Welcome to one of my three hometowns here in the great state of North Carolina. Wilmington, NC is booming with incredible food, art, drink, cultural events…for a small coastal town, the Port City is punching well above its weight. It is now a known food and drink destination. Here I will list bars and restaurants serving thoughtful zero-proof cocktails and beer as well as producers of shrubs and bitters (the basis for many complex non-alcoholic cocktails).
While they only have two or three non-alcoholic cocktails and one beer, the bartenders here are thoughtful about non-alcoholic beverages and will work with you. They are not irritated by the question about drinking alcohol-free (some joints seem annoyed by the very suggestion of drinking throughtfully without alcohol). Pictured here is a concoctino of pineapple muddled with ginger – bright, intense, and refreshing. I had mine with the Argentianian-grilled steak, and, oh baby.)
Mocksie (dry bar and bottle shop), 713 Princess Street, downtown Wilmington, NC
Mocksie not only offers zero-proof cocktails, they have the essentials to stock your bar at home. They also offer numerous events for those are living or want to live an alcohol-free life.
The Greenhouse, a beloved vegan restaurant, 1427 Military Cutoff Road, Wilmington, NC
The Greenhouse offers an extensive non-alcoholic menu. They emphasize that just as there is a sustainable way to eat, there is a sustainable way to drink that offers all of the flavor and complexity of any other cocktail.
Many bar syrups and garnishes are made in house. The shrubs are made locally by Pomona Shrub Co. (listed above). Pictured here: The Lavendar Haze, crafted with Dhos N/A, a gin-like spirit. It offers a complex blend of flavors, with prominent notes of juniper and lavender.
The Blind Elephant, a speakeasy, 21 N. Front St., downtown Wilmington, NC
The Blind Elephant started its zero-proof cocktail program years ago and has been doing it longer than any place in Wilmington. For Dry January, they note two features:
*Oh Bother* *Deja Vú*
-bee pollen, immune boost tea, black peppercorn, honey, orange juice, lemon, and pineapple
*Deja Vú
-peppermint tea, vanilla bean, cranberry, Coconut, lime, Seedlip Grove
Panacea is another OG of non-alcoholic drinks in Wilmington, making in-house shrubs, sodas and lemonades since 2019. They have an extensive and impressive list of zero-proof cocktails, including the Strawberry NO-jito and the Fire and Ice Detox.
Know of other places in Wilmington with fantastic non-alcoholic beverages? Drop us a note at zeroproofbody@gmail.com.