Heading out but skipping alcohol? Non alcoholic drinks at a bar are now common across NYC: look for sections labelled zero-ABV, spirit-free or mocktails, and ask what the bartender can make without spirits.
Zero-proof drinks are one slice of the borough’s wider story, which the guide to brooklyn bar culture covers.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Nonalcoholic cocktails on Golden Ratio’s menu | 16 (alongside 16 alcoholic ones) |
| Nominations reviewed for NYC’s best nonalcoholic bar programs | Over 60 |
| Judges on that panel | Three (a trio) |
| Spirit-free drinks at The Dead Rabbit | Four |
| Leyenda (Carroll Gardens) making cocktails since | 2015 |
| Bangkok Supper Club’s Michelin Guide Exceptional Cocktails Award | 2024 |
These figures come from The Daily Pour’s report published in January 2026 and Time Out’s guide published in January 2025. Menus, awards and line-ups change, so check the source before you rely on them.
Zero-proof, spirit-free, mocktail: what the labels mean
As of Time Out’s January 2025 guide, nonalcoholic cocktails, sometimes sectioned on menus as “zero-ABV,” “spirit-free,” “mock-” or “soft cocktails,” had almost reached ubiquity at NYC bars. The same guide says many otherwise buzzy new openings offer some dedicated boozeless option.
Behind those labels, a zero-proof drink is usually built around a nonalcoholic spirit alternative rather than juice and soda. Nylon’s July 2024 list describes Superbueno’s La Shamami as a blend of Almave Ambar, an agave-based faux spirit, with cucumber agua fresca and jasmine. Nylon adds that the options there change frequently.
A low-alcohol drink is a different thing. In 6sqft’s January 2024 report, the N/A menu at Oiji Mi includes nine beverage options, though some have a very low alcohol content of under 1%. If a true zero matters to you, say so when you order.
How to order a zero-proof drink without fuss
You do not need a speech. A few simple steps get you a better drink and a smoother exchange with the bartender.
- Scan the menu for headings such as zero-ABV, spirit-free, mocktails or low and no proof.
- If there is no such section, ask what the bartender can make without spirits.
- Describe what you like: citrus, bitter, smoky, creamy, fizzy or herbal.
- Ask what the base is and whether the drink is fully alcohol-free.
- Check for caffeine if you plan to sleep that night.
Be explicit when a drink sits in a mixed section. Nylon’s July 2024 guide notes that Milady’s lists its Window Treatment under a “Low and No Proof” section, so it is important to specify that you want the basil, hibiscus, lime and tonic drink made without booze.
The basics of bar etiquette apply to a zero-proof order as they do to any other: be clear, be patient when the bar is busy and tip for the work that goes into the drink.
It also pays to ask whether a bar’s early-evening deals cover zero-proof drinks, and you can read up on what is happy hour if you want to know how those specials usually work. Policies differ from venue to venue, so ask before you assume.
Which Brooklyn bars take non-alcoholic drinks seriously?
The spots below appear in published guides, and each note carries the date of its source. Menus rotate, so check a bar’s latest list before you go.
- Sunken Harbor Club (Downtown Brooklyn): The Daily Pour says the bar sits above one of the oldest steakhouses in the city and titles its nonalcoholic menu “On Dry Land.” Fan favorites there include The Elixir, made with gentian, sarsaparilla and wintergreen, and the PKNA, a coconut-and-nutmeg riff on the painkiller.
- Leyenda (Carroll Gardens): Time Out says the bar has been making cocktails inspired by Latin ingredients since 2015. Its Chicha Morada uses Peruvian purple corn, pineapple, green apple and spiced punch.
- Clover Club (Carroll Gardens): Boisson’s January 2023 guide says the bar bases its mocktails on AMASS Riverine, which features 14 botanicals. Its low-to-no-proof section included the Rings of Saturn and the Smith Street Sling.
- Public Records (Gowanus): Time Out’s January 2025 guide gives the venue a shout for its NA program and lists its Sobril “Tequila.”
- Orion Bar (Bushwick): Nylon describes the Cosmic Spritzer as a refreshing riff on a highball made from perilla, yuja, ginger and green plum.
- Getaway (Greenpoint): Suitcase’s December 2022 piece said the entire menu was alcohol-free, with cocktails, beer and wine included.
If you want a Manhattan comparison on the same trip, The Dead Rabbit’s four spirit-free drinks include an Irish coffee made with Calendar coffee, demerara sugar, fresh whipped cream and nutmeg, according to Time Out.
What makes a zero-proof menu worth your time
A long list is not the same as a good one. The Daily Pour reported in January 2026 that Bright Nights Social and Boisson picked the best nonalcoholic bar programs in New York City after judges combed through over 60 nominations across the five boroughs.
The judges scored several things at once:
- The visibility, variety, creativity and quality of each bar’s cocktails.
- The ambiance of the room.
- The service.
- The food.
Their deciding test is useful for you too: would you recommend the bar to people who drink alcohol as a great place to try nonalcoholic drinks? The same report says the recently opened Golden Ratio serves 16 alcoholic and 16 nonalcoholic cocktails built on house-made distillates and a zero-waste, farm-to-table ethos.
Bartenders say the effort is deliberate. Chris Clark of Oiji Mi told 6sqft: “We treat our N/A program with the same attention to detail as our cocktails.”
What to order if you usually drink something else
The easiest route is to match the drink you would normally order. These pairings come from the sources above and their publication dates.
- Aperol spritz fans: Nylon’s July 2024 list describes Eel Bar’s Aperitivo as Martini & Rossi Vibrante, club soda and an orange peel. American Bar’s Jablonski pairs the same Vibrante with French Bloom, a zero-percent rosé.
- Tequila or mezcal drinkers: La Shamami at Superbueno uses Almave Ambar, per the same Nylon list.
- Espresso martini lovers: Nylon says Dante’s Espresso Shakerato uses fresh espresso with Three Spirits “Nightcap,” Lyre’s coffee liqueur and rose water.
- Irish coffee drinkers: The Dead Rabbit’s spirit-free version appears in Time Out’s January 2025 guide.
- Tiki fans: The PKNA at Sunken Harbor Club is the coconut-and-nutmeg answer to the painkiller.
Watch the caffeine. Nylon warns that the Dante drink has the same amount of caffeine, if not more, with none of the vodka to dull it. Time Out likewise notes that Mace’s zero-ABV Three Spirits Livener carries a caffeine kick.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to ask for a non-alcoholic drink?
Show answer
Name the flavors you like and say plainly that you want it made without alcohol. If the drink sits in a mixed section, repeat that request, as the Milady’s example above shows.
Is every mocktail completely alcohol-free?
Show answer
Not necessarily. 6sqft’s January 2024 report notes that some drinks on Oiji Mi’s N/A menu have an alcohol content of under 1%, so ask if you need a strict zero.
Will a zero-proof drink keep me awake?
Show answer
It can. Coffee-based and caffeinated-spirit drinks, such as the Dante shakerato described by Nylon in July 2024, can carry as much caffeine as an espresso martini or more.
Can I get non-alcoholic wine or beer at a bar too?
Show answer
Often, yes. Boisson’s January 2023 guide said Bemelmans Bar offered non-alc sparkling wine such as French Bloom, and that PLANTA listed a non-alc IPA by Athletic Brewing.
