Whether you’re a mom-to-be, an underage traveler or just someone looking to make healthier lifestyle changes, ditching alcohol doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the fun. Enter mocktails, mock versions of cocktails that have all of the flavor and none of the haze.
Forbes Travel Guide recently released its Verified List for the World’s Best Hotel Bars, but read on for a roster of spots serving spirit-free beverages so delicious that you won’t even miss the buzz.
Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila
If you find yourself in the capital of the Philippines, treat yourself to a round of mocktails at this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel’s Sunset Bar. The poolside lounge is just the place to soak up a Manila Bay sunset while savoring grilled seafood and live music.
Pair your postcard-worthy surroundings with a variety of fresh fruit juices (don’t miss the freshly cracked coconut) and expertly concocted mocktails. Two standouts from the menu are the Ocean Scent and Aqua Pill — both feature calamansi, a local citrus fruit that nicely accents a refreshing drink.
Luxuriate in pure elegance at this Four-Star skyscraper’s The Tavern Grill & Lounge, where live piano music and panoramic views of Tokyo come standard. The dining room specializes in grilled dishes and quality aged meats, including “snow-aged” beef, a unique product matured for 25 days in a natural Yukimuro refrigerator.
Enjoy your protein alongside a delightful mocktail like the fresh Yuzu Fragrance, made with orange juice, aranciata (Italian sparkling orange juice), soda, honey and yuzu, an aromatic Japanese citrus.
Hidden behind the façade of a front porch lies Garrison, the quirky signature restaurant of this contemporary Austin stay. The playful menu is thoughtfully prepared — even its No Proof Cocktails are sophisticated and complex.
Try the Thyme after Time for an herbaceous blend of honey, thyme, lemon, grapefruit, strawberry and Seedlip Garden 108. Seedlip is a specialty distilled, non-alcoholic spirit guaranteed to add depth to even no-proof drinks.
Tucked within this newly opened hot spot, Rare Steakhouse is the Hub’s answer to the indulgent dining rooms of West Coast casino resorts. In this modern and elegant eatery, choose from special cuts of meat imported from around the world — this is the only restaurant in the state certified to carry exclusive Japanese Kobe beef.
Although the venue stocks an impressive selection of hard-to-find bourbons, its mocktail list also aims to please. We recommend sipping on the Porch Swing, a drink made with roasted sweet tea, candied peaches and lemon.
For gracious Southern hospitality, look no further than this Four-Star downtown stunner and its AG steakhouse. The prime cuts and other flame-grilled fare (charred octopus and fois gras brûlée are succulent starters) are highlights, but so are the sips.
Explore an alcohol-free drinking menu even cocktail connoisseurs will appreciate. Order The Delicious Sour (coconut water, fresh herbs, citrus, sugar and egg white) or a G-rated version of a Cosmo (cranberry, citrus and orange juices) for a tasty, guilt-free night out.
Perched 99 floors above the Pearl River and Guangzhou’s busy streets, you’ll find a little piece of heaven in Tian Bar. Since it’s in one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world, it should come as no surprise that the views here are the main attraction.
The space offers plenty to admire, including the outdoor vistas, a fantastic bar cut from a single piece of multicolored agate and a mouthwatering mocktail menu. Order the Citrus Mint Refresher (fresh lemon and orange juices, ginger ale and mint leaves) or Berries or More (housemade blueberry-infused cinnamon syrup, lemon juice and sparkling water) and all eyes at the table will turn to you.
This ultra-chic hotel’s cutting-edge Oak Room steakhouse provides a fun evening on the town. Exuding a British rock ’n’ roll vibe, the restaurant comes with a show kitchen, a butcher’s case and even a meat sommelier.
End your meal with a mocktail so indulgent you won’t need dessert. The restaurant’s sipping star is the Royal Cream, with mango and orange juices, coconut puree and banana ice cream.
For an entirely plant-based meal, visit this sleek and stylish New York City dining room (tucked within design showroom abc Carpet & Home) from celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Nibble on small plates of market vegetables, dosas (an Indian crepe-like dish) and creamy pastas so delicious you won’t believe they’re dairy free.
Trying a healthy beverage here is easy, too. There are plenty of juices, teas and tonics from which to choose. Go for the turmeric elixir (turmeric, local honey and Himalayan salt) or a tangy kombucha in flavors like ginger lemon or pomegranate for a tasty treat that won’t get you tipsy.
