Every now and then we don’t really feel like a having a drink — but we don’t exactly want to be stuck with a glass of water with lemon, either. Check out these bars that serve up fruity, refreshing non-alcoholic drinks that you won’t be embarrassed ordering.
Honi Honi Tiki Lounge
Honi Honi is the OG of tiki lounges in Hong Kong — it opened back in 2013 before they became all the rage. Alongside boozy tropical creations, you’ll also find delicious drinks good for teetotalers. The Mango Coco ($75, above) consists of mango juice, coconut milk and syrup, and passionfruit puree, while the Passion Water ($75) is made with a refreshing mix of passion fruit puree, and a mix of watermelon, lemon and apple juices.
3/F, Somptueux Central, 52 Wellington Street, Central, 2353-0885.
Vibes
The Mira’s secret-gardenesque alfresco bar Vibes has a whole bunch of breezy, tiki-style cocktails that can be tweaked to be alcohol-free. So if you like the sound of the Hong Kong Lady (Nu Rum blend, Tahiti mix, guava nectar, fresh lime juice and angostura bitters) or the Sexy Colada (Bacardi Carta Oro, ginger syrup, coconut cream, pineapple and lime juices) — ask for fresh coconut water, fresh passion fruit juice or guava juice in lieu of alcohol.
5/F, The Mira Hong Kong, 118 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2315-5599.
Duddell’s
Need a spicy kick, but trying to stay off the booze? Try the Spicy Mango Cooler at Duddell’s — a mix of mango, green Tabasco, ginger ale and Thai basil.
3/F, Shanghai Tang Mansion, 1 Duddell Street, Central, 2525-9191.
Limewood
Oceanfront restaurant Limewood serves up a whole host of booze-free drinks with a strong health focus: Think mocktails made with kombucha, kale, turmeric and wheat.
Shop 103/104, The Pulse, 28 Beach Road, Repulse Bay, 2866-8668.
Havana
Cuban watering hole Havana does a pretty good mojito — yet you’d be pleasantly surprised to find the list of delicious mocktails on offer. From the simple Sunset Cooler, made with cranberry with orange and lime juices topped with ginger ale, to the Caribbean Delight (above) consisting of orange juice, coconut water, lime juice and grenadine — all mocktails ($65) are fruity creations you can sip on without a potential headache the next day. Plus, you can order any of the fruit daiquiris without the addition of rum.
4/F, The Plaza, 21 Lan Kwai Fong, Central, 2851-4880.
Cassio
Tapas bar Cassio’s next-level homemade lemonade ($88) comes complete with strawberries that are macerated in sherry vinegar, basil, compressed citrus and soda water. If you’re looking for something a little more straightforward, there’s also the virgin mojito ($88) made with fresh lime juice, mint and soda; plus the Tropical ($88), with guava juice, coconut cream, kaffir lime leaf and compressed citrus.
2/F, LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham Street, Central, 3792-0129.
WTF
At WTF (“Worth the Fuss” for the uninitiated), mocktails to choose from include the classic Virgin Mary — here it’s known as “Mary Is Missing” ($70, above) with all the works. Then there’s the Detoxify ($70), a healthy concoction made with pineapple juice, coconut water, green apple juice and fresh mint. Need a pick-me-up? Try the Every Time Is Coffee Time ($70), made with coffee (natch) with mixed berries, citrus juice and yuzu tonic.
G/F, 10 Morrison Hill Road, Causeway Bay, 2792-0823.
The Optimist
It’s not just about awesome cocktails at The Optimist, its alcohol-free creations are pretty outstanding, too. Revive yourself after a long day with the Deep Sea ($60, above), made with fresh cucumber, mint, honey, fresh guava juice and ginger ale; or the Strawberry Letter ($60), a simple lemonade-based drink with fresh strawberries garnished with basil.
239 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, 2433-3324.
Zuma
Zuma does a whole range of “shinzui”, or non-alcoholic cleansers that are good for those nights when you just don’t feel like having a boozy tipple. The Bishonen ($80) is made with fresh mint and ginger with sugar and fresh lime, topped with soda water. There’s also a selection of iced teas ($85) with different combination flavors like peach and camomile or jasmine and almond.
5/F, The Landmark, 15 Queen’s Road Central, 3657-6388.
Gaucho
It’s more famous for its hearty steaks — so it might come as a surprise that Gaucho also churns out quality mocktails. The Carino, for example, is a mix of fresh strawberry and passion fruit puree, shaken with cranberry juice, and served with a sugar rim.
5/F, LHT Tower, 31 Queen’s Road Central, 2386-8090.
