Grand Rapids is Beer City USA, home to 40+ craft breweries offering an astonishing array of beer styles and types. But our beverage scene extends far beyond beer. In fact, we’re recognized as America’s Craft Beverage Capital for the breadth and diversity of our locally produced liquid refreshments – which includes a diverse selection of nonalcoholic delights.
We asked our social media followers to name their favorite destinations for nonalcoholic beverages and the top five vote-getters are listed below, along with some additional spots that earned passionate recommendations from fans. Whether you’re a teetotaler, looking to cut back on alcohol consumption or simply seeking exciting new beverage options, this list is for you!
Sip Coffee & Cocktails
In addition to a wide range of coffee drinks, Sip Coffee & Cocktails offers a delicious selection of cocktails using spirit-free gin, spirit-free rum, spirit-free tequila, house-made tea or apple cider as a base. Fresh coffees, espressos, macchiatos, cortados and more pair perfectly with bagels and baked goods served during the day, while alcohol-free drinks like Grapefruit Flowers, Apple Sage and Blueberry Paloma complement the dips, flatbreads and desserts available once evening sets in.
Alcohol-based drinks are also available all day long, so this bright and inviting café/bar is sure to please everyone in your party. Located in the walkable Alger Heights neighborhood of southeast Grand Rapids, it offers summer patio seating and frequent musical experiences. It’s open in shifts: 7am-1pm Monday-Friday and 8am-1pm Saturday, and 4pm-10pm Tuesday-Thursday and 5pm-11pm Friday and Saturday.
Find delicious mocktails, coffees, teas and more at Uptown's own French fusion patisserie, Chartreuse Sisters.
Photo by Rachel Greiner for Experience GR.
Chartreuse Sisters
A French American fusion patisserie in Grand Rapids’ hip Uptown neighborhood, Chartreuse Sisters offers a rotating selection of mocktails in addition to coffees, espressos, lattes, teas and more. Sister-owners Alyson and Mallory dream up dazzling drinks for different seasons and holidays, each as satisfying to the eye as it is to the taste buds.
This taste-of-Paris-in-Grand-Rapids also has your sweet tooth covered with delectable pastries – choux, financier cakes, macarons, cookies, scones, savory galettes and more – featuring a variety of fillings and flavors made using local fruits and vegetables. Chartreuse Sisters is located in a 1905-era building lovingly refurbished to resemble a classic European bakery.
Chartreuse Sisters is open from 10am-3pm Wednesdays-Sundays.
Max’s South Seas Hideaway
Max’s is a Polynesian-themed tiki restaurant that invites guests to escape to the South Seas via authentic food and drinks along with immersive décor. While the huge selection of alcohol-based cocktails draws a lot of attention, savvy locals know that Max’s is also a great place to enjoy Brix Sodas. Made right here in Grand Rapids using pure cane sugar rather than the high-fructose corn syrup found in most soft drinks, Brix Sodas are crafted in small batches to maintain exceptional flavor.
Brix Sodas make a tasty accompaniment to everything from Max’s Pu Pu Platter, Crab Rangoons and Poke Bowls to its Sushi, Salmon Steak and Burgers. Open 4pm-10pm Monday-Thursday, 4pm-11pm Friday, 2pm-11pm Saturday and 2pm-10pm Sunday, Max’s is located in downtown Grand Rapids, just steps away from Van Andel Arena and The Pyramid Scheme nightclub.
Turnstiles
Situated just west of downtown, Turnstiles is a live-music venue that also happens to serve an eclectic selection of bodacious bar food and craft cocktails – including tasty non-alcohol options. There are some N/A beers to choose from, too. All of them pair deliciously with the many burgers, sandwiches and salads on the menu.
Turnstiles is open from 11am-2pm Monday-Friday and noon-2am Saturday and Sunday. The club hosts live bands every Friday and Saturday night, and offers weekly Open Mic Nights (Thursday), Karaoke Nights (Monday) and Community Creative Nights (Tuesday). Patrons can select their own tunes from two jukeboxes when performers aren’t on stage.
Enjoy great views alongside an impressive selection of mocktails at MDRD.
Photo by Rachel Greiner for Experience GR.
MDRD
Named one of America’s Best New Restaurants of 2021 by USA Today, MDRD sits high atop the streets of downtown Grand Rapids on the 27th floor of the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. This AAA-designated Four-Diamond restaurant specializes in modern Spanish cuisine and offers an expansive beverage list of wines, beers and spirits from around the world. The talented mixologists here have also created a selection of nonalcoholic mocktails that are every bit as impressive as the rest of the menu. There are a few N/A beers as well.
MDRD offers one of the city’s most incredible dining experiences, from the quality of the food and drink to the bird’s-eye views of the city. It’s open from 4:30pm-10pm Tuesday-Thursday and 4:30pm-11pm Friday & Saturday. Reservations are strongly recommended.
The Downtown Market is home to many vendors that offer nonalcoholic beverage options, including High Tide Soda!
Photo by Ashley Wierenga for Experience GR.
Bubbling Up Under the Top 5
Here are 12 more destinations that go out of their way to satisfy sober and sober-curious individuals:
The Apartment Lounge. Michigan’s longest-running LGBTQ+ bar works hard to create an inclusive space for all – including sober members and allies of the community. It offers a low-priced mocktail menu in addition to its lineup of beers, wines and cocktails.
Butcher’s Union. Ranked one of Yelp’s Top 100 Midwest Eateries in 2023, this west-side-of-downtown restaurant is known for a meat-heavy menu of globally inspired fare along with a vast selection of whiskeys and handcrafted cocktails – but bartenders are happy to create N/A versions of their drinks. Just ask your server.
Condado Tacos. With locations on the west and in southeast GR, Condado Tacos earns raves for its housemade lemonades and horchatas in addition to a rotating selection of mocktails. They make the build-your-own tacos go down soooooo good!
Grand Rapids Downtown Market. This local foods emporium is home to 20+ artisan food vendors and restaurants, including High Tide Soda, which stocks a selection of 500+ craft sodas; Squibb Coffee Bar, serving made-to-order coffees and teas; and Love’s Ice Cream & Chocolates, offering a variety of bottled waters, sodas, lemonades and more. Enjoy your selections on site or to go.
Friesian Gastro Pub. Coffee, tea, juices, soft drinks and N/A beers and cocktails are all available at this casual neighborhood pub just up the hill from downtown’s Medical Mile. Enjoy your N/A drink and a scrumptious meal on the rooftop in warm-weather months.
General Wood Shop. The newest addition to this list, opened in summer 2023, is an LGBTQ+ bar that offers an array of “Mock Cocks” and N/A beers to complement its alcohol-based menu. This comfy bar in downtown’s Bridge Street Entertainment District also offers a small-plates food selection.
House Rules Board Game Lounge. Order from a generous selection of sober beverages including N/A beer, soda and CBD water, and select one of hundreds of board games to play in the lounge. Situated in downtown GR, House Rules also serves cocktails, wine, cider and more.
Lotus Brew Coffee/Dry Bar. Serving a variety of coffees, teas and mocktails – such as a Mango Mule – this LGBTQ+ café has amassed such a following that it’s moving to a new and larger space in Uptown Grand Rapids, opening in spring 2024. The previous location has closed to prepare for the move.
Long Road Distillers. The city’s largest and most celebrated distillery is happy to offer zero-proof versions of some its most popular craft cocktails, as noted on its drinks menu. They’re available at the original Long Road Distillers on the city’s west side and at Less Traveled, an Uptown neighborhood tasting room.
ROAM by San Chez. A global street food concept located in downtown Grand Rapids, ROAM offers an extensive N/A drink menu that includes warm and cozy favorites like hot teas and house drip coffees, as well as locally made Brix soda, handcrafted Italian cream soda, horchata, juice and even housemade N/A sangria.
Sacred Springs Kombucha. Kombucha is a fermented, effervescent sweetened tea beverage that comes in many different flavors. This micro-taproom in Uptown GR serves “regular” kombucha as well as hard kombucha and mead. Keep in mind that regular kombucha includes trace amounts of alcohol from the fermenting process, though not enough for it to be considered an alcoholic beverage.
Stella’s Lounge. This downtown restaurant/bar is known for whiskeys, but the staff is quite willing to mix up N/A versions of drinks – just ask. There’s also an N/A IPA on the menu. Pull up a stool and enjoy a giant stuffed burger or vegan/vegetarian dish with your beverage.
Ordering a nonalcoholic beverage in Grand Rapids means never having to sacrifice quality, craftsmanship and great taste. It’s a great place to kick off Dry January – and to keep it sober throughout the year.
Note: Menus and hours are subject to change, so it’s always a good idea to confirm details with destinations before you go.