In a place where we pride ourselves on serving some of the best brews and cocktails in the country, Dry January has never been more accessible. Vegas bars and restaurants have embraced refreshing drink alternatives and the mighty mocktail with enthusiasm, adopting many as permanent fixtures of the menu rather than just a monthly reset. With so many to choose from, here’s where to get started.
Anima by EDO At this southwest hot spot, food and drink are inseparable, even when you’re skipping the buzz. The restaurant’s Dry January dinner delivers the full experience with wine alternatives. For $150, expect sharp, thoughtful, non-alcoholic pairings from Oddbird, Dr. Loosen and more, matched with dishes from the EDO culinary team that don’t miss a beat. (animabyedo.com) –GR
Doberman Drawing Room For Dry January, the Doberman will host a new Zero-100 tasting experience, featuring two curated menus—one for the sober curious and one for those still drinking. The non-alcoholic menu features creative numbers like the Faux Fashioned (made with the very popular Lyre’s Traditional Reserve and Lucano N/A Amaro), the Confetti (made with Lyre’s Amaretto, zero-proof herbal liqueur, lemon and egg whites) and the Blush 75 (a mixture of sparkling watermelon with Lyre’s Pink Gin). (dobermandtlv.com.) –AS
La Cave's Purple Haze
Esther’s Kitchen Esther’s never misses, and even without the booze, its bartenders still come out swinging. The There and Back Again mocktail layers Pathfinder, an aromatic N/A spirit, with lemon, ginger and honey. And the Strawberry Field, shaken with zero-proof Amaro Lucano, Lyre’s gin, lime and strawberry, proves restraint can still raise hell. (estherslv.com) –GR
F the Bar at Fergusons Downtown F the Bar has an extensive N/A list to get your Dry January off to a good start. Its January Reset Mixology Workshop teaches you how to make delicious, health-forward cocktails with fresh ingredients, but there’s also an “F the Alcohol” option ($35) for mocktail lovers. This class will help you shake up your N/A drink game, while savoring a number of great sips. The workshop starts January 9 at 6:30 p.m. (fergusonsdowntown.com). –AS
Golden Tiki Tiki drinks are typically a sugar and spirit blitz aimed at getting you on island time fast. But Golden Tiki flips the script, dialing the rum down while still keeping the punch. The virgin cocktail menu offers six choices for the sober curious. The Painkiller’s still got that creamy coconut, but rum’s substituted with Lyre’s dark cane. Pog Killer’s tropical juice medley is a delight, and the Tropical Vertigo’s ginger-forward mix will perk you right up. (thegoldentiki.com) –GR
The Underground's Test Pilot
The Underground at Mob Museum A Prohibition-era speakeasy doesn’t exactly scream Dry January—the Underground distills its own moonshine, for crying out loud—but the bartenders apply the same level of craft to their mocktails as they do to everything else. As you take in a jazz night at this basement hideaway, sip on the Test Pilot, a velvety blend of cherry, elderflower, juniper berry and soda; or enjoy the bright flavors of the Raspberry Lavender Fizz. The Roaring ’20s will surely come rushing back. (themobmuseum.com). –AS
La Cave at Wynn The Morton Group’s intimate hideaway spares no expense when it comes to its incredible wine collection, cocktails and year-round mocktails. If you’re seeking the warm, aromatic mouthfeel of alcohol but want to abstain, La Cave’s Purple Haze blends zero-proof Seedlip 94 with lavender syrup, lemon, egg whites and a slice of dehydrated lime that’s torched tableside. It’s that theatrical presentation that makes a simple mocktail something memorable. (wynnlasvegas.com.) –AS
Mijo Modern Mexican at Durango For a sun-drenched escape without the plane ticket, head to Mijo Modern Mexican at Durango, the crown jewel of the southwest. The Watermelon Cooler mocktail hits with fresh melon, lime, and Almave Blanco (non-alcoholic tequila), brightened by soda. Or go with the Nice Mangoes, made with mango, agave, lime, ginger beer. It’s a midweek vacation, no passport required. (mijomexican.com) –GR
Snooze, A.M. Eatery This Summerlin spot is a brunch staple, but the real fun lives off menu. The restaurant’s dirty sodas turn childhood nostalgia into grown-up indulgence. The Pineapple Upside Down mixes Coke, pineapple, vanilla and vanilla cream. The Strawberry Shortcake fuses Sprite, strawberry purée and vanilla, and the Orange Dreamsicle tops Fanta with vanilla and the restaurant’s signature cream. (snoozeeatery.com). –GR
Velveteen Rabbit The N/A menu at Velveteen Rabbit is as adventurous as it is thoughtful. The ingredients read like something out of an apothecary shop. The Resurrection blends everything from N/A gin and jasmine to iris water and blue spirulina. The Empress features lemon and pear cider with more N/A gin, spicy-sweet damiana maple and rice vinegar. These aren’t your typical mocktails. They’re complex and worth savoring. (velveteenrabbitlv.com.) –AS
