I’ve been what I consider part-time sober for many years now. Gone are the days of binge drinking and hangovers which is actually very lovely. My gut feels great, my brain does too. But on occasions I’ll have a cocktail or a glass of wine, try something new. I’ll have an old favorite when the time is right, but when I encounter a restaurant or bar that is crafting grown up n/a drinks, I indulge in a different way. Below are your hot spots for Dry January if you are partaking in the tradition to cleanse your body of the holiday toxicity, or if you just want to see that it is indeed possible to leave your home, not drink and have a good time.
MARISOL
205 E Pearson Street
At the MCA, Marisol starts off Dry January with a new line-up of spirit-free drinks for Happy Hour. Only on the menu for Happy Hour during the month of January, these drinks are pulled from Marisol’s main menu and include El Cielo, which features lavender, ginger, lime, and tonic, and The Kiss, containing Seedlip Spice 94, rose mallow, and lemon.
DAISIES
2375 N Milwaukee Ave
Daisies stands as Chicago’s only recipient of a MICHELIN Green Star for its unwavering commitment to sustainable practices— efforts that extend all the way to its innovative cocktail program. Currently spearheaded by bar director Nicole Yarovinsky (Tales of the Cocktail Nominee 2024), their drinks team follows a philosophy of “snout to tail” and “root to fruit” and works diligently with the kitchen to not let anything go to waste by skillfully upcycling food byproducts into their beverage program. Alongside their cocktail list, the team offers an extensive non-alcoholic menu available all year with offerings such as housemade sodas, kombuchas, shrubs, and mocktail creations, like their wildly popular Mushroom Sour. This sweet and savory sour-style drink is made with housemade mushroom syrup, which is created from lacto-fermented portobello mushroom stems, and the tops of those mushrooms are used in their Pappardelle pasta with mushroom ragu.
THE VIOLET HOUR
1520 N Damen Ave
James Beard Award-winning The Violet Hour has made a name for itself across the nation for shaking and stirring up some of the best craft cocktails in the city, and their non-alcoholic selections are no exception. The Check Engine Light is a vibrant and refreshing zero-proof cocktail that balances rich coconut cream with bright, freshly squeezed orange juice. Equal parts Ritual N/A Aperitif and Lyre’s Rosso, a non-alcoholic sweet vermouth, add layers of complex herbal notes that round out the sweetness. Dry shaken and strained over a large ice cube in a double Old Fashioned glass, this bright sipper is garnished with mint and offers a tropical escape during the winter— making it a perfect choice to enjoy in The Violet Hour’s cozy, speakeasy-style saloon.
QUARTINOS
626 N State Street
Serving up Italian classics like pizza and pasta, Quartino’s keeps with long-standing traditions. But that doesn;’t mean they are stuck in the past. Their cocktail menu boasts nonalcoholic highlights like their express-no martini and the Amalfi Spritz; their non-alcoholic menu has something for everyone even if you simply want a glass of wine sans alcohol.
HAWKSMOOR
500 N La Salle Drive
Grab a seat at the bar at Hawksmoor Chicago and enjoy one of their booze-free options from their award-winning bar program, twice named the “Best International Restaurant Bar” by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. The team offers a selection of non-alcoholic drinks crafted with the same thoughtfulness and creativity as their cocktails to help sober and sober-curious guests sip through Dry January with ease with one of their top n/a creations Green Juice ($14): In the spirit of healthy habits, add the Green Juice to your routine, except this one doesn’t include kale or spinach. This verdant, alcohol-free drink takes the savory route by combining Seedlip Spice with bell pepper, basil, and cucumber. Lemon and yuzu are added for notes of citrus — resulting in a refreshing beverage to add to your Dry January lineup.
BIG STAR
3640 N Clark Street; various locations
Embrace Dry January at the city’s favorite honky-tonk taco & tequila hangout, Big Star, and sip on one of their best booze-free sellers, the Cucumber Pineapple Cooler. This fan favorite is every bit as refreshing as Big Star’s classic cocktails and is crafted with a blend of cucumber syrup, fresh lime and pineapple juice before being topped with hop water. Available for $8 at all of their locations in Wicker Park, Wrigleyville, or West Town.
LE SUD
2301 W Roscoe Street
Newish on the restaurant scene in Roscoe Village, Le Sud lives up to French flavors and a dedication to fresh ingredients. Their focus on freshness doesn’t stop with the food. Their non-alcoholic cocktail menu offers herby, berry smashes and green tea gimlets to accompany dishes like their Poulet Rouge and Mediterranean Baked Salmon.
VENTEUX
224 N Michigan Ave
With a new year comes a new commitment to health and balanced drinking—which is why Venteux, the Mag Mile’s ritzy French brasserie, took extra care when crafting their zero-proof offerings. For those seeking a sophisticated yet inviting mocktail during Dry January, the Ginger Sage Refresher is the perfect choice. This drink features a refreshing balance of lemon and lime, complemented by the herbal sweetness of honey sage simple syrup, all topped off with a fizzy pour of ginger beer.