London’s Best Mocktails For Sober October
Zero alcohol drinks have never been more on trend, so we decided to serve you up our top top tee-total tipples to see you through Sober October.
It goes without saying that health and wellness is becoming more and more of a priority to many. We like to know that what we are consuming doesn’t come with any damaging downsides, and the option of a hangover free night out defiantly appeals.
The good news is that going alcohol free no longer needs to mean that you are stuck at the bar with a glass of tap water missing out on all the fun. Across the city mixologists are continuously finding new and inventive ways to concoct drinks with all the depth and complexity of their alcoholic counterparts so teetotallers can enjoy a social beverage without sacrificing on taste and enjoyment.
Here’s where to find some of our favourite mocktails in London.
Dishoom
Thanks to the Bombay Prohibition Act of 1949, anyone in Mumbai who wishes to indulge in an alcoholic drink must, technically, have a permit. That’s the inspiration behind the Permit Room menu at Dishoom’s London branches which, alongside its boozy counterparts, has a number of “tee-total tipples” — the likes of Sober Negroni with Dishoom’s homemade gin and chai vermouth, an espresso martini that will give you that caffeine boost without the alcoholic chaser. Elsewhere there’s alcohol-removed wine and beers with ABVs ranging from 0.0-0.5%.
Various locations
Opening early in the morning until late.
Nightjar
The menu at this Shoreditch speakeasy goes through the eras, starting in pre-prohibition times, all the way up through to the 20th century, before ending up with a very modern creation: the non-alcoholic cocktail. There are four zero alcohol options on the menu: some will still give you a kick (there’s cold brew coffee in the Cafe Kirsch Elixir) and some are super refreshing (Kaya yen Orgeat is a medley of citrussy non-alcoholic spirits, coconut, mango and more).
129 City Road, London, EC1V 1JB
Open 6pm-1am Mon-Wed, Sun; 6pm-2am Thur; 6am-3am Fri, Sat
The Owl & Monkey at The Other House
The Owl & Monkey is the newest stand out go-to place in South Kensington with table-service, dramatic interiors and treetop views. They boast an extensive list of delicious non alcoholic cocktails created by Bar Manager Flavio Russo. You can enjoy them with small sharing plates (think Padron peppers, croquettes and chorizo). All set to the backdrop of curated playlists or DJ’s taking you from early evening to late night
The Other House
19 – 21 Harrington Gardens, London, SW7 4JS
Little Mercies
Up in Crouch End, Little Mercies has been serving tipples to N8 locals since 2018. The mocktail menu is short, sweet and extremely affordable! You can find a non-alcoholic gin and tonic, or a negroni made with campari sugar, bitters, boozeless gin and orange. The gin is actually an in-house alcohol-free “gin,” which the bartenders created with a sugar syrup that did the job of gin without the booze, combining juniper and coriander seed oils, with some lemon, lemongrass, and a few highly concentrated bitter infusions while sugar and citric acid provide stability. It’s the staple of this bar’s non- and low-alcohol offering.
20 Broadway Parade, London, N8 9DE, UK
Wednesday - Sunday, 6pm–12am
Steak and Company
Steak and Company is a collection of modern and accessible steakhouse eateries located in famous spots across central London. With restaurants in the West End; Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, and Kensington. They boast a great range of non-alcoholic drink options that make it an ideal eatery for those partaking in Sober October! The non-alcoholic options on offer include grown-up zero proof versions of a Gin and Elderflower cocktail and Raspberry and Basil sour made with Borrago #47 which is full of natural botanical flavours and smells that creates a complex, dry and flavoursome drink.
Various locations
[ROOTS] Plant Packed Cocktail Bar
A new community cocktail bar laying down roots in Stratford’s East Village. [Roots] is a bustling bar bedecked with plants and boasting a large, heated outdoor terrace that’s perfect for people-watching (and very welcoming of canine companions). From its vertical menu design featuring 0% food waste drinks, to its relaxed, plant-driven interior design, [Roots] invites visitors to explore the botanical, with friendly staff on hand to give advice and make you feel at home. Featuring fresh, innovative, nature-inspired cocktails and a delicious grazing food menu, it’s a great spot in the heart of Stratford.
3-4 West Park Walk, East Village, Stratford, London E201DH
Opening hours:
Friday 5–11:30pm
Saturday 5–11:30pm
Sunday 5–9pm
Monday Closed
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday 5–10pm
Thursday 5–10pm
The Mezzanine At The Stratford
The Mezzanine is a glamorous cocktail lounge found in the beautiful SOM-designed hotel, The Stratford. It’s brought to you by the team behind Chiltern Firehouse and St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. The bar team have previously worked in the likes of Dandelyan, Connaught and the Savoy, and here have focussed on cocktails that were popular in New York between 1930 and 1960. Split into four sections the menu gets a thumbs up for its sustainability effort, with the team getting as close to zero-waste as possible thanks to the repurposed ingredients they create in their on-site lab.
The Stratford Hotel, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, 20 International Way, London, E20 1FD
Opening hours 6pm - midnight, every day.
Cherry Tiger
Cherry Tiger is a relaxed cocktail bar on the top floor of Castle Square that welcomes everyone for a delicious cocktail that’ll tickle your taste buds! Throughout October in celebration of Sober October, Cherry Tiger in Elephant & Castle will be serving special mocktails which include the AF Margarita, AF Enzoni and AF Eastside. The bar is an inclusive space and dog- friendly too! Walk-ins welcome and bookings are also taken.
2nd Floor Castle Square, 40 Elephant Rd, London SE17 1AY
Opening hours: Wednesday-Sunday weekly
Barrio Soho
Soho is London’s party district, and so it comes as no surprise that their alcohol-free cocktails are right up there with the originals. Barrio Soho offers a huge variety of drinks, with non-alcoholic beverages being only £4 each. You’re guaranteed to find something new, whether it be an ice cold, locally sourced beer or their iconic Caipirinha. The Latin-inspired food menu is just another reason to visit this bopping bar, as with their new 80s-themed bottomless brunch every Saturday, it offers the perfect excuse to try their dishes! The delicious drink creations match the opulent interiors, and you will get a real taste of South American partying in the heart of the West End.
6 Poland Street. Soho, London, W1F8PS
Opening hours: 4pm - 1am, Monday - Saturday.
American Bar, The Savoy
As well as being the oldest surviving cocktail bar in Britain, the American Bar at The Savoy ranks second place in the list of the worlds’ 50 best bars. The Savoy Songbook is their menu, which pays homage to legendary artists and songwriters who once entertained guests drinking in the bar. The non-alcoholic cocktails featured in the book champions both Seedlip and Æcorn Aperitifs.Moon Shadow.
The Savoy, The Strand, WC2R 0EZ
Opening hours:
Monday – Tuesday: 12.00pm – 12.00am
Wednesday – Friday: 4.00pm – 12.00am
Saturday: 12.00pm – 12.00am
Sunday: 12.00pm – 10.00pm
thesavoylondon.com
Lyaness
The predecessor to Lyaness, Dandelyan was No.1 on the world's best bar list in 2018. After gaining the coveted title, award-winning bar owner Ryan Chetiyawardana, AKA Mr Lyan, promptly closed Dandelyan to open a stunning new bar with a menu centred around seven core ingredients: Infinite Banana, Purple Pineapple, King Monkey Nut, ONYX, Aromatised Milk Wine, Old Fashioned Whiskey, Ultra Raspberry.
Sea Containers, London, SE1 9PD
Opening times
Monday - Thursday: 5pm-12am
Friday: 4pm-1am
Saturday: 12pm-1am
Sunday: 12pm-11pm
London has it all - the best nightlife, food, drink, events, markets, everything. But how do you keep on top of this? By signing up to receive our blog posts straight to your inbox that's how.