Where to Find the Best Mocktails in San Diego

San Diego may be famous for its craft breweries and Baja-style margaritas, but a new wave of mixologists is shaking things up with exquisitely crafted mocktails. Whether you’re on a Dry January detox, a designated driver, or simply prefer to skip the alcohol, these San Diego mocktails at well-known bars and restaurants will tantalize your taste buds without leaving you feeling left out.

A favorite San Diego brunch spot amongst the plant-based crowd, KINDRED is also well known for its fully vegan beverage program.

Tickle your senses with “Zombie Prescription,” a mocktail made with pineapple turmeric shrub, grapefruit, lemon, cinnamon, ginger and agave or try the “Kiss of Steel,” a pick-me-up with cold brew coffee, oat milk, cinnamon, coconut and an orange twist.

KINDRED’s sister spot, the space adventure-themed Mothership cocktail bar offers fully plant-based non-alcoholic options alongside their boozy concoctions. Try the “Tracking Device” made with coconut water, coconut cream, lime + hibiscus, or the “X-Ray” featuring white cane non-alcoholic spirit, lime, Szechuan peppercorn, spearmint + peppermint oil.

Oh, and Mothership was also named one of the Best Bars in America in 2023 by Esquire?

On Friday and Saturday nights, the popular cacao café, Maya Moon Collective, turns into Moonflower, a dedicated zero-proof cocktail bar. Their seasonal mocktail menus feature local produce paired with herbs, adaptogens and plant medicines.

Past seasonal drinks include “Spiritual Rest,” a blend of Drink Dromme calm, Everleaf Drinks forest, lemon, honey, ginger, turmeric and orange bitters, and “Hi Barbie!” featuring non-alcoholic gin, non-alcoholic bubbly, prickly pear, strawberry, yuzu, lime, kanna.

Mnemonic Coffee, a new coffee shop in Bankers’ Hill, serves up coffee sodas alongside lattes, plus it’s also home to a “zero-proof drink space.”

Mnemonic Coffee’s zero-proof menu includes “Maple St.” with maple syrup, long pepper, cinnamon, apple foam and topo chico or transport yourself to Cuba with the “Soy Libre” made with Coke, simple syrup, soy sauce, lime juice + cinnamon.

Rated one of the top 25 mocktail bars in the U.S. by Yelp, this stunning La Jolla speakeasy is known for its exquisite cocktails, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Their mocktail menu changes seasonally, but you might find delights like the tart + spicy “Hibiscus Phosphate” or the tiki-themed “Pirate’s Anthem” mocktail that will evoke feelings of a tropical vacation.

Pro tip: stock up on non-alcoholic mixers + ready-to-drink options at their carefully curated bottle shop before you head out. 

Venture to Bird Rock and get swept away by the elegance of Elixir de La Lune. This intentionally curated, plant-based café takes its non-alcoholic offerings seriously, with meticulously crafted elixir mocktails like the “Forest Fairy,” featuring Amass Riverine non-alcoholic spirit, grapefruit juice + rosemary bitters, or the “Ocean Bliss,” with Seedlip Grove non-alcoholic spirit, lemon juice, orange bitters, blue spirulina honey syrup + a salted toasted coconut rim. 

Plus, each elixir comes with a few drops from one of 12 flower essences. Each flower essence is titled with an affirming word like “Serenity” or “Compassion” and the ingredients within each essence help to cultivate and support that affirmation. Lastly, all of Elixir de la Lune’s food is plant-based and gluten-free, making it an ideal place for an intentional brunch or happy hour gathering. 

Named the Best New Neighborhood Restaurant of 2023 by Eater San Diego, Leucadia’s Atelier Manna has now developed several zero-proof “vitality tonics” to accompany its elevated farm-to-table brunch menu. Each tonic features seasonal fruit and herbs and are “designed with the intention to invigorate, refresh and restore.”

Standouts include the “Lisbon” made with quince, citrus, vanilla and baking spices, as well as the “Madera” with toasted fig leaf, juniper and lemon.

This popular seafood restaurant extends its commitment to fresh, seasonal ingredients to its beverage program as well.

Their mocktail menu features rotating options like the “Never Have I Heather” made with lemon juice, dragon fruit + basil syrup, and the “Sea Güey” featuring housemade pistachio horchata, strawberry reduction + cinnamon.

So ditch the FOMO and raise a glass to these delicious San Diego mocktails. With these spots as your guide, you’re sure to find delicious and satisfying drinks that will leave you feeling refreshed and invigorated. Cheers to a San Diego where everyone can have a seat at the table, regardless of their beverage of choice!

Bonus Tip: Many bars and restaurants in San Diego are happy to customize their existing cocktails to make them non-alcoholic. Just ask your bartender for their recommendations!

Browse our Food & Home articles for vegan recipes, farmers’ market locations, plus foodie news and events around San Diego! Or browse our San Diego Wellness Business Directory to find a healthy dining hotspot near you!