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Enjoy the Great Milwaukee Winter with ice skating at the Christmas Carnival of Lights. Whether you’re a veteran on the ice or lacing up for the first time, ice skating under the twinkling lights is a winter delight sure to make your spirits bright!
Now open through February 1!
Mocktail guides pop up everywhere right around the first week of the year. I’m going to be bold and say that most of them aren’t very useful. In many cases, they’re slapped together for Dry January and only feature a few options. Even worse, they’re simply a list of untested venues that happen to list mocktails somewhere on their menus.
This is not one of those guides.
This is a guide for anyone looking for thoughtful, high-quality craft cocktails that simply don’t contain alcohol. It’s good every single month of the year, whether you’re sober, sober curious or simply not in the mood to consume alcohol or experience its negative effects.
Creating high-quality cocktails without alcohol isn’t as simple as subbing in a non-alcoholic spirit for the full-proof product. NA spirits have distinctive properties and flavor profiles that interact with ingredients (including ice) in unique ways. So, for a venue to offer truly remarkable drinks without alcohol, they’ve got to spend as much time developing their NA options as they do the alcoholic ones.
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For that reason, my criteria in curating this list begins with quality. These aren’t places that throw a flavored lemonade or seltzer-topped fruit juice on their menus and call it good. These venues value their customers and want them to have an amazing experience whether they choose to consume alcohol or not.
These are also places that strive to be inclusive. That means they include their zero-proof offerings right on their menus so no one feels singled out. I shouldn’t have to ask for a mocktail menu or hope that I approach a bartender properly trained in creating NA drinks to take my order.
With all of that out of the way, here are 10 really great spots to sit down and enjoy a zero-proof drink (or three).
Agency
Dubbel Dutch Hotel
817 N. Marshall St., (414) 207-8880
welcometo.agency
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Agency is a fully hybrid cocktail bar catering equally to alcoholic and zero-proof offerings. Their weekly tasting menus are immersive experiences featuring inventive, hyper-seasonal preparations and thoughtful housemade bites. The tasting menus are always available fully alcoholic, fully non-alcoholic or as a hybrid experience with equal parts of both. All tasting menu offerings are also available a la carte.
Meanwhile, Agency’s “Dealer’s Choice” program allows the consumer to take center stage in designing their own dream drink (by filling out a flavor profile card) and then watching as its crafted right before their eyes. Reservations are recommended.
Boone & Crockett
818 S. Water St., (414) 212-8115
boonemilwaukee.com
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From its early days as a cozy Bay View retreat to its current, more expansive home on the lakefront, Boone & Crockett has always kept its fingers on the pulse of what customers want. These days, that means a well-orchestrated menu of hip, easy to drink non-alcoholic options that range from the Orange Care Bear (giving dreamsicle vibes) to the High & Dry featuring Giffard NA Apertif, Lagunita’s Hop Refresher and orange peel.
Cavelier Wine Bar
407 E. Jackson St., Port Washington, (262) 235-1034
cavelierwinebar.com
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A wine bar by name, this beautifully appointed gathering place (with a lakefront view) not only offers wines by the glass (including NA options), but a full menu of seasonal cocktails, all of which are available as zero- or full-proof drinks. Whether you fancy a Cosmopolitan, Manhattan, Espresso Martini or Old Fashioned, Cavelier has your number.
Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen
320 E. Clybourn St., (414) 455-8870
thecentralstandard.com
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Central Standard’s bar and restaurants not only showcases what the distillery does best, but also sets a standard for zero-proof options. That includes drinks like a matcha or ginger tonics, the “Honeybee Cooler” and more.
Goodkind
2457 S. Wentworth Ave., (414) 763-4706
goodkindbayview.com
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Long known for its friendly vibe and expertly prepared seasonal cocktails, Goodkind also caters diligently to those who’d prefer their drinks sans alcohol. In addition to the usual finds like kombucha and NA sparkling wine, Goodkind offers a slate of seasonal zero-proof options that range from apertifs and NA tonics to drinks that capture both sweet and savory profiles. Their house-brewed Szechuan ginger beer (while not a cocktail) is also a treat!
Holey Mackerel
5401 W. Layton Ave., Greenfield
holeymackerelmke.com
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Holey Mackerel is a family-friendly destination that offers great drinks, awesome specials, and non-stop fun for the whole family. In the summer there’s mini golf, batting cages, bags leagues and a beer garden. But even when the chill hits, the HM bar is as lively as ever with a great collection of arcade games and a menu of compelling cocktails and zero proof options.
Hill Valley Dairy - Milwaukee Cheese Bar
138 W. Bruce St., (414) 273-9711
hillvalleydairy.com/pages/milwaukee
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The former Clock Shadow Creamery is now home to Hill Valley Dairy, which is carrying on the cheesemaking torch. In addition to operating a cheese shop where you can pick up delicious local cheeses and accompaniments, they’ve also created an elegant “cheese bar” where guests can enjoy drinks and cheese plates. A full menu of cocktails – many available in either full- or zero-proof – is also a feature. Each drink is beautifully crafted and comes with an expertly paired cheese for nibbling.
Inmoxicated
329 Main St., (262) 234-2798
inmoxicated.com
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This Racine “Sobar” was among the first in the area to cater to a zero-proof audience, providing a corner bar atmosphere (think chill vibes, music, darts and pool) delivered with a thoughtfully delicious menu of zero-proof cocktails, beer and canned drinks. For those looking for an inclusive, no-pressure experience that leaves alcohol out of the picture, Inmoxicated has provided a convivial space that checks all the boxes. Bonus: They also have a bottle shop where guests can purchase zero-proof spirits and more.
Lost Whale
2151 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 249-3188
lostwhalemke.com
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Lost Whale is always mixing up something fun, whether it’s an immersive pop-up, a guest food truck or simply a great night of conviviality. Even more, that fun is always accompanied by a selection of delicious zero-proof cocktails. You’ll always find at least four or five great options, all of which are just as delicious as their full-proof offerings!
Pufferfish
411 E. Mason St., 6th Floor, (414) 272-1937
pufferfishmke.com
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Take in the tropical vibes at this year-round rooftop destination where delicious drinks are served alongside upbeat vibes and a great view of the city from its seventh-floor perch. Their spiritless menu features a collection of amazing tiki classics (from Mai Tais to their signature Pufferfish), all of which are complex and balanced sans alcohol.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
