Dry January: The top 17 mocktail spots in Charlotte
From alcohol-free twists on classic cocktails to innovative, zero-proof drinks starring specialty ingredients, discover the best mocktails in Charlotte.
If you’re participating in Dry January or trying to give up alcohol for good, you may be worried that doing so will limit your social life. While that may be the case in some cities where nondrinkers have limited beverage options when they go out, Charlotte has fully embraced the growing mocktail trend, and there are plenty of bars and restaurants in the Queen City that are stirring up delicious alcohol-free alternatives.
From spirit-free spritzes to margaritas made without alcohol, the wide variety of carefully crafted mocktails in Charlotte ensures everyone can enjoy a night out or dinner with friends—even if they’re abstaining from booze. Keep reading to discover the bars and restaurants with the best mocktails in Charlotte.
1. Artisan’s Palate
Artisan’s Palate—a restaurant, craft cocktail/wine bar, and art gallery in NoDa—offers one of the largest selections of mocktails of all the spots on this list. Some of the options include the Negroni No No, an alcohol-free twist on a traditional Negroni; Orange You Glad It’s Spirit Free, featuring a rum alternative and non-alcoholic aperitif; Sober Sour, a spirit-less whiskey sour; and Tequila Mocking Bird, made with a tequila alternative, fresh grapefruit, and ginger (all pictured below).
Address: 1218 E. 36th St., Ste. A
2. Elsewhere Cocktail Bar
Elsewhere Cocktail Bar, a travel-inspired bar that aims to transport patrons “elsewhere,” offers several non-alcoholic drinks that do just that. They include twists on a passionfruit mojito, a negroni (which can be made into a spritz for an additional $1), a dark and stormy, and a coffee mai tai.
Address: 101 W. Worthington Ave., #140
3. Ever Andalo
Ever Andalo gives diners a taste of Italy with its fresh pasta and Italian-inspired cocktail menu. Its mocktail selection offers a similar experience. Alcohol-free drink options include the View from the Top, featuring lemon-anise syrup, grapefruit, lime, and ginger beer, as well as a blackberry bramble and an Italian spritz.
Ever Andalo also serves a cannabis cocktail, dubbed the Get Up To Get Down, that’s made with a hemp-infused, non-alcoholic spiced spirit, a non-alcoholic white rum, espresso, simple syrup, and heavy cream.
Address: 3116 N. Davidson St.
4. Growlers Pourhouse
Growlers Pourhouse may be a craft beer bar, but you can still have an enjoyable time there with your beer-loving friends, even if you’re abstaining from alcohol. The Day Off Margarita, made with a non-alcoholic spirit, agave syrup, and lime, pairs perfectly with a plate of the restaurant’s wings, nachos, or crab dip.
Address: 3120 N. Davidson St.
5. Haberdish
Haberdish, a Southern kitchen and craft cocktail bar, doesn’t leave sober diners feeling thirsty. It offers two spirit-free drinks—one spritz alternative and another that’s passionfruit-flavored.
Address: 3106 N. Davidson St.
6. Leluia Hall
At Leluia Hall, diners can wash down dishes like raw oysters, grilled scallops, and jerk duck with a small selection of mocktails. Options include a gin and tonic, a Chicha Morada (a traditional, non-alcoholic Peruvian drink that’s made with purple corn), and a passionfruit beverage made with a non-alcoholic cucumber and serrano spirit. There is also a cannabis cocktail crafted with a hemp-infused, non-alcoholic spirit, housemade cider syrup, ginger beer, and citrus.
Address: 1829 Cleveland Ave.
7. Lincoln Street Kitchen & Cocktails
Lincoln Street Kitchen & Cocktails’ mocktail selection includes five drinks, such as a Negroni and a mule. The other drinks feature unique ingredients, such as carrot cake syrup in the Salem and lemon bay oil in the Fig + Grove.
Address: 1320 S. Church St., Unit 400
8. Merchant & Trade
Merchant & Trade, a rooftop bar on the 19th floor of the Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel, is known for its impressive views of Uptown Charlotte and its exceptional cocktail program. It also offers two zero-proof cocktails that celebrate its North Carolina roots.
The Bobcat Territory is made with Lion’s Mane mushroom honey and honors the North Carolina bobcat. The Gold Line pays homage to Charlotte’s Gold Line streetcar and is crafted with Lenny Boy Brewing Co.’s ginger kombucha, which is brewed in Charlotte, as well as Dromme Awake non-alcoholic functional spirit, turmeric, pineapple, and lime.
Address: 303 S. Church St.
9. Napa on Providence
Based on the name alone, you might think Napa on Providence is all about the wine, but sober sippers also have some options. The Golden Orchard Spritz is a twist on an Aperol Spritz featuring spiced apple cider, and the Autumn Jewel also features apple cider, pomegranate juice, lime juice, and ginger beer. There is also a spirit-free sangria and a sparkling wine option.
Address: 110 Perrin Place
10. O-Ku
At O-Ku, the spirit-free sips get just as much attention as the cocktails. The sushi restaurant offers five non-alcoholic options, including a cherry-yuzu soda and a matcha limeade. The mocktails incorporate some fun ingredients you may not have had before, such as dragon fruit powder and lychee syrup.
Address: 2000 South Boulevard, Ste. 510
11. Pins Mechanical Co.
Pins Mechanical Co. has zero-proof and low-proof cocktails, as well as THC drinks for those who want to catch a different type of buzz. The two alcohol-free drinks include Extra Credit, made with Lyre’s Aperitif Rosso, Lyre’s Italian Spritz, honey mango, and rose water, and Gym Class Zero, featuring Lyre’s Dry London Spirit, desert pear syrup, lime juice, and tonic.
Address: 307 W. Tremont Ave.
12. Puerta
Puerta offers diners two non-alcoholic margaritas—one traditional, one spicy—and a paloma to complement its Mexican cuisine. The restaurant also serves two agua fresca drinks—blackberry basil and tamarindo.
Address: 1961 E. 7th St.
13. Rally
Rally, a pickleball and entertainment complex, has a fun cocktail menu with something for everyone, including those abstaining from alcohol. Zero-proof sips include Modern Lover (cranberry, zero-proof orange liqueur, lime, and cucumber), Green Hour (matcha, lemon, sparkling white tea, and peach), Sparked Spritz (zero-proof aperitif, sparkling rose tea, cranberry, and grapefruit), and On the Go (hibiscus, orange, lemon, and sparkling water).
Address: 101 Southside Dr.
14. Sixty Vines
Sixty Vines offers three mocktail choices and three non-alcoholic wines. The Bright Side features blood orange juice, tonic syrup, lemon, and club soda, while the Blackberry Sage & Soda is made with homemade blackberry syrup, muddled sage, lemon, and club soda. There is also a spirit-free spritz.
Address: 1415 Vantage Park Dr., Ste. 100
15. Supperland
For its mocktail menu, Supperland took three classic cocktails and made them spirit-free. Options include an Italian spritz, a gin and tonic, and an amaretti sour made with a vegan egg white (all three mocktails are vegan).
Address: 1212 The Plaza
16. The Crunkleton
The Crunkleton’s drink menu is full of creative cocktails—but nondrinkers aren’t excluded from the party. Non-alcoholic options include the N/A Sour, Painlesskiller, N/A Agave Tiki Tai, and Phony Negroni. The spirit-free libations feature the same fresh juices, syrups, and hand-carved ice as the alcoholic drinks.
Address: 1957 E. 7th St.
17. Yunta Nikkei
Yunta Nikkei’s cocktail menu is full of innovative drinks featuring specialty ingredients—and the mocktail menu takes a similar approach. The four available mocktails are crafted with ingredients like lemon honey lavender syrup, Peruvian black mint, and arbol syrup.
Address: 2201 South Boulevard
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