If there’s one thing Las Vegas isn’t known for, it’s being sober. The adult playground that’s also referred to as Sin City is extravagant, with all night clubs, huge alcoholic beverages, and a culture where hangovers are so bad that there are oxygen rooms meant to help stave them off for another round of drinking.
Nowadays, a lot more people are giving the sober lifestyle a chance, kicking off challenges like Dry January or giving Zero Proof cocktails a try when heading out for the night. Or maybe you’ve been sober for a while. Whoever you are, here’s some suggestions for what to drink for a dry January that will have you feeling so good, you might just be able to stick to that resolution of waking up at 5am.
1. La Cave
This beautiful restaurant located inside the Wynn has several expertly crafted mocktails on their menu, three to be exact. The Espresso Notini has brown sugar syrup, espresso, lemon, and lipseed 94 for an excellent sober take on the popular drink. The Jasmine and Tonic is a floral and sweet-noted mocktail with jasmine tea syrup, yuzu tonic, and juniper berries. Finally, the Orange Tulip has elderflower, blood orange, and grapfruit, all for $14 each.
Where: 3131 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas
2. The Golden Tiki
On the menu of this popular tiki bar are 5 “virgin” tropical cocktails and a shot for people who don’t want to give up tiki drinks. The owner, Brandon Powers, whose mentor was no other than Hunter S. Thompson, giving into the wild feel that Golden Tiki has, whether you’re drunk or not. Their sober libations include the NA Painkiller, with creamy coconut and Lyre’s dark cane topped with grated nutmeg and their Ruby Rains with ruby red grapefruit, cinnamon, lime juice, and ginger bear. They also have a wellness shot called the Salud!
Where: 3939 Spring Mountain Rd, Las Vegas
3. Superfrico
A wonderful choice for a winter-themed cocktail bar, Superfrico resembles an apres-ski lounge right in the heart of the desert. The food pays homage to old world Italian classics with a menu full of their signature square pizzas and their mocktails, called “Soft Stuff” on the menu, include their Gingered Ale, honeycrisp apple Softcore Soda, and their Peter Pieper with white balsamic, passionfruit, pineapple, and black pepper.
Where: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas Level 2, The Chelsea Tower, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas
4. Best Friend by Roy Choi
Head over to the MGM Grand and into Best Friend by celebrity chef, Roy Choi. A mash up of bodega, bar, and restaurant, Best Friend has a menu full of Choi’s greatest hits from his career, remastered for Vegas like the Cowboy Chop which is a 34 oz bone-in ribeye with Gochujang butter, plus an assortment of vegan food at this Korean-Mexican spot. They have a few non-alcoholic slushies on the menu in a variety of flavors and boozeless cocktails to choose from, making this an easy and fun pick.
Where: 3770 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas
5. Aft Cocktail Deck
Mariena Mercer Boarini has been sober for the past several years but is also the lead mixologist for the Wynn, where she crafts cocktails for more than 30 bars on the Strip. As someone who makes sure to highlight zero-proof and NA cocktails, you can rest assured that most, if not all restaurants she crafts for will have some great, signature mocktails to enjoy. Aft, one of the newest bar additions includes an immersive show we won’t spoil the details of, but will highly recommend.
Where: 3121 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas
6. Casa Playa
Another Wynn restaurant that’s cocktail menu is crafted by Mariena, which includes a mocktail to die for. The zero proof Boho Chic has sparkling pink grapefruit, tamarind, mango trinity salt, and lime. Pair it with fresh crudo, like their Kampachi or a main like their Branzino.
Where: 3131 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas
7. Mott 32 Las Vegas
International restaurant chain Mott 32 in the Venetian does excellent Chinese food, some would say some of the best on the Strip. Their drinks are innovative and they offer 2 mocktails, the Jasmine Cooler with lychee, jasmine tea, and orange blossom and their Stonecutters with passion fruit, lemon verbena, miso honey, and plum.
Where: 3325 S Las Vegas Blvd #206, Las Vegas