Boston bars go sober-curious as mocktails get a glow-up across the city
Cocktails still run the town. But Boston has quietly gotten very good at something else: giving non-drinkers an actual night out. Not juice in a rocks glass.
Not an apology seltzer. Real drinks. Real atmosphere. Real reasons to stay past one round. From speakeasy-level creativity to dance floors where alcohol is optional or banned entirely, these spots prove you do not need booze to have plans.
Backbar
Backbar has always been about the craft. Tucked away in Union Square, this speakeasy-style bar builds drinks inspired by flavors from around the world and takes its non-alcoholic options just as seriously as its cocktails.
If you do not see what you want on the menu, order the Bartender’s Choice. Just like their cocktails, the non-alcoholic version is built around a conversation. Your mood matters. Your palate matters. The result never feels like a downgrade. This is the rare place where skipping alcohol feels intentional, not corrective.
7 Sanborn Ct, Somerville
ArtBar
ArtBar does not just tolerate mocktails. It designed them because people asked. Known for taking an artistic approach to food and drink, the bar has leaned into healthier swaps, often replacing sugar-heavy syrups with kombucha. The drinks still feel indulgent, just lighter.
The Guava Mule is the move. Guava, a muddled lime wedge, and non-alcoholic ginger beer give it enough bite to hold its own next to any cocktail on the menu. It is polished, intentional, and very Cambridge.
40 Edwin H Land Blvd, Cambridge
Alden & Harlow
Alden & Harlow’s mocktail menu is short, thoughtful, and priced like it respects your decision.At eight dollars, the drinks feel considered rather than symbolic. Current options include Plum Out of Ideas with red plum, lime, Thai basil, and bubbles, and Oleo Leo with grapefruit, orange, honey, and tonic.
These are balanced, grown-up drinks designed to sit comfortably next to a full dinner. No theatrics. No moralizing. Just good taste.
40 Brattle St #3, Cambridge
Havana Club
Havana Club offers something most bars do not: alcohol-free nights that still feel like a party.On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Sundays, the venue runs 18-plus nights with no alcohol served. Instead, the focus is on bachata and salsa dancing, with lessons at the start of the night and open dancing afterward.
No partner required. No experience expected. Mondays and Sundays lean bachata-heavy, while Tuesdays split the playlist between bachata and salsa. It is social, physical, and genuinely fun without a drink in sight.
288 Green St, Central Square, Cambridge
Remedy Place
Remedy Place is not a bar, but it is very much part of the sober social scene. Billing itself as the world’s first social wellness club, the space blends self-care with group experiences. The Contrast Suite is the headline attraction, a shared space with an ice bath, sauna, and showers designed for groups of up to six.
There are also private treatments, including AI-powered massage, breathwork paired with cold plunges, acupuncture, and other traditional Chinese medicine practices. It is less about replacing alcohol and more about replacing the ritual around it.
370 Summer St, Seaport, Boston
