There are more options than ever this year as the social awareness of sobriety and sober-adjacent lifestyles continues to rise. The month is an annual practice in recuperating for some, but it also serves as a reminder that there does not need to be a social wall between those who drink and those who don't. Mocktail and non-alcoholic drink offerings create a more inclusive and blended environment where everyone can laugh, sip and relax.
If you're off the juice and sensing that pesky "What do I do with my hands?" feeling when you're out on the town, reach for a carefully crafted non-alcoholic libation at one of these spots, which include some of the top bars in the city:
Adrift Tiki Bar
218 South Broadway
This tropical neighborhood favorite has a non-alcoholic and low-ABV menu for those participating in Dry January or Damp January. Bar manager Jacoby Morciglio says the new mocktail and low-alcohol cocktail offerings will avoid a focus on tropical juice; instead, expect flavors such as Oloroso Sherry, Cacao Nib Cachaça, cinnamon, lime, chicory root, coffee and banana spiked with NA spirits like distilled hemp and amaro.
Ambler
1801 Wewatta Street
A casual small-plates restaurant in the heart of downtown, Ambler boasts classic bar bites and Mediterranean-inspired dishes. It has crafted two drink offerings for the coming month: the Ambler Brambler, a bright and revitalizing mix of lemongrass cashew orgeat, lemon, raspberry, blackberry and club soda; and the Strawberry Splash, made with strawberry, basil, ginger, lime and Fever Tree blood orange ginger beer.
Apple Blossom
822 18th Street
Apple Blossom, a breakfast, lunch and dinner eatery located in the Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver Hotel, applies a seasonally inspired filter to its menu, ensuring guests are eating the freshest, most accessible local ingredients year-round. The same goes for its drink menu, which includes N/A options for January such as the Jaffa, made with vanilla, orange and cream.
Atomic Cowboy
Multiple locations
This local chain, which serves biscuits, pizza and burgers, recently celebrated its twentieth anniversary. Right now, it also has a handful of N/A mocktails to pair with whatever tempting bites you choose, including the Dragon Queen, made of dragon fruit syrup, lime juice and soda water; the Strawberry Basil Spritzer, with housemade strawberry rhubarb jam, lemon juice, basil syrup and soda water; and the Cucumber Cooler, made with Fever Tree cucumber tonic, fresh muddled cucumber and lime juice.
Barolo Grill
3030 East Sixth Avenue
This charming Italian eatery in Cherry Creek may be known for its wine selection, but during Dry Janaury, you can still enjoy a classic Italian beverage to pair with your pasta. The N/A-groni features Seedlip Grove, Giffard's aperitif and orange blossom tonic for a bright and flavorful accompaniment to your dinner. Also available is N/A sparkling wine from Grüvi and the Ginger Turmeric Elixir, which features ginger-turmeric tea, lemon and Lyre's Apéritif Rosso.
B&GC
249 Columbine Street
This hidden cocktail bar in Cherry Creek is offering some classy mocktail options this season, complete with a variety of zero-proof liquor products. Offerings include the Cactus Wren for $14, made with Ritual zero-proof gin, prickly pear, ginger syrup, lime juice and rose water; and the Cher Ami for $15, featuring Ritual zero-proof tequila, Fever Tree grapefruit soda and grapefruit oleo.
Big Apple Bodega
2231 South Broadway
This food truck turned brick-and-mortar concept dishing out New York-style chopped cheese sandwiches offers a sober environment year-round, but owner Brian Murphy has upped the ante for Dry January by introducing its first-ever mocktail menu. Playing on the New York theme, the offerings include the Broadway Bellini, featuring apple cider, Dry Secco and a cinnamon stick; the Brooklyn Breeze, made with bubbly rosé, cucumber and apple juice; and the Empire State Spritz, featuring N/A Juicy IPA, orange juice, club soda and an orange slice. Each drink is $8 and features infusions of Grüvi non-alcoholic wines and beers.
Blanchard Family Wines
1855 Blake Street
If you're looking for some tips on mastering your own mocktail mixology at home, Blanchard Family Wines is offering a unique opportunity to up your bartending game. The winery, which is located in the Dairy Block, is offering a mixology class on January 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. Participants will get a walk-through of three seasonal cocktail recipes, which can be created zero-proof, low-ABV or regular. The class will provide mixing tips on flavor combinations and much more. Pricing is $67 per person, and reservations can be made online.
The Block Distilling Co
2990 Larimer Street
The Block distillery in RiNo has several winter-inspired non-alcoholic options on the menu, including the Plum Spritz, made with plum, rose, coriander, peppercorn and Mediterranean tonic; the Cherry on Top, a Novo Coffee espresso blend with cherry and oat milk; the Redacted, a non-alcoholic version of the Block's aperitif and amaro; the Peach Zinger, made with green Rooibos tea, peach, ginger, white miso and house soda water; and the Pandamn, made with espresso, orange, lemongrass, pandan and house soda water.
Call Me Pearl
1600 20th Street
This snazzy cocktail bar is located inside the Rally Hotel. Its zero-proof offerings include a non-alcoholic take on the French 75, Pardon My French, which is made with Seedlip Garden 108, Gruvi Dry Secco and lemon; mock margarita A Sunkissed Day, with Seedlip Grove 42, pineapple, lime and agave; and the Scarlet Lips cosmopolitan, with Seedlip Grove 42, lime and cranberry.
Centro Mexican Kitchen
950 Pearl Street, Boulder
Next time you're ambling down Pearl Street in Boulder, be sure to pop in to Centro's covered patio to relax with a boldly flavored booze-less drink. Offerings include mango TajÃn lemonade, the Peach Passion Punch, a Jamaica agua fresca with hibiscus and tarragon, and the Nemo margarita, featuring Seedlip's non-alcoholic agave spirit.
Chez Maggy
1616 Market Street
At Chez Maggy, there is "No Kneed" to fret about going booze-free, thanks to its No Kneed mocktail made with Ritual gin, blueberry-basil simple syrup, honey and housemade grenadine.
Church and Union
1433 17th Street
This recently opened modern-American LoDo eatery from Top Chef alum Jamie Lynch is offering its signature cocktails in mocktail form. Highlights include the Ghost, with cucumber water, lime juice and cayenne pepper; and the Ready Orgeat, with lemon, fresh strawberries, cucumber and mint.
The Sage Gimless with sage simple syrup, fresh lime juice and soda water, available at Moo Bar through the month of January.
Moo Bar
1800 Wazee Street
Milk Market's Moo Bar is offering a collection of refreshing sips for $9 this month during Mocktails at the Market. Offerings include the Mountain Medley, made with pineapple, grapefruit, mint simple syrup and ginger beer; the Chilly Cider, which features cinnamon simple syrup, pear purée, apple cider, ginger beer and soda water; and the Sage Gimless, made with sage simple syrup, fresh-squeezed lime juice and soda water.
The Family Jones Spirit House
3245 Osage Street
This industrial-style intimate spirit house has introduced an elevated non-alcoholic mocktail menu for Dry January. The featured cocktail is Love Grows, which includes Western Slope apples, lemon, orange, winter spice syrup and rosemary apple cider vinegar for a fruity but festive drink.
Fire Restaurant & Lounge
1201 Broadway
This rooftop restaurant inside the Art Hotel will serve a signature mocktail all month long. The Clean Slate combines Lyre's non-alcoholic spirit, American Malt, Apéritif Rosso, bitters and a Luxardo cherry for a luxurious alcohol-free indulgence. There will also be complimentary tasting events held on January 24 and 31; the first will offer guests a free tasting of the Designated Driver N/A margarita. There will also be a raffle for a Diageo giveaway basket that includes a handful of goodies and a non-alcoholic cocktail book. Details for the January 31 tasting are to be announced.
Flight Club
1959 16th Street
The mocktail list at this social darts bar includes the Midway Splash, made with Seedlip Grove 42, pineapple and lemon tonic; the Bramble Spritz; Lavender Lemonade; the Bee Sting and more, along with five non-alcoholic beers.
The Fort
19192 CO-8, Morrison
This old-school Colorado steakhouse is bringing a historical spin to Dry January. The Prickly Pear Cooler, made with prickly pear syrup and fresh squeezed lemon and lime juice, is said to have been enjoyed at the South Platte River fur trading forts back in the wild frontier days. Other offerings include the Pilot's Cocktail, featuring Peychaud Bitters and sparkling water, and the Cock ’N Bull Ginger and Lime mocktail.
Golden Hour
3282 Tejon Street
This female-owned wine bar has two mocktail offerings on its January menu: the Best Behavior made with Seedlip Grove, Lyre's Aperitif, lime, cranberry and vanilla; and the Dirty Lil' Secret with Cut Above Gin and olive brine.
Halo Rooftop Bar
6985 East Chenango Avenue
The swanky rooftop bar in the Kimpton Claret hotel is offering three non-alcoholic drinks in honor of Dry January. The Mango Sticky is rich and satisfying with housemade horchata, mango and coconut; the Jackfruit No-Hito packs a creative punch with Seedlip, spice umeboshi, jackfruit, mint and soda; and the Phony Mezcal Negroni serves as the non-alcoholic submission by St. Agrestis. More information regarding menus, live music and reservations can be found online.
Jovanina's Broken Italian
1520 Blake Street
This LoDo Italian restaurant will offer a handful of mocktails this season. The standout is the AmericaN/A for $12, a spin on the Americano cocktail made with N/A aperitif, Stappi Red Bitter soda and Sprite.
Kachina Cantina
1890 Wazee Street
The Dairy Block's Southwestern cantina has curated three agua fresca mocktails for Dry January. Flavor options include guava, rosemary citrus and cherry walnut, priced at $7 each.
Laws Whiskey House
80 West Arkansas Avenue
This local distiller recently opened its new tasting room, the Whiskey Sanctuary, and the current menu includes several curated zero-proof beverages including an N/A take on the Peach Basil Whiskey Smash made with peach purée, fresh basil, demerara sugar and sparkling soda.
Le Colonial
255 Fillmore Street
Recently opened in Cherry Creek, this French-Vietnamese restaurant is offering mocktail options with rejuvenating flavors. The Saigon Mint Colada features coconut milk, fresh pineapple, fresh lime, mint, turmeric and freshly grated nutmeg; Le Diable offers fresh pomegranate, ginger root, cilantro, lime, pomegranate molasses and Q ginger beer; and a shaken black tea is also available, with flavoring choices of white peach, hibiscus herb honey or lychee.
MAKfam
39 West First Avenue
This fine-casual Chinese hot spot in Baker has two zero-waste mocktails on offer for Dry January. The Ginger Orange Blossom Fizz combines ginger peel tea, lime, orange, blossom water and sparkling water and is made using ginger peels from the kitchen; and the Don't Be So Jaded is made with an N/A pineapple and mandarin cordial, green tea, spirulina, lime and a mandarin-vanilla syrup made from mandarin husks, pineapple skins and fruit pulp.
My Neighbor Felix
Multiple locations
Aguas frescas all around! All locations of this Mexican eatery and bar will be offering refreshing strawberry or cucumber aguas frescas this month. Also on the non-alcoholic menu is a creamy housemade horchata.
Nocturne
1330 27th Street
RiNo jazz club Nocturne's non-alcoholic drink lineup is dubbed Ain’t Misbehavin and has been carefully curated to pair with its Dinner and a Show three-course menu. Options include the Cha Cha Chai, made with Chai-infused Seedlip 94, rosemary, coconut water, cranberry, lemon and orange; the Golden Harmony, with Lyre's White Cane Spirit, Seedlip Garden 108, ginger, tamarind, verjus, orange and spiced whipped honey; and the Off The Top, with Lyre's gin, thyme syrup, pomegranate blood orange and soda.
Noisette Restaurant & Bakery
3254 Navajo Street
This LoHi French restaurant is offering three N/A options this month: the Jardin Party ($11), made with Seedlip Garden, guava and lime; a $7 pomegranate orange blossom house soda; and Leitz N/A sparkling rose.
Odie B's
2651 West 38th Avenue
Cliff and Cara Blauvelt, owners of this Sunnyside sandwich shop that will soon add a second location in RiNo, have been sober for six years, so N/A options are a regular staple here. This month, sip on a $6 horchata; the OD Blaster, made with carrot, ginger, cardamom, lime and lemon or pomegranate, also for $6; the N/A-Perol Spritz for $10; and the No-Mosa, with N/A bubbles and a choice of orange, passion fruit or mango juice, for $9.
Olive & Finch
3390 East First Avenue
1552 East 17th Avenue
Bright eatery Olive & Finch will offer a selection of mocktails available all day. Keep it clean with the Purple Haze, which features carrot, beet, apple, lemon, rose and creamy coconut milk, or sweeten it up with the Kyoto, made with matcha, strawberry, lemon and soda.
The Post Chicken and Beer
Multiple locations
Know for its in-house brewed beers, the Post is putting the same level of care into its non-alcoholic drinks this season so everyone can enjoy chicken complemented by a tasty beverage. The No Drama features Seedlip Notas de Agave, lime juice, pineapple and cinnamon for a robust mix of flavors, and the Colorado Cooler channels summertime daydreaming with strawberry purée, honey, mint and lime juice. All mocktails at all five locations are $8.
Postino
Multiple locations
Postino is leaping beyond booze, bottles and boards by introducing its first-ever lineup of zero-proof cocktails to keep the flavor and fun flowing. Offerings include the Glow-Up, with fresh cucumber, cool mint, lime and ginger beer; the Espresso Flirtini, made with spiced cane, hazelnut and an espresso twist; the Mockingbird, with bright pineapple, Italian orange and toasted almond bitters; the Unfashioned, made with smooth honey, rich bitters and a touch of amaro; and the Naked Ranch Water, a simple crisp lime and soda.
Poka Lola Social Club
1850 Wazee Street
This bar inside the Maven Hotel at Dairy Block is highlighting warm, wintery flavors for its selection of non-alcoholic drinks this season. The Black Magic mocktail, $11, combines blueberry and kiwi purées, a dash of champagne vinegar and a sprinkle of clove. The House Cider, $12, is sure to warm you to the core with its infusions of apple, chai, house maple whipped cream and a house spice blend. Poka Lola is also working on a housemade root beer that will be available on draft.
Restaurant Olivia
290 South Downing
Restaurant Olivia is leaning on the fine-tuned mixology skills of its bar to offer a creative submission to the wave of Dry January mocktails this season. The Zero-Proof Milk Punch combines Earl Grey tea, lemon juice, blood orange juice, hazelnut syrup, hazelnut milk and heavy cream, simmered and served cold for a creamy indulgence. Also on offer is the No-Groni, the Winter Shandy with salted apple lemonade and the Moderate Mule.
Sap Sua
2550 East Colfax Avenue
At this modern Vietnamese restaurant, beverage director George Wright has designed a non-alcoholic mocktail list to match the kitchen's creative fare. The signature offering is the Hey Love, featuring the flavors of sesame, pineapple and herbs. Other options include an N/A Riesling, Leitz Eins Zwei-Zero from Germany, and Avec Fuji Apple Cardamom Soda.
Terminal Bar
1701 Wynkoop Street
Head to Union Station to sip the Terminal Bar's $12 spirit-free libations. Highlights include the No Groaning, made with Lyre's Italian Orange, Lyre's Aperitif Dry, honey, sugar and cardamom bitters; the NAspresso Martini, with Lyre's coffee liqueur, vanilla demerara and cold brew concentrate; and the Caboose Cooler, made with Three Spirits Livener, lime, pineapple, hibiscus, sugar and egg white.
Toro
150 Clayton Lane
Richard Sandoval's Cherry Creek restaurant has curated some specialty mocktails for the new year. The Gorgeous Mocktail, $10, features blueberry purée, lime juice, club soda and Sprite. Toro can also alter any of its signature cocktails, such as the Mercado Margarita, to be zero-proof.
Uchi
2500 Lawrence Street
Popular RiNo Japanese restaurant Uchi is infusing Japanese flavors into its mocktail lineup. Curated options include the Spicy Yu ($14), with N/A gin, yuzu honey, Thai chili and lemon; the Uchi G&T ($12), with N/A gin, yuzu cordial and tonic; the Nikko ($15), which features N/A amaretto, coconut milk, raspberry and pineapple; the Sparkling Yuzu ($8), with pineapple, yuzu and club soda; and the Seasonal Shrub ($8), with pear, ginger and sage.
Urban Farmer
1659 Wazee Street
Urban Farmer is zero-proof-friendly all year and boasts an N/A cocktail list with flavors for everyone. Highlighted this year are the Sweet Tea Old Fashioned, the Queen City Paloma and the La Vie en Rose. All mocktails are $7.
Wildflower
3638 Navajo Street
Located inside the Lifehouse Hotel in LoHi, Wildflower's N/A Floral Elixirs include the JR, with Ghia, cardamom, orange and lemon; the Energia Positiva, with hibiscus, orange blossom, lemon and ginger beer; and the Padre Pio, with chamomile honey, lavender and lemon.
A refreshing mocktail option from Wonderyard Garden + Table featuring CBD rose bubbles.
Wonderyard Garden + Table
2200 Larimer Street
The fully heated outdoor garden at Wonderyard is a stellar spot to enjoy an alcohol-free sip. Options include the Disco Inferno, with Lyre's agave blanco, watermelon, jalapeño and fresh lime; and the Lady Marmalade, with Seedlip Grove, Lyre's Amalfi Spritz, fresh lemon, honey and locally made Dram CBD Rose Beauty Bubbles.
Xiquita
500 East 19th Avenue
This modern Mexican restaurant in Uptown is offering some citrus-forward mocktails to match its menu. Highlighted is the Margarita de Hibisco with Almave Blanco, Dhos Orange, lime juice, hibiscus and a blueberry/hibiscus syrup.
