Five D.C. restaurants with exciting mocktails, according to the owner of a booze-free bar

Vergie “Gigi” Arandid’s alcohol-free Binge Bar on H Street NE began as a passion project, inspired by the pandemic and her own personal journey that involved getting sober after a DUI in 2016. She wanted people to “come as you are” — the bar’s mission statement — and feel comfortable as soon as they crossed the threshold.

“I don't necessarily care if you're sober or sober-curious,” Arandid says. “I just want to know that you feel a sense of belonging when you come to Binge, that you feel at home.”

Opening Binge Bar was personally meaningful to Arandid, who added that her Filipino heritage made her feel the importance of "hospitality culture.” And it’s been welcomed enthusiastically: Since opening in February 2023, Binge has consistently been recognized by voters for Washington City Paper’s Best of DC list in the “best mocktail” category, winning that title in 2024. 

It’s also been a trend-setter. As Gen Z continues to change the norms around drinking culture and heavy drinking loses popularity among younger generations, nightlife businesses have adapted accordingly. Binge Bar became the first, and remains the only, non-alcoholic bar in the District, but more and more bars and restaurants are now featuring the kinds of craft mocktails and non-alcoholic beers and wines that Binge specializes in. 

While these trends are national, Arandid says the D.C. region has been a leader, thanks to other trailblazers like former Columbia Room bartender Derek Brown, whose Mindful Drinking Fest brings over 1,000 people to D.C. annually. 

“If we were to have had this interview two years ago, I probably would not be able to provide you with this list,” Arandid tells The 51st. “But today, I have a lot of competition.”

These days, Arandid can visit some of the places she used to frequent before getting sober and find tasty zero-proof variations on classic cocktails, along with new, innovative concoctions that factor in lower sugar or caffeine content. (High amounts of either can spike cortisol levels and potentially trigger some drinkers, Arandid says.)

Ahead of No Drink November, a time when many people test out sobriety or try to pare back their drinking, Arandid shared five recommendations for places where she and her loved ones have felt welcomed by the staff while imbibing delicious, non-alcoholic drinks — plus one bonus rec for a trendy tea and coffee shop.

Estuary

950 New York Ave NW

Some restaurants are tailor-made for milestone moments. Estuary, an upscale contemporary American restaurant in the Conrad Hotel near City Center, is one such place, says Arandid, who celebrated her birthday there years ago. “Estuary is one of those places I don’t share with anyone, so you’re lucky,” she says.

She recommends the Prickly Pear Marguerita, which features Almave agave spirit, the non-alcoholic brand co-created by F1 driver Lewis Hamilton. “I don’t typically support celebrity brands,” Arandid says, preferring local, smaller makers, but she makes an exception here. Other options include the Rising Star Martini, which features the herbal spirit Seedlip Garden 108, passionfruit, vanilla, and lemon; the Ginny in the Coup mocktail, which uses a Lyre's white rum alternative; and a zero-alcohol sparkling wine. 

The spirit-free drinks are all roughly $17, a bit pricey compared to other menus — so bring a date or a friend and make it a celebration. Or go solo, as Arandid has done: “It’s my personal hiding spot if I just want to disappear into the world, into sobriety, and people-watch,” she says.

St. Anselm

1250 5th Street NE

The 150-seat, Starr Restaurant-owned steak house in Union Market is best-known for its choice cuts of meat, but Arandid says diners shouldn’t sleep on its non-alcoholic beverage choices. The zero-proof menu is shorter compared to some of the other spots on this list, but at $10 each, Arandid says you can’t go wrong with a citrusy Lavender Lemonade or the ginger-beer-and-pineapple-based Tropical Spice mocktail. Plus, she’s tried NA wines at the restaurant’s bar that have inspired her collection at Binge, including a riesling from German brand Lietz. 

The drinks pair well with the restaurant’s famous bread rolls, baked at Bread Alley, a “microshop” located right behind St. Anselm that also serves its sister restaurant, Le Diplomat. That, plus the salmon collar or crispy bobo chicken, which comes with lemon and mumbo sauce, are Arandid’s go-tos: “That’s like my last meal on earth.”

Cordelia Fish Bar

550 Morse St NE

Despite being relatively new on the scene, this nearly 7,500-square-foot restaurant and bar feels familiar to Arandid. Before she quit alcohol, she used to meet with a friend to gossip over Old Ebbitt Grill’s discounted seafood tower and drinks during happy hour. Cordelia, which like Old Ebbitt is owned by Clyde’s Restaurant Group, offers a similar deal with half-price oyster and shellfish towers during happy hour. Arandid likes to pair this with an Ume Spritz ($13), which comes with Aplos “Ease,” a zero-proof spirit, and an adventurous mix of fruits, including Japanese ume plum and oroblanco, a super-sweet cross between a pomelo and white grapefruit.

The restaurant’s similarly priced Apple of My Eye — made with apple cider, orange-cinnamon clove, cranberry, and club soda — are proof that craft drinks don’t need booze to be complex in flavor. “When they opened, Apple of My Eye was my go-to drink,” says Arandid, adding that she’s brought her family and staff to Cordelia and even celebrated her eight years sober anniversary there in June of last year.

Uchi

1700 M St NW

The splashy new sushi restaurant from James Beard Award-winning chef Tyson Cole features an impressive list of non-alcoholic cocktails, wines, and beers. Arandid enjoys Uchi’s Mitsu Mitsu, a rosemary and yuzu-honey, gin-based cocktail; and the Akabanaa, mixed with hibiscus-lime agave. Both feature Ritual Zero Proof spirits, which can be substituted for a version with alcohol.

Arandid and a friend recently dined at the sushi counter for an omakase experience: “Catching up with your bestie and yapping over sushi and NA cocktails, you can't beat that.”

Laos in Town

250 K St NE

This NoMa Laotian restaurant has maintained its recognition as a Michelin Bib Gourmand since 2020 for its authentic, affordable Laotian dining experience. The mocktail list, ranging from $9-11, complements the food, according to Arandid. Options with elderflower, tropical fruits, and other refreshing flavors balance out the restaurant’s spicy dishes. “What I really love is that a lot of their mixers or what they use in their cocktails are made in house,” Arandid says.

To make things even sweeter, the Asian-inspired Round cafe popped up within the restaurant last summer, serving coffee, matcha, and tea-based mocktails seven days a week. 

Bonus rec: The teas Binge Bar uses in some of its craft mocktails are from Blue’s Coffee & Tea Company, a Black-owned pop-up that just opened its first brick and mortar last summer. Located in the historic National Union Building in Penn Quarter (918 F St NW), Blue’s serves specialty blends and single-origin coffee harvested in Africa, South and Central America, and Southeast Asia. “A lot of our patrons enjoy it, and it’s a brand that’s true to D.C.,” adds Arandid.