Dry January in Boulder

Boulder's Best Mocktails

Most bars in Boulder have excellent mocktails and alcohol-free beer and wine selections, but here are a few standouts we'd recommend for the tastiest AF tinctures and treats. Read about more options for alcohol-free fun on our roundup of Totally Boulder Beverages.

• Jungle is a tiki bar that can make any of their classic tiki cocktails with Seedlip non-alcoholic spirits. We guarantee you won't miss the booze thanks to these fruity flavors, playful glasses and festive environment.
• Oak at Fourteenth has an entire low-alcohol beverage section on its menu. When asked about the selection, co-owner Bryan Dayton noted that the restaurant has so many athletes come through that it’s important to have a range of beverages they feel good about — sans alcohol.
• Avanti's non-alcoholic menu includes several notable hand-crafted mocktails, like the "Faux Paloma," as well as multiple NA beers and kombucha on tap.
• Gemini serves a zero-proof sparkling rose by Gruvi, as well as a couple of mocktails and their own homemade tonic.
• Rosetta Hall emphasizes low- and no-alcohol beverages on their drinks menu, from mocktails to NA beers to freshly brewed iced tea and house-made lemonade.
• The Tune Up Taproom & Espresso Bar has several non-alcoholic beers on their menu, plus all sorts of coffee and tea drinks. Hang with fellow cyclists at happy hour or trivia night for some fun without sacrificing before tomorrow's workout.
• Boulder's food truck park, Rayback Collective, has a robust menu of mocktails, non-alcoholic beers and kombucha. Grab a bevie and play some yard games or sit around the outdoor firepits.
• For a sober-friendly environment, check out Tonic Alchemy Lounge, where you can sip on health-boosting elixirs, probiotic beverages and herbal cocktails in their laid-back lounge just off Pearl. Add a puff of flavored oxygen to the mix for an extra lift. 
• The Root Kava Bar is a chill alcohol-free lounge with board games and live music that serves kava, a plant that has been cultivated for thousands of years in the South Pacific and is said to reduce stress and ease anxiety.
• Although they do have a couple of beautifully designed mocktails, the extensive tea selection at Dushanbe Teahouse is also something to write home about and a fantastic way to end your day.

Wellness Activities for a Dry January

If you're thinking about cultivating healthier habits in general during Dry, January, we have a whole page dedicated to wellness trends to try in Boulder, but here are a few of our favorites.

• Sauna and Cold Plunge Therapy — Also known as contrast or thermal therapy, this practice involves alternating between a sauna and immersion in cold water. The Dragontree, a Boulder day spa, offers has a dedicated Sanctuary space that features cold and hot plunges and a cedar sauna, plus salt, steam and quartz healing therapies.
• Sound Healing — A sound bath is an immersive, meditative experience in which you are bathed in sound waves from singing bowls, gongs or other resonating instruments for a therapeutic effect. Participants typically rest on their backs as a facilitator guides the listening experience. In Boulder, several sound bath experts can lead small groups, from yoga studios like Yoga Pearl to individual healers. 
• Health IV Treatments — Outside-the-hospital intravenous treatments for wellness purposes are growing in popularity for their quick-acting benefits. Boulder has several IV bars, including Hydrate IV Bar, Onus IV Bar and IV Boulder, that can administer saline "cocktails" with anti-aging, general health, jet lag, altitude sickness or athletic performance benefits.
   

Try a New Hobby

Dry January is the perfect time to explore new hobbies that nurture body, mind and soul. Try indoor rock climbing at one of Boulder's local gyms, unleash your creativity in a local art class or workshop, or center yourself with a yoga session or meditation circle. If you’re craving sunshine and the outdoors, embrace the season by learning to ski, snowshoe or take in the quiet beauty of Boulder's off-season forests and trails on a winter hike.

Embrace Early Mornings

One of the best parts about not drinking? No hangover! You can awaken energized and ready to explore a new city. Let the morning sun hit your face on an east-facing sunrise hike at Chautauqua. Do some journaling or reading at a local coffee shop (tip: Flatiron Coffee opens at 6am every day); hit a 7am flow class at Yoga Pearl; or grab an early breakfast from Snooze or Village Coffee Shop (both open at 7am).

Dessert Instead

Why not redirect your indulgences (and dollars) to an arguably superior alternative? Dessert. Grab a decadent homemade cookie from Boulder Baked, salted caramel truffles or other rich confections from Piece, Love & Chocolate, an Asian chiffon or crepe cake from Pony M Cake, or a scoop of lavender poppy or gooey buttercake gelato from Gelato Boy.

Find a Local "Replacement" Drink

One of the most challenging aspects of Dry January is losing the ritual that alcohol can sometimes provide, whether at the end of a day, week or on a special occasion. A helpful tip: Find a "replacement" drink to fill the void. Hoplark is a Boulder-based company that makes non-alcoholic teas and waters hopped and crafted like beer, which you can find in most Boulder grocery stores. Downtown's favorite tea shop, Ku Cha, now has ready-to-drink canned ice teas and kombucha available at local retailers like Lucky's, Lolita's and in their own store downtown. Kombucha lovers, check out locally brewed and beloved Mortal Kombucha. Boulder also has seemingly endless local tea options, ideal for steeping and unwinding at your hotel after a long day of sightseeing.

Gear Up for Goal-Setting

One of the most effective ways to stick to a goal is to understand your motivations and get pragmatic on how you'll stay the course. Dedicate a new journal to your Dry January journey — check out Two Hands Paperie, a stationary store stocked with fine and funky pens and journals. Pick up a book for inspiration, like The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray, Quit Like a Woman by Holly Whitaker, or We Are the Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life by Laura McKowen at a local, independent bookstore.