I don’t drink alcohol but that doesn’t mean I don’t like ordering a pretty drink in a pretty glass! I hate those half-assed attempts at a mocktail that are really just a mix of juices with tonic water without tasting it or with any reasonable idea of what it should taste like, especially when you get charged $10+ (I’ve had plenty of those rip offs). I’m always on the look out for a great mocktail and thought I’d share my favourites so far. Many bars and eateries in Canberra don’t have a mocktail menu, but most are usually happy to make something up.

So, in no particular order and starting with three places that actually have a mocktail menu…

1. Kinn Thai – with about 12 mocktails listed priced at $9 each, you are spoilt for choice with various flavours that all come serve in super tall or cute glasses, making you feel like you’re on hollidays. Best of all, they taste good! I loved the Sweet Valentine’s with fresh watermelon, citrus and rose water.

Kinn Thai sweet valentine mocktail

2. Soju Girl – there are only three mocktails but hey, it’s still a mocktail menu! I absolutely loved The Healthy Option of lychee juice, peach juice, green tea sugar syrup and peach bitters ($12). I must say this is one of the best mocktails I’ve had. The sweet notes of lychee and peach were fresh, and not flavoured. I loved the entire mix.

Soju Girl healthy option mocktail

3. Polit Bar – There are three mocktails on the menu ($12) as well as ‘virgin offerings’ of juices and slushies. If you can get a seat, the upstairs lounge has a nice dark corner for mischief and mayhem.

4. Hippo Co – I was here for a friend’s hen’s night and although there was no mocktail menu, I was impressed when the bartender told me he could make pretty much anything on the cocktail menu into a mocktail. From memory, prices start at $8 for a mocktail. I really liked watching our bartender work. He was smoking something for one of the cocktails being made.

Hippo Co bartender

Then worked on my drink…I believe I ordered the mocktail version of the Snowdrop. The two camping style mugs next to it is the Old Smoke cocktail with ginger soda.

Hippo Co Canberra mocktail making(1)

And voila…fancy! And it tasted fantastic.

Hippo Co Canberra snowdrop mocktail

5. Joe’s Bar – mocktail versions of the Peach Bellini (around $10) are a must try! Using fresh peaches and lime blitzed together, there was so much juicy fruity flavour that wasn’t too sweet and had carefully been combined to taste. The housemade ginger beer ($6), mixed with chilli, star anise, a helluva lot of ginger and then left to brew for 4 days, is also the best I’ve had in Canberra.

Joe's Bar peach bellini mocktail

6. Sage – The only eatery in Canberra to offer matching mocktails to its tasting menus, Sage does it very well. With flavours such as citrus and lavendar, tomato and rosemary water, beetroot and raspberry, and chocolate, there is so much thought put into the drinks and the pairings. If you’re not wanting to splurge on a tasting menu, you can always head to Mint Garden Bar (just outside Sage) and ask for a clever concoction.

Sage chocolate mocktail

7. Temporada – staff were happy to create a mocktail for me and ask what kind of mocktail is preferred. I often ask for something berry-like, and a strawberry mocktail ($10) arrived with muddled strawberries and other berries topped with fizzy soda. Sweet and simple with real fruit and fizz.

8. Benchmark Wine Bar – now I don’t remember what I ordered, but it was something with berries in it and I do remember it being frothy, filled with berries and tasted amazing! I think this was around the $12 mark.

Benchmark-wine-bar-mocktail (1)

9. Parlour Wine Room – at a recent high tea at Parlour, I asked if I could swap the included sparkling wine with a mocktail instead. Staff were happy to oblige and I asked for a mojito mocktail. This came in a tall glass with freshly muddled mint. I was happy with it and I’m sure they could make other mocktails too.

10. Bacaro – another place that do a good mojito mocktail is Bacaro, looking classy served in a wine glass with mint and a wedge of lime. I don’t remember the cost but it wouldn’t have been more than $12.

Let me know if there are any other great mocktail places I should check out!

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