How to Ask For Good Mocktails at Any Bar (Not a Shirley Temple)

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Walking into a bar and asking for a mocktail can feel intimidating, especially when you’re worried about getting stuck with sugary soda or a sad fruit juice combination (seriously tho, this sucks). The good news? Most bartenders want to make you something delicious – they just need the right guidance. Here’s your complete guide to ordering delish alcohol-free drinks at any bar, from dive bars, high-end cocktail lounges, random hipster fried chicken places, whatever…you get it! Plowing forward…

Start by Finding the Right Spots

Before you even walk into a bar, it helps to know which venues in your area actually serve quality mocktails. The NA Beer Finder has a mocktail finder feature that shows you bars, restaurants, and stores with good non-alcoholic options near you. This tool is particularly helpful because it identifies places that carry premium NA spirits like Seedlip and Ritual – and venues that stock these brands are much more likely to make creative mocktails rather than just offering you a Coke.

The Golden Rule: Be Specific About What You Want

The biggest mistake people make when ordering mocktails is being too vague. “Something without alcohol” tells the bartender almost nothing about your taste preferences. Instead, approach it like you would any cocktail order.

What to Say Instead of “I’ll Have a Mocktail”

Instead of: “Do you have any mocktails?”
Try: “I’d love something citrusy and refreshing, similar to a margarita but without the tequila.”

Instead of: “What non-alcoholic drinks do you have?”
Try: “I’m looking for something sophisticated – maybe something with ginger beer and fresh herbs?”

Instead of: “Surprise me with something alcohol-free.”
Try: “I enjoy bitter, complex flavors. Could you make me something with tonic, bitters, and fresh citrus?”

Know Your Bar Type and Adjust Accordingly

High-End Cocktail Bars and Restaurants

These venues are your best bet for creative mocktails. The bartenders are skilled, they have premium ingredients, and they take pride in their craft.

What to do:

  • Ask if they have a non-alcoholic cocktail menu
  • Request that they modify an existing cocktail (“Could you make your Moscow Mule without vodka but add some extra ginger and lime?”)
  • Be willing to pay cocktail prices – good mocktails require the same skill and premium ingredients

Sample orders:

  • “Could you make me something like your house margarita but alcohol-free, maybe with some muddled jalapeño?”
  • “I’d love a sophisticated, herbaceous drink – perhaps with rosemary and grapefruit?”
  • “What would you recommend that’s complex and not too sweet?”

Sports Bars and Casual Restaurants

These venues might have limited ingredients, but you can still get something better than soda.

What to do:

  • Focus on simple combinations of what they definitely have
  • Don’t expect house-made syrups or exotic ingredients
  • Be specific about avoiding overly sweet drinks

Sample orders:

  • “Could you muddle some lime and mint with club soda and a splash of cranberry juice?”
  • “Ginger beer with fresh lime juice and a few dashes of bitters, if you have them?”
  • “Club soda with muddled orange and a splash of grenadine?”

Dive Bars and Limited-Ingredient Venues

Work with what they have, but you can still avoid the boring options.

Sample orders:

  • “Sprite or 7-Up with fresh lime juice and a splash of cranberry?”
  • “Club soda with whatever fresh fruit you can muddle and a splash of juice?”
  • “Ginger ale with lime juice and bitters?”

The Magic Phrases That Get Results

“Could you make me…”

This phrase works better than “Do you have…” because it assumes the bartender can create something rather than just serve something pre-made.

“Something similar to [cocktail] but alcohol-free”

This gives the bartender a flavor profile to work with. Popular comparisons:

  • “Like a mojito but without rum” (mint, lime, club soda)
  • “Similar to a gin and tonic” (tonic, lime, maybe some cucumber)
  • “Like a whiskey sour” (lemon juice, simple syrup, club soda, maybe egg white)

“Not too sweet, please”

This prevents the bartender from defaulting to sugary combinations and shows you have a sophisticated palate.

“I’m happy to pay full cocktail price for something well-made”

This signals that you value quality and aren’t looking for a cheap alternative.

Ingredients to Ask For (That Most Bars Have)

Fresh Citrus

  • Lime juice (not from a bottle)
  • Lemon juice
  • Orange slices
  • Grapefruit if available

Herbs and Aromatics

  • Fresh mint
  • Fresh basil (some bars have this)
  • Rosemary sprigs
  • Cucumber slices

Mixers That Aren’t Soda

  • Tonic water
  • Club soda
  • Ginger beer (not ginger ale)
  • Fresh fruit juices

The Secret Weapon: Bitters

Most bars have Angostura bitters, and a few dashes can transform a simple drink. If you want to experiment with mocktails at home, having a variety of bitters opens up endless possibilities. You can start with classic Angostura, add some orange bitters for citrusy complexity, or try aromatic bitters for deeper flavors. Ask for:

  • “A few dashes of bitters in my club soda and lime”
  • “Some orange bitters if you have them”

Note: Traditional bitters contain trace amounts of alcohol (usually less than 1%), but it’s minimal – similar to vanilla extract.

What to Do When They Say “We Don’t Do Mocktails”

Don’t give up! Try these approaches:

  1. “Could you just mix some of your ingredients?” Most bartenders can combine club soda, juice, and fresh fruit even if they don’t think of it as making a “mocktail.”
  2. “What would you put in a [cocktail name] besides the alcohol?” This helps them realize they already have the ingredients.
  3. Order components separately: “Could I get a glass of club soda, some fresh lime juice, and muddled mint on the side?” Then combine them yourself.

Red Flags: When to Lower Your Expectations

  • If they immediately suggest a virgin piña colada or daiquiri (usually overly sweet)
  • If they seem confused by basic ingredients like “fresh lime juice”
  • If the bar only has a soda gun and no fresh ingredients visible
  • If they suggest “virgin” versions of drinks that are mainly alcohol (like a virgin martini)

Pro Tips for Success

Timing Matters

  • Order during slower periods when bartenders have time to be creative
  • Avoid peak Friday/Saturday night rushes at busy venues

Build Relationships

  • If you find a bartender who makes you great mocktails, remember their name and ask for them
  • Tip well on good mocktails – it encourages creativity

Be Flexible

  • If they don’t have ginger beer, ask about ginger ale with fresh ginger
  • If they’re out of mint, see if they have basil or other herbs

Know When to Compromise

  • Sometimes “fancy lemonade” is the best you’ll get, and that’s okay
  • A well-made simple drink beats a poorly executed complex one

Sample Conversations That Work

At a Craft Cocktail Bar:

You: “Hi! I’m looking for something alcohol-free but sophisticated. What would you recommend?”
Bartender: “What kind of flavors do you usually enjoy?”
You: “I love citrusy, herbaceous drinks. Could you make something with fresh herbs and maybe some interesting bitters?”

At a Sports Bar:

You: “Could you make me something refreshing with what you have? Maybe club soda with muddled lime and mint, and just a splash of cranberry for color?”

At a Restaurant:

You: “I see you have a great cocktail menu. Could you make me something similar to your Moscow Mule but without the vodka? Maybe with extra ginger and lime?”

Making Great Mocktails at Home

Once you get comfortable ordering at bars, you might want to try making these drinks at home. A quality cocktail shaker can help you recreate bar-quality mocktails. You can also experiment with premium mixers like Fever-Tree tonic water and syrups that many bars use to elevate their drinks.

For those serious about home mocktail making, investing in a good muddler will help you properly extract flavors from herbs and fruits. The technique you see bartenders use – pressing and twisting rather than pounding – makes a real difference in the final drink.

Getting the proportions right is crucial, so you’ll want to have 2-3 jiggers on hand for different measurements, or you can grab a complete jigger set that covers all the standard sizes. If you’re the kind of person who wants your barware to be art in of itself, then here are a few beautiful jiggers that perform as well as they look: this copper beauty, this sleek design, or this elegant option.

If you’re looking for inspiration on what to make at home, you can also use the NA Beer Finder to discover which premium mocktail brands are available at stores near you – sometimes it’s easier to buy a well-crafted bottle than to make everything from scratch.

Final Thoughts

The key to getting great mocktails at any bar is communication, flexibility, and knowing what to ask for. Most bartenders want to make you something delicious – they just need direction. Don’t be afraid to be specific about your preferences, and remember that a well-made simple drink often beats a poorly executed complex one.

With these strategies, you’ll never have to settle for another overly sweet Shirley Temple or plain soda water again. Here’s to great drinks, with or without alcohol!

Products Recommended in This Post

If you’re ready to start making great mocktails at home, here are the products mentioned in this guide:

Bitters for Flavor Complexity:

Essential Bar Tools:

Beautiful Barware Options:

Premium Mixers:

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