Best 11 Mocktails: Sydney bars offering exciting new non-alcoholic drink options

IT’S no secret that Aussies love a drink, but did you know that taking a break from booze doesn’t have to be boring. Here’s 11 of the top Sydney venues to grab yourself a mocktail.

James Snelgrove and Thor Bergquist at PS40 bar in Sydney CBD. Picture: John Fotiadis

IT’S no secret that Australians love a drink, but taking a break from booze doesn’t have to be boring.

Instead of soda water or orange juice, venues are catering to those who want to have a good time without the subsequent hangover.

Here’s a look at 11 of the top Sydney bars to grab yourself a mocktail — and what you should order when you visit.

BAR CHINOIS, CHIPPENDALE

Bed Time Remedies: almond milk, caramel and vanilla syrup and orange blossom.

Bar Chinois is serving up Bed Time Remedies.

The Summer Fling is one of a few tasty mocktails at Bar Chinois.

MEAT AND WINE CO., CIRCULAR QUAY

Dream Team: pineapple juice, cream, nutmeg, orange bitters and freshly brewed apple tea.

NOUR, SURRY HILLS

Star: strawberry puree, pineapple, fresh lime, star anise and lemonade.

Strawberry sensation: The Star.

Misr is Arabic for Egypt.

THE WINERY, SURRY HILLS

Turkish Spritz: rose syrup, pink grapefruit, cranberry soda, Persian fairy floss and dried rose petals.

HURRICANE’S GRILL, DARLING HARBOUR

Tropical Jolly: mango sorbet, guava, apple and lemon juice blended with a mango puree.

Tropical Jolly.

Raspilian.

POPINA KITCHEN, CIRCULAR QUAY

Red Berry Ice Tea: lemon myrtle, lemongrass and ginger tea, fresh strawberry, raspberry, lemon juice, sugar syrup and egg white.

COOGEE BAY HOTEL, COOGEE

Coco Green: muddled lime, lime juice, simple syrup, coconut water and green tea.

It’s hard to go past The Coco Green.

OTTO, WOOLLOOMOOLOO

Watermelon Cooler: watermelon, cranberry, thyme and rosemary foam.

BLANCA, BONDI

Shiso Berry: blackberries, shiso, pineapple and cranberry juice, lemon and vanilla.

It doesn’t get more refreshing than the Shiso Berry.

BENTLEY BAR AND RESTAURANT, CBD

Beetroot and Bay Leaf: beetroot, blueberry and rhubarb juice, mulberry vinegar, saline and citric
acid solutions, black pepper and smoked bay leaf.

PS40, CBD

House-made sodas — wattleseed cola, smoked lemonade and bush tonic are served on tap as well as blended in cocktails and mocktails.

Wattle Cola and Watermelon mocktail. Picture: John Fotiadis

Basil Blast mocktail. Picture: John Fotiadis

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: PS40 in Sydney's CBD

By Renata Gortan

PS40, which opened nine months ago, is a CBD bar based around its house-made sodas. Flavours such as wattleseed cola, smoked lemonade and bush tonic are served on tap as well as blended in cocktails and mocktails.

Co-owner Thor Bergquist said 10 per cent of drinkers opt for the sodas while 25 per cent will order an alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink.

“One of the coolest things is that people can come into the bar and feel comfortable with a non-alcoholic drink that is just as good,” he said. “In most bars and restaurants there’s less focus on non-alcoholic options, it’s something that’s whipped up at the last minute and there’s not a lot of care taken. We want it to feel like you’re getting the full service even if you’re not drinking.

“We use the sodas in our mixed drinks and do mocktails on request. Fresh basil, lemon juice and bush tonic is a nice aperitif-style spritz.”

The increasing popularity of teetotaller months such as Feb Fast, Dry July and Ocsober means venues are making more of an effort for those abstaining. Kensington Street Social has a juice and tea trolley while Biota Dining offers juice pairings.

The Collaboratory in Leichardt, a non-alcoholic bar created by the folks from Ballsy Wild Kombucha, only serves this fermented beverage. And while Sydney’s only mocktail bar, Lentil On The Rocks in Newtown, closed last year, it can still be hired as a functions space.

Bergquist, a career bartender, stopped drinking five months ago and finds restaurants are better at catering to non-drinkers.

“I always look at the drinks menu out of professional curiosity, but normally order a soda, tonic or cola. If I can find Strangelove ginger beer, with green tea and cinnamon, in bars I’ll order that,” he said.

CBD fine diner Bentley offers an impressive mocktail list, including pea tonic, infusing pea, quatre epice, rosemary, and sage and thyme in tonic water.

“The intention of our  non-alcoholic beverages is to provide more interesting options to pair with our tasting menus than the trite lemon lime and bitters or mineral water offered ad nauseam. There is no reason why these should not be as complex as the flavours of a dish, nor as varied as the many regions and varieties of wine we can draw upon,” bar manager Phil Gandevia said. 

Originally published as Best 11 Mocktails: Sydney bars offering exciting new non-alcoholic drink options