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The sober social scene is here: 5 booze-less bar concepts

The mocktail trend widens its aperture

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

May 13, 2019

5 Slides
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In the past, bar customers who choose to not partake in drinking alcohol might have chosen to order a club soda with a lemon squeeze. But now they don’t have to pretend in order to partake in adult social scenes. Recently, the sober bar trend has been rising in popularity, particularly in youthful urban areas like Brooklyn.

With mixologists onboard creating mocktails made of homemade sodas, syrups, bitters, and herbs, these sober bars are proving that you don’t need liquor to craft an appealing adult beverage.

We’ve rounded up some of the burgeoning booze-free nightlife establishments around the nation, from popups with aspirations for more permanent digs, to sober social clubs connected to recovery lifestyles.

Contact Joanna Fantozzi at [email protected] 

Follow her on Twitter: @JoannaFantozzi

About the Author

Joanna Fantozzi

Senior Editor

Joanna Fantozzi is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She has more than seven years of experience writing about the restaurant and hospitality industry. Her editorial coverage ranges from profiles of independent restaurants around the country to breaking news and insights into some of the biggest brands in food and beverage, including Starbucks, Domino’s, and Papa John’s.  

Joanna holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and creative writing from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in arts and culture journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Prior to joining Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018, she was a freelance food, culture, and lifestyle writer, and has previously held editorial positions at Insider (formerly known as Business Insider) and The Daily Meal. Joanna’s work can also be found in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, The New York Daily News, and Parents Magazine. 

Her areas of expertise include restaurant industry news, restaurant operator solutions and innovations, and political/cultural issues.

Joanna Fantozzi has been a moderator and event facilitator at both Informa’s MUFSO and Restaurants Rise industry events. 

Joanna Fantozzi’s experience:

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (August 2021-present)

Associate Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (July 2019-August 2021)

Assistant Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (Oct. 2018-July 2019)

Freelance Food & Lifestyle Reporter (Feb. 2018-Oct. 2018)

Food & Lifestyle Reporter, Insider (June 2017-Feb. 2018)

News Editor, The Daily Meal (Jan. 2014- June 2017)

Staff Reporter, Straus News (Jan. 2013-Dec. 2013)

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