Are you looking to try out dry January after a season of indulgence? Or, maybe you already refrain from alcohol and are looking for some new places to enjoy a non-alcoholic drink. Regardless of the reason, these five restaurants in Northern Virginia offer creative and tasty non-ABV drinks.
Ambar
We know and love Ambar for delicious Balkan fare, but did you know they have an awesome selection of non-alcoholic beverages? Choose from a virgin mango mule or a carrot ginger spritz, where carrot juice and cucumber juice are combined with ginger syrup and topped with ginger beer for some fizz. Other options are an earthy and floral beet sumac soda and a grapefruit garden fizz made with a grapefruit cordial, tonic, cucumber, lime juice, and fresh basil leaves for an herbaceous note. 2901 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Beauty Champagne and Sugar Boutique
This wine bar has an extensive wine-centric mocktail menu to ensure that even those who don’t imbibe can come and enjoy themselves. Their menu includes a mocktail mimosa with non-alcoholic sparkling wine and Blind Tiger’s sidecar mimosa, a bubbly blend of lemon and orange; a lavender margarita or grapefruit paloma from Busty Lush; and a sparkling Frenchie, which blends non-alcoholic sparkling wine and Blind Tiger’s French 75, a vegan lemon-and-juniper beverage. 576 S. 23rd St., Arlington
Royal Restaurant
Royal Restaurant is going all out to embrace dry January with a series of fun mocktails. There is the Thornless Flower, made with lemon, lavender, and elderflower tonic; the Agua Fresca, a tart and effervescent combination of fresh tamarind, lime, orange, and sparkling water; and the Prickle, with raspberry, lemon, and ginger beer. For something with an herbal note, try the International Waters, with fruity guava, agave nectar, and black tea. Or, for something simpler, there is Tiptoes, comprised of strawberry, lemon, and soda water. 730 N. Saint Asaph St., Alexandria
Surreal
In addition to a menu that includes pasta, pizzas, oysters, and Latin American entrees, Surreal offers several mocktails to pair with its food. Try the virgin piña colada, bursting with the flavor of pineapple and coconut; the zero-proof lychee martini, with zero-proof spirits, lychee, and figs; or the aqua-hued enchanted lemonade, made with a combination of lemon and lime, condensed milk, and blue spirulina. 2901 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Vola’s Dockside Grill
Vola’s is currently serving up a trio of refreshing non-alcoholic drinks, including a passionfruit mojito, with passion fruit syrup, fresh mint, lime, and sprite; a lemongrass and ginger julep with fresh mint and honey syrup; and a drink called Summer Rain, made with strawberry syrup and four citrus juices: grapefruit, pineapple, orange, and lemon. 101 N. Union St., Alexandria
Feature image of mocktails from Surreal by Jennifer Chase
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