Zero proof in Seattle.

Seattle's non-alcoholic scene is small but well chosen: a worker-owned bar built around zero- and low-proof drinks, a Belltown cocktail bar that takes its zero-proof list seriously, and the city's first fully alcohol-free bottle shop. This is our list of non-alcoholic bars in Seattle and where to stock up.

It's worth knowing what kind of place you're walking into. A bar with a strong zero-proof list is the easiest option for a mixed group, because everyone orders from the same menu. A bar built around low- and zero-proof drinks gives you more choice. A bottle shop is where you find out what you like before buying a full bottle. Menus and hours change, so check each venue's own site before you go.

Where to go

Rosette

A worker-owned bar in Rainier Beach, at 9262 57th Ave S, built around zero- and low-proof drinks. When non-alcoholic drinks are the center of the menu rather than a side note, you get more choice and more care. Note that some drinks here are low-proof rather than zero, so ask which is which if that matters to you. Read more about Rosette at Seattle Refined.

Rob Roy

A Belltown cocktail bar at 2332 2nd Ave with a thoughtful zero-proof list. It's a full cocktail bar, so it's the pick for a night out with friends who drink, where you still want something made with the same attention. Rob Roy

Cheeky & Dry

Seattle's first fully alcohol-free bottle shop, at 6120 Phinney Ave N, with more than 250 products. With that range, it's the easiest way to try a lot of the category in one place: non-alcoholic beer, wine, spirits and aperitifs. Ask for recommendations if you're not sure where to start. Cheeky & Dry

Ordering well at any bar

If you're somewhere without a zero-proof list, name a classic you like and ask for it without alcohol. Negronis, spritzes, mules and sours all translate well. Tell the bartender whether you like bitter or sweet, and whether you'd rather avoid anything low-proof; "zero proof" and "low proof" aren't the same thing.

Planning a night out

Seattle's zero-proof spots are spread across the city, from Rainier Beach in the south to Phinney Ridge in the north, so it helps to plan one area per evening. Pair a visit to Cheeky & Dry with dinner nearby and take a couple of bottles home, or make Rosette the whole night. If you're meeting friends who drink, Rob Roy is the easy compromise: a full bar where your drink doesn't feel like an afterthought.

Stock up at home

A few bottles from our catalogue from the Pacific Northwest:

• Pathfinder Hemp & Root: fermented hemp, wormwood and saffron, the most amaro-like zero-proof bitter we know. Made in Washington, and great in a Negroni.
• Deschutes Non-Alcoholic Fresh Squeezed IPA: orange and passionfruit from the Bend, Oregon brewery.
• Dhōs Gin Free: pine, juniper, candied lemon and spearmint, from Dhōs, whose distillery is in Oregon.
• Lyre's Italian Orange: not local, but the red bitter to pair with Pathfinder in a zero-proof Negroni.

Our non-alcoholic Negroni guide shows how to put them together.

Questions

Are there non-alcoholic bars in Seattle?

Rosette in Rainier Beach is a worker-owned bar built around zero- and low-proof drinks. For a regular cocktail bar with a strong non-alcoholic list, Rob Roy in Belltown is on our map.

Where are the best mocktails in Seattle?

Rosette puts zero- and low-proof drinks at the center of its menu, and Rob Roy has a thoughtful zero-proof list. Check both venues for current menus before you go.

Where can I buy non-alcoholic drinks in Seattle?

Cheeky & Dry on Phinney Ave N is Seattle's first fully alcohol-free bottle shop, with more than 250 products.

What's the difference between zero proof and low proof?

Zero proof means no alcohol, or only a trace (non-alcoholic beer and wine can contain up to 0.5%). Low proof means a drink with some alcohol, just less than usual. If you're avoiding alcohol entirely, ask which drinks are zero proof.