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12 Bars for Nonalcoholic Cocktails in LA

Now this is a 2022 trend we want to stick around! Do you ever want to have a cocktail but don't really want the alcohol? It's becoming popular and you aren't alone. Eater put together a list of 12 yummy non-alcoholic cocktails in LA.

1.Otium

222 S Hope St

Los Angeles, CA 90012

The flavorful New American dishes coming out of chef Timothy Hollingsworth’s gleaming open kitchen have been drawing in diners since late 2015. Whether you stop in to relax after a day at the adjacent The Broad museum, or make it part of a night out in downtown LA, you’re going to want a light, refreshing sip that complements the modern space and menu. Try the Seedlip Grove cocktail, which mingles Seedlip Grove 42 with yuzu honey, Meyer lemon, and sparkling water. It’s served in a coupe glass and topped with dehydrated lemon.

2.Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills

8555 Beverly Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90048

The glam hotel lounge is back and there’s no better place to dip your toe in the nightlife waters than at this looker in Beverly Grove with crushed velvet sofas and a full lineup of entertainment. Let the No-groni cocktail charm you with its beguiling combo of Seedlip Spice 94, verjus rouge, tea with hints of cinnamon, orange, wormwood, and vanilla. It’s the perfect drink to go with the evening’s events, which runs from Monday jazz night to Wednesday salsa night to Thursday drag show. Friday and Saturday nights are when DJ Annie Sollange turns up the volume with a live DJ set.

3.Cassia

1314 7th St

Santa Monica, CA 90401

There’s a California sensibility to the Southeast Asian leaning menu from husband-and-wife culinary duos Bryant and Kim Ng and Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan. Expect to chow down on dishes like whole grilled sea bass and raw spicy scallops in the modern, airy dining room. And for a booze-free drink option, try the Garden Gimlet, served in a Schotts Zwiesel martini glass. It’s the perfect foil, with the herby hints of rosemary, thyme, and spearmint from Seedlip Garden 108 and plenty of lime. 

4.Malibu Beach Inn

22878 Pacific Coast Hwy

Malibu, CA 90265

While the Malibu oceanside view (from inside the dining room or out on the patio) steals the show at the inn’s Carbon Beach Club restaurant and bar, there’s plenty to grab your attention on the food menu, like the croquettes made with potato truffle puree and creamy brie. And for drinks, you can still enjoy a light, sophisticated-looking cocktail without the booze with the Violetta. The drink gets bright lavender notes from a violet syrup, some herby tang from Seedlip Garden 108, and bubbles from club soda. It’s topped with lemon zest and edible flowers for panache.

5.Scratch Bar & Kitchen

16101 Ventura Blvd #255

Encino, CA 91436

The “scratch” in the 22-seat Encino restaurant’s name is taken seriously at the spot helmed by chefs Phillip Frankland Lee and Margarita Kallas-Lee. And it’s not just the food that gets the by-hand treatment, the drinks do too — including the nonalcoholic ones. Take the Pom Star, an earthy combination of house-made hibiscus grenadine, house-fermented pomegranate vinegar, and fresh lime juice with cardamom spice sprinkled on top. Reservations are scarce and Scratch is only open from Wednesday through Sunday, so plan ahead for this one.

6.Death & Co.

818 E 3rd St

Los Angeles, CA 90013

Slip into the speakeasy vibe, even if you’re skipping the liquor, at this dark and sultry cocktail den. The proper cocktail menu is organized by flavor profiles, like “fresh and lively” or “elegant and timeless,” and the expert bartenders will whip up something nonalcoholic using whatever cues you provide. For something on the bright side, try the refreshing Buko Gimlet, made with Seedlip Garden 108, coconut water, pandan syrup, and fresh lime. With a menu of bites that run from savory (buttermilk fried chicken) to sweet (olive oil cake), it’s a downtown destination with legs.

7.Eataly

10250 Santa Monica Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90067

It’s hard to stop at Eataly for lunch or dinner without picking up some top-notch olive oil or dried pasta from the mother country. Those kinds of simple but high-quality ingredients are the same you’ll find at its rooftop perch Terra, whether you’re having food from the wood-burning grill, drinks, or both. The booze-free strawberry grove spritz is an elegant affair that melds Seedlip Grove 42, house-made strawberry syrup, lemon juice, and soda water — it’s the perfect beverage to toast to the rooftop views.

8.The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills

1020 N San Vicente Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069

Make an evening of it at this West Hollywood hotel, even if you’re not spending the night. Start things off on a balanced note with the London Sour, which gets a bit of sweetness from apple juice, a bright touch from lemon juice, and herbal accents from Seedlip Garden 108 and fresh rosemary and thyme. It’s available at the hotel’s clubby Boxwood restaurant, where you can order up dishes such as skirt steak with chimichurri sauce and mushroom risotto. Or, take it at the light-filled Lobby Bar and Sitting Room that transforms into a twinkling space at night.

9.El Cid

4212 Sunset Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90029

There are a lot of good reasons to have El Cid in Silver Lake on your “for a good time” short list. There’s the flamenco show every Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and the delish Spanish tapas and food (patatas bravas, croquettes de chorizo, paella), sure. And then there’s the pitch-perfect Valencia, in which mint and lime are muddled like a mojito — the alcohol-free drink is tied together by herby hints of rosemary, thyme, and spearmint in Seedlip’s Garden 108, lime juice, and a little simple syrup.

10.The West Hollywood EDITION

9040 Sunset Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90069

The primo spot to relax and refresh at this West Hollywood hotel is on The Roof where you can sip Latin-inspired cocktails while eyeing the view. Like the Pink Lady: the pretty drink sets the night alight with a pleasant jolt from its mix of Seedlip Spice 94 (with its aromatic blend of allspice and cardamom), a hint of sweetness from strawberry, bite from Fresno chili, and a yuzu citrus tang. Get it with the crab nachos and super green Caesar salad for a perfect night out under the stars.

11.Employees Only

7953 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90046

This West Hollywood cocktail hot spot is beloved for its gorgeous, sippable cocktails. Thankfully, its nonalcoholic concoctions show the same attention to detail and flavor-forward approach as the boozy ones. Take the Tropikal Fizz — made with citrusy Seedlip Grove 42, pineapple juice, lemon juice, lime juice, egg white, and a little soda water — served in a Collins glass and garnished with the housemade honey pineapple ice. Your munchies are taken care of here too, especially via the taco Tuesday collaboration with the popup Metzli Taqueria.

7984 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90046

12.Laurel Hardware

7984 Santa Monica Blvd

West Hollywood, CA 90046

Out on the town in West Hollywood and want the non-alcoholic version of the cocktail your friend is having? Order up the virgin Gangster at this looker of a spot and get the herbal Seedlip Garden 108 as your base (instead of its usual cucumber vodka), with freshly juiced watermelon and lime for a pretty pink cocktail with a hint of fruity bite and a cucumber garnish. The patio (with plenty of heaters to cut any chill) features leafy trees and is especially charming with fairy lights at night, but you’ll feel equally at home in the sleek industrial-leaning interior.


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