Jamie RamsayWhen I was a teen, mocktails were just sweeter versions of cocktails. Some would even taste and look like a typical orange juice—one that would let you look too boring to party.
Good thing Vancouver didn’t just adapt with the rising demand of spirit-free drinks, some bars have gotten more creative. They even use cocktail glassware, you won’t even know if I’m sipping on a mocktail, until you try it yourself!
So if you’re cutting back on alcohol, but don’t want to miss the next party, here’s a list of the bars that offer the best mocktails in town. It’s time to celebrate all night, minus tomorrow’s hangover!
1. Carlino
Media credit: @beautifullyvivi
Website: http://www.carlinorestaurant.com/
Address: 1115 Alberni St #3F, Vancouver, BC V6E 1A5
Contact Details: +1 604-695-1115
Operating Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM; Friday – Saturday: 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM
We wanted to celebrate a recent promotion at work but couldn’t afford a hangover on a Wednesday night, so we knew we’re just getting mocktails for the night. And since Shangri-La Hotel is just around the corner, we decided to try the mocktails at Carlino.
Here, you get that European-lounge vibe, which is totally intimate and cozy. So if you want to dress up a little, it’s a great spot to do so.
The first mocktail that the waiter recommended was the Amalfi Spritz—it’s a grown up version of your usual soda and lime.
If you want to up your European gaming, we suggest getting the rosemary and grapefruit mocktail. It was so good that we had to double check if there’s no alcohol in our drink.
The best part is that this restaurant has a Michelin star, so don’t miss out on their food while you’re here. We loved their bruschetta, ricotta cheese salad with apple slices, and their famous gnocchi pasta.
Pro tip:
Avoid going on Friday and Saturday if you prefer a less crowd. Otherwise, make sure to call ahead to get a reservation so you won’t have to wait for hours during those days.
2. PiDGiN
Media credit: @fridacamposmar
Website: https://www.pidginvancouver.com/
Address: 350 Carrall St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2J3
Contact Details: +1 604-620-9400
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Since 2013, PiDGiN has been curating mocktail drinks even before the zero-proof beverage scene started in Vancouver.
Here, you’re not just going to try an alcohol-free alternative, you can also get a good food pairing experience out of their mocktail lineup. Yes, they curate their plates and pair it with layered and complex taste from your drink.
Currently, their non-alcoholic menu has a good mix of sparkling, mocktails, including zero-proof beer and wine!
Of course, since we wanted to explore different flavors, we opted for their mocktails. One of their bestsellers is the Bubble Gum, which has the magic purple tea, lemon, egg, and rhubarb syrup.
Aside from their mocktails, PiDGiN is also known for their Asian and West Coast fusion dishes. So it’s really the best spot if you want to explore your next dining experience.
3. SUYO
Media credit: @cheers_me_up
Website: http://www.suyo.ca/
Address: 3475 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5V 3M9
Contact Details: +1 604-322-1588
Operating Hours: Monday – Saturday: 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM
For pregnant women who need a little breather—or in this case, a glass to help melt your worries, well there’s SUYO for you. After all, our preggy friends were the sole reason why this bar explored the non-alcoholic options.
This bar also has a refreshing tropical vibe, complete with fern and palm wall prints, perfect if you want to hit the refresh button.
We loved how thoughtful SUYO is for creating a drink that has bold and bitter flavors–one that you won’t be able to find from the usual mocktails you see in the market.
This makes them a great spot for heavy drinkers, who either need to tone it down a little or those who just can’t drink alcohol as of the moment.
Well, this is what we get from dealing with the 2023 Michelin Guide Exceptional Cocktails Award winner! Thanks to Max Curzon-Price, our mocktail-gaming is catching up too.
Pro tip:
Try pairing your mocktails with a comforting dish, and order their octopus anticucho and duck rice.
4. The Acorn
Media credit: @acornvancouver
Website: http://www.theacornrestaurant.ca/
Address: 3995 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5V 3P3
Contact Details: +1 604-566-9001
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 5:30 PM – 11:00 PM; Saturday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:30 PM – 11:00 PM
When you’re following a strict diet plan, it could be challenging whenever your friends invite you out for a couple of drinks. But that won’t be the case here in The Acorn.
We’re happy that we just found a vegetarian and vegan restaurant that serves non-alcoholic drinks that surprisingly pair well with their dishes.
We initially thought that their mocktails were just a ‘clean’ version of the original cocktail, but we’re surprised to see a curated list of beverages. In fact, this bar even utilizes seasonal ingredients, which makes it more interesting.
What’s great about them is that they considered the different drinking profiles of their patrons by offering both bitter and citrusy non-alcoholic drinks.
Since we’re fans of citrusy and herby drinks, we tried their Respect Your Elderflower mocktail, a zero-proof gin infused with elderflower cordial, fresh lime juice, herbs, and black wolf berry.
Pro tip:
Consider visiting the place on a Tuesday or Wednesday. This is when the bar staff is less busy at The Acorn, allowing them to be more experimental on your mocktail drinks.
5. Botanist
Media credit: @botanistdining
Website: https://www.botanistrestaurant.com/
Address: 1038 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC V6C 0B9
Contact Details: +1 604-695-5500
Operating Hours: Monday: 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM; Tuesday – Saturday: 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM, 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM; Sunday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM
When someone says premium or high-end dining and drinking experience, the Botanist in Vancouver will surely pop into our minds. And yes, even if you’re a non-drinker, FOMO won’t be a thing here in this restaurant, as they’ve curated mocktails for you too!
Because of the tropical plants and its pastel interiors, we normally recommend this restaurant to our chic and sophisticated friends. For us, it’s also a great spot for brunch meetings as the place bathes in natural light.
The mocktails here don’t even look like their non-alcoholic beverages. Personally, I never wanted to feel left out whenever I’m ordering a spirit-free alternative, so their inclusive menu was really impressive.
They even offer mocktails that cater to different taste profiles. So even if you prefer a smoky drink, then you can still enjoy it without the hangover.
And oh, you’ll love that they use laser-cut ice cubes in your cocktails. These ice cubes melt slowly, making your drink feel more elevated (don’t forget to take a photo before taking a sip!).
Pro tip:
If you prefer a smoky and earthy mocktail, order the Heartwood. This drink is made with birch water and a smoked tea syrup, enhanced with tea, cedar, and a rosemary garnish.
6. Gotham Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar
Media credit: @gothamvancouver
Website: http://www.gothamsteakhouse.com/
Address: 615 Seymour St, Vancouver, BC V6B 3K3
Contact Details: +1 604-605-8282
Operating Hours: Monday, Saturday: 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM; Tuesday – Friday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM; Sunday: 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Because of the rising demand for spirit-free beverages around Vancouver, Gotham Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar decided to offer mocktails too. In fact, they’ve been able to attract the younger crowd who want to explore their bar.
You’ll love that they don’t just create a spirit-free alternative for you. They also make sure to play on different ingredients, and make these drinks visually attractive.
We love that they even use sophisticated glassware, which will really make you think twice if you ordered the non-alcoholic alternative.
If you’re here during summer, don’t miss out on their refreshing mocktail drink called the Caribbean Fizz, perfect if you love pineapple and lime flavors with a hint of egg white.
Another thing that we liked about this cocktail bar is that they offer low-alcohol alternatives, so if someone from your group prefers a light buzz, you can ask your bartender about this drink.
Pro tip:
Gotham Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar is a great place to watch live jazz or acoustic performances. Make sure to follow their social media pages to check their live music schedules.
7. Fable Kitchen
Media credit: @fablekitchen
Website: https://fablekitchen.ca/
Address: 1944 W 4th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6J 1M5
Contact Details: +1 604-732-1322
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM; Saturday – Sunday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
There’s a steady growth of health-conscious people around Kitsilano, so we’re lucky that Fable Kitchen has started to offer quality zero-proof spirits such as mocktails around the place.
This isn’t not your typical sweet drink alternative, as they really make sure to balance all the flavors in your mocktail. Here, they really make sure to use less syrup, so if you’re on a diet, then this is great news for you!
We tried their Blood Orange No-groni, which has the blood orange aperitif, undone Italian bitter type vermouth, and a pinch of orange zest as garnish.
They stay creative by serving this using an old-fashioned glass, so you’d still feel like you’re drinking an alcoholic beverage.
You can also visit this restaurant if you love to have a farm-to-table dining experience. We even enjoyed watching their busy working staff in their open kitchen.
Pro tip:
Fable Kitchen creates their own hot sauce which comes in three heat levels. Consider asking for a small amount of each hot sauce if you’re still unsure of which level to get.
8. El Camino’s
Media credit: @elcaminos
Website: http://www.elcaminos.ca/
Address: 3250 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5V 3M6
Contact Details: +1 604-875-6246
Operating Hours: Monday – Wednesday: 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM; Thursday – Friday: 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM; Saturday: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM; Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Since we’re already eating better food, our mocktails should be able to match that elevated experience—and that’s one of the main reasons why El Camino’s improved their mocktail selection.
What’s great about this bar is that their mocktail menu isn’t too overwhelming. This will allow you to really try their best selling mocktails, instead of choosing an ordinary one.
For first time mocktail drinkers out there, the bartender will probably recommend their most refreshing spirit-free drink which is the one with fresh raspberries, lime, and a ginger syrup.
Pro tip:
If you’re looking for a refreshing mocktail drink, especially during summer, consider trying El Camino’s non-alcoholic rum punch. This drink has all the citrusy flavors of lime, lemon, grapefruit, orange, and pineapple topped with cherry and mint.
9. Five Sails Restaurant
Media credit: @fivesailsvancouver
Website: https://glowbalgroup.com/five-sails/
Address: 999 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC V6C 3E1
Contact Details: +1 604-844-2855
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: 11:30 AM – 12:00 AM
Drinking mocktails in the middle of summer just hits different when there’s a great view of the ocean—and that’s why we love going to Five Sails Restaurant.
Aside from the waters, you can also get to see Stanley Park, Coal Harbour, and the Lion’s Gate Bridge from here. Even before we got our drink, the stunning views offered us something refreshing.
We often go here whenever we crave for their West Coast-inspired menu. Not to mention that they always use the freshest and locally-sourced ingredients, so even if we arrive late at night, everything we ordered still tasted fresh.
Moreover, Five Sails has been named as one of Canada’s top fine dining restaurants, so if you want to impress your date, you can take them here.
In fact, they only use premium spirits for both their cocktails and mocktails. They even offer a beverage program curated by the best sommeliers in town.
Pro tip:
Remember to follow Five Sails Restaurant business casual dress code, no matter when you visit.
