Cocktail bars are awesome. Cozy, classy, comfortable. I even lived above a hotel in Chicago for a year, with direct elevator access to one of the best in the city. It was incredible. But like an increasing number of people, I stopped drinking alcohol a while ago. It wasn’t a huge thing; no rock bottom moment or grand realization. It just wasn’t for me anymore. And it’s been (mostly) great. I sleep like a champ, I’m feeling calm and clear, life is good. The (mostly) part: non-alcoholic options on bar menus often suck.
They too often feel like an afterthought, a second-tier option that doesn’t meet the moment and makes you stand out for not drinking. Great cocktails help mark special moments with people we care about and add color to the everyday rituals of our lives. In these moments, it’s not really about the alcohol, but still, there’s something tangible missing for the NA crowd.
Over the last few years since I stopped drinking alcohol, I've found most nonalcoholic brands treat sobriety as a flavor problem. They chase imitations, trying to mimic alcohol’s taste or burn. Instead, we view it as a belonging problem. People who choose not to drink can feel sidelined in life’s most meaningful moments: gatherings, celebrations, toasts, rituals.
The Still Bar isn’t about abstinence. It’s about presence. We aren't trying to replicate alcohol. Instead, we're on a mission to reimagine the experience without it, crafting drinks for celebration, for the feeling of being proudly, joyfully seen when you raise a glass. Whether you’re sober, sober-curious, or just taking a night off, we're creating a new kind of beverage company. We're building The Still Bar for people who want to drink something beautiful and flavorful, worthy of life's special moments, that also happens to be alcohol-free.
