Booze-free drinking is no longer limited to a glass of pop or orange juice; these cocktails have all the flavour and complexity of their alcoholic counterparts
Bouncing Low Rider at Charlotte’s W5, £3.95
Sweetcorn, agave, cayenne pepper and pink grapefruit
Delectably savoury with a cayenne pepper kick, this is our favourite ‘soft’ cocktail from W5’s generous list. Served in a martini glass, the complex flavour combinations work so well, you won’t believe it’s alcohol free.
Million Dollar Smile at Dandelyan, £8.50
Seedlip spice, roasted sweet potato, off-cut cordial, grass
The intriguing list of ingredients makes for a deliciously different cocktail that’s just as special as any of the alcoholic versions from Mr Lyan’s award-winning repertoire.
Dry Monsoon Martini at The Permit Room, £6
Monsooned Malabar espresso with Dishoom’s secret spirit essence, chilli, walnut bitters and crema
Get all the rich and creamy flavour of an espresso martini without any of the negative side-effects.
Activated Black Charcoal Martini at Redemption Notting Hill/ Shoreditch, £6.50
Toxin-grabbing activated charcoal shaken with fresh lemon and maple syrup and topped with aquafaba
Making use of the medically endorsed toxin-grabber activated charcoal and the ever-popular aquafaba (vegan egg whites), you will feel all dark and mysterious with this delicious cocktail in hand.
The Persian Merchant at Seymour’s Parlour, The Zetter Townhouse, £4.50
Marzipan, chamomile water, dash of lemon juice, chamomile syrup
With its slightly nutty taste and velvety texture this is a complex and delicious alternative to alcohol.
Rhubarb and vanilla punch at Nopi, Soho, £7.20,
Rhubarb puree, cucumber, mint, vanilla agave, lychee
With just the right level of sweetness, this fresh blend is the best way to wash down a plate of Nopi’s courgette and manouri fritters.
Driver’s Julep at Sexy Fish, £7
Lime juice, agave, ylang ylang, tonic cordial, cucumber, chilli
One of four cocktails from the lavish bar’s Size Zero Alcohol Free menu, this refreshing yet punchy drink is served in a copper mug over crushed ice.
Gold tea at 34 Mayfair, £8
Oolong rare tea, cacao syrup, orange juice, grated cinnamon and gold leaf
Who needs alcohol when you’ve got a gold-leaf garnish on your drink? This cocktail tastes just as impressive as it looks.
Wolverine at Nightjar, £6
Seedlip spice 94, apple & rhubarb juice, passionberry, pennyroyal syrup, bitter lemon tonic
Be the most envied designated driver in London with this tangy and complex concoction from the award-winning Hoxton speakeasy-style bar.
Meadowsweet at Scout Bar, £11
Oak aged meadowsweet distilled water, non-alcoholic Scout vermouth, cherry cordial, vetiver tincture
Stirred and served with a fennel flower, this cocktail, from the no-waste concept bar in Shoreditch, is proof that foraging, no-waste and great taste can all go hand in hand.
