While California may be known for its iconic wine regions and abundance of craft breweries, it is the zero-proof trend that is currently sweeping the Golden State. Since health and wellness are already important facets of the California lifestyle, it comes as no surprise that the sober-curious trend has taken off so quickly throughout the state. Here we look at five of the new alcohol-free offerings throughout California.
New non-alcoholic bottle shops in Los Angeles
Los Angeles has seen several non-alcoholic bottle shops open recently, selling a selection of non-alcoholic spirits, aperitifs, mixers and more. Soft Spirits opened in Silver Lake in October 2021 and Venice’s The New Bar opened in July 2022. New York-based non-alcoholic bottle shop Boisson has also opened new locations in Studio City, Brentwood and San Francisco’s Hayes Valley neighbourhood, with a fourth location expected to open in Beverly Hills soon.
San Francisco’s latest alcohol-free bar, bottle shop and speakeasy
Ocean Beach Cafe recently opened in the Outer Richmond neighbourhood of San Francisco, serving up non-alcoholic craft cocktails, booze-free craft beer, hangover-free wine and more. After taking a year off from drinking alcohol, owner Joshua James was inspired to build a community art cafe to house the largest non-alcoholic beverage selection in the country, conduct regular beach cleanups and show people what a hip lounge feels like when you remove the frequency of alcohol from it. Joshua James also opened an alcohol-free speakeasy in the city called Temperance Bar, which is open by reservation. Guests can find the location of Temperance Bar by visiting Ocean Beach Cafe.
Faux Real Bottle Shop has opened in Los Gatos The City of Los Gatos in Santa Clara County recently welcomed Faux Real Bottle Shop in February 2022, reminding customers that “zero-proof doesn’t mean zero fun.” The bottle shop carries dozens of zero-proof spirits like gin, tequila and rum, non-alcoholic wine and beer, aperitifs and more. Faux Real hosts a “sober hour” from 1 to 3 p.m. every Saturday to encourage sober socialising. All of the products in the shop typically come from small batch, family-owned businesses.
Fresno to welcome first official sober bar in 2023
Bone Dry Sober Bar will be Fresno’s first official sober bar when it opens in 2023 at The Sun Stereo Warehouse. Following a personal epiphany in December 2019, co-founder Ian Landis and his fiancé came up with the idea for opening a sober bar, and began hosting mocktail pop-ups. When it opens, Bone Dry Sober Bar will provide a sober environment where all non-drinking adults can have a place to hangout and socialise, without the influence of alcohol.
The Teetotalist opening in Sacramento in 2023
Sacramento is expected to welcome a zero-proof bar concept called The Teetotalist in 2023, where people can gather, socialise and enjoy a night out in a setting that feels like a bar, but with an alternate beverage menu. The founders of The Teetotalist are currently participating in Downtown Sacramento Foundation’s Calling All Dreamers retail business incubator.
Other ways to enjoy alcohol-free beverages in California
There are many other ways to experience the sober-curious trend firsthand in the state in addition to these brick-and-mortar offerings. For instance, Napa Valley vintner Jake Krausz and his wife Adrienne Stillman Krausz just launched The Dry Goods Beverage Company – an online retail shop for nonalcoholic beverages; companies like Zero Proofed in Los Angeles are hosting non-alcoholic pop-up events; and restaurants are coming up with inventive mocktail menus, like the Nienti Spriti menu at FERRO Restaurant in Idyllwild.
For more information www.visitcalifornia.com
