or dinner. Though there are only two mocktails on the menu, they are both more creative than some approaches to mocktails (e.g., sparkling water with some lime juice). Rather, you can try the bar’s cinnamon syrup or a fruity twist on ginger ale. And while mocktails are usually much cheaper than alcoholic beverages, get this: the mocktails at Bud and Marilyn’s are just $6.

6. Fitz on 4th 

Located in Queen Village, Fitz on 4th is a plant-based establishment well known for its sizable menu of vegan cocktails. But Fitz on 4th is also committed to those looking for mocktails in Philadelphia because it has a mocktail list featuring Ritual Zero Proof liquors. Mocktail options include a lavender lemonade, a non-alcoholic old fashioned, a tropical drink made with zero-proof rum, and a few other drinks made with fruit or zero-proof spirits. But at Fitz on 4th, sober drinkers aren’t limited to the mocktail menu—the restaurant says it can make virgin versions of any of its signature cocktails. With your options thus doubled, will you go with an espresso martini, a margarita, or another of the restaurant’s sweet or herbal concoctions?

7. Wilder

Rittenhouse Square’s Wilder is a relative newcomer to the Philly dining scene, as it only opened in 2022. But the New American restaurant immediately defined itself as a special and creative space, serving up elevated fare alongside inventive craft cocktails. The innovation extends to the mocktail menu, which is dotted with fruit, zero-proof liquor, and even tea. The person in charge of the beverage program at Wilder singles out the Flight of the philaorager, made with apple cider, honey, lemon, and an assortment of spices.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.