Dry July: The Best Bars in Melbourne For Alcohol-Free Drinks

Dry July is more popular than ever, with an increasing number of Aussies cutting out booze and raising funds for those affected by cancer. While the absence of hangovers will certainly have you looking and feeling your best, after a couple of buzz-free Fridays, we find ourselves itching to pull up a stool and raise a glass with your nearest and dearest.

To stop the inevitable FOMO, get creative with your mocktail order. Melbourne’s bartenders and mixologists are getting more and more inventive, coming up with drinks so delicious, you won’t even realise they’re virgin.

Here, we round up Melbourne’s best bars for alcohol-free drinks to get you through Dry July and beyond.

The Savoy Hotel

The Savoy Hotel has teamed up with Brunswick Aces to create a dlicious non-alcoholic gin The Maître D’. During Dry July, The Alexander Bar will be serving the 0% Maître D’ Sapiir Gin in a menu dedicated to six non-alcoholic cocktails, including unique spins on the classic Pina Colada. This is the place to go if you're hanging out with friends and some feel like drinking, whereas others prefer to go sober, and it's still good times all around!

630 Little Collins St, Melbourne 

Lona Misa x NON Wines

Lona Misa has teamed up with NON Wines to help make dry July easier for all those participating - or those who are always sober but still enjoy the taste of a vino. Lona Misa  is offering a three-course dining experience with matched NON wines for $85 per person. The 'wines' include Salted Raspberry & Chamomile, Toasted Cinnamon & Yuzu, and Stewed Cherry & Coffee, so you're bound for a unique, fun dinner experience!

234 Toorak Road, South Yarra

Goldilock's Rooftop Bar

You know when you rock up to a bar with your friends, only to find their non-alcocolic drinks list is strictly limited to one measly mocktail and some soft drinks? That isn't the case at all at Goldilock's Rooftop Bar. This rooftop cocktail bar has made sure to accommodate for the non-drinkers, too, crafting a tempting mocktail list that tastes as good as it looks.

Consider yourself a fan of The Simpsons? Make sure you order the Ned Flander's Hot Chocolate - it's delicious! 

Level 5, 264 Swanston Street, Melbourne

The Local Taphouse

If you're a beer lover but not planning on getting around an alcoholic brew this July, The Local Taphouse is the place to go. They're pouring a range of non-alcoholic beers that possess the same delicious, refreshing taste as a regular beer, minus the hangover! Plus, with its vibrant atmosphere and cosy setting, you'll be feeling the vibes all around.

184 Carlisle St, East St Kilda

Beneath Driver Lane

Beneath Driver Lane doesn't neglect the non-drinkers who descend the stairs into this intimate venue, making it one of the best non-alcoholic bars in Melbourne. Despite their impressive list of wine, beer, spirits and cocktails, they also have a section dedicated to some delicious mocktails. 

Albeit smaller in size, this mocktail menu is impressive, virgin-ifying some strong and yummy traditional options. Choose from a Negroni, a Spiced Pineapple Daquiri, Winter Paloma or Americano (or try one of each) and sip the night away.

Shop/3 Driver Lane, Melbourne

Chin Chin

Chin Chin’s dining offering epitomises the bold and vibrant flavours native to South-East Asian cuisine - and their mocktail menu is just as flavoursome and fun. This Dry July, guests can enjoy mocktails with both Asian and Australian influences, and drink with pride knowing $1 will be donated from each drink ordered on their Dry July menu. There's cocktails and non-alcoholic spirits to choose from, including Four Pillar's 'Bloody Bandwagon' non-alcoholic gin. We'll chin-chin to that!

125 Flinders Lane, Melbourne CBD

Stokebar at Stokehouse

Catch up with friends for non-alcoholic drinks amongst the warm timber and copper finishes at Stokebar, or enjoy some sea air on the terrace – perfectly positioned to capture the sunshine (however fleeting). There's no reason why cocktails sans alcohol can't be indulgent, and that's where Stokehouse is proud to be able to offer their entire cocktail menu (excluding martini's) in non-alcoholic variations. Some favourites include the Pink Lady Spritz, the Lychee Fizz and the Dragon Fruit Bramble. Yum!

30 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda 

Brunswick Aces

If there is one spot to add to your hitlist this Dry July it’s Brunswick Aces, a spiffy cocktail bar that serves no booze. Billed “Australia’s first permanent non-alcoholic bar”, they stock over 100 beers, wines, spirits and cocktails from producers across the country, including well-known players like McGuigan, Non and Heaps Normal. Try sapiir, a botanical rich spirit, with a splash of tonic, or go for the refreshing Goodness Grace, in which Ovant Grace (a zero alc gin) is paired with lemon, watermelon and coconut rosewater. The place looks just like a classic cocktail bar too, full of dark plush velvet and moody ambience.

124 Weston Street, Brunswick East

Bomba

Dry July won’t seem so bad while you’re snuggled up at this cosy rooftop bar, (non-alcoholic) beverage in hand. Perched over Lonsdale Street, Bomba’s moreish tapas plates and heavenly sips promise to keep you well fed and watered all month long. Plating up Spanish favourites like patatas bravas and spicy chorizo alongside a range of alcohol-free mocktails, it’s a winner for post-work hangs or pre-dinner drinks. Sip on tangy twists of classic cocktails, such as the Granda Spritz with blueberry and Sicilian lemon tonic and a zesty G&T that dare we say is up there with the original.

103 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

Trinket

Sipping on mocktails in a cellar might not be the first thing that springs to mind when planning a big one but hear us out. From the outside, Trinket is one of those unassuming cocktail bars that could easily be missed, but once inside this beautifully unique venue, it’s all about stunning old-world charm. Far from an afterthought, the lengthy list of 0% pours quenches every kind of thirst, from espresso martinis and negronis to pale ales and Savvy B. From the selection of old and new favourites, we're ordering up the Berry Tiki, a refreshing mix of Falernum, lime, mix berry and Lyre’s Dry London Spirit.  For those who prefer something bubbly, there's the Dark & Spicy – think fresh lime mixed with Spiced Cane and ginger beer.

87 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Yarra Botanica

Occupying prime real estate in Southbank on the Yarra River, Yarra Botanica is an expansive bar and eatery decked out with native plants - and serving up a 100% Victorian beverage menu that includes an alluring assortment of non-alcoholic options. Expect beers from the likes of Hop Nation and sober friendly wines, alongside dishes such as 90-hour sourdough pizzas, hand-stretched burrata, pickled Portarlington mussels, and baked brie with herb and garlic drizzle.

Sandridge Bridge, Southbank

Culter & Co

In a sleek yet industrial setting within an old factory, it’s easy to settle in for the evening at the elegant Cutler and Co. There are plenty of low-alcohol and booze-free options on the menu, including beer and wine. The level of skill and creativity that goes into each non-alcoholic cocktail boosts their value ten-fold. With a focus on top-quality produce and a great fine dining experience, creative concoctions such as the Sweet Iron Goddess (Gunpowder green tea, shiso and agave) and the Italian Orange Spritz (Lyre's Italian Orange, verjus and tonic) pair perfectly with simple and seasonal modern Australian dishes. Who said you can’t wine and dine in Dry July?

55/57 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

Rooftop Bar

Whether you decide to wait (and wait) for the sluggish elevator or awaken your thirst with a marathon sprint up the stairs, the reward atop Curtin House is well worth your troubles – even if you’re off the booze for the minute. One of Melbourne’s most iconic venues, Rooftop is home to some of the best alcohol-free cocktails in town, as well as panoramic views across the city. A perennial post-work favourite, kick back with a shaken Seedlip Garden Sour with house-made strawberry & basil syrup, lemon juice and Regan’s orange bitters and watch the sun go down over the city.

Curtin House, 252 Swanston Street, Melbourne

Daughter in Law

With its bold décor and flavour-packed dishes, a trip to Daughter in Law never disappoints. The proudly “inauthentic” Australian Indian eatery is helping diners stick to their resolutions with a selection of non-alcoholic cocktails. Standouts include the Maharajas Punch, made with iced hibiscus and rose tea, and the tropical Melon Breeze: a mix of Seedlip Spice 94, fresh watermelon juice and citrus. Foodwise, the playful menu includes naan pizzas topped with tandoori chicken or masala paneer, beef tartare seasoned with green mango powder and their signature sweet and spicy General Tso’s cauliflower.

37-41 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne

Loving our list of the best bars in Melbourne for alcohol-free drinks and looking for more wholesome activities to keep you busy? Make the most of your hangover-free weekends and check out the best walking tracks around the city before hitting up one of our favourite new cafes for a tasty post-hike feast.