Dandelyan Bar on Southbank | Courtesy of Georgina at Gerber Comms
In a city that’s renowned for its cocktail bars and pubs, it would seem going teetotal may prove a slight challenge. However, we’ve rounded up the best spots for boozeless beverages, so you can enjoy some of the best mocktails in London, and no need to worry about battling a hangover the next morning.
The appropriately named Redemption bar in Old Street specialises in alcohol-free drinks, costing just £5–£7 per beverage. The mouthwatering menu boasts a variety of fresh concoctions including a Crantini with cranberry and orange juice and a Raspberry Royale with raspberry puree and rose essence, as well as a slightly more extravagant (and picture-worthy) activated charcoal martini. Redemption also offers distilled mocktails using Seedlip, a non-alcoholic spirit, priced at a very reasonable £6.50 each – perfect if you want a midweek drink without the morning-after headache.
The botany-inspired cocktail bar located at Southbank’s Mondrian hotel was named World’s Best Cocktail Bar in 2017 and Bar of the Year in 2018 for its eclectic and brave drinks menu, featuring some delicious alcohol-free options. Dandelyan’s unique cocktail menu has a plant biology theme running throughout and many of the wild drinks are available without alcohol such as the Canon Cosmo, Goose & Gander and Air Raid – so you can still enjoy Dandelyan’s award-winning flavour combinations. Enjoy your botanical beverage in the luxurious bar which has a slightly formal feel to it and surrounded by the incredible bar staff that whip up any cocktail or mocktail on (or off) the menu.
If you’re detoxing, make sure you head to The Permit Room underneath Dishoom in King’s Cross, as their divine selection of teetotal beverages will not disappoint. Sip away the night on a dry martini or dry Old Fashioned from the menu, or if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, opt for a Virtuous Tulsi Sour containing aromas of juniper, ginger, lemon, holy basil and other botanicals. The bar is inspired by Bombay’s Prohibition era, a time when the public needed a licence to drink alcohol based on “medical” grounds. The Permit Room is decorated with heavy dark wooden panelling and dim mood-lighting – the perfect vibe for a sophisticated evening drink.
Prepare to be transported back in time – to the 1920s, specifically – at Nightjar’s speakeasy bar, featuring candlelit tables, decorative cocktails and soothing jazz music. Located in the heart of Shoreditch, this spot is great for winding down for an evening and perfect for anyone looking for a drink, be it alcoholic or booze-free. If you want something refreshing, try Nightjar’s Wolverine non-alcoholic cocktail, which consists of Seedlip, apple and rhubarb juice, passionberry, pennyroyal syrup and bitter lemon tonic. The venue operates a no-standing policy, so channel your inner Gatsby and make a booking for this fabulous East London find.
If you’re a lover of a good cuppa, The Trafalgar Dining Room’s non-alcoholic tea-tails might just be to your tasting. They offer three in particular: a berry tea, black tea and a matcha tea as great alternatives to their signature cocktails. Enjoy your refreshing guilt-free tipple with fabulous views of Trafalgar Square, as you sit in the bar of the Trafalgar, St James hotel.
