From zero-proof spritzes to boozeless savoury elixirs, contemporary cocktails have proved that alcohol isn't a necessity in the creation of a great drink. As numbers of sober-curious and mindful drinkers continue to rise, browse a selection of low and no libations from bars across the world that go big on flavour
1. Angelita, Madrid
@madridangelita
Angelita has become a must-visit spot in Madrid’s thrumming drinks scene. The space spans two floors, with a laid-back wine bar at street level and a cocktail bar tucked away in the basement. Serves across both spaces are all about maximising and spotlighting the local terroir, with cocktails downstairs using ingredients harvested from the local area. From wine-based libations to fruity highballs, the low alcohol aperitivos have always been a hit here, but in 2024, the bar launched its own range of pre-bottled zero per cent ABV creations, available to drink at the bar and to buy for home. A favourite is Green Piparra Tomato: a clarified, acidic and spicy concoction made with unripe green tomatoes and fresh green piparra (peppers).
2. Bar Snack, New York
@barsnack.nyc
(Image: Eric Medsker)
Iain Griffiths was a founding member of the Lyan Group and winner of the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award 2017. For his new opening, he teamed up with Brooklyn-based bar owner Oliver Cleary to debut Bar Snack in New York’s East Village, which opened its doors in November 2024. On the menu are ‘dressed-up classics for dressed-down people,’ alongside a focus on good bar food. Spirit-forward cocktails, such as the Chicken Skin Martini, are unapologetically bold and savoury, but its low-and-no ABV options are just as considered. Take the Dawn Patrol, a refreshing twist on the Arnold Palmer of iced tea and lemonade, which comes supercharged with turmeric and rich bitters.
3. Thunderbolt, Los Angeles
@thunderboltla
On the corner where LA’s Filipinotown, Echo Park and Downtown meet, Thunderbolt embodies the stereotypical, laid-back Californian spirit. Its dark green walls and light wood furnishings comes with a relaxed food and drink menu that have made it a regular on the North America’s 50 Best Bars list. But don’t be fooled by the chilled-out vibe, Thunderbolt takes its drinks programme very seriously. Lab-adjacent equipment maximises the flavour of easy-sippers behind the scenes, while wines, beers and fortified offerings are equally appreciated, plus an enviable collection of sherries. The Eats, Shoots & Leaves, for example, combines manzanilla sherry, madeira, cucumber, vermouth and hazelnut in a low-ABV exploration of fortified European sips. Pair it up with a plate of pimiento cheese poppers for a guaranteed good time.
4. The Savory Project, Hong Kong
@thesavoryproject_
From the team behind Coa, three-time title holder of The Best Bar in Asia, The Savory Project opened in 2023 as a haven of cocktail wizardry in central Hong Kong, with drinks that mimic the flavour profiles of savoury dishes, from Thai beef salad to biryani. Where alcoholic cocktails sit under the ‘Hedonism’ section of the menu, its zero-proof concoctions are found in ‘Temperance’, with four options to choose from. Opt for the Papaya Fire, made with hot English mustard, passionfruit, de-alcoholised spirit and the titular fruit for a punchy, spicy and complex drink.
5. Viajante87, London
@viajantebar
Pietro Collina and Veronica Di Pietrantonio took over the reins of Viajante87 in London’s Notting Hill in 2023, revamping the bar’s drinks programme to include influences from their travels through Latin America. The overhaul was a success, with the bar entering the extended list of The World’s 50 Best Bars within a year of its new leadership. Inside the subterranean den, the drinks list spans the full gamut of Latin American libations, from cocktails to neat agave serves, separated into sections such as ‘Be Curious’, ‘Be Courageous’ and ‘Be Involved.’ Under the ‘Sin Alcohol’ section, the Sin Paloma, made with de-alcoholised herbal spirit and a base of Italian bitter aperitif, recreates the cocktail’s flavours with surprising accuracy, so much that you’d be hard-pressed to spot the difference between it and the boozy version.
6. Hero Bar, Nairobi
@hero_nairobi
Stepping into Hero Bar, the star of Kenya’s growing cocktail scene, feels like walking into a comic book, with bright colours, bold murals and a team with a larger-than-life attitude. Its drinks menu doubles down on this energy, with cocktails inspired by heroes and sidekicks, both real and fictional. Check out the ‘Law Enforcement’ section for zero-ABV drinks, crafted and named with the same playful flair as the main menu. The Sergeant Pepperfield brings together homemade strawberry purée, ginger, black pepper, maple syrup and flamed rosemary for an aromatic, fiery and fruity concoction.
7. Atlas, Singapore
@atlasbarsg
Everyone should experience the Art Deco grandeur of Atlas in Singapore, regardless of whether they’re boozing or not. If it’s the former, the bar’s cocktail menu — which is full of interesting drinks-related trivia about carbonation, infusions and more — also helpfully gives the ABV percentage of each cocktail, allowing drinkers to make informed choices. For those choosing to abstain, there are cocktails such as the Thirsty First, made with non-alcoholic gin and spiced spirit, lemon saccarum and peach oolong.
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