Doing Dry January? Where to find mocktails or alcohol-free spaces in Knoxville

Keenan Thomas, Knoxville News Sentinel
·4 min read

Knoxville is defined by its drinking culture, with dozens of breweries and bars all around town. But what about spaces for those who don't drink alcohol or are planning a Dry January?

In recent years, a couple places have opened that offer non-alcoholic beverages only, meaning there's not a drop of alcohol anywhere. There's also been an uptick nationally in sales for non-alcoholic beers, mocktails and wine.

Here's a list of indoor spaces to check out including two fully sober spots and six bars with good mocktails or non-alcoholics drinks.

Any good mocktails we missed? Another sober spot? Email us at keenan.thomas@knoxnews.com with your suggestion!

Two sober gathering places in Knoxville

Frog Juice Kombucha owner Frog Greishaw opened a sober bar called The Boocherie on Sutherland Avenue in 2022.
Frog Juice Kombucha owner Frog Greishaw opened a sober bar called The Boocherie on Sutherland Avenue in 2022.

A prominent sober space is The Boocherie, a kombucha bar from Frog Juice Kombucha, where kombucha can be ordered in cans, in a pint or in a growler. The bar also serves MerTails, which are herbal-infused drinks.

The Boocherie opened in June 2022 at 2920 Sutherland Ave. and has a strict no alcohol policy. The sober bar is for patrons age 18 or older unless specified for an event, and there's no smoking or vaping allowed. It's open 2-9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 2-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday.

For Knoxville's LGBTQ+ crowd, South Press Coffee has become a go-to spot. The coffee shop was started with the intention of providing a space for sober folks in the community. Owner Joslynn Fish opened it in 2020 in South Knoxville, and moved it down the street to its current location at 3615 Chapman Highway to accommodate the coffee shop's growth. It's open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

For those looking for more sober events, the community group Sober in Knoxville on Facebook and Instagram hosts events every month.

Knoxville bars that serve mocktails or non-alcoholic beer

If you're going out with friends but don't want to drink, try these bars with mocktails and non-alcoholic drinks.

Monkey's Bar near the Old City at 103 W. Depot Ave. has a mocktail menu. The menu switches up periodically throughout the year, but it's nice to have a fully dedicated menu for friends who aren't drinking but don't want to feel excluded. The bar also serves non-alcoholic beer, sparkling water and kombucha. It's open 4 p.m.-midnight Tuesday through Thursday and until 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Tern Club at 135 S. Gay St. offers the Pluto, made with passion, orgeat, lemon, pineapple and ginger, and a Cardamom Lemonade. Tern Club is open 4 p.m. - midnight Tuesday through Thursday, 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m.- midnight Sunday.

Fly By Night at 906 Sevier Ave. has a zero-proof Pina Colada, Shirley Temple and Hip to the Fizz, made with a non-alcoholic Campari substitute, grapefruit and sparkling water. Fly By Night is open 4 p.m.-midnight Tuesday and Wednesday, 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 4 p.m.- midnight Sunday.

Maple Hall at 414 S. Gay St. has three $5 mocktails worth trying: the Approach, Mood Ring Lite and the Lebowski. It also serves $12 mocktails the St. Agrestis Phony Negroni, Faux-groni Sbagliato and Aperitivo Spritz. The bar also offers alcohol-removed wine, Heineken Zero and Liquid Death mountain water.

Not looking for beverages at all? You can bowl without ordering from the bar. Maple Hall is open 4-11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-1:30 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday.

Over near Market Square, Knox Brew Hub at 421 Union Ave. has several non-alcoholic beers, including pilsners, IPAs, sours and lagers. Knox Brew Hub is open 4-11 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m.- midnight Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.

Space Bar out in west Knoxville is a science fiction-themed bar at 179 N. Seven Oaks Drive, with a spacey mocktails: Celestial Awakening, Nebula Explorer and Sentient A.I. There are also non-alcoholic "refreshers" that don't resemble a cocktail at all: Hyperdrive Reaction, Ortolan Glimmer Grog, The Frog's Cargo and Yuzzum Fizz. Space Bar is open 5-11 p.m. Thursday, and 5 p.m.- midnight Friday and Saturday.

Keenan Thomas reports for the Knox News business growth and development team. You can reach him by email at keenan.thomas@knoxnews.com.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville bars with mocktails or non-alcoholic drinks