London: Where To Drink When You’re Not Drinking
Are you going sober for October, a teetotaller, or just want some inspiration to find booze free alternatives? From alcohol-free restaurants to the best cocktail menus, find the most exciting places to drink sans booze in our round-up, compiled with help from the guys at Londonist.
The Connaught, Mayfair
With several alcohol-free sections on the menu, this luxurious hotel and bar offers exciting non-alcoholic beverages for an average of £12 including: The Glossy a drink that comes in a coppery-red hue shade (designed to match the decoration of the bar) and consists of red berry kombucha, milk oolong tea, Amalfi lemon leaf syrup and pink grapefruit juice. Or opt for The Smooth Mover, a refreshing blend of salted cacao coconut water, eucalyptus syrup and lime juice.
Address: Carlos Place, W1K 2AL
Freakshakes at Maxwell’s Covent Garden
Experience Five Guys on steroids at this unabashed American grill. With towering freakshakes created using all the colours of the Pride flag, and enough sugar to give you a booze-free buzz, this place guarantees to show you a vibrant time… and it makes for brilliant Instagram content.
Address: 34 King St, WC2E 8JD
Little Duck Picklery, Soho and Dalston
If pear and celery kombucha or quince and cranberry vinegar sound refreshing, Little Duck Picklery’s Ducksoup in Soho and Little Duck located in Dalston are the best places for you. The non-alcoholic drinks menu offers some of London’s most experimental elixirs. They’ree all seasonal and fermented in-house, too. Check out their Sage and Mountain tea Kombucha, Raspberry Drinking Vinegar or Gooseberry Pisco Sour – guilt free and delicious.
Address: 41 Dean St, W1D 4PY and 68 Dalston Ln, E8 3AH.
Persepolis, Peckham
This legendary Persian corner shop and restaurant offers a BYO policy with drinks on the menu including fragrant Persian tea with cardamom, mango smoothie, and sour cherry juice. The overwhelming array of veggie food, and impeccable service from owner, Sally Butcher, means you won’t miss the wine.
Address: 28–30 Peckham High St, SE15 5DT
Govinda’s, Soho
If Soho is more your scene, veggie restaurant Govinda’s is part of the Radha-Krishna Temple, which belongs to the Hare Krishna spiritual movement. You’ll often see and hear them banging their
mridanga drums outside. With a predominantly Indian menu (daals, paneers), Govinda’s is the perfect place for a warm ambience and great non-alcoholic beverages (try the barley coffee).
Address: 9–10 Soho St, W1D 3DL
The Permit Room at Dishoom, Kensington
The Bombay era is reincarnated at Dishoom’s Permit Room in Kensington. If you’re into hardcore traditional cocktails juleps and the like, this place is for you. But the restaurant also offers a ‘Dry Tipples’ menu for sober alternatives. And they’re pretty damn delicious, too.
Address: 7 Boundary St, E2 7JE
The Book Club, Shoreditch
Who would have thought this bar with a raucous reputation would cater for those going booze free? Offering an entire zero proof and low alcohol menu, Sipmith’s range of imitation ‘spirits’ help formulate the majority of the cocktails. Try the Nojito for a surprising spicy kick or the soothing Sage-In cocktail with the miracle herb, plus plum and ginger.
Address: 100–106 Leonard St, EC2A 4RH
Gelupo – late night ice-cream
Not drink per se, but certainly a good alternative to a pint. Gelupo in Soho opens until late (12pm on a Friday and 11pm any other night) with a menu that changes daily, serving up highly unusual gelato flavours including roasted plum and avocado. The taste sensations are guaranteed to take your mind off the pint you’re craving. Their deli-inspired flavours bring the soul of Sicily to London – why not try swapping after work drinks to after work ice-cream?
Address: 7 Archer St, W1D 7AU
- List compiled by Londonist contributor Laura Reynolds
- Londonist Drinks: A Spirited Guide to London Libation (AA Publishing, £16.99) is out now and available by clicking here
