Inside Manchester’s First Completely Alcohol-Free Bar, Where the Craft Cocktails Come Without the Hangover

As someone who’s sober, I love finding places where you can still get the social experience of going out without alcohol being the center of it. Without, located at 889 Elm Street in downtown Manchester, New Hampshire, is Manchester’s first completely alcohol-free bar, and it’s such a cool concept to see popping up here.

The space itself only has 26 seats, which gives it a more intimate feel than your typical crowded bar. The whole idea is a little outside the box, it’s still nightlife, just approached differently.

And the drinks are actually interesting. This isn’t a place where your only option is a soda water with lime. Their menu is focused on thoughtfully crafted zero-proof cocktails with house-made ingredients, shrubs, and infusions.

One that caught my attention is the Star Gazer, with blackberry, honey, and black sesame. There’s also The Ripple Effect, made with a house-made strawberry-kiwi shrub and Szechuan white peppercorns. It’s the kind of creativity that makes the drink itself part of the experience.

That’s what I personally love about the concept. Being sober doesn’t mean I don’t want to sit at a bar, meet friends, order something really good, and be part of the nightlife.

With more people becoming sober, sober-curious, or simply drinking less, places like Without feel like where nightlife is heading.

You still get the craft drinks, intimate atmosphere, conversation, and night out.

You just get to skip the hangover.