HiFi at the Finn is one of the many Houston bars utilizing zero-proof spirits to bring mocktails to their menus.
It’s that time of year when many Houstonians are working hard to stick to their 2026 resolutions. A big one people often start the year with: Dry January. The wellness trend challenges people to go sober for 31 days, which can be an especially helpful reset if your family likes to fill the holiday season with booze.
Fortunately, Houston has an abundance of bars and restaurants that support locals in staying committed to their goals, month after month. Whether you’re living a sober lifestyle, dabbling in a sober-curious journey, or participating in the post-holiday trend this year, here are spots with mocktails worth checking out.
River Oaks
Rather than pairing your sushi rolls or nigiri with a boozy cocktail, opt for one of Azumi’s $14 zero-proof concoctions. The Matcha Colada combines matcha, coconut, pineapple, and lime for a tropical vibe, while the Boketta offers an earthy combination of distilled nonalcoholic spirit Seedlip Garden, jasmine green tea, cucumber, and yuzu.
Best Regards puts a lot of thought into its mocktails.
heights
For a sober night on the town, head to Best Regards for its $14 mocktails. Try the fruity coffee-based Berry by the Book, which blends the citrus-forward Seedlip Grove 42 with Slowpokes cold brew and vanilla blackberry cold foam. Other highlights include Dry Agenda, agave and cucumber-flavored Seedlip mixed with guava, fresh grapefruit juice, papaya, and strawberry; and the Root Cause made with fresh ginger. Feeling hungry? Order from the Deductions food menu, which features calorie-friendly, protein-rich plates of empanadas, carne asada rice, and tuna wonton tacos.
Sip on a mocktail at Brennan’s of Houston’s Courtyard Bar.
Midtown
This Creole restaurant’s Courtyard Bar offers alcohol-free fun with a thoughtful zero-proof menu that includes blueberry mojitos and blackberry basil mocktails made with Ritual nonalcoholic spirits ($12); a Nogroni featuring Ritual Gin ($15); sparkling cranberry-apple drinks ($10); and a ginger pear beverage made with lemon juice and cinnamon sugar ($10).
Montrose
The brick-and-mortar flagship of this West African restaurant elevates its drink offerings with a range of spirits and cocktails that tap into the diaspora. “Refreshers” include the fizzy Gold Coast Limeade, a sweet and sparkling mix of pineapple, lime, mango, and ginger; the Cape Town Cooler, a pucker-worthy blend of guava, lemon, and grapefruit; and the Oga Palmer (African hibiscus tea and lemonade).
washington corridor
This cocktail bar is partnering with ZoZo Fresh cold-pressed juices to introduce a lineup of $12 mocktails. Go bold with the Obsidian that mixes ZoZo’s Charcoal Kickoff with strawberry and lemon; try Golden Hour, which features beet juice and ginger beer; or the Elder Red, a calming mix of Seedlip, elderberry, chamomile, and lavender. Those in need of a boost can sip on a Nightcap, a flavorful blend of cacao nut milk, cold brew, and a touch of cardamom.
Have a seat at Guard and Grace’s bar for creative mocktails this Dry January and beyond.
downtown
Diners at this Downtown steakhouse can enjoy nonalcoholic drinks crafted with fresh flavors, thoughtful pairings, and creative flair. There’s the Zero Mule ($16), a play on a Moscow Mule; the Italia-No ($16), a zero-proof version of a Negroni; the Desert Oasis ($12), made with black tea and pomegranate; and the Tropical Tango ($12), a mix of coconut, pineapple, lime, and ginger beer.
kemah
There are few places more experimental for a memorable mocktail than this restaurant and cocktail lounge, owned by the chef described as “the Willy Wonka of Food.” David Skinner and his team make all the syrups, liquors, wines, juices, and purees in-house, meaning you’re guaranteed to get a one-of-a-kind beverage. Plus the bartender is never above making you a drink according to your preferences—in fact, it’s encouraged. Eculent’s Liquid Lab features an app that lets diners create their own concoctions by adding ingredients of choice. If it’s a hit, they’ll name the drink after you and feature it on the menu.
HiFi at the Finn is ready to help you reach your goals with its mocktails.
downtown
HiFi at the Finn is ready to prove that its zero-proof drinks can be just as memorable as their alcohol counterparts. The full lineup features the Tang, Tang, Taaang, a housemade tangerine soda infused with Cut Above tequila; the No Speed Limit with Pathfinder Hemp & Root and Cut Above whiskey; and the Pine the Time Away, a blend of pineapple, ginger, agave, lime, and No Sec liqueur. Thanks to a partnership between Southern Smoke Foundation and Cut Above Zero-Proof Spirits, $1 from each of the bar’s signature mocktails made with Cut Above will be donated to SSF.
For a refreshing sip, order the Watermelon Fresca at Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge.
midtown
Have fun without the booze with one of Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge’s four thirst-quenching $10 mocktails. Tequila fans can get their fill with the Watermelon Fresca, made with the zero-proof Cut Above Agave Blanco tequila and lime. For something fruitier, order the Peach Blossom (peach puree and lemon juice) or the 9 Out of 10 (strawberry puree, orgeat, and lime). For bubbles: The Botanical Crown is an exciting mix of honey, Topo Chico, and the nonalcoholic spirit Empress 1908 0.0. Similar to HiFi at the Finn, $1 from each of the bar’s signature mocktails with Cut Above will be donated to SSF.
The Rice & Shine and Laguna at Moon in Uptown are great alcohol alternatives.
uptown
While the cocktails here are all the rage, Moon has $10 mocktails worth drinking year-round. The Familiar Tides plays on one of the bar’s signature tequila cocktails, incorporating salted pineapple and lime topped with cilantro salt foam. Fans of coconut water will love the Laguna, which infuses the electrolyte-loaded beverage with Garam Masala and cacao nibs. Order the Verjuice (grapefruit soda and red verjus) if you love a good paloma, or opt for the Rice & Shine for a savory sip made with toasted rice, pineapple, and lapsang (a smoky tea).
Trade wine, martinis, and cocktails for afternoon tea at the Marigold Club.
montrose
Wine, martinis, and cocktails are top tier at the Marigold Club, but their mocktails deserve some recognition, too. All of the booze-free drinks made with nonalcoholic spirit Seedlip will be $12 through January and will feature a bevy of unique flavors. Get in tune with your green thumb with the Secret Garden (botanical distillate and olive), or choose something more fruit-forward with the Chelsea Bloom, a bright blend of citrus, cranberry, and lime. For bubbles, order the Somerset Spritz (soda, agave distillate, and lime), and for something more wintry, try the Windsor Fire (allspice distillate, grapefruit, and lemon). Want something that will warm you up? Try Marigold Club’s afternoon tea for two, which includes a selection of teas, including Earl Grey, Siam basil lemongrass, and the Swiss Institute, made with eucalyptus and chamomile.
Hang out at PKL Social for a little pickleball mixed into your Dry January.
washington corridor
This pickleball spot is the ultimate destination for Houstonians who want to work out more this year without sacrificing their social life, and it’s got the pickleball courts and $11 mocktails to prove it. Trade in your traditional Paloma for the nonalcoholic Pa”no”ma (Cut Above Agave Blanco, grapefruit, lime, and agave), or a michelada for the Miche-Nada. The margaritas won’t disappoint—the spicy mezcal margarita is a tantalizing mix of Cut Above mezcal, lime, pineapple, and agave, garnished with slices of jalapeño. Nonalcoholic beers, coffee, and energy drinks are also available.
second ward
This “unapologetically” Thai restaurant, by James Beard Award–winning chef Benchawan Jabthong Painter, does not compromise on its spice levels, but when it comes to mocktails, it aims to match your mood. Co-owner Graham Painter, who is also Chef G’s husband, prides himself on concocting a list of beverages for every diner, including those who prefer booze-free offerings. If you decide you’re forgoing the alcohol, tell them the flavors you like or the mood you’re in, and wait for the bartender’s sippable interpretation. The Thai iced tea here is also phenomenal and a must to quell the heat.
montrose
Traveler’s Cart and its sister restaurant, Traveler’s Table, are known to make alcohol-free versions of nearly every cocktail on offer, but the options don’t stop there. Prepared to be wooed by the Prickly by Nature. Made with Ritual tequila, prickly pear syrup, lemon juice, and soda, this no-frills colonche-style drink is served in an endearing plastic bag with a straw, further evoking the restaurant’s street-market theme. Diners can also try the Free-Spirited Cuba, a nonalcoholic passion fruit mango mojito made with Ritual rum.