How to Order Mocktails at a Restaurant or Bar Like a Pro
Ordering a mocktail when you're out at a restaurant or bar can feel like an uphill battle. While some places have embraced non-alcoholic options, many still cater almost exclusively to drinkers. If you’ve ever felt awkward asking for a mocktail or frustrated by the lack of options, you’re not alone. The good news? There are ways to make the experience smoother, more enjoyable, and stress-free. Let’s break it all down!
The Struggles of Ordering a Mocktail at Restaurants
One of the biggest struggles when ordering a mocktail is simply not seeing options on the menu. Many restaurants and bars still don’t list non-alcoholic drinks beyond soda, juice, or sparkling water. Even if they do, the selections might feel uninspired like a fancy lemonade.
How to Overcome This!
The key to confidently ordering a mocktail is to go in with a plan and a positive mindset. Here are a few ways to make it easier:
Own your decision: Whether you're skipping alcohol for health reasons, personal choice, or
just because you don’t feel like drinking, remember that you don’t owe anyone an explanation.
Be direct but friendly: When asking for a mocktail, confidence is key! Treat it like any other drink order, and don’t hesitate to ask for something custom.
Be prepared for resistance: If a bartender seems unsure, suggest flavors or ingredients you enjoy. Giving them a little guidance can make all the difference.
Normalize it: The more people ask for mocktails, the more restaurants and bars will realize there’s demand for them. THIS IS MY BIGGEST GOAL TO GET MOCKTAILS TO BE NORMALIZED!!
Setting Yourself Up for Success
A little preparation can go a long way in ensuring you have a great experience. Here’s how to make things easier before you even walk through the door:
Check the menu ahead of time – Many restaurants list their drinks online, so take a peek before you go. If there are no clear mocktail options, at least you’ll know what ingredients they have on hand and you can see what drinks you can make into a mocktail! A go to for me is a mule or a mojito! They are easily customizable.
Call ahead if needed – If you’re heading somewhere new, it doesn’t hurt to call and ask if they offer mocktails. Some bartenders love the challenge of making a great NA drink, even if it’s not listed on the menu.
Have a go-to order in mind – Knowing what flavors or ingredients you enjoy can help you make a quick and confident request.
Use my Mocktail Girlie List - Have this blog pulled up on your phone! This is super helpful and will help you out when you're in a pinch. I have a TON of ideas listed below!!
Mocktail Drink Ideas to Order
I know you're like Tori, this is the section I was looking for!! If the menu lacks mocktails, don’t worry! Many standard cocktails can easily be made alcohol-free, or you can request something fun using fresh ingredients.
Below I listen a ton of ideas from all of you (they are in no particular order):
Ginger beer with lime, grapefruit juice and soda
Soda water and bitters
Sprite with grenadine
Grapefruit with a splash of lemon lime soda & salted rim
Seltzer with a splash of pineapple juice
Cranberry and club soda with a wedge of lime
NA Mojito with a splash of pineapple and mint
Grapefruit juice + soda + lime
A non-alcoholic gin and tonic or a tonic water with a whole freshly squeezed lime and lots of ice
Clubs soda with lime (so simple yet so good!)
Blackberry limeade
Ginger beer with cherries and an orange slice
Paloma mocktail
Ginger beer, some other citrus and some syrups AND then he smoked it with rosemary and apple wood
A mocktail made with Shrubs
Fresh squeezed orange juice mixed half-and-half with tonic water
Ginger beer, cranberry, and lime
I’ll ask for the bartender to make a spicy mocktail. Even if it’s just crushed jalapeños in lime juice with a splash of soda,
Half soda, half ginger ale, and a few shakes of bitters
Soda water and lime with a splash of grenadine
Tonic with lime and olives
Grapefruit tonic
Shrub & club; or cranberry, pineapple, and club soda with a lime
Mango, Guava, blueberry, with lemon lime juice
Sparkling water with a splash of grapefruit and a lime
Cranberry pineapple and club soda on the rocks
Raspberry mojito (NA)
Watermelon margarita with sugar on the rim - sub alcohol for club soda
Sparking water, splash of lemonade, mint and extra limes
Cranberry and pinapple juice with gingerale
Elderflower cordial with soda water and mint leaves
A pomegranate juice or a pomegranate spritzer is a good replacement for a red wine
Cucumber, lime & mint spritz
Shirley temple in a martini glass
What to Say to a Bartender When Ordering a Mocktail
If you’re at a bar with no mocktail menu, here’s how you can confidently ask for one:
“I’d love a fun non-alcoholic drink! Could you make something citrusy and refreshing?”
“Can you do a non-alcoholic version of one of your cocktails? I love fruity drinks with a little tartness.”
“I’m looking for a mocktail that’s not too sweet. Maybe something with ginger beer, lime, or fresh herbs?”
Non-Alcoholic Beer: A Reliable Option
If you’re at a bar or restaurant and don’t see any mocktails on the menu, there’s a good chance they at least carry a non-alcoholic beer. Many bars now stock at least one NA beer, whether it’s Heineken 0.0, Athletic Brewing, or another popular brand.
Non-alcoholic beer can be a great option if you’re looking for something that feels familiar and pairs well with food. When ordering, simply ask, “Do you have any non-alcoholic beers available?” and you’ll likely find at least one choice. If you're unsure about their selection, some places will even let you check the bottle or can for more details.
Or, you can always BYOM (Bring Your Own Mocktail)
Sometimes I grab something small and bring it in my purse to wherever I am going. Here's some of my favorite options that are compact but delish! Definitely depends on the restaurant or bar, though!
All The Bitter (Code: MOCKTAILGIRLIE gets you 10% off)
My go-to alcohol-free bitters are handmade with organic, functional botanicals for gut health. They have four award-winning bitters. Aromatic, Orange, New Orleans, and Lavender bitters—everything you need to shake up mindful cocktails, make bitters and soda, or spice up your favorite mixers like tonic and ginger beer. These are perfect to add to club soda/sparkling water, ginger beer, NA beers or non-alcoholic wine!
Craftmix is a powdered mixer that comes in pre-measured packets and in SO many flavors. All you have to do is mix the powdered mix with water, either sparkling or filtered, and add some ice. So these packets are perfect to put in your purse to bring with you to have a delicious and flavor-filled mocktail! I love the mango marg, strawberry mule, mojito, and espresso martini.
I may be compensated through affiliate links in this post. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase. All opinions are my own.
The Future of Mocktails in Restaurants and Bars
The good news is that mocktails are becoming more mainstream! More restaurants and bars are adding dedicated non-alcoholic menus, featuring sophisticated NA spirits, house-made syrups, and creative flavor combinations. High-end cocktail bars are even offering spirit-free pairings alongside tasting menus!
Brands like Lyre’s, Seedlip, and Ritual Zero Proof have helped push the movement forward, making it easier for bartenders to create complex, delicious alcohol-free drinks. As more people choose to drink mindfully, expect to see even better mocktail options everywhere you go.
