Tamarind Mate Cooler at Mr. Melo in Williamsburg Tamarind Mate Cooler at Mr. Melo in Williamsburg
As a person who prefers to be sober or is curious about a sober lifestyle, going out in the town can lose its allure when faced with limited options like plain water or soda. And although many might suggest simply asking for a drink without alcohol. It’s only fair to retort with, “Why aren’t there delightful beverages specifically crafted without alcohol?” Fortunately, one city has clearly heard these prayers.
Despite its vibrant nightlife scene and abundance of world-class bars, a recent study by the Boca Recovery Center has named New York City the top destination for sober-curious travelers in the US.
By analyzing data from Yelp and Google Search Trends, this ranking was determined based on factors such as the number of sobriety-related searches in the 200 most populated cities in the country, the availability of non-alcoholic activities, the density of bars, and the offerings of mocktails. The statistics show that NYC has the highest number of mentions of zero-proof cocktails on Yelp and is in second place for the most sober activities.
Mocktails have truly come a long way. No longer are they simply haphazard combinations of overly sweet juices and unimpressive sodas. Today’s mocktail creations are carefully crafted delights that rival their alcoholic counterparts in quality.
So where should you go to enjoy these meticulously crafted drinks? There’s the fully zero-proof Hekate Café and Elixir Lounge in the East Village, a funky and intimate sober bar with a seasonal menu and classic favorites like margaritas, hot toddies, and cold brew martinis. But even top cocktail bars in the city are getting on board with the non-alcoholic trend. Check out Mr. Melo in Williamsburg for their Tamarind Mate Cooler (featuring tamarind, chai, and yerba mate), Nowon in Bushwick and the East Village for its K-Pop Punch (with horchata, hibiscus, pineapple, citrus, almond, and cinnamon) or Dew Drop (lavender, yuzu, juniper), and Nubeluz in NoMad for its Firefly (a zero-proof bourbon blend with saffron, Thai basil, Thai chili tincture, and tonic).
Beyond NYC, this study found that Newark, New Jersey, and Jersey City, New Jersey, rank second and third among the most sober-friendly destinations in the US for travelers. If you’re looking to avoid bars altogether, Laredo, Texas, and Salinas, California have the fewest bars per state, while Glendale, California, has the highest number of outdoor and indoor sober activities.
As we witness this shift in the drinking culture, where people are drinking less, take this as proof that having a sober night out doesn’t have to mean your taste buds are bored to death.
