I love cocktails — the complexity, the flavour combinations and the full-body sensation that comes with the first sip of something mouth-wateringly delicious. What I’m not a fan of are the blurry nights when I can’t quite remember the exact details of my BFF’s latest tea or the puffy jowls I wake up with the next morning (yikes). Not to mention all the health benefits of choosing non-alcoholic drinks. The city’s recent mocktail revolution has been perfectly poised to convert me, a once hardened drinker, into a sober-curious, zebra-striper.
Entire spirit-free sections are appearing on menus at the best bars in Toronto, crafted with house-made syrups and juices, fresh ingredients and the same care that goes into creating their cocktails. The days of sadly sipping a Diet Coke with a meal at Toronto’s best restaurants are finally behind us.
Between my local zero-waste grocery store, Unboxed Market and my go-to bottle shop Sobr Market, my fridge at home is always stocked with non-alcoholic wine, beer and spirits for whipping up mocktail recipes. But I still want to go out and enjoy Toronto’s coolest speakeasies and cocktail bars. For me, being able to alternate between the best mocktails and cocktails in the city is double the fun on a night out. And for others, the city’s best mocktails are an inclusive option that lets everyone get in on the fun.
9 best bars and restaurants in Toronto for mocktails and non-alc drinks
1. Adrak
138 Avenue Rd.
Recommended in the Michelin Guide for its palatial interior and creative Indian cuisine, Adrak Yorkville offers a thoughtful, inspired experience from the plates to the cocktails and mocktails. A nod to different regions in India, the list of mocktails balances innovation and tradition with authentic ingredients and bold flavours. Find serves like the tangy Kala Khatta Fizz and the refreshing Charminar with ginger, honey syrup and fresh lime.
2. Planta Queen
180 Queen St. W.
View on Instagram
I will never get over Planta’s flavourful vegan nigiri or the creamy, truffle-laced udon noodles. The beautiful, spacious restaurant is easily one of the best vegan restaurants in Toronto, especially for a higher-end meal. Alongside the cocktails, the spirit-free drinks feature just as many thoughtful flavour combinations like lime, cucumber and ginger beer, or butterfly pea flower, chamomile and pineapple.
3. No Vacancy
74 Ossington Ave.
Jessica Blaine Smith
This sultry snack bar on Ossington is a romantic date spot for sipping cocktails and sharing global- and Japanese-inspired plates, like the addictive crispy black tiger shrimp with shishito relish and red yuzu kosho.
There's a whole list of sake, shochu highballs and Japanese whisky highballs, but their more complex serves are where they really shine. The Seeing Green cocktail (Roku Gin, Dillon's Peach, Bianco Vermouth, yuzu, cucumber, matcha, lavender and egg white) had me licking my lips after every delicious sip.
They don't spare any effort when it comes to their zero-proof offerings though. In addition to canned Perrier Chic mocktails (IYKYK), there's non-alcoholic wine, beer and sparkling iced tea. Available by the glass or bottle, French Bloom Le Blanc Alcohol-Free French Sparkling is actually a great bubbly option, not just "good for a non-alc wine." And their list of non-alcoholic craft cocktails even includes a milk punch! It looks like the imbibers and non-drinkers are equal after all.
No Vacancy serves sultry sippers on Ossington
I check in for intricately layered, Japanese-inspired libations at No Vacancy, the sexy new cocktail bar from the Ghost Chicken team.
Read more4. Suite 115
532 College St.
A true blue Toronto speakeasy, Suite 115 requires a secret passcode to get into the barely noticeable bar on College. Inside, the bare walls — illuminated by strip lights and the simple, glowing red back bar — are a blank canvas, directing all attention to the art in the glass.
The cocktails here are masterful creations full of complexity, and born out of the staff's meaningful memories and moments. The team puts just as much effort into their non-alcoholic drinks with mocktails like the Whispering Grove, a smoky, citrusy and umami mixture of lapsang souchong, mushroom, fig leaf, whey and citrus.
This speakeasy serves riddles, and ridiculously good cocktails
Four years ago, former co-workers vowed to revive a beloved speakeasy. Now, their dream has come true. Welcome to Suite 115 on College Street.
Read more5. Miku
10 Bay St. #105
View on Instagram
One of my favourite special occasion spots in the city to visit with family, Miku is an elegant Japanese restaurant serving its signature flame-torched aburi sushi (don't sleep on the salmon oshi with Miku sauce and jalapeño), sauce-slathered maki rolls, incredibly fresh sashimi and nigiri, alongside hot plates like wagyu striploin.
There are plenty of options for sake and wine by the glass, and cocktails that span different flavour profiles, but they also have a substantial section of zero-proof drinks. Find non-alcoholic wine (Oddbird), non-alcoholic beer (Asahi and Bellwoods) and mocktails on the list. My favourite drink on the menu is the Tōji Fizz, a yuzu, elderflower and lavender concoction that drinks like a floral lemonade.
6. Lyla
60 Sudbury St.
View on Instagram
This underrated just-outside-of-Liberty-Village gem serves high-quality Mediterranean-ish fare with a smattering of Asian flavours. Hanging over each booth in the simple but stylish dining room, oversized flower-shaped pendant lights leave me transfixed, and add a slightly feminine charm that balances out the more masculine elements of the space. Order the crispy cauliflower and the lobster pasta and pair them with one of a few different tasty craft mocktails on the menu. They also have cocktails and a lengthy wine list.
7. Clockwork
100 Front St. W.
View on Instagram
The Fairmont Royal York is known for its top-notch service and impeccably crafted cocktails — which is why it hosted much of the World Class Global Finals bartending competition last year. Its mocktail program is just as nuanced and robust. Head to Clockwork, the hotel’s buzzy lobby bar, for spirit-free libations that strike all the right notes. Seedlip features prominently, alongside unexpected ingredients like marsala chai, smoked sesame and ancho chili, coming together in flavour profiles that feel every bit as considered as their boozy counterparts.
8. Simpl Things
269 Dunn Ave.
You’re never going to get a second-rate mocktail if Evelyn Chick is on duty. The owner of Simpl Things shakes up zero-proof cocktails at her cozy Parkdale bar and restaurant with a level of skill and innovation that’s cemented her reputation as one of the city’s most talented beverage experts. Whether it's a non-alc tonic that’s “crisp as pine needles and fresh as a mountain exhale,” or a spritz inspired by classic Italian aperitifs sourced from Montreal brand Fin Soda, you’re bound to be impressed by the cocktail wizardry at this neighbourhood staple.
9. Tutti Matti
364 Adelaide St. W.
View on Instagram
I’ll admit that when I made my way to this downtown Italian gem in mid-January, my heart was set on Lambruscan reds and the high-acid whites of Piedmont. But Tutti Matti isn’t just a haven for fabulous wine and hearty Tuscan pasta — it’s also an unexpectedly great spot for a mocktail. The non-alcoholic list is brief, and I sampled both options, but each delivered colourful, layered flavours and wow-factor. The standout, a vibrant orange Aperol spritz-inspired dupe, made me feel that I wasn’t missing out on any of the fun.
