Chicago, IL
Zero proof in Chicago.
The alcohol-free bars and non-alcoholic bottle shops worth knowing.
3 places in view
Chicago's best non-alcoholic cocktails come from an unusual mix of places: a Japanese dining bar famous for its spirit-free drinks, and two sober bottle shops that double as places to hang out. It's also a city with its own zero-proof makers, so stocking up at home is easy. Here's our short list of non-alcoholic bars in Chicago and the bottles worth buying.
The places on this map are a mix of a full-service bar and bottle shops with community space. That matters when you're planning a night: the bar is the pick for a dinner or a special occasion, while the shops are better for browsing, tasting and meeting people who are also not drinking. Menus, hours and events change, so check each place's own site before you go.
Where to go
Kumiko
Julia Momose's Japanese dining bar at 630 W Lake St, famous for its "spiritfree" drinks. This is the place to take someone who thinks non-alcoholic cocktails can't be serious. It's also ideal for a mixed group: the people drinking and the people not drinking can order from the same bar and get the same level of care. Kumiko
In Good Spirits
A non-alcoholic bottle shop in West Town, at 858 N Ashland Ave, with a bar and a community space. That combination makes it more than a shop: you can try something, stay for a drink and leave with a bottle. It's a good first stop if you're new to the category and want to taste before you buy. In Good Spirits
Solar Intentions
An astrology-themed sober bottle shop and hangout in Edgewater, at 1056 W Bryn Mawr Ave. Its "hangout" side is what sets it apart: it's somewhere to spend time, not just pick up a six-pack. If you're on the North Side and looking for a sober place to meet friends, it's worth a visit. Solar Intentions
How to order at a regular bar
Many cocktail bars now have a zero-proof section on the menu. If yours doesn't, name a classic you like, such as a Negroni, an Old Fashioned or a whiskey sour, and ask whether they can make it without alcohol. Tell the bartender if you want something less sweet: it's the single most useful thing to say. A bar that stocks a non-alcoholic spirit or bitter aperitif can usually build a decent drink around it.
Stock up at home
A few bottles from our catalogue made in and around Chicago:
- Ritual Zero Proof Whiskey Alternative: smoke, caramel and a peppery bite from a Chicago brand. Mixes one-for-one in an Old Fashioned or a sour.
- Years Original Pilsner: a lean golden pilsner, floral and lightly herbal with a dry finish, from Chicago.
- Go Brewing Jab Jab Grapefruit IPA: zesty grapefruit over a hop-forward IPA, from Go Brewing in the Chicago area.
- Top Note Ginger Beer: real ginger oils with date and cane sugar, made up the road in Milwaukee.
Want to use that Ritual? Our non-alcoholic Old Fashioned guide has the recipe.
Questions
Are there non-alcoholic bars in Chicago?
Chicago has cocktail bars known for their non-alcoholic drinks, like Kumiko, and sober bottle shops with space to hang out, like In Good Spirits in West Town, which has a bar, and Solar Intentions in Edgewater.
Where are the best mocktails in Chicago?
Kumiko is the best-known name for spirit-free cocktails in Chicago, from bartender Julia Momose. For a more casual drink in a fully sober setting, In Good Spirits has a bar inside its bottle shop.
Where can I buy non-alcoholic spirits in Chicago?
In Good Spirits in West Town and Solar Intentions in Edgewater are both non-alcoholic bottle shops. Chicago is also home to Ritual Zero Proof, which makes spirit alternatives for mixing.
What is a spiritfree cocktail?
It's Kumiko's term for a cocktail made without alcohol. Other bars say zero proof, non-alcoholic or alcohol-free; they all mean the same thing.