London’s Best Mocktails

“In sympathy to the drivers, the impending mothers, those who have consumed too much, those that are not yet able to consume and finally to those whose religion, culture, or mother forbids them to imbibe”

Want to give your liver a rest? Then sip a delicious mocktail – also known as an alcohol-free cocktail – at one of these fabulous London drinking dens.

Redemption Bar

On the wagon? London’s first non-alcoholic cocktail bar is the ideal place to head if you hate hangovers. Amongst the classy mocktails on offer is the refreshing Coco-rita: coconut water shaken over ice with lime and agave syrup, served in a salt-rimmed glass, or the Mock-jito, a mix of fresh mint and lime. The extensive list of mocktails is complemented by a range of super-healthy vegetarian food. Note that the Ladbroke Grove-based bar is currently closed while it’s preparing to move to its new home in Shoreditch.

Mark’s Bar

With a New York vibe, this hip bar is all leather chesterfields and smoky mirrors. The bar’s cool ambience is reflected in the witty and entertaining cocktail list which has a page dedicated to non-alcoholic drinks, that are listed “in sympathy to the drivers, the impending mothers, those who have consumed too much, those that are not yet able to consume and finally to those whose religion, culture, or mother forbids them to imbibe”. Top booze-free tipples include the Lost Valentino, which combines lemon sherbet with chilled green tea, mint, orange and nutmeg. Mark’s Bar has branches in both Soho and The City.

Permit Room, Dishoom

For a sober night out, make a beeline for Dishoom’s Permit Room, where you can pick from a range of exotic mocktails. The Bombay-style bar is inspired by the Indian cultural practice of Permit Rooms. Since 1949, Bombay has been under a state of prohibition and a personal permit is required if you want to run a premises in which to sell alcohol to improve one’s health. These places are known as Permit Rooms. Guilt-free cocktails on the menu here include the Virgin Bombay Colada, a pineapple and coconut-cream concoction with a Bombay twist, and the Watermelon Sharbat, which blends watermelon with spearmint, lime and seasalt.  

Be At One

This popular bar chain boasts a stellar 15-page cocktail menu, that features both classics and offbeat options, with a page dedicated solely to mocktails, of which there are 12 to choose from. Refreshing guilt-free tipples include the Raspberry Cooler (raspberry, mint, lemon and lychee) and the Cranapple Clash (cranberry, apple and fresh lime juice). Sweet-toothed punters can plump for an Oreo or banana-flavoured milkshake, or a Banana Belafonte, which combines banana, coconut cream, pineapple juice, orange juice and vanilla ice-cream. Yum! Find Be At One in numerous locations across the capital, including Balham, Clapham Common, Covent Garden, Islington, Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Street.  

The Met Bar

Based in upmarket Park Lane in London’s Mayfair, this celebrity haunt serves up a range of stand-out mocktails, such as Vitality, with fresh kiwi fruit and celery muddled with pear, apple and lemon, or Wake Up Call with fresh passion fruit and lemongrass shaken with apple juice, agave and lemon juice.    

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