Sip, Sip, Hooray: Five Downtown Bars to Visit for Inventive Mocktails 

If you’re participating in Dry January — or just taking a break after a boozy season of holiday parties — you don’t have to skip happy hour. That said, you’re also not resigned to a sad glass of soda water when you go out with friends or coworkers. Mocktails are a sophisticated choice, with many incorporating the same fresh, sweet, spicy or herbal elements you love in a cocktail, minus the booze. 

Here are five spots in Lower Manhattan to sip inventive craft mocktails.

The Tuck Room

If a vodka cran is your go-to order, you’ll want to check out the Orchard next time you’re at the Tuck Room. It’s made with cranberry, citrus, simple syrup and lime for a refreshing beverage that also happens to be booze-free. The Tuck Room has a few other fruity mocktails on the menu, including the invigorating Sparkler made with grapefruit juice and mint, along with the Refresher, made with passionfruit, lemon and orange.

The Bar Room at the Beekman

Spring may still be several months away, but you can sip on the vernal mocktail appropriately dubbed Garden Party while you wait. The offering from The Bar Room at the Beekman brings together Lyre’s Agave Blanco, sugar snap pea, mint, lime and a dash of salt and pepper for a fresh and earthy beverage that’ll have you dreaming of warmer days. Not your style? The bar also offers a few other mocktails, like the Venetian Holiday, Summer Vacation and Beach Day.  

The Dead Rabbit

Need a pick-me-up after a long day? The NA Firebird at the Dead Rabbit is a punchy, brightly-colored mocktail that’s sure to do the trick. It’s made with a few different non-alcoholic spirits including Martini & Rossi Vibrante, Seedlip Spice and CleanCo Vodka, which are then mixed with apple, ginger, pineapple and lemon. Other non-alcoholic offerings at the Dead Rabbit include a non-alcoholic Irish Coffee and the NA TLC, a herbaceous drink made with alcohol-free gin.

The Malt House

The Malt House’s curated mocktail menu includes Sunday Morning, an invigorating combo of pineapple, cinnamon, citrus and ginger that will leave you feeling bright. Craving something bubbly? Try the Son of Garibald instead, which features N/A Italian bitter liqueur, orange juice, hibiscus and N/A bubbles.

Manhatta

Sip your mocktail while you look out over the city from 60 floors up at Manhatta. You’ll want to order the Walking, Talking Enigma, which brings together a bevy of creative ingredients like Mango Seedlip Grove, Seedlip Spice, Amass Riverine, yuzu, grapefruit, matcha, spices and soy. It’s clarified and topped with an intriguing mango matcha meringue. 

main photo: iStock