With a brand new year comes a wave of New Year’s resolutions, and one of the most popular is ditching the booze and diving into Dry January. Whether it’s to make mindful decisions or shed those extra calories, here are a list of the most perfect spots around Florida to indulge in delicious mocktails.
Chotto Matte
Enjoy Chotto Matte’s innovative food menu with its delicious nonalcoholic sips – so good, you won’t even know the difference! The zesty Wabi-No-Sabe ($12) features flavors from the nonalcoholic spirit Seedlip Garden, aji Inca, acacia honey, kumquat, grapefruit and lemonade. The tropical Flor De La Pasión ($12) is made with passion fruit, mango, elderflower and mint. In the mood for a fresh and fruity vibe? Try the Chicha Enamorada ($12) with Seedlip Spice, peach, chicha orgeat and lemon topped off with ginger ale.
Casa Sensei
East meets West at Fort Lauderdale’s favorite Pan-Asian restaurant, Casa Sensei. Blending South Florida tropics with an Asian-inspired vibe, the fusion eatery presents two fruity mocktails to indulge in without the guilt. Try the Tropical Fusion ($12), a harmonious blend of orange and pineapple juice, almond syrup, lime juice and grenadine, or the Insta-worthy Casa Sunrise ($12), made with fresh watermelon juice and Orange Slice topped with orange juice. Pair the aesthetic drinks alongside authentic yet modernized dishes such as ornate sushi boats or savory rice bowls. For a memorable experience, bring the drinks along on a scenic Riverfront Gondola Tour down the Himmarshee Canal, or bring your furry friends to share the joy on the waterfront patio.
Negroni Midtown
Negroni Bistro & Sushi Bar, Midtown’s urban-chic destination for international comfort fare, whips up three mouthwatering mocktails from its two modern bars. Sip from plush indoor couches or lively patio tables while enjoying the tropical blends. Negroni pulls from both Latin and Nikkei cuisine while crafting the ideal American mix of flavors. Mocktails include the Positano ($9), with pineapple, passion fruit, aquafaba soda bitter and orange; NA-Groni ($9), a nonalcoholic version of the restaurant’s classic namesake negroni; and Free Sp(i)ritz ($9), a twist on the refreshing Italian aperitif.
Whiskey Neat
While Fort Lauderdale’s Whiskey Neat may feature one of the largest selections of whiskeys in South Florida, those searching for nonalcoholic alternatives don’t have to feel left out at the urban cocktail lounge. Whiskey Neat serves up three $8 mocktails to choose from: the New Fashioned, a twist on the Old Fashioned with unsweetened tea, housemade chai syrup, sugar and cherry in a smoked glass over cedar plank; Prohibition Fizz, a light and fruit mix of orange, raspberries, mint, lemon, simple syrup and ginger beer; and Strawberry Fields, made with club soda, muddled cucumber and basil, real strawberry purée and lime juice – it tastes just like a strawberry limeade.
Reset and Refresh at Orno
Visit Orno in the THesis Hotel and relax with a mocktail. Choose from the soothing Cucumber Cooler ($10), made with cucumber juice, jalapeño syrup, lemon and sea salt, or the aromatic yet refreshing Rosemary & Company ($10), featuring fresh grapefruit, rosemary, honey and lemon.
Uchi Wynwood
If you’re looking to take a break from alcohol but don’t want to sacrifice the taste, check out the mocktail menu at Uchi Wynwood. This upscale Japanese restaurant in the heart of Wynwood is known for its innovative and elevated sushi, and its mocktails are the perfect pairings to the delicious dishes. Options include the Yebiso ($13), made with the nonalcoholic tequila Jalisco 55, passionfruit, ginger and soda; Inari ($8), made with Seedlip Grove, lychee, lemon and yuzu; and The Run Wild IPA ($8), a nonalcoholic IPA that will have you guessing if it’s the real deal.
Verde at Pérez Art Museum Miami
Located at Pérez Art Museum Miami, Verde offers sweeping views of Biscayne Bay and boasts an elevated menu of seasonal-inspired dishes with locally sourced produce. Guests can bask in the South Florida weather and enjoy mocktails and low-ABV spritzers from the restaurant’s expansive, lush waterfront terrace. Mocktails include the Rose Fizz ($12), with egg white, simple syrup and lemonade; Coconut Cooler ($13), with simple syrup, lemon juice and coconut water topped off with mint, lime and cucumber; and Honey Mule ($12), with honey syrup, lemon juice and ginger beer. You can also sip on Fermented Pineapple or Fermented Mango Spritzers ($11) featuring Perrier as you immerse in the city’s cultural offerings.
Teatro at the Adrienne Arsht Center
Cheers to delicious mocktails at Teatro, the immersive dining experience at the Adrienne Arsht Center’s Ziff Ballet Opera House in the heart of Miami’s cultural hub. Teatro sets the stage for theatergoers to enjoy pre- or post-show drinks and bites in an avant-garde, sexy ambiance. Ask your server about mocktails like the Seedlip Mr. Howard, named after Stewart Howard, one of the first people in the world to serve Seedlip. It is made with Seedlip Spice, grapefruit juice, simple syrup and lime juice.
The Restaurant at the Norton Museum of Art
The Restaurant at the Norton is the premier dining destination inside the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach. Operated by the renowned Constellation Culinary Group, The Restaurant offers light, modern American fare with nods to coastal influence. For guests seeking alcohol-free options, I Don’t Want No Shrub ($6) is one of The Restaurant’s signature cocktails turned mocktail and is made with club soda, hibiscus and jalapeño shrub, pineapple and lime. Guests can also cool off with a refreshing Cucumber Ginger Mint Agua Fresca ($6) while taking in the gorgeous garden views that seamlessly integrate into the space.
Bistro at Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College
Bistro at the Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College is a chef-driven culinary concept by Chef Kaytlin Dangaran. The restaurant features a Florida farmstand-inspired menu focusing on locally sourced and seasonal ingredients that guests can enjoy among the museum’s thoughtfully curated exhibits. Try a mocktail version of the restaurant’s Housemade Aperol Spritz ($8), made from clarified local orange and grapefruit juice with a housemade aperol of stewed strawberries with vanilla, clove, cinnamon and star anise.
