8 Local Places to Grab a Non-Alcoholic Beverage
Whether you’re pregnant but repeatedly craving pizza and a cold one, planning for a sober season, or just looking to cut back on booze in gen, we’ve got some thirst-quenching ideas for you. Here’s to skipping over that pesky hangover! *clink*
— by Kelsey Heintz, Managing Editor
Ceremony
This dry bottle shop’s Instagram feed practically makes us thirsty after one glance. They offer non-alcoholic beers, spirits, and wines; mixers; bottled and canned mocktails; bitters and other garnishments; and bar accessories. To boot, Ceremony also curates a playlist for whatever party you’re having while you enjoy your beverage(s) and has an e-book of drink recipes for you to test out when you get your drink haul home.
Locations: 1 N Lombardy St (The Fan) and 4740 Commonwealth Centre Pkwy, Booth G6 (Midlothian)
Hours: Found here
Ninja Kombucha Brewing Co
If you’re looking for something delish and particularly good for your gut, Ninja Kombucha is your spot. They’ve won bronze at the Kombucha Kup and understandably so. Here, you can enjoy a variety of non-alcoholic and refreshing flavors, including Blackberry Hibiscus, Blueberry Lavender, Cranberry Lime Ginger, and Dry Hopped Lemon Ginger. The brewer also makes small-batch seasonal offerings and one-off experimental flavors throughout the year. Enjoy your drink at the taproom, or take some cans home to crack on the couch.
Location: 126 W Brookland Park Blvd (Brookland Park)
Hours: Found here
Helen’s Restaurant
Helen’s Restaurant makes the cut for our 5 Local Spots to Enjoy a Fun Brunch, and now we’re here to recommend you consider a non-alcoholic bev with your meal. The drink menu includes four non-alcoholic options, or Tonics: Frost (maple, lemon, black walnut bitters), Harper Lee (lavender, lemon, soda, bitters), and Joyce (black cherries, rosemary, lemon, soda). Way loving that nod to iconic writers over here, by the way. Pinky up.
Location: 2527 W Main St (The Fan)
Hours: Found here
Three Notch’d RVA Collab House
The RVA Collab House, yes, serves delicious nachos, but they also serve their own line of Uncool brews: Citra Wheat, Hazy IPA, Cranberry Apple Sour, and the new Low Cal IPA. On our last visit, we got the Citra Wheat (with the delicious nachos, if that wasn’t clear), and the whole vibe transported us to enjoying a salty snack and a couple crispies by the beach.
Location: 2930 W Broad St (Scott’s Addition)
Hours: Found here
Point 5
The owner of Point 5 has one goal: to normalize non-alcoholic beverages and cocktails while bringing delicious options to our city. We consider that mission accomplished. This Carytown spot offers more than 120 non-alcoholic drink options, and one of our favorites has been the Luminara 2018 Red Blend (Alcohol Removed) — Napa Valley. It’s a chillable (!!) red, which makes for easy drinking, whether or not it’s paired with spring- or summertime.
Location: 3435 W Cary St (Carytown)
Hours: Found here
Virago Spirits
You can find this gem just on the outskirts of Scott’s Addition (past the Diamond, near the SPCA), serving up what they call “uncommon craft spirits,” like Four-Port Rum, Ruby Port Cask Finished Rum, Kali Hibiscus Gin, Coffee Liqueur, and more. Virago also offers online ordering with local pick-up for their spirits, as well as a large selection of to-go cocktails, and you can often have many of their tasting menu options made as non-alcoholic versions.
Location: 1727 Rhoadmiller St (Diamond District)
Hours: Found here
Hotel Greene
Yes, def visit this place when you’re looking to get your highfalutin’ mini golfing on, *but also* make plans to order from the tasty Mocktails menu while you’re putt-putting away. They’ve got the Hibiscus Lemonade (house hibiscus-infused grenadine, lemon, orgeat (almond)), Snobby Bobby (cranberry, lime cordial, demerara sugar, club soda), and Park Ranger (blueberry shrub, honey syrup, lemon, tonic) for your sipping pleasure.
Location: 508 E Franklin St (Downtown)
Hours: Found here
The Veil Brewing Co.
Each Richmond location of The Veil Brewing Co. offers modern, industrial vibes; patio space; delicious food options; and non-alcoholic booze. Depending on where you choose to sit and sip, you’ll find Ever Calm (tasty vibes of Sunny D, pineapple punch, and tons of passion fruit and pineapple), Always (simcoe, mosaic, and citra hops), or Lemon-Lime Seltzee (crisp and refreshing, made with real lemon and lime purée).
Locations: 1509B Belleville St (Scott’s Addition) and 4910 Forest Hill Ave (Forest Hill)
Hours: Found here
For more drinks (& eats):
