-Courtesy of Punch Media
Thyme Fig Fizz, Blackberry Mojito from At The Table, by Gab Bonghi
Who says the party has to stop when the alcohol dries up? Talented mixologists and bartenders in and around Philadelphia have crafted a fresh lineup of non-alcoholic creations, even featuring N/A wine offerings, available at locales including At The Table, Butcher Bar, Bolo, Char & Stave, Forysthia, MilkBoy, Panorama, Red Owl Tavern, Stratus Rooftop Lounge, Townsend EPX, and Urban Farmer.
At The Table, Wayne’s venerable and award-winning fine-dining restaurant from chefs Alex Hardy and Tara Buzan-Hardy, has recently launched an all-new beverage menu replete with specialty, classic, and non-alcoholic cocktails.Imbibers looking to enjoy Dry January on the Main Line can get excited for the bold Blackberry Mojito ($8), comprised of blackberry, mint, lime, simple, coconut water, sparkling water, and red grapefruit juice, and the effervescent Thyme Fig Fizz ($8), made with lemon, fig and thyme syrup, non-alcoholic orange liqueur, egg white, and tonic.
Butcher Bar, the Rittenhouse hub for comfort food, an expansive brown spirits collection, and grilled fare that hearkens to the local butcher’s revered place in American culture, is the perfect spot for imbibers participating in Dry January to enjoy a mocktail (or two!). The Rittenhouse mainstay’s non-alcoholic menu boasts a Mocktail of the Month for January, dubbed Collins, Agave Collins ($10), fashioned with blueberry lemon agave and club soda, in addition to libations like Outta Thyme ($9), crafted with house made cranberry thyme cordial, lime, and ginger beer, and Pineantula ($9), made with pineapple syrup, lemon, lime, and ginger beer.
Bolo, Chef Yun Fuentes’ Latin American dining room and rum bar nestled in bustling Rittenhouse Square, boasts a delightful selection of non-alcoholic sippers on its extensive beverage menu, perfect for Dry January and beyond. Those seeking a zero proof cocktail to imbibe can enjoy Punch It! ($11), composed of mango, ginger, and coconut cream, No-Jito ($10) fashioned with fresh mint, lime, sugar, and sparkling water, Hibiscus Lemonade ($10) crafted with the de Jamaica and lemon juice, and a non-alcoholic version of Bolo’s housemade holiday cocktail, Coquito n/a ($11) available while supplies last.
Char & Stave, Bluebird Distilling’s coffee roastery and full-service café-by-day and cocktail bar-by-night, boasts a zero-proof menu full of coffee-inspired libations. From the trendy Espresso Tonic ($8), made with espresso, citrus, agave, thyme, and tonic, to a Barrel-Aged “Old Fashioned” ($8), crafted with the roastery’s signature barrel-aged espresso, bitters, sugar, and orange peel, to a Matcha “Mojito” ($8), fashioned with house matcha, mint, sugar, lime, and seltzer, there’s something for every mindful imbiber. For the full menu, visit Char & Stave’s website.
Forsythia, Chef Christopher Kearse’s contemporary and innovative French restaurant and bar in Old City, Philadelphia, is an ideal spot for enjoying Dry January, whether perched at the polished marble bar or watching the open kitchen from the intimate dining room. Beverage Director Shawn Millerboasts a duo of non-alcoholic cocktailsincluding 75 Year Old Virgin, composed of juniper, cara cara, lemon, and non-alcoholic sparkling wine, alongside Free Spirit, comprised of non-alcoholic tequila, hibiscus, plum shrub, lime, and club soda. For those looking for a beer alternative, Forsythia offers Stella Artois Liberté 0.0% non-alcoholic beer.
MilkBoy, the iconic Philadelphia-born brand known for booze, bites, and music, offers two excellent venues to enjoy Dry January, both of which have a host of zero proof offerings in-store. MilkBoy South Street sports two non-alcoholic beers, Sam Adam’s Just The Haze N/A IPA and Athletic Brewing Co. Upside Dawn, as well as zero proof versions of some of their “Greatest Hits Cocktails”, including Purple Rain, Apple Cider Spritz, and Cranberry Mule, and a featured non-alcoholic cocktail The Strawberry Refresher, made with Strawberry, lime, soda, and a dehydrated lime wheel. MilkBoy Philly also feature two non-alcoholic beers, Athletic Brewing Co. Cerveza Athletica and Guinness 0.0, plus two seasonal mocktails: Pink Friday, comprised of raspberry, hibiscus, lime, orange bitters, and tonic water, and Nine in the Afternoon, a combination of house-brewed espresso, simple, and grapefruit. These beverages will be available not only for Dry January, but all season long.
Panorama, Old City’s premier wine bar located in the Penn’s View Hotel boasting a Guinness World Record for its custom winekeeper with 120 wines on tap, is partnering with Drew Davis of Gem Life + Bar, a booze-free bottle shop and pop-up offering an unforgettable wellness experience, for a Sensible Sips Happy Hour on Thursday, January 4 from 5:30-7:30 pm featuring N/A wines and cocktails. Tickets are $65/person and include assorted chef selected hors d’oeuvres, three different n/a wines and a zero proof Aperol Spritz. Attendees will be able to mix and mingle with Drew Davis and William Eccleston, Panorama General Manager and Wine Director, ask questions and learn more about sensible sipping. Tickets can be purchased here. For those who can’t make it to the event, for the remainder of January, Panorama will be featuring a Low ALC-itude wine flight with five n/a wines and three zero proof cocktails.
Red Owl Tavern, the contemporary kitchen and bar located across from Independence Hall in Old City, has a festive holiday zero proof libation, perfect for getting a head start on Dry January dubbed Scrooge Juice, comprised of Lyre’s Zero Proof Italian Orange, cinnamon blood orange syrup, lime, grapefruit, and club soda. Additionally, several of Red Owl Tavern’s hyper-seasonal craft cocktails, curated by Lead Bartender Christopher Devern, can also made alcohol-free with either Lyre’s Zero Proof or Seed Lip non-alcoholic spirits, including The Matterhorn, anespresso martini riff and the Après-Ski, an herbaceous combination of cardamom, fig, grapefruit, and lime.
Stratus Rooftop Lounge, the chic rooftop venue on the 11th floor of the Kimpton Hotel Monaco in Old City, offers the sober curious a trio of non-alcoholic cocktails, idealfor late-night revelers looking to observe Dry January atop Old City’s swanky rooftop lounge. Courtesy of Lead Bartender Patrick Banko, the freshly minted sippers includes Amalfi Coast, a riff on the Aperol Spritz with Lyre’s Zero Proof Bitter Italian Liqueur, Fever Tree Club Soda, and orange, Dark and Not So Stormy, a mixture of Lyre’s Zero Proof Dark Cane Spirit, fresh lime, and ginger beer, and Spiced Cos-no-politan, a playful take on the Cosmopolitan, fashioned with cranberry, winter spices, fresh lime, and Fever Tree Club Soda.
Townsend EPX, Chef Townsend Wentz’s French restaurant and bar on East Passyunk Avenue, provides an upscale, but cozy, atmosphere for Dry January observers and the sober-curious in South Philadelphia. The East Passyunk Avenue locale boasts a robust catalogue of craft cocktails and French wines, including non-alcoholic options. Imbibers can get excited for the N/A G&T, a zero-proof riff on the classic gin and tonic, comprised of juniper-based simple syrup, lime, and tonic water, as well as the N/A Cranberry Mule, an ultra-seasonal effervescent tipple made with orange juice, lime juice, cranberry, and ginger beer. Additionally, Townsend EPX also offers a N/A IPA from Collective Arts for the beer-inclined.
Urban Farmer, the modern American steakhouse located in the Logan Hotel known for its locally-sourced ingredients and in-house butcher shop and mushroom program, boasts a no proof cocktail menu, perfect for those participating in Dry January or cutting back in the new year. Guests can enjoy tipples such as the Happy Accident ($12) made with non-alcoholic aperitivo, grapefruit, and fever tree club soda, the Dirty Chai Shakerato ($12) with chai, espresso and sugar, the Cadillac Shirley Temple ($12) made with housemade grenadine, verjus, lemon-lime soda and cherry, and the Flight of the Dove ($12) with grapefruit, lime, red pepper jelly and topped with soda.