With the dawn of a New Year comes renewed goals, be it to eat more plants, exercise or take on a new hobby. If consuming less alcohol or exploring that #sobercurious lifestyle are on the list, there’s no shortage of creative, spirit-free beverages to experience at leading Chicago restaurants.
With house-made sodas, syrups and fresh purees — coupled with creative flavor profiles and the same innovation that goes into crafting an alcoholic-based cocktail — beverage managers citywide are taking the basic “mocktail” to new heights. Behold, an array of options!
Clever Rabbit
2015 W. Division St.
(773) 697-8711
To complement a menu of fulfilling proteins and farm-fresh, veggie forward offerings, Clever Rabbit offers a ‘Cottontails” section of its beverage menu for those who choose to go spirit-free. One option includes the Charred Grapefruit Aqua Fresca featuring Charred Grapefruit, Lime, Agave, Pink Peppercorns and Grapefruit Topo Chico ($8). Additional spirit-free selections are coming soon!
Eden
1748 W Lake Street
(312) 366-2294
At the West Loop’s Eden restaurant, Mixologists Alex Rydzewski and Charlie Foreman take great pride in creating alcohol-free selections packed with original flavors and stunning presentation. Selections (all $10) include:
* Forbidden Fruit Canela Noir with Apple cider, Rare Tea Cellar lapsang souchong, lemon, cinnamon
* Citta Modena Canela Noir with orange, balsamic lavender syrup, Meyer’s lemon, basil, club soda
* Canela Noir with toasted black rice, fermented black lime, smoked black sea salt, cinnamon, vanilla
* Sanguine Sling with blood orange, lime, rosemary honey syrup, ginger beer
* White Hot Chocolate with Zephyr white chocolate, milk, raspberry dust, house made whipped cream
Entente
700 N. Sedgwick St.
(312) 285-2247
At River North’s Entente, the Michelin-starred beverage team is pleased to present a range of non-alcoholic options to complement the contemporary cuisine of Chef/Partner Brian Fisher. Selections (all $13) include:
* 700 Club with cucumber citrate, lime, violet, cucumber mint lemonade, butter pea flower and CBD
* Peach Phosphate with peach, acid phosphate and soda
* The Panhandle with seedlip citrus grove, fig, lemon and soda
Le Colonial
57 E Oak St.
(312) 255-0088
Enjoy a taste of all seasons at the Gold Coast’s glittering Le Colonial, with fruit-forward alcohol-free options ($10) including:
* MUA XUAN –Spring with blackberries, lemon juice, Sprite and mint
* MUA HE – Summer with pineapple, mango, lychee and lemon juice
* MUA THU – Autumn with guava, coconut, cranberry jiice and Sprite
* MUA DONG – Winter with cucumber, ginger beer and lime juice
Rebar
Trump International Hotel & Tower
401 N. Wabash Avenue, Mezzanine Level
(312) 588-8036
While taking in stunning views of the Chicago River and Chicago’s famed bridges, guests of Rebar — the sophisticated lounge at Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago — can stick to their resolutions with the Berry Responsible, which includes fresh strawberry, lime juice and ginger beer ($9).
The Purple Pig
444 N. Michigan Ave.
(312) 464-1744
Under the guidance of Beverage Director Alan Beasey, Chicago’s original emporium for “cheese, swine and wine” is embracing spirit-free beverages, with refreshing offerings (all $10) such as:
* Cranberry Tarragon Soda with cranberry juice, cranberry tarragon syrup, lemon and soda
* NoStigmas with pineapple, ginger syrup, lemon and Three Cents lemon tonic
* Dropping Beets with beet juice, cranberry juice, apple juice, honey and line
* Orange is the New with carrot, mint, honey, lemon and Three Cents Ginger Beer
* Tropic Berry Citrus with cranberry juice, grapefruit juice and pineapple
Time Out Market Chicago
916 W. Fulton Market
(312) 637-7888
From the brilliant minds of leading cocktail experts Paul McGee and Shelby Allison comes the Parchita. Now available at Secret Sound — the speakeasy at the newly opened Time Out Market Chicago — this spirit-free creation features Seedlip Spiced, passionfruit, pineapple and tonic ($12).
Virtue
1462 E 53rd Street
Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 947-8831
At Hyde Park’s lauded Virtue restaurant, led by Chef/Owner Erick Williams, guests can saddle up to the bar and enjoy creative and competitively priced renditions such as:
* The Hummingbird with basil, bitter lemon ($5)
* Duke of Earl with Earl Grey tea, star anise, lemon, egg white ($5)
