15 Mocktails and Non-Alcoholic Beverages from Greater Cincinnati Bars That Aren't Just Soda

By CityBeat Staff and Kara Driscoll on Thu, Jan 27, 2022 at 2:41 pm

You don't have to drink to have a good time, even if you're hanging at a bar. Plenty of local watering holes have started offering their clientele options when it comes to what to imbibe. Look for popular selections like Athletic Brewing's Hazy IPA or an alcohol-free sparkling riesling from winemaker Leitz. If you're more in a mixed drink mood, these bars have at least one fun (and non-soda) option on the menu.

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Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Anjou

2804 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills
Named after Margaret of Anjou, wife of King Henry VI, this cocktail bar aims to offer “familiar flavors introduced in a different way,” says co-owner Chris Wolfe. And the drinks live up to that credo with colorful compositions and botanical incorporations. There are two clever mocktails on the menu. The Once an Island is made with masala, pomegranate, spiced maple, ginger, non-alcoholic bitters, house yuzu and smoked cinnamon. For something more tropical, there's the Spencer, made with mint, lime, seltzer and pineapple-mango shrub.

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Photo: Provided by HomeMakers Bar

HomeMakers Bar

39 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine
The retro-inspired HomeMakers Bar in Over-the-Rhine is a go-to for uncommon libations, including spritzers. An "entire low- and no-proof menu" will be available through February. The Landlocked includes mint, celery bitters, lemon, pineapple juice and demerara syrup with Seedlip Garden non-alcoholic spirit, topped with Athletic Brewing's NA Hazy IPA. The Sport Pilot features Seedlip Spice NA spirit plus orgeat, falernum gomme syrup, pink grapefruit juice, fresh-squeezed lime and a cinnamon stick garnish.

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Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Somerset

139 E. McMicken Ave., Over-the-Rhine
This sprawling drinking and dining destination offers an immersive escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Somerset features two bar spaces — one in the plant-filled and glass-roofed conservatory and another in the cozy lounge space. Grab a non-alcoholic cocktail from either one. There’s the Ziggy Stardust, with pineapple, lime, hibiscus and coconut milk, or A Rose Between Two Thorns, with rosewater and housemade lemonade. They also serve Queen City Hemp CBD seltzer and ginger beer made in house.

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Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Tokyo Kitty

575 Race St., Downtown
This downtown karaoke bar features a main stage and private rooms to belt out your favorite tunes. No need for liquid courage in the form of a cocktail or sake? Try the Ume No Yosei, with Riverine non-alcoholic spirit, spiced plum ginger syrup, lemon and soda. Their Itadome NA drink is tropical with a base of banana milk and coco cream.

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Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Pins Mechanical Co.

1124 Main St., Over-the-Rhine
Pins is full of fun and games, including duck pin bowling, ping pong, foosball and pinball machines. The mocktails offer fruity mixes with thematic names. The Optimus Prime features lemonade, cranberry juice and sprite, while the Lisa Simpson comes with sprite, grenadine and cherry. Go old school with an NA slushie.

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Photo: Adam Doty

BrewDog Cincinnati

316 Reading Road, Pendleton
This Scotland-based brewery has a taproom in Pendleton. While their beers are tasty, so are their NA options. Their headliners – Elvis AF, Punk AF and Hazy AF – are non-alcoholic with flavor, 20 calories and only 2.3 grams of carbs per can.

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Photo: Hailey Bollinger

LouVino

1142 Main St., Over-the-Rhine
This Southern-style wine bar offers shareable bites and fun flights. If you're going alcohol-free, try one of their mocktails. The Louisville Sunset has pineapple, lime, cranberry and demerara. And the Zoo Keeper is grapefruit, tonic and lime.

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Photo: Casey Roberts

Cosmic Gorilla

1834 Race St., Over-the-Rhine
Cosmic Gorilla is a comic book store and bar in one near Findlay Market. The drink menu was concocted with mocktails front of mind — Cosmic aims to be an all-ages hangout. With names that harken back to comic references, drinks include the Pym Particles (cold-brew coffee, almond milk, peanut butter fluff, Cocoa Puffs) and the Spider-Man (lemon-lime soda with grenadine, lime and ginger-coconut syrup).

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Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Lost & Found

22 E. 14th St., Over-the-Rhine
Located on a quieter street in Over-the-Rhine, this cocktail bar is a funky, community-driven gathering space with an inventive drink menu and small bites inside of a creative, art-filled environment; it was once a multi-car garage. NA cocktails here are built to suit your tastes. Tell the bartender what tickles your fancy, and they'll whip up something fun for you.

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Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Rich's Proper Food & Drink

701 Madison Ave., Covington
This Southern-inspired eatery has a full menu of "Prohibition Offerings," aka cocktails sans spirits. The Red Queen features a cherry pie reduction, spiced cranberry, fresh lemon and black walnut bitters. The Joy Spring also incorporates fruit with its plum fennel syrup, blueberry, lemon, honey and toasted almond bitters.

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Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Japps Since 1879

1134 Main St., Over-the-Rhine
Mixologist, historian and bar owner Molly Wellmann specializes in classic cocktails with informative origin stories. At Japp's, she and her bartenders also specialize in "nonnys." “I have so many customers that come in that love to drink but don’t want to drink alcohol,” Wellmann tells CityBeat. And she always makes sure to have something for them besides a Coke or orange juice. Alcoholic or not, all drinks at Japp’s are crafted with housemade simple syrups, fresh herbs, berries, juices and different floral waters.

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Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Longfellow

1233 Clay St., Over-the-Rhine
In addition to offering unique sodas, like San Pellegrino Sanbitter and Coco Rico, the team at Over-the-Rhine's Longfellow can also mix them into a drink. There's a version of a Cosmopolitan, with the Sanbitter, and a mocktail with Coco Rico, housemade grenadine and fresh lemon.

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Photo: @thelounge.ns

The Lounge at Liberty Exhibition Hall

3938 Spring Grove Ave., Northside
This new watering hole is located in Northside's Liberty Exhibition Hall. It's a very low-key hang open to everyone. Specializing in live music and weekly Jazz nights, the bar offers cocktails, wine, beer and non-alcoholic tea concoctions. The menu lists two "teatails" — one with pu'erh, cherry bark, honey and citric acid, and another with lemongrass and chamomile tea, lavender syrup, lemon oleo and soda.

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Photo: facebook.com/MadTreeTaproom

MadTree Brewing

3301 Madison Ave., Oakley
MadTree Brewing is now offering its first ever non-alcoholic beer — becoming one of the first major Cincinnati-based breweries to delve into the non-alcoholic beer scene. MadTree's Leave No Trace tastes like a pale ale without the alcohol and is available exclusively at the taproom.

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Photo: facebook.com/therhined

The Rhined

1737 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine
In addition to delicious cheese, The Rhined has a slew of low ABV to no ABV wines. Try several types of Proxies wine, including the Serene bottle – a non-alcoholic, juicy and fruit-forward red with bright acidity.

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15 Mocktails and Non-Alcoholic Beverages from Greater Cincinnati Bars That Aren't Just Soda

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