Visit a new dry bar or bottle shop across the South and experience a budding nonalcoholic beverage movement
Once upon a time, if you wanted to “go out for a drink,” that meant boozing it up. These days, the menu has expanded exponentially: Two in five American adults now claim to be cutting back on alcohol, while 38 percent don’t drink at all. The market has seen a surge of options in recent years including botanical infusions, CBD sodas, adaptogenic drinks, dealcoholized wines, and more.
Where, then, can a thirsty soul go to not only find zero-proof elixirs but to also gather with like-minded revelers who value wellness and clear thinking? Dry bars and shops are cropping up around the world, including here in the South. All but one of the following establishments (The Mule) is a completely alcohol-free zone where folks in recovery can be assured sanctuary and freedom from temptation. To find more sober-friendly and dry bars near you, go to soberbarsnearme.com
Killjoy
Nashville, Tennessee
After quitting alcohol on her 40th birthday, Stephanie Styll not only sought appealing booze-free alternatives but also craved fellowship with other teetotalers. In 2023, she opened Music City’s first booze-free beverage shop. Since then, she’s hosted more than 100 events and launched a podcast, The Killjoy AFterparty, to normalize and expand the conversation about sobriety.
“Something that initially repelled me from sobriety,” says Styll, “was the (false!) idea that it was all humorless, antiseptic, and earnest. At Killjoy, we don’t take ourselves too seriously.”
Her most popular bottle? Dromme Calm, a relaxing blend of botanicals, adaptogens, and nootropics (cognitive enhancers). Styll also recommends The Wild Child, a playful sparkling orange wine by Sovi.
Binge Bar
As home to the popular Mindful Drinking Fest, our nation’s capital draws some of the most creative and enterprising minds in the zero-proof space. That includes Gigi Arandid, who opened Binge Bar in 2023 in the city’s dynamic Northeast neighborhood.
Drawing on her Filipino heritage, Arandid offers a mouthwatering menu of international pairings, including vegan options. Original artwork and a live moss wall create a distinctive backdrop for wellness events and private parties.
The first nonalcoholic cocktail recipe that Arandid created, the Cucumber Mangorita, has been a runaway hit at her dry bar. “It’s packed with flavors from the fresh-muddled cucumber, mint, and jalapeños,” she says. In a darker mood? Try the espresso old-fashioned.
Wildcrafters
Inspiration to create a space for the local alcohol-free community struck Yhang Quintero while he was taking a “manifestation workshop.” With a knack for hospitality first honed in his native Venezuela and then in Brooklyn, Quintero had not pulled the idea out of thin air. Later, after participating in an ayahuasca ceremony with friend and restaurateur Mark Salter, the two discussed the idea; within a year, in 2019, they launched their own dry bar, Wildcrafters.
Known for artfully crafted cocktails and high-energy DJs, Wildcrafters is what Quintero calls a “safe space” that compels guests to explore mindful recreation. Visiting? Try the Joga, a kava, pistachio, and matcha cocktail; or the Witchy Woman, a blueberry-sage margarita that’s become a customer favorite.
The Mule at Devil’s Foot
Devil’s Foot Beverage Co. is a “farm-to-can” soda producer that also offers nonalcoholic canned cocktails including a paloma, margarita, and negroni. Their lively event venue, The Mule, is an indoor/outdoor space with a full bar located on the industrial fringes of Biltmore Village. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, The Mule served as a staging ground for community relief efforts—and these days, plays host to more festive gatherings, from live music to food truck rodeos to costume parties. Try the winter sangria, made by blending dealcoholized red wine and apple soda, then served with a gingerbread sugar rim.
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