Dry January is the perfect time to try the 7 best mocktails in Ann Arbor
Whether you’re forgoing booze during Dry January or want to try some tasty non-alcoholic beverages, you’ll want to sip on these seven best mocktails in Ann Arbor.
Happy New Year! With each new year comes new resolutions, and one of the most popular is to prioritize health. To that end, more and more people are embracing “Dry January” and abstaining from alcohol for the first month of the year. Dry January can help you start a health journey or just serve as a refreshing change of pace to start the year.
Whether you’re doing Dry January this year, know people who are, or are just a non-drinker more generally, you can still enjoy a delicious beverage out in Ann Arbor. While the Ann Arbor area may be well-known for microbreweries and student hangout bars, A2 is also home to some of the best mocktails in the Mitten!
From familiar flavors to unique combinations, here are the seven best mocktails in Ann Arbor. Cheers!
1. The Tiny House on Mars
The Ravens Club, 207 South Main Street, Ann Arbor
Dry January doesn’t have to mean saying “no” to date nights! On Main Street, The Ravens Club is an A2 staple for low-lit conversations over a creative New American menu, and while they pride themselves on their cocktail selections, which include alcohol-free options. Try the Tiny House on Mars (and not just for the great name)—this creative treat mixes passionfruit, lemon juice, club soda, and house-made sage shrub.
2. Underage Bartender
Miss Kim, 415 North 5th Avenue, Ann Arbor
A popular Korean eatery near the U of M campus, Miss Kim is also home to a drinks menu made to match their full-flavored food options, with wine, beer, cocktails, and non-alcoholic options. Their “Underage Bartender” is a mocktail with a sense of humor—as well as hibiscus and citrus flavors for a lightly sweet, refreshing treat.
3. Bee Good
Rabbit Hole, 210 South First Street, Ann Arbor
An underground bar with live music that also hosts private events, Rabbit Hole is as cool as it gets. Their cocktail menu changes seasonally but always includes a variety of innovative mocktails. Try the Bee Good for a sweet and spicy treat with notes of cinnamon, honey, and horchata foam.
4. The Boardwalk
Mash, 400 North River Street, Ypsilanti
A chic bar in a former nineteenth-century hotel, Ypsilanti’s Mash Bar has made a name for itself based on creative, spirit-forward cocktails—including their zero-proof menu, available during Dry January and all year round! While all the items are interesting, alcohol-free, and tasty, the Boardwalk is a standout. It’s based around zero-proof Free Spirit Bourbon with added orange flavor for a delicious aperitif.
5. Red Drink
Zingerman’s Roadhouse, 2501 Jackson Avenue, Ann Arbor
An Ann Arbor legend, Zingerman’s Roadhouse, the restaurant owned by the same people as the famous Kerrytown deli, is the place for good eats—and even better drinks. Their mocktails, known as “Free Spirits” (get it?), include the Red Drink, a deceptively simple name for a refreshing, hibiscus-forward treat that pairs well with any of their weekly Blue Plate Specials.
6. Persephone’s Tale (N/A)
North Star Lounge, 301 North Fifth Avenue, Ann Arbor
Did you know Ann Arbor’s North Star Lounge was named for Harriet Tubman following the North Star on the Underground Railroad? Today, you can find your way to North Star Lounge for food, drinks, and events, including live music. They have an extensive mocktail selection, including a nonalcoholic version of their signature Persephone’s Tale cocktail made of fresh muddled mint, housemade grenadine, pomegranate juice, lime juice, and soda water.
7. Afterglow Spritz
Babs’ Underground, 213 South Ashley Street, Ann Arbor
A speakeasy worthy of Gatsby himself, Babs’ Underground is one of those places where “if you know, you know.” And for those who are really in the know, you don’t need alcohol to have a grand night out at Babs’. A highlight of their regularly-changing zero-proof menu is the Afterglow Spritz, which combines house-made apple and pear syrup with grapefruit juice and soda.
Bonus: Try Everything from Bar Bene!
Despite the name, Bar Bene isn’t exactly a bar in the traditional sense. Bar Bene is Ann Arbor’s very own non-alcoholic drinks caterer! In addition to being on hand to provide exciting mocktails for any events you might be hosting, they also have regular pop-ups in and around A2, where you can enjoy their drinks at events like “teetotalin’ trivia.”
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