After the excesses of the festive period, for many there follows the period of abstinence now known as Dry January. An admirable challenge indeed, and one which your liver and other organs will probably thank you for in the long run.
Whether it’s a single, signature mocktail, low/no alcohol beers or an entire non-alcoholic wine flight, there are alternatives to booze all across the city and beyond.
Peru Perdu
Princess Street’s South American spot Peru Perdu is announcing an entire ‘No and Lo Cócteles’ menu, so that means that all its classic cocktails have been reimagined without the alcohol.
Try the no-alcohol Chinoa Picante - Three Spirit Livener, Everleaf Forest, scotch bonnet syrup, passionfruit and vanilla, or the ‘micro alcohol’ Lavender and Coconut, with micro Eminente rum, pineapple and citrus.
74 Princess St, Manchester M1 6JD
Read more: The 15 best restaurants in Manchester
Blinker
Heading into a dedicated cocktail bar might seem like heading into the lion’s den, but Blinker has got you. Its one signature cocktail, The Blinker, is available in non-alcoholic form, while it has a whole section on its menu dedicated to non-alcoholic serves, from the cinnamon martini to the ‘Zero Americano’.
64-72 Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 2BQ
Schofield’s Bar
Another lion’s den situation, but sibling bar runners Joe and Daniel Schofield offer their ‘Temperance Menu’, with a host of clean and serene cocktails to choose from. Try the Club Tropicana, with pineapple, passion fruit, Earl Grey, orange flower water and lemon, or the Dove, with rose, pink grapefruit and lime.
3 Little Quay Street Sunlight House, Manchester M3 3JZ
The Alchemist
All of the Alchemists across town offer up the same, pretty extensive non-alcoholic cocktail menu, with a very respectable range on offer. The Marmalade features the bar chain’s own orange marmalade with soda, citrus and a splash of Everleaf Forest, the no alcohol aperitif. Or there’s the new CBD Spritz, with Goodrays Raspberry & Guava Seltz, disco grenadine, watermelon foam and a CBD gummy.
Alchemist bars on New York Street, Spinningfields and Media City
Where The Light Gets In
One of the best restaurants in the region - if not the country - Stockport’s Where The Light Gets In caters admirably for those not in the market for booze but definitely in the market for Michelin-standard cooking. While you can’t know what’s on the menu until you get there (they don’t have one), the non-alcoholic drinks pairing includes a range of wines, ferments and bespoke juices.
7 Rostron Brow, Stockport SK1 1JY
Science & Industry
While it may be one of the city’s go-to cocktail spots, Science & Industry never leaves the non-drinker behind. Each of its menu sections - past, present and future - features a well conceived, perfectly executed no or low abv cocktail, with its the Old Man and The Sea (Sea Arch juniper spirit, ocean syrup, grapefruit juice) or the Temperance Tea-Ni (Lyres Rose Spirit, raspberry and nettle syrup, lemon, agave).
49, 51 Thomas St, Manchester M4 1NA
Hawksmoor
Almost literally grabbing Dry January by the horns - presuming you throw a steak in too - the mocktail menu at Hawksmoor is a cracker. Try a Sour Cherry ‘Nogroni’, with Tanqueray 0% gin, bitters and sour cherries, or its very own homemade pineapple soda. There are also a wide range of kombuchas, a sparkling darjeeling and low/no abv beers.
184 - 186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB
Zouk
As well as its fantastic Indian and Pakistani menu, Zouk prides itself on its mocktails, leaning heavily on the mojitos of various stripes, but also daiquiris, a virgin pina colada, a watermelon crush and a berry-tini, not to mention its lassis, which come sweet or salted.
The Quadrangle, Chester St, Manchester M1 5QS
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